Messages

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: WTB Mysterious Song]

What was the catalyst that triggered your reversal?  Originally the website said there would never be a reprint--so clearly you guys went into this deliberately intending NOT to do exactly what you are now doing.

And can you say how many more are being produced?  I'm curious to know what the upper limit is for these sorts of projects.  It took 1 year+ (something like that?) to sell the original 500 (minus copies lost in shipping)--although there does seem to be more interest in the platform lately, and presumably the omgzrare prices on eBay are signalling some additional demand.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: WTB Mysterious Song]

Anyway, a second pressing is coming.

Wow, that's big news!  What made you guys change your mind?

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Complete list of beat 'em ups on the PC Engine / TurboGrafx-16]

The list at the top also doesn't differentiate between belt-scrollers and 2D brawlers (not sure what to call that genre, Spartan-X-like games).  I'm pretty sure adding an entire new dimension of movement constitutes a different genre.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: FS: Langrisser complete $75 shipped*]

lol

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Re: Alddee demo/mini game thingy]

When I started tinkering with HuC this was the very first project I found.  The code quality isn't super high (since the guy spent one day making it) but it was actually a great jumping off point for figuring out this whole crazy PCE programming thing.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: Freeeeeeench manuals so rare!!!! Looooook]

In all seriousness I am a big collector of these and I am documenting (read: scanning) these for a website project I have in the works.

PM incoming.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: Help a brother out! (WTB stuff...)]

I have a copy of Chase HQ with manual in my FS thread if you are interested.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: FS: NICE TG16 and CD ROM set w/cd system card and cables!]

There is nothing wrong with posting ebay links Lochlan.

You're right, there's nothing inherently wrong with it.  I found it mildly annoying that he explicitly said he would not end early (considering we can all search ebay without his help), but the part that really grinds me gears is the auction description for well-used system that said:

"nicest working CD ROM unit [the seller has] ever come across"

"The pictures just don't do it justice."

Like it's one thing to play up your auction, but this dude is being pretty damn disingenuous with the way he's phrasing everything.  The OP has a beat up system and he wants to church it up--I get the motivation, I think everybody is guilty of that to some degree at one point or another, but it's just noise.

You're right to imply that I'm being a bit unreasonable, but this post was just the perfect storm of nonsense and I was already in a bad mood for totally unrelated reasons...so here we are.

Maybe he did a drunk post like I always do. Hahah...

Heh nope, just being an asshole.  Maybe I should have stayed silent, IDK.  NecroPhile is right to say that this guy is not breaking rules.  So whatevs, I guess.  /shrug

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: FS: NICE TG16 and CD ROM set w/cd system card and cables!]

We already know how to search eBay, your post is spam. 

It is a very nice system, probably the best condition wise that I have come across in a long time

What a joke, the CD drive is clearly well-used from the photos and you don't even have the carrying case.  I guess the "nicest working CD ROM unit [you] have ever come across" means you've only ever seen this unit?

And you say "the CD ROM attachment base itself does have a scratch along the underside of it" but somehow it's still "the best condition wise" you have seen?  What???

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: FS: Vasteel, Chase HQ, Darkwing Duck, others]

PMs replied to!

[Buy/Sell/Trade / FS: Vasteel, Chase HQ, Darkwing Duck, others]

Prices include shipping to USA 48 states.  Games are CIC unless noted.  Please feel free to make offers if you don't like the prices.  And I'm much more likely to give price breaks if you buy a bunch of games. 

Payment to be sent via paypal gift

CD:
Vasteel US with manual and map, missing outer sleeve $79 shipped
Dungeon Master $39 shipped
Sherlock Holmes, case has damage, untested (will test it out on request) free with purchase over $10
Fighting Street, replacement case $22 shipped sold

Hu:
Final Lap Twin $9 shipped
Victory Run $8 shipped
Legendary Axe $15 shipped
Chase HQ (manual + Hu + case) $55 shipped
Darkwing Duck (Hu only) $30 shipped
Darkwing Duck (manual + Hu) $60 shipped sold
Galaga '90 $18 shipped sold, shipped
Sidearms $15 shipped sold, shipped
Blazing Lazers $22 shipped sold, shipped
Ordyne (CIB except missing styrofoam) $65 shipped sold
Veigues $22 shipped sold

PC Engine games for sale here: https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=17832

Click images to see larger versions:

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: PC Engine Memories: Best Of Japan box set...]

