Topics

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Video Game Chat / CRT to LCD...is there a learning curve?

« on: July 01, 2018, 12:35:54 AM »

At long last, I replaced my CRT television with an LCD. Long story short, the tuner was finally going on the old one so it was time for an upgrade. (It could still play a video game or a DVD fine, but watching actual TV was the problem--same thing that killed my previous CRT).

Yes, I connected my old N64 and GameCube to the new set. Why not keep playing the games I've enjoyed for years?

Here's the problem: everything seems harder on the new set.

MarioKart 64 seems way more finicky with controls. On a baseball game I have for GCN, my timing seems to be way off with my swing.

Granted, I don't play games as often as I used to...I used to play pretty much every day when I was in school and then college, but now I'm way busier with work...and also am not getting any younger, now being on the wrong side of 30...although I know that's no excuse because my dad is still a decent gamer and is 66.

Is there some sort of difference with the signal, especially being analog on a digital set, that is causing my timing to be off? Or...am I simply out of practice?

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Video Game Chat / Wii U Won't Connect to Wi-Fi, 103-160x

« on: June 18, 2017, 02:12:07 PM »

I know this is apparently a common issue with the Wii U, but mine hasn't been able to connect no matter what.

First, please do not tell me to input the IP address manually or to restart my router. I have done both MULTIPLE times. Neither has worked.

Every other wireless device on my network is absolutely fine, including a regular Wii.

I'm ready to just chuck this console, it has had problems since I got it.

What is the trick here?

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Mario Chat / Super Mario RPG Released for Wii U

« on: July 03, 2016, 12:17:01 AM »

Since it hasn't been mentioned on here yet, who else is excited about Super Mario RPG being released on the Wii U's Virtual Console?

I know it's not the most exciting piece of news for some of you, as I'm certain there are quite a few who own it on either the SNES or standard Wii, and I'm positive not all of you will rush out and buy it for a second or third time if you already own those, but I actually am planning on it for the sole reason of being able to play it on a portable gamepad (albeit one which must be within striking distance of the Wii U).

It will also be nice to introduce this game to some people who are either too young to remember it for the SNES or weren't into Nintendo gaming at the time.

Of course, for me, part of it is just the game itself. It has a good storyline, excellent music, a lot of quirky enemies, memorable settings, did I mention the best soundtrack of all Mario games? Oh wait, I did, but it wouldn't be a bad thing to say it twice here.

I played through this game for the first time during the summer between 8th and 9th grade. That was when the SNES was the only option for playing it. I have friends who were gamers at the time but still haven't given this one a go. I also happen to have a good buddy whose wife is going to a makeup party or something like that on Friday, another good buddy who recently broke up with his girlfriend, and yet another good buddy who recently got back from vacation and wants to catch up with everyone. All of these guys happen to like video games. You know what this means, right?? BRO NIGHT WITH MARIO RPG!!!

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Game Help / MarioKart 8 Learning Curve

« on: May 05, 2016, 08:07:13 PM »

I am a veteran of the MarioKart platform, having played every game in the series with the exception of MK7 for the 3DS (for the simple reason that I don't have a 3DS).

For the most part, I have had a lot of success with these games--against the CPU, against other human players, and against the online players when the Wii virtual console was still up.

MarioKart 8 seems to be a different story.

I was a little late to the Wii U party, mostly because I wasn't sure if I would play with a new console a lot. After a breakup a while ago, I figured video games would be a good thing to clear my head, so I treated myself to one at Christmas. It came with MarioKart 8 already included, a definite perk for a longtime fan of the series.

Trouble is, aside from playing at low levels like 50cc against the CPU, I seem to be having zero success with this game. I consistently come in last or close to it against virtual console players. I can't beat any of my friends. Yes, I do know how to do the slides and mini turbos. I know I don't play it every day, but I've never been this awful at a MarioKart game.

Is there some trick to mastering this game? Does it just have a steeper learning curve?

