To Bid, Or Not To Bid.. That Is The Question...
DOOManiac
Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">SNES and NES lovers, I need advice...</div><!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous emulation...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've been thinking a whole lot lately about something, and so I thought it might be a good idea to get some other opinions from like minded people here on the forums...
I'm considering purchasing a NES and/or SNES + games through eBay, but I'm just not sure...
The reasons why is, basically, I'm a purist at heart. Emulation doesn't work perfectly with all games, and even on the ones it does it just doesn't "feel right". Also there's the matter of playing in the living room on a big tv v.s. on the pc w/ a 19" monitor.
So lately I've been looking around for a system in pretty good shape. I want one in like-new condition, not something that's been beat up or has the plastic stained yellow. Most importantly it has gotta be in perfect working order.
I'd like to get some sort of bundle deal, so that way I have lots of games to play. Perhaps even a few games I otherwise wouldn't care to play much of. Of course I'm also not made of money, nor do I like wasting money on stuff I won't use...
I've had a few eBay experiences in the past, and I can't exactly say I was thrilled with them. Borderline fraud would be a more accurate way to say it. So that right there turns me off of the idea...
But there's also the question of practicality. I mean, I know right now that this isn't going to be something I'll sit down and play every single day. I mean yeah I run through Super Metroid once every 6 months or so, but that's still a lot of $ to spend for something I won't use that much. Also I'm beginning to wonder if perhaps its more of a bite of the nostalgia bug than anything else, and I'm worried that once I do get said system(s) they'll just sit there or (even worse) I won't get nearly the enjoyment level out of them that I remembered getting Back In The Day.
So what do you guys think? Should I take the plunge and prepare to spend a fair sum of cash reclaiming the golden titles of my childhood? Or should I keep my money in my wallet, and stick with what I already have?
I've been thinking a whole lot lately about something, and so I thought it might be a good idea to get some other opinions from like minded people here on the forums...
I'm considering purchasing a NES and/or SNES + games through eBay, but I'm just not sure...
The reasons why is, basically, I'm a purist at heart. Emulation doesn't work perfectly with all games, and even on the ones it does it just doesn't "feel right". Also there's the matter of playing in the living room on a big tv v.s. on the pc w/ a 19" monitor.
So lately I've been looking around for a system in pretty good shape. I want one in like-new condition, not something that's been beat up or has the plastic stained yellow. Most importantly it has gotta be in perfect working order.
I'd like to get some sort of bundle deal, so that way I have lots of games to play. Perhaps even a few games I otherwise wouldn't care to play much of. Of course I'm also not made of money, nor do I like wasting money on stuff I won't use...
I've had a few eBay experiences in the past, and I can't exactly say I was thrilled with them. Borderline fraud would be a more accurate way to say it. So that right there turns me off of the idea...
But there's also the question of practicality. I mean, I know right now that this isn't going to be something I'll sit down and play every single day. I mean yeah I run through Super Metroid once every 6 months or so, but that's still a lot of $ to spend for something I won't use that much. Also I'm beginning to wonder if perhaps its more of a bite of the nostalgia bug than anything else, and I'm worried that once I do get said system(s) they'll just sit there or (even worse) I won't get nearly the enjoyment level out of them that I remembered getting Back In The Day.
So what do you guys think? Should I take the plunge and prepare to spend a fair sum of cash reclaiming the golden titles of my childhood? Or should I keep my money in my wallet, and stick with what I already have?
Comments
Go buy a USB controller, makes it a lot easier to play as well.
<a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004SVYQ/qid=1070146471/sr=8-4/ref=sr_8_4/103-4441718-6743802?v=glance&s=videogames&n=507846' target='_blank'>NES</a>
<a href='http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000035Y6D/qid=1070146471/sr=8-5/ref=sr_8_5/103-4441718-6743802?v=glance&s=videogames&n=507846' target='_blank'>SNES</a>
Games too.
give you a SNES. At one point we had at LEAST 7 of them in the back
of the store I work in. And we couldn't give them away!
Damn NTSC / PAL limitations eh. I still have a Zelda and Metroid cart around here
somewhere.
The BuyItNow prices suck **** too... <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->
The BuyItNow prices suck **** too... <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I still have MY Super Metroid...safe in my house with the protector thingy.
MUAHAHAHHA!
Surely there are some who have bought some systems back and have good things to say?
Well my friend didn't want his, so I nabbed it and some games.
It broke about a month ago.
I went on Ebay. Found a user with a good rating and that was selling a new system.
Bought it.
Worked like new -_-
Do yourself a favour and buy one. Nothing beats the originals.
I never use the actual consoles anymore.
Emulation:
1. Is more convenient. You can fire it up and play for a few minutes whenever you want in the middle of anything you normally do on the computer.
2. Looks better. Most emulators have graphics filters that make the game look a lot better than the original game did.
3. Has handy features. You can save whenever you want using save-states. You can fast-forward by using the frameskip feature.
The only drawback imo is that the sound is often not quite like the original.
My advice would be to look around at second hand stores and little computer gaming shops. I've found a great number of NES / SNES consoles in a weird high street second hand store called Cash Converters, and also in several small independant games shops. Prices for fully working, good condition consoles (Usually no box, but i can live without) vary between £5 and £25, which is nothing really.
