The year of gaming 1996

Jan 1996 was the month when me and my cousins finally left behind the megadrive era.

To me this was the most diverse era of gaming ever.
I was studying at college in the West End of LOndon at the time and computer Exchange was the new king of import gaming shops. Huge arcades like Segaworld and Namco wonderpark were basically in my back yard these basically had 4-5 floors of classic arcades and all the latest machines and virtual reality rides.
Over at the HMV on Oxford street a new gaming floor was introduced and U could see the 2 new 32 bit machines in town Playstation 1 and sega saturn side by side and play the games for free.
Also on stand were the Atari Jaguar and Panasonic 3do.........add to this the still alive SNES, the virtual boy and the Sega 32X and the flourishing (Albeit hardcore) neo geo aes...........then I think early 1996 was the most diverse time to be a gamer.There were more consoles competing than at any other time.

All these consoles (except neo geo) still had dedicated magazines available for their own format......arcades were still packing in new neo geo games almost monthly......and I was right in the middle of it...SNK Europe HQ were a stones throw away from me in London, and their test site on Tottenham Court Road had Kizuna Encounter and Last Blade before anyone else in europe.

Still these days we have the internet!

1996 was a pretty cool year indeed.

It was slightly different in North America, but still similar.

Lets See:

Street Fighter Alpha 2
Mario 64
Tomb Raider (before it was overdone)
NiGHTS
RBS
and the list could go on.

97, 98, and 99 were great too. 2000 to a lesser extent. 2001 just blew. 2002...wow, what a wasteland. I fear what would happen if the pattern continues...

And Sony is to blame. Gaming has been transformed into something ver strang lately. Oh well, we'll always have the classics.

Rade Kuruc:

And Sony is to blame. Gaming has been transformed into something ver strang lately. Oh well, we'll always have the classics.

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You're insane... oh_no

-JHendrix

JHendrix:

Rade Kuruc:

And Sony is to blame. Gaming has been transformed into something ver strang lately. Oh well, we'll always have the classics.

Click to expand...

You're insane... oh_no

-JHendrix

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Well, I think you are insane too. And before you call me something, please be aware that I own all systems.

I know you own them all as well.

And that is my opinion. Comparing SEGA's 32/128 bit efforts to what Sony molded with their 32/128 bit releases, I understand that I liked the way SEGA was going, but most other people didnt.

Don't get me wrong. I love the Castlevania games for my PS1, and SONy really pleased me by having ICO produced. But otherwise, the PSX family has uninterested me.


P.S. And anyone who wants to list of great PS2 games, please don't, I know of them all. And I probably know more than those that protest to love the system and it's games do..So, don't try to convince a man with taste to eat shit.

<small>[ February 06, 2003, 11:05 AM: Message edited by: Rade Kuruc ]</small>

Rade Kuruc:
So, don't try to convince a man with taste to eat shit.

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exactly.

Rade Kuruc:

JHendrix:

Rade Kuruc:

And Sony is to blame. Gaming has been transformed into something ver strang lately. Oh well, we'll always have the classics.

Click to expand...

You're insane... oh_no

-JHendrix

Click to expand...

Well, I think you are insane too. And before you call me something, please be aware that I own all systems.

I know you own them all as well.

And that is my opinion. Comparing SEGA's 32/128 bit efforts to what Sony molded with their 32/128 bit releases, I understand that I liked the way SEGA was going, but most other people didnt.

Don't get me wrong. I love the Castlevania games for my PS1, and SONy really pleased me by having ICO produced. But otherwise, the PSX family has uninterested me.


P.S. And anyone who wants to list of great PS2 games, please don't, I know of them all. And I probably know more than those that protest to love the system and it's games do..So, don't try to convince a man with taste to eat shit.

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Im with you man. As of late I just have no desire to play my ps2 ...except occaisional outbursts of rez. Im pretty sure GGXX will revive my interest though.

Maybe its a shit piece, maybe Im having gamers apathy.

I just hope I dont end up hating it...

