tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89401286041058272592024-03-05T04:35:14.351-05:00The Non-Gamer's Gamer's BlogA forty-something non-gamer gets a PlayStation 3 and tries to get up to speed, reviewing games and posting random thoughts about the electronic gaming world.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-39500336784155055632017-09-19T14:00:00.000-04:002017-09-19T14:00:11.042-04:00Adventures in Electronics <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Folks who come here often might notice I haven't been here lately. I have been pretty busy since moving to Florida last year. And most of all, especially in regards to this blog, if I'm being honest, we have not hooked our game systems up yet.
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The PS3 is of course hooked up, as that is our portal to play DVDs and Blu-Rays as well as PS3 games, but that's it. Other than the PS3, we have a variety of old school gaming systems, including the PlayStation2, the Atari 2600, the original Nintendo Entertainment System, and the SuperNES, not to mention our old Game Boy.
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Our friend Dave was over and we went to the mall. One of our regular haunts there is the non-franchise gaming store with old games - because of course we have old game systems. <a href="http://www.makeminemagicpodcast.com/">The Bride</a> was enamored with a <i>Dance Dance Revolution X</i> game with mat for the PS2. As the conversation turned to how our PS2 wasn't hooked up, Dave, nice guy that he is, volunteered to hook all our systems up. Dave's a saint.
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An afternoon and a couple trips to Best Buy later, we had them all connected and working, a miracle. And after I played <i>Super Godzilla</i> for the SNES for awhile, The Bride danced her heart out to <i>DDRX</i> for a bit. We're happy, and the blog is back in business, thanks, Dave!
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-76069505982097368842017-08-01T16:50:00.000-04:002017-08-01T16:50:31.204-04:00The Super Potato Store <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My friend Jeff Milliman, who had been working and living in Japan, sent me this pic of the Super Potato Store while he was there.
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Here's what he had to say about it: <i>"I visited the Super Potato store in the Osu section of Nagoya quite by accident... Holy crap, this place is astounding. It is crammed with consoles from the third generation on, games, peripherals, original strategy guides, posters, figurines, game soundtracks (seriously, they had the soundtrack to <i>Elevator Action Returns</i>)... I got about half of my souvenir shopping done in one stop. I really want to see their original store in Tokyo. I didn't take pictures inside, since a number of stores discourage that sort of thing; I wasn't sure if that was the case here and I didn't want to risk it."</i>
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Awesome, Jeff, thank you!
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-79261965746332104322017-07-24T13:00:00.000-04:002017-07-24T13:00:01.433-04:00Game the Gamer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Most of you may know I regularly appear on three podcasts - <a href="http://www.garpodcast.com/">The GAR! Podcast</a>, <a href="http://www.makeminemagicpodcast.com/">The Make Mine Magic Podcast</a>, and <a href="http://nerdfectstrangers.podbean.com/">Nerdfect Strangers</a>. Recently, Nerdfect Strangers hosted <a href="https://twitter.com/TVsNoah">Noah Houlihan</a> of the <a href="https://plustwocomedy.podbean.com/">Plus Two Comedy Podcast</a>. Co-host <a href="https://twitter.com/barnivous">Jerry Whitworth</a> and I actually were guests on that podcast several months ago, you can hear that <a href="http://plustwocomedy.podbean.com/e/episode-139-nerdfect-strangers/">here</a>, but when Noah came to us last week, he was promoting his new YouTube game - <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r8kPj7NHxE">Game the Gamer</a></i>.
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Similar to "Cutthroat Kitchen," only with videogames. Contestants bid for bizarre controllers to play videogames they've never played before. Yes, it's as awesome as it sounds. Noah is currently running a Kickstarter to do more episodes, buy weirder controllers, and have more sophisticated and cooler games and episodes. To hear more about <i>Game the Gamer</i>, check out the latest Nerdfect Starngers <a href="http://nerdfectstrangers.podbean.com/e/nerdfect-strangers-episode-43-game-the-gamer-four-men-enter-one-man-leaves/">here</a> to hear all about Noah's <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/211907778/game-the-gamer">Kickstarter</a>. Please pledge, the show rocks.