Same with games, but they often spread into more generic second hand stores too. The carts are nine times out of ten without box and a lot of the time without manual too, but i've used the carts with no faults or problems. These also vary between £1-£15 or so. Bargain.
If you can trust eBay (Which i don't), try buying from a seller with a high rating, but i will wholeheartedly recommend searching little back ally computer shops and second hand stores and you'll most probably come out a winnar.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->So what do you guys think? Should I take the plunge and prepare to spend a fair sum of cash reclaiming the golden titles of my childhood? Or should I keep my money in my wallet, and stick with what I already have?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->[/Edit]
I'd say there's a place for both emulation and consoles. I still own my old SNES (too young for the NES, the Gameboy was my gateway drug), and play Zelda, Super Metroid, or Chrono Trigger on it whenever the mood strikes me. At the same time, I play lots of DeJap ROMs via Emu.
My experience is that, if you have played a game extensively on the console once, you will never, ever, get the same fun out of it on the PC. It will, as you already pointed out, not 'feel' right. I can assure you that you will play those a good deal more often on an original console.
If you haven't played a game on console back then, or if you only did a short sweep around in it, it will on the other hand not feel wrong on an emulator. I'd not suggest getting a console for such games, however good they might be, because you will just not get as much 'into' them as into the 'old' ones.
Thus, if you can get an offer with a selection of your favorite games, get it. If not, stick to your emulator.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->So what do you guys think? Should I take the plunge and prepare to spend a fair sum of cash reclaiming the golden titles of my childhood? Or should I keep my money in my wallet, and stick with what I already have?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->[/Edit]
I'd say there's a place for both emulation and consoles. I still own my old SNES (too young for the NES, the Gameboy was my gateway drug), and play Zelda, Super Metroid, or Chrono Trigger on it whenever the mood strikes me. At the same time, I play lots of DeJap ROMs via Emu.
My experience is that, if you have played a game extensively on the console once, you will never, ever, get the same fun out of it on the PC. It will, as you already pointed out, not 'feel' right. I can assure you that you will play those a good deal more often on an original console.
If you haven't played a game on console back then, or if you only did a short sweep around in it, it will on the other hand not feel wrong on an emulator. I'd not suggest getting a console for such games, however good they might be, because you will just not get as much 'into' them as into the 'old' ones.
Thus, if you can get an offer with a selection of your favorite games, get it. If not, stick to your emulator. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Nem, i think that was more a reference to whether it's worth shelling out for a console or not to bother, he states earlier:
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The reasons why is, basically, I'm a purist at heart. Emulation doesn't work perfectly with all games, and even on the ones it does it just doesn't "feel right". Also there's the matter of playing in the living room on a big tv v.s. on the pc w/ a 19" monitor.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
i presume meaning he's not satisfied with just using emulators.
Then again, i just could be wrong, as usual. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
In my experience, old consoles don't cost that much if you know where to look. At some specialist gamer stores you may find games up to ?100 or other ridiculous prices for old classics, but on the other side of the coin, you could find the same game for ?1 in a second hand store. Just get searching.
Whatever you do, don't spend too much on a console, i'm the owner of a ?10 SNES in full working condition and it looks barely aged at all. No box, no manuals, but all cables and two controllers. Bargain. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
And yeah, I am a bit unsatisfied w/ emulation. I think Nem's argument fits what I'm trying to say the most, and also Esuna. Its not so much whether having the systems vs. having them emulated would be a good thing, but more of a choice of having the actual system vs. having the money I'd save by not having the systems. Whether its worth it to spend a few hundred bucks, and to spend the time hunting them down...
Pshhh.
When will people learn that its gameplay that makes or breaks a game, not graphics.
Anyways, you and I both already know the answer. Buy the damn things! Nothing can compare to the quality and fun of the originals.
And we're long overdue for some Smash Tv MAME-age!
(Man, it's been a while since I posted here. Harro goes out to all of you pre-1.0 community members still here. You guys = is pwn :D.)
Not that bad of a deal and I seriously need to play it on my TV, sick of ZSNES. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
And though I have emulators and the ROMs for all of my cartridges (no, ROMs for the NES, SNES, and Genesis are still illegal unless you own the original, so no speaking of that) and a Radeon with TV-Out, there's just something that can't be replaced with an emulator.
Tossing in UN Squadron and fighting your way up with the basic jet, saving for the million-dollar fighter... then blasting through that final boss almost eight hours later. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
and if you can afford it reasonably
Now to just find somewhere to get it..
While I do agree with Talesin's idea of instant gratification via local stores, I check into everywhere in town and SNES systems are $45, A Link To The Past is $15, and Super Metroid is $25. For the other titles I'm interested in its $5 each. Quite pricey if you ask me.
I'm looking for something more cost effective, so I've been looking at the auctioned bundles on eBay. There's one bundle that has a SNES, Link To The Past, Super Metroid, Mario Kart, Mario World, F-Zero, FF3, and some other game. So its like, holy crap that's the whole collection right there. :P
Please, please, please do let me know (preferably via /msg in IRC) if you come across any good deals!
Atari 2600, and games
NES, and games
SNES, and games.
I got the SNES from a "specialty" store that had a bunch for sale for like 20-40 dollars, plus some games to. Of course, I still need to get it back from my EX.....
Hey Doom, get it back for me, and I will sell it to you for $10.... <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->