-joseph

I think my fondest memory of 1996 was buying the N64 and Mario 64 at launch.

Other than that, I remember how crap I thought 3D graphics we're back then.

I have fonder memories of the height of 16-bit systems and the launch of the DC till now.

Thinking about the shit that 32-bit gaming was (aside from a few choice titles) makes my head hurt.

joseph:


Maybe its a shit piece, maybe Im having gamers apathy.

I just hope I dont end up hating it...

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It's really just the industry zeit geist that has us down.

It's like art, people are waiting for the next big thing, and then they want to watch it mature.

Right now there hasn't been a "next big thing" in 7 years (last new big thing being survival horror, IMO), and everything up to this point has long since matured.

We've already seen fighters, RPGs, shooters, puzzle games, sports games and anything else on the market - we've seen too many of them.

People like JHendrix who are relatively new to the scene don't get it, and he's enjoying it because it's still fresh for him. For the rest of us, a lot of it is just old.

I guess you can say online games are the next big thing, or the current big thing, but I'm really not into that. Seems like an excuse to stop thinking about AI.

I'm new to the scene? Sure I'm new to the Neo, but I've been playing games since I was 5 years old on the Atari 7800 and the NES. I've owned every system from then on.

Seriously its really starting to get on my nerves about how a lot of members here just have to HATE anything new that comes out. Or anything that is old is automatically golden.

I find it funny Rade how you don't want to see the "list of great PS2 games" cause you know them all already. Yet if the system already has a large amount of good games, you still have to dislike it.

I've been playing games for years, and now, just like every other year before it I find a shitload of good games to go out and by. NEW games, hell at this point I own more games that I don't even have the time to play them all. I *still* have RPG's that I bought over a year ago that deserve play time that I just don't have to give them. I went out this year and I've gotten a shitload of games on all platforms that are good. Some are completely different or innovative than any title before it. They offer ways to play things that hasn't been done before.

Its not my damn fault that I can sit down and have fun with a game like Steel Battalion or Mech Assault. Or if I really like GGX2, or CvS2 (with online play mind you). I got Super Monkey Ball 2 for XMas and I sat there for a few weeks off and on playing the shit out of it to actually beat the game. And I had a shitload of fun doing it.

Sure I've seen plenty of RPG's in my day, hell during 96 and all then practically the only thing I played on consoles was RPG's (aside from the natural huge console hits like Mario 64, Mario Kart, Golden Eye, Resident Evil 2, etc). I play an RPG for the battle system and the story, I'm perfectly happy with all the ones I currently own, cause well, they're GOOD! Hell I'm looking foward to the new Secret of Mana sequel, FFX-2, FFXII, the next Chrono Trigger, the next Dragon Warrior game, etc.

Things are still fresh, things are still fun. Unreal 2 just came out and I'm going to go pick it up soon. Sure I've played FPS's since fucking Castle Wolfenstine on a 386 w/ 4Mb of RAM, but Unreal 2 looks like its gonna be a blast from everything I've seen and heard from my friends.

Its "Sony's fault" for how things are. What bull shit. Yeah you're prolly pissed cause they killed Sega and they're making Nintendo thier personal bitch. Oh boo-fucking-hoo. I still get good Nintendo games, good Sega games AND I get them on a more powerful system. Thats why I hope Nintendo goes 3rd party. One less system to buy and most likely it won't be as powerful as the ones put out by Sony or Microsoft. So I get Nintendo games on a better system, must like how Sega is now.

You people need to pull your head out of your asses, there are still good games that are being made today, just as many as before, if not more.

-JHendrix

<small>[ February 06, 2003, 02:25 PM: Message edited by: JHendrix ]</small>

There is one thing that incorrect in your rant J Hendrix ...All sega games on one system???
You got to have three systems to get all good sega games.....

smokey:
There is one thing that incorrect in your rant J Hendrix ...All sega games on one system???
You got to have three systems to get all good sega games.....

Click to expand...