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You can check out the pilot episode below:
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-90394688961463060022017-01-25T13:54:00.000-05:002017-01-25T13:54:03.069-05:00Godzilla Vs. The Switch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Apparently Godzilla is keeping folks in Japan from pre-ordering the <a href="http://nongamersgamersblog.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-nintendo-switch.html">Nintendo Switch</a>. Read about it <a href="https://www.destructoid.com/godzilla-is-keeping-people-from-preordering-the-switch-in-japan-414547.phtml">here</a>. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-2646885257541169612016-12-27T11:00:00.000-05:002016-12-27T11:47:29.866-05:00Pixels <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><b>Pixels</b></i> ~ Right out of the box, this movie had more than a few things against it, first and foremost is that it stars <a href="http://monsura.blogspot.com/search?q=adam+sandler">Adam Sandler</a>. Now admittedly, I don't hate Adam Sandler as much as I used to. <i><a href="http://monsura.blogspot.com/2003/05/only-for-drew-video-review-of-wedding.html">The Wedding Singer</a></i> is actually pretty darn good, and there are a couple others that don't make me want to blind myself with scissors immediately when they come on. It also stars <a href="http://monsura.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-secret-shame.html">Kevin James</a> as the President of the United States. I'll just leave that right there and let that little nugget fry into your brain before I even get to the plot of this one.
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Now follow along, folks. Back in the eighties days of <a href="http://nongamersgamersblog.blogspot.com/">videogames</a> and <a href="http://nongamersgamersblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/whatever-happened-to-arcade.html">arcades</a>, Sandler and James were champions, along with Josh Gad (the dimwitted but lovable snowman from <i><a href="http://monsura.blogspot.com/2013/12/frozen.html">Disney's Frozen</a></i>) and believe it or not, Peter Dinklage (who I hope fired his agent for this). Today, they are pretty much losers - yes, including President Kevin James, the others being a electronics installer, a criminal, a conspiracy theorist, and an ineffectual President.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMRCGP2RdcXR3ZDKtuRk0_IyN0cHV1HI1PLQMkjTfqmmyiSt9ZM-rssyfT0GILTfSXHkagRpNvhRlI6pmgWU7fRG45OlgGKx9ajv5VZtzYDKLKL8quVBYFb5JwMVSWeR7YKoWHcBmoug/s1600/apix2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMRCGP2RdcXR3ZDKtuRk0_IyN0cHV1HI1PLQMkjTfqmmyiSt9ZM-rssyfT0GILTfSXHkagRpNvhRlI6pmgWU7fRG45OlgGKx9ajv5VZtzYDKLKL8quVBYFb5JwMVSWeR7YKoWHcBmoug/s320/apix2.jpg" width="320" /></a>The bad news is that all those years ago video footage of their tournament was sent into space by NASA, and now that footage has been answered by an alien race who believe it to be a declaration of war. These misguided but powerful enemies begin to attack Earth using videogames as their weapons, a la 'the form of the destructor' from the original <i><a href="http://monsura.blogspot.com/2016/10/ghostbusters-1984.html">Ghostbusters</a></i>. Yes, we get attacked by <i>Galaga</i> on the aliens' first strike.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpBrFCzLmtKIHYmzKOJBMehKYXj667WWqflxQdazRIQG9nTlKzBkoPqnUlBV8hkSo9Ie6mDaDr9Vrg6Gl6G9JG_fwm95o7SypyaMBFgglBMyZnjnzAVRUdYpHZiAaZE_PTBGUtbLwO0Y/s1600/apix3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpBrFCzLmtKIHYmzKOJBMehKYXj667WWqflxQdazRIQG9nTlKzBkoPqnUlBV8hkSo9Ie6mDaDr9Vrg6Gl6G9JG_fwm95o7SypyaMBFgglBMyZnjnzAVRUdYpHZiAaZE_PTBGUtbLwO0Y/s320/apix3.jpg" width="320" /></a>The situation gets worse from there as <i>Centipede</i> and <i><a href="http://nongamersgamersblog.blogspot.com/2012/07/pac-man-from-hell.html">Pac-Man</a></i> attack and the president recruits his old friends to 'fight fire with fire,' as only old school videogamers know how to beat the bad guys at their own, pardon the pun, game. It gets old real quick. Now normally I steer clear of Adam Sandler flicks, but <a href="https://youtu.be/BFD2293oGvA">this juicy and explicit video review</a> (not safe for work or kids) made it impossible to pass up. I just <i>had</i> to see this train wreck.
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What is interesting to me is that before anyone, <a href="https://youtu.be/e75k4vKPW-w">Ghosthead</a> or
not, spoke up about how the remake/reboot/re-imagining of <i><a href="http://monsura.blogspot.com/2016/07/ghostbusters-2016.html">Ghostbusters</a></i> was ruining their childhood, the same accusations were made at <i>this</i> movie… and in this case, I can kinda see it. I grew up in the era of these videogames, and it does kinda feel like these people are taking a crap on my childhood.