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Game Help / DS Cartridge Not Always Recognized

« on: August 06, 2015, 12:10:35 AM »

If you have followed the other thread, you know that I'm about a decade late to the DS party.

When I inherited the DS, I got four games with it, then my buddy bought me the DS version of Super Mario 64. The four games that were Grandpa's all work fine, no questions asked. (Of course, three are of the "brain" type; he got the DS to work on his memory in his final years but also enjoyed the occasional game of Madden).

The Super Mario 64 game sometimes doesn't get recognized by the DS itself. Even if the cartridge was never removed, it sometimes will say "no cartridge inserted". This doesn't happen with any of the other games.

I know this wasn't the most used DS in the world, so I'm going to think it could be the cartridge itself (it did have three save files on it when I got it; I wiped the data so I could start over but it was obviously played quite a bit). I have heard of a few others saying Mario 64 DS is prone to this--could it be a result of the game being an earlier title and the cartridges maybe not being completely perfect design-wise yet?

More importantly, is there any fix here? I feel like I have a tiny NES here (those of you who survived the constant removal of cartridges know what I speak of). Heck, I even blew on the cartridge a few times, thinking the old NES magic would work on the DS. Tonight, it took me nine tries to get it to read.

Interestingly, the DS didn't even start up properly once. It froze while loading the title screen. Taking the cartridge out helped this immediately.

Again, this doesn't happen with any of the other games, nor does it happen with the one Game Boy Advance cartridge I tried (dug one out to test it). Any thoughts on what could be causing this and how to resolve it?

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Game Help / Nintendo DS Learning Curve - Control Pad?

« on: July 31, 2015, 10:57:06 PM »

It's been a while since this rusty old dude posted here, but I actually got a new/old system.

My grandfather died in June. I inherited his Nintendo DS Lite, which he used for playing Brain Age and occasionally for Madden (he always wanted to play football in high school but his father wouldn't let him, so he decided to live out the dream in his golden years).

First, let me just say, the hardware itself is great. I think he got it in either 2007 or 2008, not sure when, but I know he hadn't used it at all in the last few years. It charged up and the battery holds a better charge than any laptop or cell phone I own!

Now, the hard part. My best friend decided it would be good to get my mind off things (Grandpa was my father figure) so he got me a copy of Super Mario 64 for DS. I played through this game years ago on the N64 and, believe it or not, a lot of the stars came back to me as to where they were.

However, I'm having some problems adapting to using a control pad instead of a control stick. Namely, I find the following happen quite often:

--I can't really get Mario (or anyone) to move in a straight line. It seems worst with Wario (I have unlocked all four and am up to 45 stars).
--It seems I'm really prone to falls in this game, and it seems worst in the lava course.
--Running in circles is coming easier as I continue to play it, but swinging Bowser by the tail is tougher than I remember.

If I got my N64 out, I know these issues wouldn't come up. Any tips on adapting to the control pad? (No, buying the fancy new one with the stick isn't an option since I have other sources begging for my money...business, girlfriend, family, savings fund for a sailboat...)

I know there are supposedly ways to make Mario move with the screen but my friend told me they're sort of pointless...any other thoughts on that?

Unrelated, but is it indeed common for these Super Mario 64 cartridges to glitch occasionally and temporarily lose save data, then get it back? It happened to me a few days ago but things came right back when it was re-inserted (I looked it up and apparently others have had problems). Curious to see if it's widespread or maybe just a bad batch of cartridges.

Learning curve aside, I do like this little DS and may have to get another game for it once I come close to finishing this one. Good thing they're all cheap on the used market now!!

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Video Game Chat / N64 Controller Order

« on: November 02, 2014, 12:26:29 PM »

Last night, I had a dinner party with the guys group from my church (all in their 20s and 30s). I have my N64 connected to the TV in my living room, and the guys noticed it and started talking about it. (This later led to some late night retrogaming).

