Older Game Systems

"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot) 11/10/2014 at 08:45 • Filed to: Tayclassic, Dreamcast, Sega, video games

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I'm really glad and proud of the fact that my Dreamcast is still working after all these years. But I'm a bit sad that I have to fool it into thinking the cover is shut just to get it working.

I couldn't find any electrical tape (my previous fix), so I wrapped a rubber band around a sharpie, then wrapped the band around the lever, creating a weight to force it into the position I wanted.

So far, I have never had a cartridge-based console fail me like disc-consoles have. As consoles become more and more complex, there are more items to break on it (I think). Then if you give it an internal hard drive, then, well, you have a computer which can possibly have all the problems a computer has.

So far I have had a ps2 die on me (no power running through it), my 360 got messed up to the point where it wouldn't save (which was returned for a different 360 system), and a 360 hard drive just dying (hooray for loosing saved data!). My brothers Gamexube had a weird glitch that, for no apparent reason, everything was converted to polygons, which is amazing while playing Metroid Prime. And if I played Wind Waker, taking a picture with the camera froze the screen (dead serious, it was aggravating).

Our N64 was caught in our flooded basement, works perfectly to this day (which is awesome).

Perhaps I'm just an older gamer lamenting how things 'used' to be, or maybe I have a valid point. Heck if I know.

spanfucker retire bitch > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 08:48

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I really need to get myself an N64, just so I can play the original Super Smash Brothers.

I was an absolute master of that game, not before or since have I so thoroughly trashed and mastered a game like I did with SSB 64.

Mattbob > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 08:55

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dreamcast was the best!!!!! Btw, you can download and burn games for it really easily.

zeontestpilot > spanfucker retire bitch 11/10/2014 at 08:57

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Yep. One of the reasons I have kept my older systems is so my daughter (who's 1.5 right now) can play the older games. she's gonna learn how to appreciate some if the classics first.

I had a neighbor kid over Saturday, and I introduced him to Capcom V's Marvel (Dreamcast) & XIII (GCN), he enjoyed both of them.

If any kids are reading this; ps4, ps3, 360, Xbox one, wii, wii u, etc, are not the only systems out there. There are generations of great consoles and games that are a blast to play before those even came out.. And no, you don't need guns or the new-fangled 3d graphics just to have fun.

On a side note, I miss good side-scrollers.

CalzoneGolem > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 08:59

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Did you ever figure out what the little screens in the controller was supposed to do? I never saw the point but really I only played Soulcalibur but I played it a lot.

zeontestpilot > CalzoneGolem 11/10/2014 at 09:09

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For Dreamcast? Yes. The slot on the controller was for memory cards, and a special memory card called VMU (visual memory unit), had a screen on it. Most games just had stuff displayed on the screen for no reason, other games used the screen for gameplay things.

For sonic adventure (one of the best games ever, btw), you could put a Chao on the vmu, and bring it with you (to work or school) like a tamagotchi. And if I remember right, you could link up to other vmu's as well. And something's were only available with the vmu, like the ability to rename a Chao.

You could also go through your saved data, without having to plug it into the controller as well. The controller design went to be reused (with some tweaks) for the original xbox controller, just without the window.

The Dreamcast was surely, ahead of it's time.

zeontestpilot > Mattbob 11/10/2014 at 09:11

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I know. I'm usually against burned games, but I'm willing to make an exception here. The games are too expensive and too rare.

I would love to get my hands back on the gundam game for Dreamcast. It was all in 1st person, so awesome...

CalzoneGolem > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 09:20

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Ah I never knew about being able to review save data. For soulcalibur it showed a picture of your character. RIP Sega consoles!

Sweet Trav > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 09:21

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There's only been one one game so good I had to go back in time and revisit. FFVII.

The rest, I can hardly play they looks so bad.

But then again PC Gaming Master Race since '97

Mattbob > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 09:31

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let me know if you find it. I need to find my brothers old dreamcast. That system had some of my all time favorite games. THPS:2, Worms, DOA, quake3. Such classics.

Kaizer Soze > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 09:32

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I had a PS2 in which my brother forced the disc tray open and broke the little tab that guides it. I did the same thing you did but a screw rolled under it and shorted out the power supply. I was very sad.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 09:40

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This is why my N64 and NES system both still work like a champ

ACESandEIGHTS > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 09:46

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Kind of a testament to those solid state systems and their resilience. N64 did a lot with that final generation of hardware, rivaling Playstation. Though Sony and Sega took a giant leap forward with CD drives and the games got exponentially better in the generations to come.

