Retro game stuff talk

[ruckage]

@flyingtomahawk
Wow the orange cube looks really cool. Those Zelda colectors edition discs are worth quite a bit now (at least in the UK). I worked in an entertainment shop when it was released and it was given away as a free bonus (I can't remember what it was free with, possibly the console or maybe Wind Waker). We had a load in a draw which just sat there for years (probably 20 copies at least) and I think they ended up in a skip. The manager let me have copy myself but if I'd known then how much they would be worth I could've had the lot.

Do you have Fzero GX? If so one of the cool things you can do with a modded wii is play the Arcade version (Fzero AX) as it's on the Gamecube disc it's just not usually accessible but you can set an option in nintendont and launch the game in arcade mode which I think is really cool .

Speaking of gamecube, what are everyones favourite games for the system?
Mine are (in no particular order):

Luigi's Mansion (love this game - I got a 3DS XL for Christmas pretty much just so I could play the sequel)
Mario kart double dash
Star wars rogue leader
Star Wars rebel strike
Billy hatcher (fun sega platformer)
Star fox adventures (gets some flack but I don't know why, it's a really enjoyable game).
Star Fox: assault (ruined a bit by the walking sections but the on rails Arwing sections make up for it)
FZero GX (I'm rubbish at it but it's still fun)
Freekstyle (SSX tricky on dirt bikes)
Donkey konga 1+2 (fun rhythm game and the bongo's are great :D )
Monkey Ball 1+2 (worth playing for the mini games alone)

I could keep listing games as there are a lot of good games for the system but those are the titles that instantly spring to mind.

[FlyingTomahawk]

I really don't remember from where I got that Zelda collectors edition. I think a friend of mine which still owns a game store today send it to me.

I was really excited when I finally got everything working on my Wii. I slapped on all my Wii games which is not much at all. Then when I looked up Wikipedia for a complete list of games and realized there are not many good titles for the Wii. At least not what I consider good games.
A lot Mario this and Mario that but few games that catched my interest.

Right now for Wii I am interested in these titles since I never played them before.

Star Wars Force Unleashed 1 and 2
Zelda Skyward Sword
Metroid Trilogy

For GameCube the titles that I really liked

Zelda Wind Waker
Resident Evil 4
Star Wars Rogue Leader
Viewtiful Joe
Doubutsu no mori
Pikmin 1 and 2

I also got the modchip for the GameCube delivered yesterday. That thing is super tiny. Need to get my soldering tools out and start to practice again.
Just waiting for my gamebit tools now then I am ready to go.

[lilbud]

@flyingtomahawk I would recommend getting Spyro: A Heros Tail. It was probably the last ps1-esque Spyro game before the Legend of Spyro and Skylanders

[obsidianspider]

@flyingtomahawk What does the mod chip allow you to do? Play games from any region? Anything else?

[FlyingTomahawk]

@obsidianspider

As far I know it makes the GC region free and that's it. The freeloader is good but can't play Zelda games.

[Migg22]

@ruckage I saw your work in the Shoryuken forums and would like to commission you for face artwork on a Mayflash F500 arcade stick.
Please email me at miggidy22@gmail.com
I really like your work!

[Slimy]

I tried experimenting using various Super Game Boy borders with games they weren't made for. I think Metroid 2 turned out pretty well.

This border was from Namco Gallery Volume 1.

[ruckage]

@flyingtomahawk
I kind of get the impression you're not a fan of Mario but if you are you should definitely get both Mario Galaxy games for the wii as they are both amazing.

Metroid trilogy may be tricky, in the UK at least it's relatively rare and really expensive (£75+), I have Metroid 1 and 2 on the gamecube so at least I can play those.

Some other good Wii games are:

Sin and Punishment
Sonic Colours
Madworld
Metroid Other M
Zack and Wiki
Excitebots: Trick Racing
Donkey Kong Returns

If you like light gun games these are all great:

House of the dead 2 & 3 return
Ghost squad
Gunblade NY & LA Machineguns
House of the Dead overkill
Dead Space: extraction

[edmaul69]

@ruckage the older call of duty’s dont let you use a classc controller so if you get tired holding your gun up it makes your character look at the ground. And then when you look back up it may be in the wrong direction. I do agree with the lightgun games you pick.

[lilbud]

@FlyingTomahawk Here are some more good Wii games.