True, but honestly its one less system I have to buy for JUST Sega games (look at GC now, you own it practically for Nintendo games, anything else is just icing). And honestly all the new systems are more powerful than what Sega was offering. And even now PS2 and XBox are more powerful than the GC is. If Nintendo went third party we'd only have to grab a PS3 and XB2 and you've got just about anything you want, and the systems will be better than anything that Nintendo or Sega could have put out, because Sony and Microsoft can actually AFFORD to make something immensely powerful.

Peace

JHendrix

Ahhh 1996. I still had a megadrive/cd combo, and remember getting Eternal Champions CD and Sonic 3D Flickies Island . I also remember getting mugged the same day (i was 10, but he didn;t get anything ), and watching Arnie's jingle all the way at the cinema. Oh sweet memories.

JHendrix:

You people need to pull your head out of your asses, there are still good games that are being made today, just as many as before, if not more.

-JHendrix

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Thank you.

JHendrix:


You people need to pull your head out of your asses, there are still good games that are being made today, just as many as before, if not more.

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VERY well said.

This thread isnt some nostalgia kick ......far from it.

I should have said that I consider 2002 to be the first big gaming year for me since 1996........in terms of ......well 3 new consoles out.Th dreamcast being reduced to a bargain basement console.

But more my point was that in London....in 1996 you had a situation where there were huge corporate arcades everywhere seemingly.......a SNK europe and test site and a new games importing chain......all within 1 square mile of each other.....where me and thousands of students all into gaming from around the world, were studying.
In that year I remember walking into computer exchange........buying a boxed aes system for $110 and just seeing shelves of unsold aes systems........same thing in the nottinghill computer exchange.....man ,they had about 20 aes systems for $120 boxed...and the manager was bitching to me how they had trouble selling em.........in fact in that very year I have 2 receipts which show I bought a aes set up for $80 with 3 games and a mem card....not once but 2 times just from rehular people selling in the small adverts in local newspapers.

Basically in that year casual gamers who had bought the neo were selling in droves to buy the PS1.........basically in the UK the neo geo had several official launches and for a very short time the machine was in High Streets (ie town centres in regular EB style stores).

But its remarkable that the collecting scene and prices took off within 2 and a half years!

I see the same thing happening now to SNES and dreamcast stuff.

<small>[ February 06, 2003, 03:21 PM: Message edited by: rugal2000 ]</small>

JHendrix:

smokey:
There is one thing that incorrect in your rant J Hendrix ...All sega games on one system???
You got to have three systems to get all good sega games.....

Click to expand...

True, but honestly its one less system I have to buy for JUST Sega games (look at GC now, you own it practically for Nintendo games, anything else is just icing). And honestly all the new systems are more powerful than what Sega was offering. And even now PS2 and XBox are more powerful than the GC is. If Nintendo went third party we'd only have to grab a PS3 and XB2 and you've got just about anything you want, and the systems will be better than anything that Nintendo or Sega could have put out, because Sony and Microsoft can actually AFFORD to make something immensely powerful.

Peace

JHendrix

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Of the 6 gamecube games I own, none are made by Nintendo. This will change when I eventually get my legend of zelda and metroid, but that won't happen until I beat Skies of Arcadia.

And regarding CvS2 - I can't even play that game with live human competition in my own house. It's too damn slow and clumsy for me. Whenever people come over, it's anything buy CvS1 or CvS2. Playing it online would not help that game.

Well, when all the systems are gone and you only need to buy games for one system, I hope you'll enjoy playing them all on the ram-deficient, online crippled, UI lacking PS2/3/4/5/6/7...

A healthy level of competition helps the scene grow. A monopoly does not.

Hey, if you think that less consoles is better, more power to you. All that mediocre companies like Sony, MS and EA want to do is absorb/wipe out competition.

I miss the days when companies that were actually passionate about making great games, AND making heaps of money were in control of the big consoles. Now, it's Nintendo, Sony and MS. Two of these companies do not have a treasured games history and only seek to follow the protocol of glutting the market with mediocre trash for their, albeit, graphically powerful machines. Wasted potential.