Even though losers regularly argue that the top end is "fair market value"

I hope you aren't talking about me here.  I was just posting a link and throwing in my $0.02 about the relevance of saying what a game is "worth" (financially) in the first place, I wasn't making any direct statement about the value of Renny Blaster, which I have not even played.

this is re-seller/dealer propaganda

I'm weirdly flattered to be called a propagandist, it feels like a sign that my argument seems convincing to the unconvinced.  FWIW my position, just speaking personally, is more that of the "moron" you refer to in your post rather than the boogeyman gouger.

this is a TG16/PCE GAMERS forum, not a collectors forum

Are you making value judgements about me?  It's not clear from the context, maybe you are just speaking generally?  I have a vast collection that I play regularly, and I'm also a PCE developer.  I think the whole collector/gamer dichotomy is a little misguided myself, my thoughts about that are here if you're curious (although I suspect you will disagree with me given the tone of your reply!!): https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=17248.msg357769#msg357769

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: What PC-Engine Stuff did you get today?]

Today's mail:
http://lochlanmcintosh.com/share/oct11-2014.jpg
(click for full size)

All the arcade games are sealed, including Sapphire.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: PC Engine Memories: Best Of Japan box set...]

Interesting little post, I like the concepts in it and it make sense from the point of a reviewer, but not a consumer to me.

It's true that the article was referring to another context, but the same concepts apply "as a consumer."

When HailingTheThings says "It isn't worth $400" what he really means is "given my own personal financial situation and interest level in this game, I would not pay $400 to own it."  It's a statement about himself, despite being worded as if it were a fact about the game.  You or others may or may not agree with that statement.  If a reader knows HailingTheThings and knows that they share his taste in games and financial standing then his statement has some value to them.  But it's still not a fact that the game "isn't worth $400."

And I think that HailingTheThings was also implicitly "reviewing" this game when he made a statement about its relative worth--but he did so on the basis of cost, which I consider to be a misguided approach, hence the link.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / FS: Nexzr, Image Fight, Faussete Amour, others]

I have a lot of extras that I'd like to get rid of.  I'm going to start by posting a list.  At some point I will add prices, and possibly photos.  But, for now, you get a list.  I will PM photos to anyone with serious interest and add them here after taking them.  My pricing for unpriced games will be something like "middle-of-the-road eBay completed auctions minus 10-15%", plus or minus at my discretion.  And if you want to buy a bunch of games I am happy to make deals, just shoot me offers.  All games are case/manual/disc without spine card unless otherwise stated.  This is all gamer's condition and totally playable.  There may be reg cards for some, not sure at the moment.  Anyway, here's the list!

I added a few prices, shipped prices are to US 48 states only

Hu Card:
Zero 4 Champ NEW, side is faded free with purchase over $50 or make me an offer

CD Rom 2:
XZR (Exile)
Cobra
Super Albatross, side is faded  free with any purchase
Rayxanber II sold

Super CD Rom 2:
Nexzr - has a small weird faded spot on front of manual $125 shipped
Image Fight 2 - Cover/back page of manual not attached to the inner pages $55 shipped
Algunos
Xak I + II
Xak III
Moonlight Lady
Future Boy Conan
Cosmic Fantasy 4 Chapter 1
3x3 Eyes
Spriggan 2 - $55 shipped sold
Metamor Jupiter sold
Macross 2036 sold
Anearth Fantasy Stories sold

Arcade CD:
Fatal Fury Special w/ spine (faded)

Also have a bunch of common US games and Vasteel US (no sleeve), see this thread here: https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=17847

PM me with offers!  Thanks for looking.