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Now it's not as bad as the above reviewer says, but it is pretty awful. If it wasn't for free cable I would be complaining much more loudly. It's watchable, and the kids might enjoy it more than adults, but then again, they won't have the slightest clue about these games or the other dated pop culture references here. And Peter Dinklage should be ashamed of himself…
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-45846399345266033322016-12-16T18:33:00.000-05:002016-12-16T18:33:08.231-05:00Pokemon Go Is Dead<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-38144380014257187902016-11-22T13:00:00.000-05:002016-11-22T13:00:13.050-05:00How to Make DC Legends Better <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Over at <a href="http://www.biffbampop.com/">Biff Bam Pop!</a>, founder and publisher <a href="https://biffbampop.com/author/andyburns2112/">Andy Burns</a> loves the game <i>DC Legends</i>, but thinks it can be better, here's how, click <a href="https://biffbampop.com/2016/11/10/dc-legends-is-great-heres-how-it-could-be-better/">here</a>!
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-21557696258966378622016-11-04T13:00:00.000-04:002016-11-04T13:00:13.097-04:00The Nintendo Switch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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How would you like to switch from your TV to your phone to your tablet all while playing the same continuous game? That's what the Nintendo Switch is promising. Click <a href="https://biffbampop.com/2016/10/20/can-the-switch-revitalize-nintendo/">here</a> to read what gaming expert <a href="https://biffbampop.com/author/matylang/">Mat Langford</a> has to say about the Nintendo Switch at <a href="http://www.biffbampop.com/">Biff Bam Pop!</a>.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-66809794296667318182016-11-01T17:01:00.000-04:002016-11-01T17:01:57.106-04:00Ghosts in the Machine, Pokemon GO in Philadelphia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My good friend <a href="http://www.robinrenee.com/">Robin Renee</a> recently wrote about her experiences with <i>Pokemon GO</i> over at <a href="http://www.biffbampop.com/">Biff Bam Pop!</a>. You can read all about it right <a href="https://biffbampop.com/2016/10/29/31-days-of-horror-2016-ghosts-in-the-machine-pokemon-go-at-halloween-in-philadelphia/">here</a>.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-15384775908015910282016-04-19T13:00:00.000-04:002016-04-19T13:00:00.166-04:00Ratchet & Clank for PS4<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00mUqP7wO3Y62hH0yTRD3HDABEQaXEOTOI0z091-rZOpHIjxzgRvPaUPsQci8Nl9VZ-FR2TR7n3bPUsMtycMpdqvSnD2lI9Oyw00hm0jgw1hHv2IwwGYY4g_5wF4Npi8hN-m7qwOg0XE/s1600/arat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00mUqP7wO3Y62hH0yTRD3HDABEQaXEOTOI0z091-rZOpHIjxzgRvPaUPsQci8Nl9VZ-FR2TR7n3bPUsMtycMpdqvSnD2lI9Oyw00hm0jgw1hHv2IwwGYY4g_5wF4Npi8hN-m7qwOg0XE/s640/arat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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While the PS4 is out of my reach, and I tried one of the Ratchet & Clank games for PS3, I have to say I a) didn't like it, or b) didn't understand it. Either way, I put it back on the shelf and never popped the CD in again. <a href="http://www.biffbampop.com/">Biff Bam Pop</a>'s <a href="https://biffbampop.com/author/matylang/">Mat Langford</a> played the new PS4 game and posted his review <a href="https://biffbampop.com/2016/04/11/ratchet-and-clank-ps4-review/">here</a>, check it out.