A discussion came up since I have four controllers. One of the guys asked me if they were in order from "best" to "worst"--meaning how well the control sticks worked. Mine have always been in the same order--the order I bought them in. I didn't get them all at the same time and spread them out a few weeks after getting the N64. (I got my N64 new in April 1997).

Now I'm curious--if you bought your N64 new, what order do you have your controllers in? I'm also curious to see what the folks who got used N64s do with them.

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Video Game Chat / Pokemon Cards - Worth Anything?

« on: June 13, 2014, 09:43:25 PM »

OK, Pokemon experts. This is the million dollar question for the night, and one I am hoping to get some help on.

I am a tutor and work with many children who enjoy video games. One of them is very into Pokemon and decided to give me a bunch of her cards one day for no reason except for the fact she appreciated me. (I get lots of various "gifts" like this, and I've actually gotten quite a few rocks, old pencils, Lego men, and other crazy objects--you know how younger kids place value on this stuff!)

This student told me these cards were worth something. They look pretty new, but I can't be sure, because I have a confession to make...

I know nothing about Pokemon!!!

OK, this may sound crazy since this is a Nintendo-related board, but I never got into Pokemon and never really had a desire to. Back when it was becoming popular in 1999, I completely ignored it, thinking it was one of the silliest fads ever. It didn't matter to me that it was a product of Nintendo. I entered seventh grade in the fall of 1999 and had no desire to deal with these cards. I was your typical trendy seventh grader--you know, the one who dressed in Abercrombie and American Eagle, cheered for the Yankees, watched all the popular TV shows, chatted on AIM about all those crazy seventh grade happenings, and had a celebrity crush on Britney Spears. (I'll confess to owning some of her CDs, too--yes, CDs--it was that long ago). Oh, and if I needed to crash, I always had the N64 waiting for me.

The only exposure I had to Pokemon until these cards came my way was through Smash Brothers. I know they all do different things, they come out of red and white balls, and I know the yellow guy is Pikachu, but I'm not sure of much else from there. (I do realize there are a bunch of video games and the cards get traded sort of like baseball cards, and I know there's something called a "trainer"--all of this I have picked up from listening to kids since I used to be a classroom teacher before opening my business).

Here's what my student gave me. Are these really worth something if I pawn them off on eBay or something?

1. Blue cards with the Pokemon Ball on them and "Pokemon" written around it on both sides:

--Kricketot
--Snivy
--Hitmonlee
--Slowpoke (she told me this one was worth $500)
--Darumaka
--Raichu
--Simisear
--Purrloin
--Ducklett
--Teddiursa
--"Supporter" Professor Elm's Training Method

They all have a copyright date of 2011 on the bottom in fine print except the Raichu and Kricketot (both are 2012) and the Slowpoke (this has 1995, 96, 98 in that order).

Also, being a fan of word origins, I love the "Teddiursa" name--the creature sort of looks like a bear and I could see someone getting the biological name of a bear easier after seeing this one. (File this one under "educator problems"--my friends are always on me for pointing out teaching moments everywhere).

2. Pokemon World Champions 2013 Cards (simulated wood background, Pokemon ball has red/yellow/blue/green around it)

--Thundurus
--"Trainer" Hypnotoxic Laser

The "trainer" card has a 2012 copyright, the Thundurus has a 2013.


Now, to be truthful, I'm not expecting these cards to be worth much more than a buck or so apiece, if that. I have a Jason Kendall rookie card in my desk (guy who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and a few other teams) and it's only worth about five bucks, and my Pete Rose rookie card (the Cincy Reds legend) which I've seen going for about thirty max. Still, I know what these cards can go for if they're genuinely rare.

I get a feeling the student who gave them to me was simply trying to boost my ego, but I figured some of you would be in the know on here, so why not run it past everyone? I could use that extra $500 if it really is worth that much--my business turned a year old today and while it's going strong, I'm not exactly Bill Gates yet!!!