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Re: Anearth Fantasy Stories - Translation Project Thread]

I hope that when it comes time to play-test this game, I can get some volunteers to go through the game with the different characters so that I don't have to play this four times in a row.

May I recommend an open beta?

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: PC Engine Memories: Best Of Japan box set...]

It isn't worth $400.

Just gonna leave this here, for those who may not be aware of it: http://insomnia.ac/commentary/on_value_for_money/

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Your new TG16/CD collection purchases for the month?]

Barried it with in the quote.

Please read more books.  Sorry for the trouble, thank you and God bless.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: Raffle: A box.]

Please enter me in your awesome raffle!  Thanks!!

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Re: Archaic Pixels Down!]

Durr just did a WHOIS, apparently it is Bt Garner, the Mind Rec guy.  Does he post here?  Bro, why did you take down this thing I like?

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Archaic Pixels Down!]

I don't know if any of you guys used this site, but,

IT IS DOWN!!  ARRRRGHH!!  I wish I had've had the foresight to download it, it was a super useful docs site!

Does anybody know who ran it?  If they maybe have a copy backed up or something and could send it to me?  I would be happy to host it.  Thanks!

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Re: Variable Width Font?]

Thank you to everyone for your replies, and especially Bonknuts!  This is great information, time to hit my editor hard!

If you like, I can add some basic comments and upload the source

Please do!  Thanks!

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Variable Width Font?]

Have any of you tried implementing this in ASM or HuC?  Or for another (perhaps similar) platform?  I googled a bit and I think I understand the basic high-level concepts of variable width fonts, but I have no idea what an implementation would look like on PCE.  I'm looking for any places to start before I go digging.  Thanks!

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: PC Engine Memories: Best Of Japan box set...]

Somehow, he just happened to have a set left for me to buy today. I'm going to heavily document them along with the rest of his boots and try to narrow down the easiest to spot aspects. We can't have them just floating around with the only info being "some are fake and some are not".

Thank you for doing that.  I was considering doing this myself, glad to hear somebody stepped up.

Personally I'm most concerned about counterfeit spine cards circulating alongside real games.

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Re: A New version of Huc]

I am considering trying to get into PCE programming, so I looked at this new version of HuC, but there is no compiled binary available, and I couldn't find clear instructions on how to compile the compiler.

There's a makefile build system, just type `make` in your console (in your *nix shell, of course!).  However after building I couldn't get any of my projects to compile so I don't really consider that version of HuC to be particularly reliable.

It drives me crazy when programmers just give you some source code and expect you to figure it out

Wellllll it is a github repo, i.e. source code, so I think the expectation there is pretty reasonable.  He could tag releases but it's his project and he gets to run it however he wants.  And IMO it is extremely bad practice to commit built files to a repository (although not uncommon, unfortunately) as you should be able to produce the built files by running the build system on source.  Committing built files can create a lot of annoying issues with merging and rebasing.

It's like they feel that they've done their part by writing the code, and so they don't have to make that last step of creating binaries for easy use, basically saying it's the user's problem. Lazy bums!

You know what's even worse than that?  End-users who complain that they don't get enough with their free software.

What should I do? Should I just go with the older version? Can someone get me a compiled version of this? Or is there a better tool that I should use that I don't know about?

http://www.zeograd.com/huc_download.php

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Re: request: PCE development 101?]

I vaguely recall that being a huc limitation for scan-line regions.

Yes.  I've updated the doc to reflect that this is a HuC limitation.

The resolution can be far higher than what's listed

To be fair, the document explicitly mentioned that 282x242 was "low-resolution mode" although I've updated it to reflect that there are higher (horizontal) resolutions available.

I want to say it's programmable in increments of 8 pixels for horizontal resolution and 1 pixel increments for vertical.

You can definitely use 565x242.  Wikipedia claims 377x242 is also available, but I haven't heard of such a thing.  I'm interested in your claim about "programmable increments" of resolution.  Do you have any citation for this, or maybe a link to a demo?