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-69271200250650915322016-04-05T13:00:00.000-04:002016-04-05T13:00:05.835-04:00MLB 16: The Show - Road to The Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFVrLllZXMFfs1UnZ6xH_acA305QLnO3R5hkoo_qLGHZoi4R1JqcZxeoBN1XRaCL2aGhUmIHut6sk5o-DTakyrvm5RhsJTggMdlB339FaD6i9u4fX8kxea2xIkkkt2clzrm_lzKd_fYc/s1600/mlb-the-show-16-screen-15-ps4-us-24feb16-1024x576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFVrLllZXMFfs1UnZ6xH_acA305QLnO3R5hkoo_qLGHZoi4R1JqcZxeoBN1XRaCL2aGhUmIHut6sk5o-DTakyrvm5RhsJTggMdlB339FaD6i9u4fX8kxea2xIkkkt2clzrm_lzKd_fYc/s640/mlb-the-show-16-screen-15-ps4-us-24feb16-1024x576.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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When I game, and that's rarely, I never go near any of the games based on real sports, mostly because I have always sucked at real sports... probably worse than I do at videogames. Yeah, that bad. <br />
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However, <a href="http://biffbampop.com/author/matylang/">Mat Langford</a> at <a href="http://www.biffbampop.com/">Biff Bam Pop!</a> does know his videogames, and I wanted to link his latest review over at BBP! regarding MLB 16. You can check it out right <a href="http://biffbampop.com/2016/03/29/mlb-16-the-show-rtts-revamped-and-better-than-ever/">here</a>. <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-6962648227745361942016-03-24T22:51:00.001-04:002016-03-24T22:53:36.460-04:00LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens Sneak Peek<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWsXAqqIeDTQlCYmPODvUWQZ6S4bTQGtG-npXnWxGTpukXRdmnxzaKDYzffSieVsZOOE8nnY3eqme14h7JK7UEXK_ej-FdGrQdwc7gVfjOlXyK7qprYvBrntoJkE4499ADo7s7rg-yrI/s1600/ale2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWsXAqqIeDTQlCYmPODvUWQZ6S4bTQGtG-npXnWxGTpukXRdmnxzaKDYzffSieVsZOOE8nnY3eqme14h7JK7UEXK_ej-FdGrQdwc7gVfjOlXyK7qprYvBrntoJkE4499ADo7s7rg-yrI/s640/ale2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Get a sneak peek at the new gameplay trailer for <i>LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens</i> over at <a href="http://www.biffbampop.com/">Biff Bam Pop!</a> right <a href="http://biffbampop.com/2016/03/23/lego-star-wars-the-force-awakens-new-gameplay-trailer-unveiled/">here</a>. Check it out!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-32374789443759742812015-11-16T16:26:00.000-05:002015-11-16T16:26:34.705-05:00Spacewar Simplicity<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YOZGBauJg5V-vKpgTUR1_c9PK55sj5BeKUZOhFvqXGFofmotK-6sa0FIlSg7XDhhJ3mKiNFHRdMe6S8DhhSG1yI5_Oe895MNsZ-bJr9ScABOjitHUrxXuEgv705huvxP1f-AYRxHWl4/s1600/spacewar1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YOZGBauJg5V-vKpgTUR1_c9PK55sj5BeKUZOhFvqXGFofmotK-6sa0FIlSg7XDhhJ3mKiNFHRdMe6S8DhhSG1yI5_Oe895MNsZ-bJr9ScABOjitHUrxXuEgv705huvxP1f-AYRxHWl4/s400/spacewar1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Just as videogames were advancing past simple lines like <i>Asteroids</i> and <i>Combat</i>, and moving past more complicated stuff like <i>Space Invaders</i>, and into the world of <i>Donkey Kong</i> and beyond, I had a favorite called <i>Spacewar</i>. I liked its simplicity, two ships made of digital lines, flying along shooting at each other, and occasionally going into 'hyperspace' a la the aforementioned <i>Asteroids</i>. Little did I know it had a long and storied history.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjUYO6tR4CyfM2zFv8Z5VvagRLVyzcvtW8EJHLLa7jqbAEwtcBBYqsWclABDnrMuBLg0zAIXyhU87PuarW2sMzlYoDL6cTAnDIsSh1mEmhXd7xsXu25X-2d4AL2cEuOlg03PSarx_BKA/s1600/spacewar2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjUYO6tR4CyfM2zFv8Z5VvagRLVyzcvtW8EJHLLa7jqbAEwtcBBYqsWclABDnrMuBLg0zAIXyhU87PuarW2sMzlYoDL6cTAnDIsSh1mEmhXd7xsXu25X-2d4AL2cEuOlg03PSarx_BKA/s400/spacewar2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
The game was originally developed in 1961 by MIT students, inspired by the <i>Lensmen</i> series by E.E. Smith. Two spaceships, the 'needle' and the 'wedge,' maneuver around the gravity well of a star, and try to destroy each other with ray weapons. Based on a simple joystick, there were a few options - thrust, fire, turn left, turn right, and of course hyperspace, that last of which would teleport your ship elsewhere on the screen.