Two of those companies have lower internal quality control than the other and thats obvious. It's a WEEKEND BLOCKBUSTER mentality of games making that was started by another shit company, Accliam with MK1 and 2.

The true golden age of gaming was when Nintendo and SEGA were going at it in the 16 bit days. You'll now never see that again. Two powerful machines, Two esteemed game makers, and a lot of 3rd party publishers putting out quality crowd pleasers. No matter what system you bought, you were guaranteed innovation and fun. And when EA was still cool, they made their important franchies available to all.

And the Neo Geo, which exists in a class all its own, is sadly about to expire. It was a great ride.

And don't tell me that I am anti-new. Their is plenty of software that I love that came from the last 7 years of gaming, but let me tell you, it's been rare that I find games that I truly love.

And do NOT blame me of looking through rose tinted glasses of the past. I actively play my old favouries as I still have a Genny and a SNES (as well as a NES ) hooked up that get more playtime than the PS2, GCN and XBOX do.

So, in the end, its 1 part preference for post 32 bit SONY software and another part of having a finer appreciation of games that you do.


You are Carson Daley and I am Ebert. You are trying to tell me that Shawshank Redemption is the best film of all time, but I contest that, though, it does have merrits, Godfather 2 is superior.


But this is a waste of time,
Rade

Rade Kuruc:


So, in the end, its 1 part preference for post 32 bit SONY software and another part of having a finer appreciation of games that you do.

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I really do agree with your post--

But quit trying to come off sounding like you're better than anyone.

Your opinion is your opinion...that's all. To me, its completely worthless. To Jhendrix? It's worthless. Its garbage. He's having a great time playing Capcom VS SNK 2 EO on Live, and I'm having a great time playing Phantom crash.

A finer appreciation? What a conceited prick.

Voice your opinion as much as you want man...its when you tack stupid ass comments like that on the end, that you come off looking like a tool.

Kid Aphex:

Rade Kuruc:


So, in the end, its 1 part preference for post 32 bit SONY software and another part of having a finer appreciation of games that you do.

Click to expand...

I really do agree with your post--

But quit trying to come off sounding like you're better than anyone.

Your opinion is your opinion...that's all. To me, its completely worthless. To Jhendrix? It's worthless. Its garbage. He's having a great time playing Capcom VS SNK 2 EO on Live, and I'm having a great time playing Phantom crash.

A finer appreciation? What a conceited prick.

Voice your opinion as much as you want man...its when you tack stupid ass comments like that on the end, that you come off looking like a tool.

Click to expand...

Your just as bad as I am for judging me. But at least Im not a hypocrite about it. I can admit Im an asshole and when I wrong. But im not wrong about this, pissant.

I must have really pissed you off.

Rade Kuruc:

Kid Aphex:

Rade Kuruc:


So, in the end, its 1 part preference for post 32 bit SONY software and another part of having a finer appreciation of games that you do.

Click to expand...

I really do agree with your post--

But quit trying to come off sounding like you're better than anyone.

Your opinion is your opinion...that's all. To me, its completely worthless. To Jhendrix? It's worthless. Its garbage. He's having a great time playing Capcom VS SNK 2 EO on Live, and I'm having a great time playing Phantom crash.

A finer appreciation? What a conceited prick.

Voice your opinion as much as you want man...its when you tack stupid ass comments like that on the end, that you come off looking like a tool.

Click to expand...

Your just as bad as I am for judging me. But at least Im not a hypocrite about it. I can admit Im an asshole and when I wrong. But im not wrong about this, pissant.

I must have really pissed you off.

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Wow, did I come off as angry? I'm really not.
lol you sure sound it though. Settle down man.

I don't let video game nerds ruin my day, you shouldn't let kings like me ruin yours

peace,
Ray

Kid Aphex:

Rade Kuruc:

Kid Aphex:

Rade Kuruc:


So, in the end, its 1 part preference for post 32 bit SONY software and another part of having a finer appreciation of games that you do.

