16th June 2013, 4:39 PM
(This post was last modified: 18th June 2013, 6:49 PM by A Black Falcon.)
So, as a gift for my finishing my masters' my mom said she'd pay for a new computer monitor for me, since my old Dell CRT finally died, after 12 1/2 years of constant use. I chose an Asus PA248, a 24", 16:10 IPS LED LCD monitor from their ProArt line. It's basically a low-end high-end monitor ($310 now, if I'd been paying). It seems pretty nice so far... the colors may not quite be CRT quality, but they are pretty good and are a vast improvement over the mediocre Dell LCD that is my second screen. Pretty big difference between the two, that's for sure. It's a huge screen too, much larger than I've had from a single monitor before.
Of course my computer has issues handling games at 1920x1200 -- yeah, I need to drop that resolution down for most things from recent years, that's just too many pixels for this poor Core 2 Duo CPU -- but still, it's pretty cool. The monitor has some nice features like accepting multiple inputs and rotation support so you can use vertical (landscape) mode, too.
As for my gift for myself (I guess that's probably the best way to think about it)... that's below. First a few random other games I got.
Atari 7800
--
RealSports Baseball - cart only, $2. This is a pretty poor baseball game, but it was cheap and there and is a 7800 game, so I got it anyway. The game looks very badly dated, even early NES baseball games are better than this... and looking at reviews, even the Atari 5200 version of the game is better! Huh. Still though, it's nice to have.
PS1
--
Turbo Prop Racing - $3, complete. Water racing game.
PS2
--
Front Mission 4 - $3, complete. Strategy game. I haven't played much of this series...
Wii
--
Counter Force - $1, complete. Rail shooter. Short game, but for $1, why not get it?
Finally, the other thing I got was an Xbox 360 (Slim). I got a 4GB system, since it's $100 for the one with a 250GB HDD, but once I need a hard drive (once I start buying some more download titles), yeah, even 360 Slim HDDs aren't $100, that's for sure. I considered getting the new 360 model that just released, but it removes the component video output jack, so yeah, forget that; my TV doesn't have HDMI, and I don't want to be stuck in composite only, or have to get a HDMI to component adapter!
(Oh, I already have a component cable compatible with the 360.)
In addition to the system, I also got a PDP Versus Fighting Pad, or something like that. It was $20, and it's completely and totally awesome! It's a gamepad with a Neo-Geo CD/NGPC-style clicky, microswitched digital stick on the left, and six buttons on the right, plus the triggers as shoulder buttons. Yeah, it's quite awesome. It doesn't quite have first party build quality I think, but it's close, and feels fairly solid; better than Mad Catz stuff at least. And the stick is fantastic, makes fighting games, shooters, etc. feel natural! I can already say that I'd highly recommend one.
Next I need one of these... http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Pad-EX-Tu...B002LT9PXQ Yes, there's a 6-face-button X360 controller, and it's licensed and from Hori, too! I will DEFINITELY need to get one. I, of course, love 6 face button layouts, and think that they're much better than four... I'm already kind of hating the LB and RB buttons. Why anyone actually LIKES those buttons, or Z on the Gamecube controller, the upper shoulder buttons on all Sony pads, etc., I have no idea, but I've always disliked two shoulder button per side designs, and while I'm kind of used to it now, I still think that one (trigger, preferably) per side, with six face buttons, is a better design.
As for games... yeah, I got quite a few, some from a local store and some from several Gamestops. Prices are very cheap now, that was one of the major reasons I bought the system... at full price I'd have been able to get what, 2 1/2 or maybe 3 (if some were cheap) of these? I haven't tried most of the games yet, of course (just got the system yesterday!), but I will.
X360 - games are complete unless noted.
--
This first section I bought within the last week.
Soul Calibur V - $12 (part of B2G1) - I want to play Soul Calibur IV more, but this was there. I'll get IV.
The King of Fighters XII - $12 (part of B2G1) - KOF XIII sounds much better, but this is cheap...