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I used to love it, and remember one such machine at the arcade at the Atco Raceway, which we always called The Drag. My friends thought it was boring, and had moved on to the more complex games of the early 1980s, but I always had a soft spot for <i>Spacewar</i>. Apparently Atari made a version of it for the 2600 called <i>Space War</i>, but I don't ever recall seeing it, and therefore never obtained one. I might start looking now that I know about it.
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-56132723267714197442015-09-25T15:21:00.000-04:002015-09-25T15:21:24.216-04:00X-Man<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_fJvykGi1oBFY4DJxqreetK_0GkURWtny_aRXzbW1JJJr4X6Mxmn8pbRaVZl6BJmvc35Hg0uOqgSKLTDb3MCF81xT5B09Rbjy1rrBiv-0lbFQfA2RWtMuGZZCx6sKuIlAUtr1scAut8/s1600/x-man1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_fJvykGi1oBFY4DJxqreetK_0GkURWtny_aRXzbW1JJJr4X6Mxmn8pbRaVZl6BJmvc35Hg0uOqgSKLTDb3MCF81xT5B09Rbjy1rrBiv-0lbFQfA2RWtMuGZZCx6sKuIlAUtr1scAut8/s400/x-man1.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
Because I'm a comic book guy, when I say "X-Man" you all probably think I'm talking about Nathaniel Grey, that alternate Cable guy who's the son of Cyclops and Marvel Girl. I'm not a big X-Men guy, so I'm not. I'm actually talking about something a little more game-oriented… believe it or not, an adult game for the Atari 2600.
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I had never heard of it until a few months back when my Facebook friend Chico John hipped me to it, but yeah, this is really an X-rated videogame for the Atari. Developed by a company called Universal Gamex, it was their only title, and was banned from most game retailers. If you wanted it, you had to go mail order.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFvv9KwLvEQ_a1w48_rtKjOHwubXxw2NGEJ7u0DTezEu-nCZADM6CU20aB-yo9xzn9wlYvT9dVe8bD9XoYH_9QjIsdE1uB6agBV_ilLfYi0SHc6BkGCLxfCLnt-9L5cvr3ZG74vJAPyA/s1600/x-man2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFvv9KwLvEQ_a1w48_rtKjOHwubXxw2NGEJ7u0DTezEu-nCZADM6CU20aB-yo9xzn9wlYvT9dVe8bD9XoYH_9QjIsdE1uB6agBV_ilLfYi0SHc6BkGCLxfCLnt-9L5cvr3ZG74vJAPyA/s1600/x-man2.png" /></a>Gameplay was similar to Pac-Man, but you were a naked man pursued by crabs, scissors, and teeth - as you made your way through a maze toward a naked woman at its center. Guess what happens then. Or don't. Yeah, it's exactly what you think. Use your imagination, or Google, but you have been warned.
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-36148991634828149972015-09-15T15:31:00.000-04:002015-09-15T15:40:54.662-04:00Silverball 4: The Shadow <br />
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Now anyone who knows me knows what a big fan of <i>The Shadow</i> I am. I love the pulps, the comics, the serials, and the radio shows. I even loved the 1994 movie. Yes, there was some terrible stuff in there, but there was also a great amount they got right. Of course like any potential blockbuster, there was a lot of merchandising - like this pinball machine.
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This Midway machine was designed by Brian Eddy with art by Doug Watson based on the movie. Over and above the silly and awkward shooter shaped like one of <i>The Shadow</i>'s trademark .45 pistols, the game features three flippers, two playfields, optical targeting, and gameplay that followed a story. It was pretty advanced for the time I'm told.
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The game is fun to look at, fun to watch someone else play, but as with most games - I suck at it. But still, it's <i>The Shadow</i>, and it's awesome, one of the best parts of the visit to the <a href="http://nongamersgamersblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-silverball-museum.html">Silverball Museum</a>.
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-71081314494129520982015-09-04T16:47:00.000-04:002015-09-04T16:47:36.694-04:00Silverball 3: Flash <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6u5TkoZlOPwzdl9Xw60ngfvpTE0g3A96lDVJksUqkXKkPpxwq5J-TZG8zxpyE-8vhmQFVyxuwFEWZqqgcdcMVKoaAO4649gs_w94oGZKqGjCqpH9JomQYpeVAN7AXXIXPZPnZh4dNAWI/s1600/flash.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6u5TkoZlOPwzdl9Xw60ngfvpTE0g3A96lDVJksUqkXKkPpxwq5J-TZG8zxpyE-8vhmQFVyxuwFEWZqqgcdcMVKoaAO4649gs_w94oGZKqGjCqpH9JomQYpeVAN7AXXIXPZPnZh4dNAWI/s400/flash.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
At first glance this pinball machine from the <a href="http://nongamersgamersblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-silverball-museum.html">Silverball Museum</a> might appear to be referencing Flash Gordon, with the artist getting our hero's hair color mixed up, but no, this Williams machine from 1979 is an original. The name <i>Flash</i> actually refers to the fact that the game was the first to use flash lamps, displaying a lightning-like effect.