Also, I think I mention this in about 50% of my posts, but there are 3 independent layers supported in hardware: sprite, tile and background color.

Woah, interesting.  Are you referring to the overscan color?  (Which IIRC is also the transparent color of sprite #1, is that correct?)  I'm guessing you use a tile map with a "blank" tile or something?  How does this work in-practice?

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Random Open Source HuC Code to Poke At]

The other day I open-sourced a little demo I worked on briefly.  Take a look here: https://github.com/Lochlan/pce-arpg

Don't get too excited, there's not much to see!  There's no collision detection, enemies, levels, or much of anything.  Not even a readme!  It's just the dude from Neutopia walking around, and you can use the I & II buttons to swing your sword.  Try holding down the button and walking around for "swing" attacks!

I may revisit this code later, but I just wanted to put it out there for anybody to look at who's interested.  I make no claims that any of this code is good, let alone production-ready.

Feel free to make a pull request if you want to hack on this a bit.  Or just fork it and go crazy, consider this code public domain!

I hope somebody gets some use out of this, I'll post a README.md at some point so more people are more likely to stumble upon it.

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Re: request: PCE development 101?]

Here's a write-up I made for someone who was doing art for me:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CFBWZB21dJ3F2O4NBDC3eNpev_8QRBUHuSX6Fs8N4Y0/pub

There may be errors in this document (if anybody sees any please let me know!) but it should be at least mostly correct.

PC Engine Graphics Summary

The PC Engine can generate up to 64 sprites and a background layer.

Colors
There are 512 available colors, which you can see here:
/pcenginecolourpalette.png

Note: With this color selection you can't use rgb(255,255,255) for white, which is slightly annoying.  If it's important to you to use actual white, then use it in lieu of the available "white" in that file--but then you have to remember that white is out-of-step with the other 9-bit colors!

Palettes
32 color palettes are available at a given time:

Palettes 0-15 are for background tiles

Palettes 16-31 are for sprites


Each palette has 16 colors, but for sprites the first color is used for transparent pixels--so you only actually have 15 colors available for a given sprite.  Background tiles have all 16 colors available.


Note: For sprites and tiles that share palettes, please make sure that all colors are in a consistent order!

Sprites
Each sprite can have one of the following sizes: 16x16, 16x32, 16x64, 32x16, 32x32, 32x64.  Larger objects can be built with multiple sprites.


A maximum of 256 pixels per scanline (horizontal row of pixels) can be displayed simultaneously.  If that limit is exceeded then the lowest-priority sprites start getting dropped.  [I think this pixel limit includes transparent pixels but I'm not 100% sure about that, I'll fact check this.]

Background
The background is built using either 8x8 tiles or 16x16 tiles (but not both).  Each background can use up to 256 unique tiles, and each individual tile has its own "palette" index attached to it--which refers to one of the 16 available background tiles.


Tiles are arranged in a "map" that is a maximum of 256 tiles wide and 256 tiles tall, the viewable portion of which is the background visible on-screen.  Speaking of which, the viewable area of the PCE's "normal" resolution is 256x224.  The PC Engine will output more pixels into the overscan area, 282x242 in its low-resolution mode, but we will only make use of 256x224.  (There is also a high-res mode of 565x242.)


The background can have up to four independently-scrolling areas (this is a HuC limitation).


Apparently you can also have an additional "background layer" made of the background color.  (http://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?msg=370401)

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Turbo Gouging on Ebay ( r.i.p. - gouging much )]

For you newbs, dealisdead on eBay is a forum member. You'll have to get to know the peeps to figure out which one.

It's galam and IDK why that's supposed to be privileged information.

And after the Xth fake eBay auction the joke wears a little thin IMO.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: FS: Turbografx games updated (8/16)]

PM sent!

