Alright...here we go again...

Azel wrote:
>
> Advance Guardian Heroes? as in the great Saturn Guardian Heroes? whoa?
> is this true? kick ass! how is it compared to that Saturn version?

As I haven't played it yet, and don't own the Saturn version, I can't
say. People seem a litle disappointed, but it's hard to tell if that's
because the GBA isn't as powerful as the Saturn and they're disappointed
in the look.

can
> you play 4 people battle royale in the arena mode?

The manual says you can have 4 player using GBA link cables; everyone
needs to have the game, tho.

>is there an arena mode?

I don't have the manual with me at the moment to check...
 >> Stay informed about: Alright...here we go again... 

> history time!
>
> power base convertor. one of the first optional peripherals brought out
> for the genesis (or as i lovingly refer to it, Voltron the Console). one
> of the earliest (if not the earliest) times a system came out with
> essentially full backward compatibility. almost all SMS games can play
> on it, except F-15 fighting Falcon (one of the few great card games),
> and a few others requiring an original SMS controller to play (perhaps
> around 20, out of like... 200+ SMS games -- system lived very long,
> especially in europe and brazil, and there's no lockout, so you're good
> to go importing).
>
> the device came out nearly at the same time as the genesis. you can play
> 3-D games w/ glasses on it. yes... the pause button is still on the
> system (PBC), not on the controller, just like the SMS.
>
> in my day (sits in rocking chair and starts up pipe), PBC cost roughly
> $40. being one of the very few who owned a SMS instead of a NES (you NES
> bastards, leaving us SMS people like outcasts), buying a PBC was a great
> deal. saved mucho space. by the way, doesn't work on nomad, just in case
> you are curious. there is a master gear convertor for the game gear, as
> well, for your information. some fonts don't carry over well, onto the
> smaller screen.
>
> about the SMS. there were several versions released, there's a few
> websites with the whole history and panalopy of SMS. all versions have a
> built in game called Snail in the console itself. just hit power, or in
> some others hit power and then hold down and press button 1. it's a game
> of a snail (OMG, really?!) going through a basic 2D maze. the maze is
> timed, and progressive levels can get ridiculously complex, some
> spanning several screens. for such a simple (and free!) game it's a lot
> of fun. most early versions came with a pack in game cart. there's
> several versions of these carts. some gave you astro warrior, others
> hang on, a few gave you combo carts which would have astro warrior and
> lets say hang on. when the light phazer came out safari hunt became part
> of the pack in, and eventually on the combo cart. a few later versions
> of the SMS came with these combo carts also built into the motherboard
> itself. my version came with hang on and safari hunt built into the
> machine. all i had to do was hit power and i could play either one. you
> can still play snail, just have to hold down, turn power on and hit
> button 1. so basically i bought SMS with 3 built in games on the
> motherboard itself.
>
> to buy a PBC or an SMS... depends on your space and money. if space is
> such a premium, i'd recommend just buying the game carts and then just
> emulating them on your computer. if you simply must have the system, but
> still want to conserve space, i'd go genesis and PBC. if you have the
> spare money you can collect a SMS just for nostalgia value on top of
> that. since i never sell any systems, ever, i still got all my stuff. if
> the price is right, and you feel like a romp through memory lane, get a
> SMS and have a blast. i'd try to get a console of either one just to
> play 3D glasses games, easily one of the most memorable experiences in
> all my video game playing, let alone 8bit period.

Though I don't have a whole lot to add, I'd just like to send out a quick
"Thanks" for the post, very imformative and interesting read.

Bel
--

Whip Ass Gaming: http://www.whipassgaming.com/

"Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream...whoa, I think my dingy
hanging out!
- Lo Wang, Shadow Warrior
 >> Stay informed about: Alright...here we go again... 