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<i>Flash</i> was designed by Steve Ritchie, featuring art by Constantino Mitchell. It was state of the art for the time and common in arcades that were then switching over to electronic games. It also showed a digital score as opposed to rollover numbers. <i>Flash</i> also had a continuous soundtrack that got louder and faster the further you advanced in the game.
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<i>Flash</i> was a pinball machine I remember playing back in the day. It was easy and fun for me, which says a lot about the game, both good and bad. I liked it a lot, and was one of the few games I spent a lot if time playing on my visit to the <a href="http://silverballmuseum.com/">Silverball Museum</a>.
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-87220403373344091902015-08-24T19:28:00.000-04:002015-08-24T19:28:07.144-04:00Freemium, Flintstones, and Family Guy<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0rXOOILKrxwk47R9aQ7qj5aJ5Ee9siLbK_ciE7ha2PzJ4l8ZwGBpYRXVSJaqLjmtEMwwLHu-3Ny22YIgyvLZfslHg9UJcR-FAsH38I2D1kAQRudooWSJvAAWne73me-166K55KJWsI4/s1600/free1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0rXOOILKrxwk47R9aQ7qj5aJ5Ee9siLbK_ciE7ha2PzJ4l8ZwGBpYRXVSJaqLjmtEMwwLHu-3Ny22YIgyvLZfslHg9UJcR-FAsH38I2D1kAQRudooWSJvAAWne73me-166K55KJWsI4/s320/free1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Regular readers here know of my addiction to <i><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8940128604105827259">Simpsons Tapped Out</a></i>, but that's not the only freemium game of that type out there, nor is it the only one I'm playing. I'm talking about two other animated series, one an inspiration and the other a frenemy of "The Simpsons," yeah, I'm talking about "The Flintstones" and "Family Guy."
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The "Family Guy" game, officially and sarcastically (keeping with the spirit of the show) called <i>Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff</i>. In the plot of the game, the show is cancelled and a battle between Peter Griffin and Ernie the Giant Chicken (never knew he had a name until I looked it up for this post) destroys the town of Quahog. Much like <i>Tapped Out</i>, you are tasked with rebuilding the town.
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To its credit, it's easier to get 'stuff' in this game than others, but I actually found myself bored after a while. Sarcasm only works in small doses, it's like spending more than a day at <a href="http://makeminemagicpodcast.com/2015/04/16/make-mine-magic-podcast-67-the-wizarding-world-of-harry-potter/">Universal</a>. Later versions have the Star Trek Next Gen characters and actors involved, so maybe a return trip to Quahog might be in order.
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The Flintstones hold a bit more power over me as I continue to play that one. Officially called <i>The Flintstones: Bring Back Bedrock</i>, it is just like the other two freemium games, only with the hangings of that cartoon. Bedrock has been destroyed by a meteor shower (a little close for comfort) and Fred and company have to put it back together. Some of it is fun, and some not so fun, I really just want to get Dino. One thing for sure, it's addictive. Either way, I'll still return to my first love, <i>Tapped Out</i>.
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-60199795315503118662015-08-21T19:07:00.001-04:002015-08-21T19:07:47.865-04:00Silverball 2: Oxo <br />
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<i>Oxo</i> is a Williams four-player pinball machine from 1973, despite its 1980s <a href="http://monsura.blogspot.com/p/lost-hits-of-new-wave.html">New Wave</a> vibe and coincidentally sharing a name with the dance rock one hit wonders of "<a href="https://youtu.be/n-atC5XLHlg">Whirly Girl</a>" fame. <i> </i><br />
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<i>Oxo</i> was designed by Norm Clark with art by Christian Marche. Based on the simplicity of a tic-tac-toe game, it's easy, fast, and fun to play.<br />
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<i>Oxo</i> was one of the two pinball machines I had the most fun playing on the visit to the <a href="http://nongamersgamersblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-silverball-museum.html">Silverball Museum</a>.