RIP your Dreamcast when it finally gives up. Sometimes I miss mine, but I don't miss finding it a good home on a farm out in the country back in 2001 so I didn't have to see it fade away and die over the past 14 years.

zeontestpilot > Mattbob 11/10/2014 at 09:50

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Will do. have you ever played sonic adventure (not the sequel, the original). It's one of my all time favorite games. I bought DC just to play and finish that game.

zeontestpilot > ACESandEIGHTS 11/10/2014 at 09:52

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Yeah... I will miss it when it does die. I'm also trying to fix a ps2, which I got for free. It won't eject properly when the top cover is on. I haven't looked at it for too long though, I need to get back on that.

zeontestpilot > Kaizer Soze 11/10/2014 at 09:55

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When my brother was younger, back when the snes was the most recent system, he pulled the power plug to hard and at a angle, part of the plug got stuck in the snes, had to throw the thing out. Thankfully, grandma bought us another one....which I still have to this day, :). It's the 2nd, compact style though.

Mattbob > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 09:55

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I think I played the demo of it on one of those demo disks that came out.Those were awesome. I played the demo of MDK so many times back in the day.

zeontestpilot > Sweet Trav 11/10/2014 at 09:56

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I got that digitally for my psp, haven't beaten it yet. I've had a yearning to replay ffx, cuz I really enjoyed plaything that one. The gameplay was wicked.

zeontestpilot > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/10/2014 at 09:57

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Man, the oldest systems I have are the snes and the Sega genesis. Snes still works amazingly though.

Sweet Trav > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 09:57

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I could make a grand statement that either FFVII is the greatest video game of all time.

ACESandEIGHTS > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 09:58

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That happened to my PS2 within a week of my having purchased it in 2001, so working as designed.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 09:59

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I have a Sega Genesis that I came into in a strange way (long story I can fill you in sometime) but I have no cords or controllers and have no idea if it works. I have like 5-6 games for it too.

I wish I still had a working SNES. Mine broke waaay back which allowed me to get an n64.

zeontestpilot > ACESandEIGHTS 11/10/2014 at 10:08

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Dang that's bad. the one I got is the older style. The broken one I mentioned in my post us the 2nd style. I do prefer the heavier version though, it doesn't move too easily if you accident pull the controller, -_-

zeontestpilot > Sweet Trav 11/10/2014 at 10:15

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Could you? I'm being serious. FFXII is good, I enjoy the story, but the story does seem to drag on a times. Hmm, it might warrant a 2nd attempt at it...

 V8 Rustler > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 10:18

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When the N64 was still in the market, I remember that one time I accidentally pulled my controller too far and made the console fall into the floor from a relatively low height. After that it didn't turn on. So my mom decided to buy me another brand new one. Years later I discovered that the thing that failed was just the power supply, as I used the new console's PSU on the old one. It's been a while since I played any of my old consoles. I just use emulators now. Using RCA on an HDTV is:

zeontestpilot > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/10/2014 at 10:23

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Game On in Davison or Clio (East of Flint). I bought a genesis, two controllers, and 6 or 8 games for the price of $50. They are like GameStop, except everything is used and they have all the systems, not just current gens. I got a 2nd gen genesis from them.

I also found a 1st gen genesis at a flea market in Florida, but have nothing to go with it. Also, if you ever make your way out to Fowlerville (the next town over from me), there is a store that sometimes sells this kind of stuff. And the owner can get you almost near anything. He also has pretty fair prices.

Fun fact, a Sega genesis will get the attention of airport security when it's your carry on, lol.

Kaizer Soze > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 10:24

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I honestly don't know how the PS2 lasted that long. That thing had been through hell and back, being dropped down the stairs countless times, pulled off the tv stand by wrenching the controller in rage. Don't even get me started on the controllers, I still have the originals and I can attest that they are nearly indestructible needless to say my little brother wasn't the nicest to our electronics. Our N64 had the same life but because of its simplicity is still chugging along to this day

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 10:40

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I had just about every console but when I moved to alberta I did not bring all of them. I brought my NES and my PS1. I had Atari, Sega Genesis, SNES, N64, Gameboy pocket, Sega Game gear. and my Evil ex-stepmom gave them away without my knowledge.

Now all I have is NES, SNES(a coworker gave me another one), PS1, Xbox 360. All the great vintage stuff I had is gone forever.

zeontestpilot > Mattbob 11/10/2014 at 10:43

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Call me old fashion, but I'm not crazy about how everything is digital now. Give me a hard copy. Plus digital demos take up hard drive space, and if you didn't pony up enough $$ for a good size hard drive, you're sort of screwed...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 10:49

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hahahahah good to know about TSA.

Yeah there's a friend of mine who might end up buying it from me (if it works). I don't think I have the time to put into it.

And I go buy Fowlerville all the time, my in-laws live in Williamston so just past there.

zeontestpilot > Kaizer Soze 11/10/2014 at 10:49

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It helps that the system is very similar to the cartridge consoles. Each time it's turned on, it turns on like it's the very first time. No information is held over between play times. Which was perfect, IMO.