"Azel" <opaopajr.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:d7-dna-SALVNMqbfRVn-oQ@comcast.com...
> history time!
>
> power base convertor. one of the first optional peripherals brought out
> for the genesis (or as i lovingly refer to it, Voltron the Console). one
> of the earliest (if not the earliest) times a system came out with
> essentially full backward compatibility. almost all SMS games can play
> on it, except F-15 fighting Falcon (one of the few great card games),
> and a few others requiring an original SMS controller to play (perhaps
> around 20, out of like... 200+ SMS games -- system lived very long,
> especially in europe and brazil, and there's no lockout, so you're good
> to go importing).
>
> the device came out nearly at the same time as the genesis. you can play
> 3-D games w/ glasses on it. yes... the pause button is still on the
> system (PBC), not on the controller, just like the SMS.
>
> in my day (sits in rocking chair and starts up pipe), PBC cost roughly
> $40. being one of the very few who owned a SMS instead of a NES (you NES
> bastards, leaving us SMS people like outcasts), buying a PBC was a great
> deal. saved mucho space. by the way, doesn't work on nomad, just in case
> you are curious. there is a master gear convertor for the game gear, as
> well, for your information. some fonts don't carry over well, onto the
> smaller screen.
>
> about the SMS. there were several versions released, there's a few
> websites with the whole history and panalopy of SMS. all versions have a
> built in game called Snail in the console itself. just hit power, or in
> some others hit power and then hold down and press button 1. it's a game
> of a snail (OMG, really?!) going through a basic 2D maze. the maze is
> timed, and progressive levels can get ridiculously complex, some
> spanning several screens. for such a simple (and free!) game it's a lot
> of fun. most early versions came with a pack in game cart. there's
> several versions of these carts. some gave you astro warrior, others
> hang on, a few gave you combo carts which would have astro warrior and
> lets say hang on. when the light phazer came out safari hunt became part
> of the pack in, and eventually on the combo cart. a few later versions
> of the SMS came with these combo carts also built into the motherboard
> itself. my version came with hang on and safari hunt built into the
> machine. all i had to do was hit power and i could play either one. you
> can still play snail, just have to hold down, turn power on and hit
> button 1. so basically i bought SMS with 3 built in games on the
> motherboard itself.
>
> to buy a PBC or an SMS... depends on your space and money. if space is
> such a premium, i'd recommend just buying the game carts and then just
> emulating them on your computer. if you simply must have the system, but
> still want to conserve space, i'd go genesis and PBC. if you have the
> spare money you can collect a SMS just for nostalgia value on top of
> that. since i never sell any systems, ever, i still got all my stuff. if
> the price is right, and you feel like a romp through memory lane, get a
> SMS and have a blast. i'd try to get a console of either one just to
> play 3D glasses games, easily one of the most memorable experiences in
> all my video game playing, let alone 8bit period.

Thanks dude for the interesting post!, I *love* the "Voltron the Console"
thing for the genny, so true. I remember when the Sega CD first came out and
my buddy and I ran out to rent it and a few games, goddamn I thought that
was the coolest thing ever to have a console actually grow and become more
powerful like that ).

Wurm
 >> Stay informed about: Alright...here we go again... 

BelPowerslave wrote:
>
> Galactic Attack - I still find it hard to believe that they changed the original
> name(Layer Section) to this...but I guess there wasn't a chance in hell of it
> making it to the US under that(I still agree with GameFan, it just *sounds*
> dirty). It's one of the few games you can tip your TV over to play(though I'd
> only recommend doing this with an old TV you don't care about...and definitely
> do it while it's *on*),
snip

Why? Does the electricity stabilize the components (/crazy explanation off)?
 >> Stay informed about: Alright...here we go again... 

> > Galactic Attack - I still find it hard to believe that they changed the original
> > name(Layer Section) to this...but I guess there wasn't a chance in hell of it
> > making it to the US under that(I still agree with GameFan, it just *sounds*
> > dirty). It's one of the few games you can tip your TV over to play(though I'd
> > only recommend doing this with an old TV you don't care about...and definitely
> > do it while it's *on*),
> snip
>
> Why? Does the electricity stabilize the components (/crazy explanation off)?

If you tip the TV while it's on, half(or more) of the screen with turn green. Why this
happens, I don't know. Now, if you turn the TV off, *then* tip it, then turn it back
on, the color doesn't get screwed up. Again, why, I don't know...

Bel

--
Whip Ass Gaming: http://www.whipassgaming.com/
 >> Stay informed about: Alright...here we go again... 

In alt.games.video.sega-saturn BelPowerslave <belpowerslave.DeleteThis@ev1.net> wrote:

> Sonic R - One of the last few Saturn games...and, imo, one of the most
> graphically ambitious Saturn games out there. The graphics in this one
> are just incredible, especially that last track that completely
> transparent. How in the hell did they manage to pull that off!?

It's just another application of background priorities and blending:

The bottom-most background layer displays the starfield.
On top of that you have an opaque black background layer.
The track sprites are displayed topmost, but the background processor
blends them with the starfield layer.

-a
 >> Stay informed about: Alright...here we go again... 

> > Sonic R - One of the last few Saturn games...and, imo, one of the most
> > graphically ambitious Saturn games out there. The graphics in this one
> > are just incredible, especially that last track that completely
> > transparent. How in the hell did they manage to pull that off!?
>
> It's just another application of background priorities and blending:
>
> The bottom-most background layer displays the starfield.
> On top of that you have an opaque black background layer.
> The track sprites are displayed topmost, but the background processor
> blends them with the starfield layer.
>
> -a

I take it this is how they managed to get the other tracks to sort of "fade in"
rather than pop up?

Bel
--
Whip Ass Gaming: http://www.whipassgaming.com/
 >> Stay informed about: Alright...here we go again... 