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-45270824693096382652015-08-07T15:45:00.000-04:002015-08-07T15:45:37.561-04:00Silverball 1: Beat Time<br />
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Beat Time is a Williams pinball machine from 1967, designed by Steve Kordek with art by Jerry Kelley.<br />
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This was a Beatles pinball machine taking advantage of the height of Beatlemania.<br />
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The caricatures are obviously the Fab Four, borrowing from the cartoon of the time, but predating their slightly modder look from <i>Yellow Submarine</i>.<br />
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Fun and basic, this was a nice trip back in time, I dug it.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-15212382752514361482015-07-30T15:46:00.000-04:002015-10-01T21:09:41.109-04:00The Silverball Museum <br />
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Recently I visited the <a href="http://monsura.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-silverball-museum.html">Silverball Museum</a> in Asbury Park with The Bride.
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You can read the original post about the trip <a href="http://monsura.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-silverball-museum.html">right here</a> on one of my other blogs, <a href="http://monsura.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-silverball-museum.html">Welcome to Hell</a>.
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Over the next few weeks, we'll be taking a closer look at some of <a href="http://nongamersgamersblog.blogspot.com/search/label/silverball%20museum">the pinball machines</a> on display there at the Museum, so keep an eye out!
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-31015139631398705232015-06-25T14:37:00.000-04:002015-06-25T14:37:38.373-04:00Batman: Arkham Knight: First Impressions<br />
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The newest of the Batman videogames was released this week. I have tried to play <a href="http://nongamersgamersblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/bat-pr0n.html">once before</a> but couldn't make heads or tails (or wings) of it, so I gave up. Some folks enjoy it though.<br />
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Here are some of the first impressions of the game at <a href="http://www.biffbampop.com/">Biff Bam Pop!</a>, first up is <a href="http://biffbampop.com/author/matylang/">Mat Langford</a> on <a href="http://biffbampop.com/2015/06/24/batman-arkham-knight-first-impressions/">the regular game</a>, and then <a href="http://biffbampop.com/author/sneydman/">Luke Sneyd</a> on <a href="http://biffbampop.com/2015/06/24/batman-arkham-knight-limited-edition-ps4-unboxing/">the special limited edition</a>. Enjoy. I'll be over here, playing with my Matchbox Batmobile.
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-52507164908037858642015-05-08T14:50:00.000-04:002015-05-08T14:50:45.474-04:00Crap-Out at the Contest of Champions <br />
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Anyone who reads this blog knows I'm a comic book superhero guy, and a big Avengers fan. I've talked about <i>Avengers Alliance</i> here before, linking to my article at <a href="http://www.biffbampop.com/">Biff Bam Pop!</a> right <a href="http://biffbampop.com/2013/06/14/avengers-alliance-for-ios/">here</a>. Since then I've moved on to playing the game on my iPad, much bigger and crisper.
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Once I had obtained the perfect Avengers team - Vision and the Scarlet Witch, Giant-Man and the Wasp, Hawkeye, Black Panther, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America - I kinda stopped playing for a while. After all I doubted they'd introduce the Swordsman and Mantis to the game, the only thing that could make it cooler. And then I discovered <i>Marvel's Contest of Champions</i>.
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<i>Contest of Champions</i> combined the comic book fun and character selection (to a point) of <i>Avengers Alliance</i> with the more advanced animated fighting of <i><a href="http://nongamersgamersblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/injustice-on-iphone.html">Injustice</a></i>. And it rocked, for a while, and I played non-stop for almost three weeks. I loved it.
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Then one day I turned on the game on my iPad, and it had logged me out. Not only had it logged me out, it had put me all the way back to the start. So I logged in, twice, several times, and I never got all my levels and characters that I had fought so hard for - and paid for as well, because it's one of <i>those</i> games. Kabam is sort of like the Yahoo! or Facebook of gaming companies. They wouldn't help me. And I'm not the only one this has happened to. Now that app is collecting dust on my iPad, and probably will for another couple weeks until I delete it in frustration.