Mattbob > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 10:50

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I could go either way on it. I've been using steam for years on the PC, and i really like it. When I redo my computer or go to a new machine, I just download steam, and bam all my games are easy to get. No keeping track of anything, and no discs to lose. That said, I still like having the physical game a lot of times. Also as things go more digital, there is a lot more content released after that you have to pay extra for.... I hate that.

zeontestpilot >  V8 Rustler 11/10/2014 at 10:51

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Do you at least use controllers for the emulation? For me, that completed it.

zeontestpilot > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 11/10/2014 at 11:03

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Man, sorry to hear that. I traded my ps2 for my brothers n64 (it was his Xmas gift). A year later, the house my brother was staying at had a fire, the ps2 was lost completely, but I still had the n64 (harder to replace).

Our snes was a joint gift for my brother and I. When I went to college, I took my systems, and my brother took his. I was gonna pay for his half of the snes to get it, but my sister complained she didn't have a game system, so my mom gave her the snes. It took me years (like 6 I think) of constant asking/begging for it. She only said yes because well, I was going to be a father soon and I wanted my kid to appreciate the classics.

There are specialty stores that sell older stuff, and flea markets. You really have to look and ask around.

Um, let's, over the years (I'm 27 now), I have obtained 2 ps1, a snes, n64, 3 GCN, a wii, a xbox 360, 2 genesis (one has no cords), a Sega Saturn (courtesy of me dumpster diving), a Dreamcast, 2 ps2 (one works, the other half works), and that's all I can think of.

People know I collect consoles and games, so I get a bunch of the things they want to get rid of. So it's a good idea if people know your a gamer and that you collect the stuff. :)

BoulderZ > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 11:06

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Hmmm. Now you have me wondering if my parents still have our Atari 2600 in their massive pile of stuff they store for no apparent reason. They just dropped off about 100 lbs of steel Tonka trucks for my 2 year old, and that's been awesome. It would be fun to play Asteroids, Space Invaders, Breakout, or Tank Pong when he's old enough. I had a lot of fun doing that with my Dad when I was 9 or 10.

zeontestpilot > Mattbob 11/10/2014 at 11:09

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I hear ya. The game market is changing, dramatically. Especially where you have to pay a whole lot more just to 'complete' a game. Bioshock 2's dlc was just a Boolean switch that said "unlock the dlc already on the disc!"

Plus everything is online now. I don't play online, I love playing a game because it has a awesome story. I prefer campaign mode, and I don't even touch multiplayer.

Also, any multiplayer nowadays is online, not too many co-op games anymore, :(.

Mattbob > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 11:12

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That is the worst when the content is already there! Destiny supposedly is disc locked content as well. I have been more and more into single player games, simply because I dont have the time anymore to be competitive in multiplayer games.

zeontestpilot > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 11/10/2014 at 11:14

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Ha, you go by my exit then all the time!

Hey, what kind of connections does it use? And do you know what gen of the genesis it was (There were 3)? My 2nd gen goes through the coaxial cable, but I think some went through the s-video line. Some might even use the RCA connector. I'm just curious.

Sweet Trav > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 11:14

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not twelve sir, seven. FF7 is perfect.

zeontestpilot > BoulderZ 11/10/2014 at 11:20

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I know what you mean. I'm in a battle with my mother about getting all the Star Wars toys at her house, possibility micro machines as well. I have already cleared her out of beast wars, hot wheels , and Legos...

zeontestpilot > Mattbob 11/10/2014 at 11:34

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The video game market has exploded in the past ten years or so, and people are trying to look for ways to get more $$$. That's very unfortunate. because it's the customer who suffers.

Think of the prices consoles are now, and the games too. They know people are (blindly) willing to pay extravagant prices, so they have no issues putting them that high.

When the Apple pippen came out, it was $600! Thst may not seem much now, but it came out in the '90s, which competed directly again the PS1, and the Sega Saturn. It's price was one of the reasons it failed. Side note, I'd love to try playing a pippen sometime.

zeontestpilot > Sweet Trav 11/10/2014 at 11:36

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That's what I meant to say. So, why is it perfect? Care to defend your stance?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 11:37

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I'll try and remember to take a look for you.

No idea on answering either of those lol

BoulderZ > zeontestpilot 11/10/2014 at 11:40

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Yeah, I think I have all my hot wheels and the few transformers I owned, and my Lionel train set. I'm lucky. My folks saved absolutely everything, even moved it twice (PA to CA to TX). I heard there was something like my grandmother had thrown out everything from my Dad's childhood save one thing he made in Scouts and an honor roll certificate or something. I'm guessing they swore they wouldn't do that. It has been fun letting my kid play with older toys as he ages in to them. It does require a lot of effort on my part to go through all the stuff, though. Good luck! Hope you get it resolved!