Box and all, remarkably. I think I still have the wheel paddles, too.

I always thought it was funny how they referred to modified game modes in a single title as separate games. "COMBAT Game Program including 27 action-packed games!" :lol:

In some cases, they are substantially different games, especially considering the state of gaming at the time. Funny, you don't have any games that will use the driving controller. :D

I have practically zero interest in modern consoles, but this makes me want to buy an Atari off ebay. :lol: That thing was so much fun when I was a kid...

The problem is that once you go and play 'em, you realize that much of the fun you remember is just nostalgia.

You can play most every game these days on an emulator on your PC by the way. And the original Mario Bros. is still pretty fun on a Wii.

Playing these classic games on big TVs is kind of fun. There are also emulators and ROM images that allow you to play any of them on windows, Mac and Linux if you so choose.

I think the WII is the new machine that has a similar "feel" to that of the 2600. With basically zero practice, somebody can pick up a controller and have fun playing a game. For the most part, that is not the case for the vast majority of the games available for the other consoles.

Good point. The subtle nuances of Pong are probably much more engrossing for a 5yr old than a 30yr old...

You type faster than I do. :P

I think the multiplayer simple games still hold some interest, especially when played in a group/party type situation. That is the same thing that I like about the WII. I can have fun while being laughed at and getting my virtual ass kicked by Nick in boxing after bowling 10 frames and then sinking a hole in 1 at pebble beach having never seen the console before.

As compared to learning some convoluted combination of 2 thumb sticks, a direction pad, 4 triggers and 4 option buttons on other consoles, the WII is a true gaming system for the masses as was the 2600.

Like this?

http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2007/20070608.jpg

Holy crap. And I bet you get about 10 seconds to look at that before it's done loading.

:lol: The "cycle through mandibles" and "choke Pixie" commands are cracking me up...

I still like the "Hold A: Unused"

:lol:

All games should have both "pause" and "super pause".

That doesn't even begin to cover some of the "combinations" required in some games to perform moves/tasks, but yes.

And what is the deal with the convoluted cheat codes? Hiding them made sense in the 90s maybe, but now is silly. Have a damn menu for heavens sake.

CHEAT: ON [X] OFF [ ]

Every so often PA rules.

http://backloggery.com/kunikos/sig.gif

Just reinstalled STALKER and I'm planning on running through NWN2: MotB again.

For some, but for many it was essentially just marketing spin. I remember thinking that line on the system box was misleading even back then - I expected there to be a bit more variety. By today's standards, Combat really only had two or three different games, with many levels or modes. I don't really fault them, though, since it was all new to everyone. :cool:

But yeah, the wheel paddles are in near pristine condition because they were never used. :lol:

Add this to your atari collections

Hey, how is LOTR Online? I'd like to get it, but I am stuck in WoW right now. How does it compare to WoW?

It's good. :) It handles the IP very well, the mechanics are pretty similar to WoW except that there is no normal style of PvP (you go and unlock the ability to make monster characters and womp on high level good-aligned player characters, I believe). The icons and UI are not nearly as polished as WoW, but they are serviceable and there are a decent amount of options out of the box to customize it to your liking (although I'm not sure what's out there in terms of mods). I do like the scripted in-game cutscenes (ala FFXI) and pre-rendered cutscenes (ala Asheron's Call 2) which relay bits of the story for quests and the world itself outside of the flavor text in NPC dialogs and quest descriptions.

There's a 7 day trial at http://trial.lotro.com, which is what I'm playing (although I did play the beta a long time ago).

[Monty Python: Holly Grail: French Solider]Well, I'll ask him, but I don't think he will be very keen. Uh, he's already got one, you see. [/mphgfs]

Audiosurf is great. That is all.

http://backloggery.com/kunikos/sig.gif

Some more vids of this new simulator. It still looks like it is a long way from release, but it is getting more impressive by the day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3uK2dhHlbk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO5na8eTWRs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4MYm9Joeuw

that's crazy. I want it.

I love the detailed realism, but at the same time, I just don't think I'd have the time to put in to learning all that crap!

I wish the civil aviation sims were that good. I'd much rather learn to fly a Cessna or a Learjet in that detail. With the helicopter game, there's so much to learn just to fly it I'd probably never even get into the weapons systems and combat side of things (or if I did, I'd just get shot down in 5 seconds). So a CA game I'd at least be able to get into most of it.

How MS Flight Sim look these days? I haven't played it since FS5. :lol:

^Thats just too much work. Games that teach you to kill are just so much more fun. Like terrorist hunt on Vegas2.

I downloaded the demo last year. Seems pretty cool. Not nearly as much effort to get in the air but still took me while at button smashing. There's two missions in the demo. Drop flour bags on targets with an ultralight. Fly the approach and land in a passenger jet. It was enough to make me look into flight sticks and yokes.