Namco Museum Virtual Arcade - free, would be $12 (part of B2G1) (contains Pac-Man Championship Edition, Galaga Legions, Mr. Driller Online, Pac-Man Arrangement, Dig Dug Arrangement, and some classic game roms)
Blue Dragon - $10 (part of B2G1)
Viva Pinata - free as a part of a B2G1 deal, would be $10 (no manual)
Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection - $10 (part of B2G1)
Kameo - $5 (part of a B2G1 from a few days ago)
Dead or Alive 4 - $5 - I like the DOA series a lot, so I'm very happy to finally be able to play this! I played some. It feels a lot like DOA 2 Ultimate, just with slightly better graphics and some balance changes (counters do a lot less damage now, for instance). Seems like a great game. (the Compilation Disc is not listed on IGN.)
Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged - $4 (contains Bejeweled 2, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, Wik: Fable of Souls, Hardwood Backgammon, Outpost Kaloki X, and Texas Hold 'em Poker)
Xbox Live Arcade Compilation Disc / Sega Superstars Tennis 2-in-1 case - $4 (Sega Superstars Tennis has a manual, but not the compilation disc.) (the Compilation Disc contains Pac-Man Championship Edition, Uno!, Luxor 2, Boom Boom Rocket, and Feeding Frenzy, plus a few demos)
This second batch (below) I got today from several Gamestops.
Raiden Fighters Aces - $9
Golden Axe: Beast Rider - $4.50 - I tried it. It's bland. Could be worse, but it's not great.
Too Human - $2.70 - I need to try it.
Crackdown - $2.70
WarTech: Senko no Ronde - $2.70 - From G.Rev!
Stuntman: Ignition - $5.40 - Fun racing game. You have to do the stunts as told... I liked these games.
Qubed - $3.60 (contains Every Extend Extra Extreme, Lumines Live, and Rez HD) - pretty amazing for under $4! I don't like Lumines much, but the other two are really great games. (collection not listed on IGN)
Bullet Witch - $4.50
Deathsmiles - $9 (no manual) - Cave hori shooter. So many bullets and colors, it's sensory-overload material...
Final Fantasy XIII - $11.70
Prince of Persia [2009] - $2.70
Project Sylpheed - $2.70 - The Sega CD Silpheed game was outstanding. I hope this is decent; I know it's a 3d game, but it could be fun... or at least, maybe slightly better than the mediocre PS2 Silpheed shmup?
Virtua Fighter 5 Online - $4.50
Perfect Dark Zero Collector's Edition - $1.80 (missing plastic sleeve that goes over the metal case, but everything else is here, inc. the bonus disc)
Of course my computer has issues handling games at 1920x1200 -- yeah, I need to drop that resolution down for most things from recent years, that's just too many pixels for this poor Core 2 Duo CPU -- but still, it's pretty cool. The monitor has some nice features like accepting multiple inputs and rotation support so you can use vertical (landscape) mode, too.
As for my gift for myself (I guess that's probably the best way to think about it)... that's below. First a few random other games I got.
Atari 7800
--
RealSports Baseball - cart only, $2. This is a pretty poor baseball game, but it was cheap and there and is a 7800 game, so I got it anyway. The game looks very badly dated, even early NES baseball games are better than this... and looking at reviews, even the Atari 5200 version of the game is better! Huh. Still though, it's nice to have.
PS1
--
Turbo Prop Racing - $3, complete. Water racing game.
PS2
--
Front Mission 4 - $3, complete. Strategy game. I haven't played much of this series...
Wii
--
Counter Force - $1, complete. Rail shooter. Short game, but for $1, why not get it?
Finally, the other thing I got was an Xbox 360 (Slim). I got a 4GB system, since it's $100 for the one with a 250GB HDD, but once I need a hard drive (once I start buying some more download titles), yeah, even 360 Slim HDDs aren't $100, that's for sure. I considered getting the new 360 model that just released, but it removes the component video output jack, so yeah, forget that; my TV doesn't have HDMI, and I don't want to be stuck in composite only, or have to get a HDMI to component adapter!
(Oh, I already have a component cable compatible with the 360.)