Click to expand...

I really do agree with your post--

But quit trying to come off sounding like you're better than anyone.

Your opinion is your opinion...that's all. To me, its completely worthless. To Jhendrix? It's worthless. Its garbage. He's having a great time playing Capcom VS SNK 2 EO on Live, and I'm having a great time playing Phantom crash.

A finer appreciation? What a conceited prick.

Voice your opinion as much as you want man...its when you tack stupid ass comments like that on the end, that you come off looking like a tool.

Click to expand...

Your just as bad as I am for judging me. But at least Im not a hypocrite about it. I can admit Im an asshole and when I wrong. But im not wrong about this, pissant.

I must have really pissed you off.

Click to expand...

Wow, did I come off as angry? I'm really not.
lol you sure sound it though. Settle down man.

I don't let video game nerds ruin my day, you shouldn't let kings like me ruin yours

peace,
Ray

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Beauty, just keep proving me right. nice.

Videogame Nerd? Hardly. You must be seriously concious of your image to assume I'm at all what you imagine me to be. You'd be surprised.


Have a good day, hypocrite.

I just wanted to add, I do enjoy arguing here, but when you have to sink to labelling my social standing on a board we BOTH post on...hhehehe. well, it just proves that I shouldnt argue with you anymore. Case closed.

1996 Was a great year for me my fondest memory
about 96 was when I got my Neo geo CD system
I payed like $400 for it and got
King of Fighters 95 and Samurai Showdown 3
for it , also when I got N64 with Mario 64
also what was great about 96 was always going to
the Arcade and wasting $20 worth of Quarters on
games like
King of Fighters 96
Street Fighter Alpha 2
X-men Vs Street fighter
Art of Fighting 3
Samurai Showdown 4
Real Bout special
Ninja Masters
Tekken 2
Super Puzzle Fighter 2 turbo
during that time in 96 I was in San Francisco and
San Jose
And other games I fond Memorys About during 96 are
Nights
Darkstalkers 2 for Saturn
Resident Evil
Battle Arena Toshinden 2
Street Fighter Alpha (psx)
Street Fighter Alpha 2 for Saturn

Eh...current big title games are good. Don't get me wrong, but I kind of lose interest in them quickly.

Everything feels somewhat rehashed honestly. With the exception of a few titles here and there...it feels like I've played a lot of the shit that comes out under some other name.

I think there is just a lack of overall freshness. Sony seems content on tossing out as mnay titles as possible, while they do disperse some good ones every so often, I don't believe more is better.

Well what do I know...the Dreamcast IMO was the last big thing. It was a truly big jump in gaming. When the PS2/GC/X-Box came out, it didn't feel like a big jump. My mouth literally dropped the first time I played the DC and I instantly bought one half a year before it came out in the USA. The other three systems, I wasn't in a rush to get them, because well honestly, they weren't as impressive as the Dreamcast was.

Well anyhow, just my 2 cents.

DangerousK:
Eh...current big title games are good. Don't get me wrong, but I kind of lose interest in them quickly.

Everything feels somewhat rehashed honestly. With the exception of a few titles here and there...it feels like I've played a lot of the shit that comes out under some other name.

I think there is just a lack of overall freshness. Sony seems content on tossing out as mnay titles as possible, while they do disperse some good ones every so often, I don't believe more is better.

Well what do I know...the Dreamcast IMO was the last big thing. It was a truly big jump in gaming. When the PS2/GC/X-Box came out, it didn't feel like a big jump. My mouth literally dropped the first time I played the DC and I instantly bought one half a year before it came out in the USA. The other three systems, I wasn't in a rush to get them, because well honestly, they weren't as impressive as the Dreamcast was.

Well anyhow, just my 2 cents.

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Beauty.

Yeah, even the games I look forward to that are in the veign of their predecessors (New Castlevanias) are just rehash.

And, yeah, DC was the last thing to truly get me going. I wish it was 1999 again.