[Off-Topic / Re: Yet another eBay gem]

Excellent thread.  It is hilarious and shocking that somebody would send that response in earnest, as if it were reasonable or made any sense at all.  LOL times infinity at "I'm not sorry about this, as I'm not sorry about ANY attack by the goverrats."

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: FS: Turbografx games]

It's also sold on ebay recently for less than what he's asking, but I guess only the highest price sale is the "current marketplace".

Did you actually look at the auction?  Because that copy had the UPC cut out from the rear insert.

and of course eBay is the end-all-be-all "marketplace" in general

I don't believe that's what I said.  And the private sales I've seen for Cotton have been comparable with eBay prices, so I'm not sure what your point is here.  "The marketplace", as far as I'm concerned, is the sum of any and all recent sales.  For games as rare as Cotton that does tend to be eBay, but I digress.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: FS: Turbografx games]

I'm kind of surprised at the reaction here.  The price on Cotton & DEII are pretty fair, IMO, compared to recent sale history.

100% agree, Cotton has gone for twice the asking price here or more on eBay.  $280 is a great price, if you don't agree then you probably have some ideas about "value for money" that don't reflect the current state of the marketplace.

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Re: Legend of Xanadu II Translation Patch announced!]

I wish the programmers of half-translated projects would put their work onto github.  If you're going to sit on a project for years and never finish, maybe open source it so somebody can pick up where you left off?  It's not uncommon in the open source world for package maintainers to change as interest among maintainers waxes and wanes, it would be great if the world of PCE translations would adopt this ethos.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: New game raffle 7: New sealed Dragon Spirit]

Please enter me in your generous raffle!

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: WTB: PC Engine Duo or Duo-R]

$175 for a duo with new caps seems ambitious considering cap service by itself is around $80 IIRC.  That's about how much a junk console runs, plus or minus.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Looking for info on Lords of Thunder Demo Disc]

turns out that he just bought it off of ebay, so there is still no way of knowing for sure if it's authentic

This is quite paranoid.  (I buy authentic Turbo stuff off eBay regularly, after all.)  If somebody went to the trouble to bootleg fake pressed demos, we would see more surface, since that person would need to recoup costs.  I find it very unlikely that these aren't authentic, although I'd like to see a picture too.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: FS - Override and Dead Moon - PC Engine Complete]

There's a sealed copy of Dead Moon on eBay for $56 and multiple used copies for less than $50.

[Localizations, Games, Apps, Docs / Re: What region do you want for Atlantean]

The CCAG debut copies are TurboGrafx-16, it's the most official region!

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: New game raffle 6: New sealed Fantasy Zone]

Please enter me in this great raffle!  Thanks!

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: (7/10/2014 - 7/16/2014) Game of the Week: Cadash]

Cadash is one of my favorite games of all time, I own the TurboGrafx and Arcade versions and have beaten both many times.  (Although not for a while--I should fire it up again in the spirit of this thread!)

The home versions are totally degenerate because they don't have a timer.  As others have already mentioned, you can just grind on the first level and stay ahead of the difficulty curve.  Even though the game is still enjoyable, the lack of a timer completely ruins the game balance, as it has a critical role in keeping the game difficult.  However, other than that large flaw it's a very high-quality port and I love running through it now and again.  It's also a reasonable "trainer" for the PCB, I beat the TG version several times before I moved on to the PCB.

The original arcade version of Cadash is basically a perfect game. It is tough-but-rewarding, the presentation is great, and the large number of characters give it serious legs for repeated play.  And, most importantly, it is mostly well-balanced--a 1cc is attainable with every character.  Going the distance means managing your resources (HP, MP, Gold, Time, remaining inn visits) carefully, which requires some improvisation and a deep knowledge of the maps.  This gets somewhat easier upon repeated play since you'll inevitably find the many hidden herbs and antidotes, and the gold secret really helps out too.  But you also have to know when you should stay at an inn (you will screw yourself with this a lot early on), the when/where/how of grinding with a timer, and how the gold curve works.  My biggest criticism of Cadash is that some of the enemies in level 4 are too strong and the whole level feels rushed/thrown-together.  It's especially annoying because the game is really long (by arcade standards).