In addition to the system, I also got a PDP Versus Fighting Pad, or something like that. It was $20, and it's completely and totally awesome! It's a gamepad with a Neo-Geo CD/NGPC-style clicky, microswitched digital stick on the left, and six buttons on the right, plus the triggers as shoulder buttons. Yeah, it's quite awesome. It doesn't quite have first party build quality I think, but it's close, and feels fairly solid; better than Mad Catz stuff at least. And the stick is fantastic, makes fighting games, shooters, etc. feel natural! I can already say that I'd highly recommend one.
Next I need one of these... http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-Pad-EX-Tu...B002LT9PXQ Yes, there's a 6-face-button X360 controller, and it's licensed and from Hori, too! I will DEFINITELY need to get one. I, of course, love 6 face button layouts, and think that they're much better than four... I'm already kind of hating the LB and RB buttons. Why anyone actually LIKES those buttons, or Z on the Gamecube controller, the upper shoulder buttons on all Sony pads, etc., I have no idea, but I've always disliked two shoulder button per side designs, and while I'm kind of used to it now, I still think that one (trigger, preferably) per side, with six face buttons, is a better design.
As for games... yeah, I got quite a few, some from a local store and some from several Gamestops. Prices are very cheap now, that was one of the major reasons I bought the system... at full price I'd have been able to get what, 2 1/2 or maybe 3 (if some were cheap) of these? I haven't tried most of the games yet, of course (just got the system yesterday!), but I will.
X360 - games are complete unless noted.
--
This first section I bought within the last week.
Soul Calibur V - $12 (part of B2G1) - I want to play Soul Calibur IV more, but this was there. I'll get IV.
The King of Fighters XII - $12 (part of B2G1) - KOF XIII sounds much better, but this is cheap...
Namco Museum Virtual Arcade - free, would be $12 (part of B2G1) (contains Pac-Man Championship Edition, Galaga Legions, Mr. Driller Online, Pac-Man Arrangement, Dig Dug Arrangement, and some classic game roms)
Blue Dragon - $10 (part of B2G1)
Viva Pinata - free as a part of a B2G1 deal, would be $10 (no manual)
Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection - $10 (part of B2G1)
Kameo - $5 (part of a B2G1 from a few days ago)
Dead or Alive 4 - $5 - I like the DOA series a lot, so I'm very happy to finally be able to play this! I played some. It feels a lot like DOA 2 Ultimate, just with slightly better graphics and some balance changes (counters do a lot less damage now, for instance). Seems like a great game. (the Compilation Disc is not listed on IGN.)
Xbox Live Arcade Unplugged - $4 (contains Bejeweled 2, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved, Wik: Fable of Souls, Hardwood Backgammon, Outpost Kaloki X, and Texas Hold 'em Poker)
Xbox Live Arcade Compilation Disc / Sega Superstars Tennis 2-in-1 case - $4 (Sega Superstars Tennis has a manual, but not the compilation disc.) (the Compilation Disc contains Pac-Man Championship Edition, Uno!, Luxor 2, Boom Boom Rocket, and Feeding Frenzy, plus a few demos)
This second batch (below) I got today from several Gamestops.
Raiden Fighters Aces - $9
Golden Axe: Beast Rider - $4.50 - I tried it. It's bland. Could be worse, but it's not great.
Too Human - $2.70 - I need to try it.
Crackdown - $2.70
WarTech: Senko no Ronde - $2.70 - From G.Rev!
Stuntman: Ignition - $5.40 - Fun racing game. You have to do the stunts as told... I liked these games.
Qubed - $3.60 (contains Every Extend Extra Extreme, Lumines Live, and Rez HD) - pretty amazing for under $4! I don't like Lumines much, but the other two are really great games. (collection not listed on IGN)
Bullet Witch - $4.50
Deathsmiles - $9 (no manual) - Cave hori shooter. So many bullets and colors, it's sensory-overload material...
Final Fantasy XIII - $11.70
Prince of Persia [2009] - $2.70
Project Sylpheed - $2.70 - The Sega CD Silpheed game was outstanding. I hope this is decent; I know it's a 3d game, but it could be fun... or at least, maybe slightly better than the mediocre PS2 Silpheed shmup?
Virtua Fighter 5 Online - $4.50
Perfect Dark Zero Collector's Edition - $1.80 (missing plastic sleeve that goes over the metal case, but everything else is here, inc. the bonus disc)