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9sdRMiWCSUdy98CvgQPMnaFweK1FLjE07ULByz5W8siRzbe_ZwywZ6XBmVsmtB7ZjuGvn3UUULMgR5oRdAceZcN_FPfJfV-Cntto-gDOtBdt2uO3n8qvKTjYiYHwQ0NLPr4JVxGOpgU/s1600/con3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9sdRMiWCSUdy98CvgQPMnaFweK1FLjE07ULByz5W8siRzbe_ZwywZ6XBmVsmtB7ZjuGvn3UUULMgR5oRdAceZcN_FPfJfV-Cntto-gDOtBdt2uO3n8qvKTjYiYHwQ0NLPr4JVxGOpgU/s320/con3.png" width="320" /></a><br />
And it's a shame too, because now they're running a promotion coinciding with <i><a href="http://monsura.blogspot.com/2015/05/avengers-age-of-ultron.html">Avengers: Age of Ultron</a></i>. I would have loved that, but alas, I am not starting over from scratch. I guess I'll be going back to <i>Avengers Alliance</i>.
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-62464816650580966742015-04-23T11:25:00.000-04:002015-04-23T11:25:27.298-04:00Atari: Game Over <br />
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On the surface, this documentary directed by Zak Penn seemed to be about the urban legend of Atari dumping thousands of <i>E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial</i> 2600 videogames in a landfill in 1983 during the big gaming crash of the time. While event did happen, and the film does cover it, it also essentially tells the story of the rise and fall of Atari.
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Much of the doc concerns game designer and programmer Howard Scott Warshaw, who not only designed the <i>E.T.</i> game, but also the equally lackluster <i>Raiders of the Lost Ark</i> game. His real claim to fame is of course one of my favorite Atari games, <i>Yar's Revenge</i>, which in turn was based on my favorite coin op videogame, <i>Star Castle</i>. For no other reason, the man is a legend.
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I remember playing <i>E.T.</i> back in the day, or rather back in my Atari day, which was actually the mid to late eighties when I purchased an Atari 2600 wannabe retro system called Gemini. I bought <i>E.T.</i> for a dollar at the Berlin auction (that's Farmers Market for the Cherry Hill folks) from a gigantic stack of <i>E.T.</i> games - obviously copies spared from the landfill.
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There's much talk in the documentary about the game being too hard, too complicated, and most of all, just plain unfair. Much is made of the game both being the worst one in history and being a miracle of engineering, having been designed in just five weeks.
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Having played the thing both then and more recently, I have to admit to not seeing the allure in either direction for <i>E.T.</i> It's not good or bad, it's just dumb. No matter what you do, you fall in a pit, but that could just be me, as I am just notoriously bad at videogames. Either way, I was bored and frustrated.
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This is a pretty cool doc, with lots of insight to the early days of Atari, and what eventually toppled the videogame titan. Bonus - look for <i>Ready Player One</i> author Ernest Cline driving to the landfill site in George R.R. Martin's <i>Back to the Future</i> DeLorean. It doesn't get much more quirky cool surreal than that.
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-5997037508466365612015-03-15T15:23:00.000-04:002015-03-15T15:23:17.546-04:00Super Simpsons? <br />
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Every month or so there's a new mission in the <i><a href="http://nongamersgamersblog.blogspot.com/search/label/simpsons">Simpsons Tapped Out</a></i> freemium game. As far as I'm concerned the regular game is fun all on its own. If they do these special events too often, it can get tiresome, especially if it's complicated like the last few. Keep it simple. Sometimes I just wanna <a href="http://nongamersgamersblog.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-simpsons-still-tapping.html">whack snakes</a>, ya know?
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The new mission's theme is comic books and superheroes, so you'd think I'd be all in, right? Not quite. I have issues, pun unintended.
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There are <a href="http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Superheroes">a lot of superheroes</a> involved in the Simpsons universe, and I'm not talking about the Simpsonizations of real characters. They have their own heroes. There's Radioactive Man and Fallout Boy, Bartman, Duffman, and Pie-Man just off the top of my head. The last two are even in the game, along with Mr. Burns' Fruit Bat Man.
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My problem is that the character you want the most - much like Sideshow Bob - they have removed from the game. You can't have/play Radioactive Man, because they've killed him. Where's the fun in that?
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I'm enjoying what I can while I can. I'm happy to have Bartman, Fallout Boy, and <a href="https://youtu.be/714-Ioa4XQw">Spider-Pig</a>, but I also can't wait to get back to the regular game. Or at least simpler missions. Is it snake whacking time yet?
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8940128604105827259.post-48676558526467205612015-03-12T10:32:00.000-04:002015-03-12T10:32:08.716-04:00Powers on the Sony PlayStation Network <br />
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Based on the comic series by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming, "Powers" the television series has debuted on the Sony PlayStation Network. You can check out my review <a href="http://monsura.blogspot.com/2015/03/powers.html">here</a>. Enjoy.
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04881290766254795431noreply@blogger.com0