Also: a special nod has to go to the four-player link mode, which is totally bad-ass.

The Fighter and Ninja are the easiest. The Priest is a bit harder, and the Wizard is the hardest, especially since there is a delay when selecting spells to cast.

I disagree.  Cadash claims the Fighter is the easiest but it's a complete lie.

The Priestess is by far the easiest character due to her (insanely good) shield magic and superior ranged weapons.  Her individual attacks are the weakest, but her weapon goes through walls and tends to hit enemies a second time when it returns--so the net result is that she's actually stronger than the Fighter.  AND she get's shield magic early in the game!  AND she has healing magic.  IIRC she can crush the second-level boss, before he can even attack, by just attacking downwards.  Her greatest weakness is that she's slow, which is only relevant in a timed game.  I think she's still faster than the mage, though.

The Ninja (my personal favorite) is definitely the second-to strongest character, having both ranged weapons and fast movement.

It's debatable whether the Fighter or the Mage provides the more difficult game experience, but I say it's the Fighter.  His lack of a ranged attack--except the fire sword you get for a while--is a huge disadvantage and makes him very vulnerable to enemies.  He also has to buy equipment upgrades more than any other character, which is pretty annoying since it makes keeping track of money more important.

The Mage is very slow and weak, and the magic delay is pretty awkward, but you get used to it and his magic is crazy strong (although some enemies are invulnerable to magic).  The real issue with the Mage is that cycling through spells is extremely awkward, and especially in combat (i.e., most of the time).  Bad controls = no fun.  I have less knowledge of him than the other characters because his awful controls make him my least-favorite to play, but I still think the Fighter gives you a harder game overall.  Homing lightning magic > hitting your enemy with a sword.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Calling all carboard collectors!]

Roll call for obsessives!

I have fifty-ish boxes, one or two without the games, each lovingly placed in its own protective-plastic box.  (I pursue rare cardboard garbage with seriousness.)  I never used to collect boxes on-purpose (seemed too indulgent, which it is) but something really clicked (snapped?) for me this year and now I'm über box-crazy.

There are more I want, but I doubt I'll attempt a full-set.  Without analyzing too deeply: box collecting is mostly about decorating a shelf to provide nerd-boners, thus I try to model my collecting habits to achieve that end.  I can't bring myself to buy boxed TV Sports games instead of spending that money on something I'd enjoy more.  That's not to knock the completionists, I totally "get" the insatiable drive to consume.

I also want to briefly address this:

boxes? really?...leave the cardboard for the homeless

"Just play the games, man, that's what it's all about!"—right?

Tommy here belongs to a group of classic-era game collectors who first-and-foremost consider themselves to be game "players".  To them, paying a premium for retail packaging is missing the point, the software is far more important.  And it's true that paying a premium for complete games is almost always, in the most literal financial sense, valuing boxes/packaging above actual game carts/discs.  These "true gamer" types resent sharing marketplaces/forums/labels with collectors who seem to value software below cardboard.  I also used to feel this way, strongly.

These people think they buy games solely for the purpose of playing them, but they're mistaken. In fact, collecting original TurboGrafx software at all, in any capacity, is not about playing games.  At least not directly.  That sounds totally crazy (a seemly reasonable and intuitive reaction: "LOL what do you mean dummy, they ARE the games—of course PLAYING GAMES is the purpose of BUYING them!!") until considering that we live in a world of emulators and Everdrives.  A person who "only" cares about playing games doesn't need to buy them in the first place!  Shaky ethics/piracy arguments aside (and I won't even get into the "CD-Rs are bad for my laser" nonsense in the face of plentiful replacement parts/repair services), we now have the capability of easily accessing and playing every TurboGrafx and PC Engine game for free, even on original hardware.  If all you care about is playing TurboGrafx games you never need to buy them.

