snes
Console Wars: Random Thoughts
“It’s got Blast Processing!” During a rare break from work, I decided to watch Console Wars, a newly released documentary chronicling the titular video game war between Nintendo and SEGA in the 90s. I had started reading the book approximately 7,312 years ago and never finished it, so I figured watching it would be easier. Once done, I felt a new appreciation for that era in vide...[Read More]
Retro Review: Super Star Wars (SNES)
Release Date: June 1, 1992 Developer: Sculptured Software, Inc., LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC Publisher: JVC Musical Industries, Inc. Once upon a time, I was in love with the Star Wars universe. It wasn’t all-encompassing; I loved Star Trek as well. But back in the day, an upcoming Star Wars movie would whip me up into a frenzy. My love wasn’t so all-encompassing that I’d go to the theater ...[Read More]
Retro Review: Final Fantasy III (SNES)
Release Date: April 2, 1994 Developer: Square Co., Ltd. Publisher: Square Co., Ltd. This Retro Review felt like a cop-out when I decided to write this. I love this game, and it is one of my all-time favorite games. But it’s also a game many 16-bit JRPG lovers already hold in high regard. I had to write it, though, because Final Fantasy XV stuck it in my head. Because of the newer game, I re...[Read More]
Retro Review: SimCity (SNES)
Release Date: August 23, 1991 Developer: Maxis Software, Inc. Publisher: Nintendo of America, Inc. The Super Nintendo officially launched on August 23, 1991 in North America. It launched with a measly five games, but the games were noteworthy. Super Mario World was, of course, the heavy hitter and a pack-in title. F-Zero and Pilotwings were the system’s tech mules, showing off the SNES’s “Mode 7”...[Read More]
Retro Review: Blackthorne (SNES)
Release Date: 1994 Developer: Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. Publisher: Interplay Productions Ltd. On February 8th, 1991, three UCLA Bachelor’s graduates decided to start making video games for the SNES under the name Silicon & Synapse. The games were good but not spectacular. Sometime in 1993, Silicon & Synapse became Chaos Studios. They eventually caught the attention of distributor...[Read More]
Retro Review: ActRaiser (SNES)
Release Date: December 16, 1990 Developer: Quintet, Enix Publisher: Enix The debut of the Super Nintendo in the United States was not completely seamless. The Sega Genesis, the first true 16-bit console of the fourth generation, was already out and selling like hot cakes. Nintendo, for some reason, did not market their new 16-bit system too heavily. The system released in limited quantities on Aug...[Read More]
A Hand-Carved Mini SNES that Shames 3D Printers
Nowadays, 3D printing has revolutionized how tinkerers and hobbyists approach their projects. This is especially true of gaming enthusiasts who want to build their own projects. The Mini NES that I wrote about in July – and I still dream about – is an example of the wonders 3D printing can achieve. It is more amazing, however, to see a true craftsman design a mini system with only his hands. I pre...[Read More]
Digital Crack video game podcast episode 38
Prepare yourself for some gaming news and fart jokes. This week we talk about No mans sky,Deus Ex, Overwatch,Titanfall 2 and so much more. http://traffic.libsyn.com/digitalcrack/episode_38_mixdown.mp3
SNES Turns 25 Years Old Today
On August 23, 1991, the Super Nintendo (SNES) changed video gaming for me significantly. Prior to that date, video games were a rediscovered love. My teenage years were spent away from gaming, preferring chasing girls to saving princesses. I snapped out of it long enough to catch the tail end of the NES’s North American lifespan. That 8-bit wonder was a marvel. The 16-bit SNES was a revelation. In...[Read More]
Retro Review: Super Metroid (SNES)
Release Date: March 19, 1994 Developer: Nintendo Publisher: Nintendo In another example of my advancing age, Samus Aran and the Metroid series recently turned 30 years old. I was 15 years old when Metroid debuted on the NES. I wasn’t playing video games at the time, however. I was in high school, the girls were pretty, and I had a sudden urge to “play” with them way more than I wanted to play the ...[Read More]
My accidental first encounter with Akuma!
This story is about my first accidental encounter with Akuma and my hope that I can recreate it soon. During the early to mid-90s, the best gameplay was still found at the local arcade. The SNES and Genesis had great arcade ports, but they were not as good as the real thing. For an authentic in-home arcade experience, the only options were an actual arcade cabinet, which would be hideously expensi...[Read More]