BelPowerslave wrote:
>
> > > Galactic Attack - I still find it hard to believe that they changed the original
> > > name(Layer Section) to this...but I guess there wasn't a chance in hell of it
> > > making it to the US under that(I still agree with GameFan, it just *sounds*
> > > dirty). It's one of the few games you can tip your TV over to play(though I'd
> > > only recommend doing this with an old TV you don't care about...and definitely
> > > do it while it's *on*),
> > snip
> >
> > Why? Does the electricity stabilize the components (/crazy explanation off)?
>
> If you tip the TV while it's on, half(or more) of the screen with turn green. Why this
> happens, I don't know. Now, if you turn the TV off, *then* tip it, then turn it back
> on, the color doesn't get screwed up. Again, why, I don't know...

So, when you said *on*, you meant *off*.
 >> Stay informed about: Alright...here we go again... 

Ted wrote:

> BelPowerslave wrote:
> >
> > > > Galactic Attack - I still find it hard to believe that they changed the original
> > > > name(Layer Section) to this...but I guess there wasn't a chance in hell of it
> > > > making it to the US under that(I still agree with GameFan, it just *sounds*
> > > > dirty). It's one of the few games you can tip your TV over to play(though I'd
> > > > only recommend doing this with an old TV you don't care about...and definitely
> > > > do it while it's *on*),
> > > snip
> > >
> > > Why? Does the electricity stabilize the components (/crazy explanation off)?
> >
> > If you tip the TV while it's on, half(or more) of the screen with turn green. Why this
> > happens, I don't know. Now, if you turn the TV off, *then* tip it, then turn it back
> > on, the color doesn't get screwed up. Again, why, I don't know...
>
> So, when you said *on*, you meant *off*.

Oh, hehehe, didn't even notice that. Yeah, I meant "and definitely do it while it's *off*".
Damn, now that's going to be archived by Google...hopefully someone will look at these next
two posts if they find it down the line.

Bel

--
Whip Ass Gaming: http://www.whipassgaming.com/
 >> Stay informed about: Alright...here we go again... 

BelPowerslave wrote:
snip
> Sega Saturn bootleg sampler - A very cool sampler that was sent out to those who
> registered their Saturns with SoA.
snip

It was also a pack in.
 >> Stay informed about: Alright...here we go again... 

Ted wrote:

> BelPowerslave wrote:
> snip
> > Sega Saturn bootleg sampler - A very cool sampler that was sent out to those who
> > registered their Saturns with SoA.
> snip
>
> It was also a pack in.

Oh, then maybe Sega Screams was the version that was sent out to people who registered
the Saturn. It's been so long...plus, I don't have the discs with me here at work, so
I can't look them over...

Bel

--
Whip Ass Gaming: http://www.whipassgaming.com/
 >> Stay informed about: Alright...here we go again... 

In alt.games.video.sega-saturn BelPowerslave <belpowerslave DeleteThis @ev1.net> wrote:
>> > Sonic R - One of the last few Saturn games...and, imo, one of the most
>> > graphically ambitious Saturn games out there. The graphics in this one
>> > are just incredible, especially that last track that completely
>> > transparent. How in the hell did they manage to pull that off!?
>> It's just another application of background priorities and blending:
>> The bottom-most background layer displays the starfield.
>> On top of that you have an opaque black background layer.
>> The track sprites are displayed topmost, but the background processor
>> blends them with the starfield layer.
> I take it this is how they managed to get the other tracks to sort of
> "fade in" rather than pop up?

Most probably yes.

-a
 >> Stay informed about: Alright...here we go again... 

> >> > Sonic R - One of the last few Saturn games...and, imo, one of the most
> >> > graphically ambitious Saturn games out there. The graphics in this one
> >> > are just incredible, especially that last track that completely
> >> > transparent. How in the hell did they manage to pull that off!?
> >> It's just another application of background priorities and blending:
> >> The bottom-most background layer displays the starfield.
> >> On top of that you have an opaque black background layer.
> >> The track sprites are displayed topmost, but the background processor
> >> blends them with the starfield layer.
> > I take it this is how they managed to get the other tracks to sort of
> > "fade in" rather than pop up?
>
> Most probably yes.
>
> -a

Speaking of pop-up, and I'm just sort of throwing this out there as something
I've always wondered about: You know how most of the racers on the Saturn have
some sort of pop up? I am guessing that it's because it doesn't have the
memory, nor the horsepower to render the entire track at one time....now, with
that said, how is it that games like PowerSlave, Duke Nukem 3D and
Quake(basically the Lobotomy line up), and most FPS's in general, don't seem to
have a lot of pop up? Is it just a difference in the engine, or the
programming?

Bel
--
Whip Ass Gaming: http://www.whipassgaming.com/
 >> Stay informed about: Alright...here we go again...