This all might still feel counterintuitive because we are used to original software being the only way to access games.  That's certainly the case with modern systems.  But when you want to play a game and there are viable free ways to do that, it's hard to put much weight into the argument of "I buy classic game software but only because I like playing games."

When pressed, I think a lot of these gamers will admit that on some level, and to some minor degree, they just like owning the original software.  They get more enjoyment out of playing original games, for whatever reason.  Sometimes it's nostalgia and other times it's psychological thing (some people can't enjoy ROMS for various reasons)  But it's still a "collectard" habit, only a less-extreme one, on a smaller scale, and with less-valuable items.  If you're paying for classic games, you enjoy them beyond their utility as software.  Compared to box-fetishes I think buying loose games is probably "closer" to only caring about the games, but I find it disingenous to claim there is a strong distinction between "collectors" and "gamer/collectors".

The only people who can, in my eyes, criticize box-collectors without some degree of hypocracy are those who just play ROMs, and especially those who don't care about original hardware.  (Although I'm sure many of them would probably buy original software if money were no object!)

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Choices choices]

Also, if you want to play certain Hentai PCE titles you need a Duo or a SCD.  A minor point.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Choices choices]

Regular duo has a headphone jack, and also IMO just looks way cooler.  I mainly play US Hus and I have a diving board converter so US Duo for me all the way.  If you get a PCE duo you have to get it modded, no converter can disable the region protection.

Also, this thread could have been avoided by searching the forum, pretty sure this has all been discussed to death.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Turbo Gouging on Ebay ( r.i.p. - gouging much )]

Except it's that kind of attitude that quickly made it climb from $100 to $1000 in a matter of months

You're quite right of course, but there's no reversal available.  Claiming that the high prices are somehow less valid than low prices doesn't seem to have much effect, e.g. Nat saying Magical Chase is a $150 game countless times.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Turbo Gouging on Ebay ( r.i.p. - gouging much )]

But yeah, a grand for SAZ is absurd

The last several copies for sale have gone for ~$800, so a grand isn't exactly "absurd" relative to what it's been selling for recently.  It's definitely a gouge, but not the worst I've seen.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / How do I not die Hi-Leg Fantasy]

Every time I fight the first enemy in Hi Leg Fantasy, I die.  Before I even get a hit in, while my character's "ATB" meters are charging, my whole party gets smashed.

I've tried experimenting with some different configurations of items (but I don't understand Japanese and I might be buying the wrong items?) but so far I haven't been able to figure out how to beat the first enemy.  What am I doing wrong?  Any advice?

Thanks for reading.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: FS: Ys Book 1 & 2]

congratz to the winner

lol what a weird culture and experience being cultivated on this board.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Turbo Gouging on Ebay ( r.i.p. - gouging much )]

Variants are "Limited Editions".

Do you know the origin of the two different spine colors?  The pink one (which I think looks quite a bit nicer!) does seem to be the more common variant.  This might be stretching, but perhaps the seller meant "limited edition" in the most literal sense--in that it's the more limited of the two "editions"?

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Will there ever be a TG16 price crash?]

And the only thing that kept the value of legitimate key silver age and golden age books high, even throughout the 90s burst, was the fact that these characters had firmly implanted themselves in the fabric of pop-culture and generations of people's childhoods.

Is More Fun Comics #52 worth so much money because America can't get enough of The Spectre?

There are plenty of obscure and valuable comic books, just like there are plenty of obscure and valuable video games.  Neither popularity, quality, nor rarity dictate value by themselves, but all are influencing factors.

the "ultra rares" like MC and Legend of Hero Tonma, although they will certainly retain a decent value, are not going to have the benefit of a general population of people understanding the importance and rarity of these titles.

The general population doesn't have to care about these obscure games, only the market of vintage games collectors needs to care to maintain values--much like with our friend Mr. More Fun Comics #52.

However, there isn't a single market, commodity, good, or service that can maintain a continuous upward trajectory driven almost entirely on speculation.

T206 Honus Wagner says "'sup?"