Super Paper Mario
Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree
Klonoa
Lost in Shadow

[FlyingTomahawk]

Thanks for the game recommendations. (thumbsup)

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@ruckage

I don't "really" hate Mario I just can't see it anymore. If Nintendo's game line up is 70% Mario, 10% Zelda, 10% Donkey Kong and 10% ports like COD and other "adult-ish" games that are available on other consoles then it gets kinda boring. I will look into Galaxy though since I have heard only good about it.
I have the Metroid Trilogy now which is absolute fantastic. 3 titles and all can be played with the Wii controls which is something rather new to me. I am used to PS4 and Microsoft controllers.

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I finally got my Gamebit drivers and I did the laser adjustment. The old type GameCube (DOL-001) suppose to have a range of 450-600 Ohm. Mine had 558 Ohm so I turned it down to 525 Ohm first but it still didn't read the Japanese discs consistently. I finally went down to 508 Ohm and now it does read all Japanese game discs. It does struggle with the Freeloader disc though but since I am gonna install the Modchip I won't need to worry about it.

Once the laser was set I moved on and installed the modchip. Anyone out there saying it is an easy or even very easy install is lying or just damn good with the solder tools.
I have soldered various consoles and did a couple of console mods for example on these here.

SNES 50/60Hz switch
PSX
Dreamcast
Xbox (SmartXX)
PS2 (Matrix Infinity chip)

And I really struggled with this GameCube modchip. That thing is about the size of an adult man's thumbnail. So imagine how tiny and narrow those damn solder points are.
They recommend to install the chip directly by putting it in its position and just drop some solder on it. I tried that but it was just not clean and you can't see if the solder touches any other pad or points which it shouldn't.

I decided to go with the wire install version which was not an easy task either. I really got old or I was very nervous and my hands were shacking like a 80 year old Granny.
However I got it done and it does work as it should. (Phew! Lucky.)
Now I can play games from any region like US or PAL without the Freeloader. And all Zelda games run without issues.
Here an image of my finished work. It looks messy but that is mostly the Flux that I put on. That driver is a Philips 00 so you can imagine how tiny that stuff is.

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@obsidianspider

The chip not only makes the console region free but it allows you to play backup games if needed.

[Rion]

@flyingtomahawk Have you considered using SD Media Launcher/SD Gecko to launch homebrew?

More info here

[FlyingTomahawk]

@rion

Thanks Rion. I'll look into it.

[FlyingTomahawk]

Went for a stroll at Hard Off today and found this.

324 yen! Couldn't let that one pass.
It still works and looks far better than my current Famicoms that I have at home. The front and rear labels look like brand new.
Guess I'll swap out the cover on my FamicomPi

[obsidianspider]

That thing is gorgeous! And so cheap!

must find an excuse to go to Japan for work or something and buy an extra suitcase to bring home sweet retro goodness

[FlyingTomahawk]

@obsidianspider said in Retro game stuff talk:

must find an excuse to go to Japan for work or something and buy an extra suitcase to bring home sweet retro goodness

Super light suitcase, extra large around 5000 Yen then just stuff it full of goodies.
You wont need money for hotels, my place is big enough. :)

[ruckage]

@flyingtomahawk said in Retro game stuff talk:

Super light suitcase, extra large around 5000 Yen then just stuff it full of goodies.
You wont need money for hotels, my place is big enough. :)

You heard him everyone, mass meetup at @FlyingTomahawk place ;) (hope you have lots of spare beds).

[obsidianspider]

I haven't updated here in a while, but as far as cool stuff I've done or acquired lately, here's a summary photo:

On the left are two "Nintendo Mini Classics" keychains. The top one is Super Mario Bros and it stinks like cigarettes (ew). The bottom one is Mario's Cement Factory, still in the packaging. Both were pretty cheap on eBay, but those things often go for quite a lot. "Stink Boy" was purchased with the intent of either modding, or just keeping on my keys. I'm not sure how it will go yet. I wish there was a way to get the smell out of it. For now it's hanging up airing out, away from my cabinet that I keep my gaming stuff in.

The Gameboy Advance is a AGB-101 that I bought on eBay for cheap a while ago. I got rid of the horizontal lines that were on the screen by adjusting the trimpot on the motherboard. Those repro screens are actually really good once you get them dialed in.

I also finally decided to tackle adding a LiPo. It went pretty well. I now have a 1600mAh battery in there with a TP4056 charging board and an adjustable voltage regulator feeding 3V to the Game Boy. Retromodding makes a nicer, more complex solution, but theirs is $40, out of stock, and has a smaller battery. This was $12 in parts, and it's fun to tinker with stuff. It's something I'm going to try to recreate on some other Game Boys now that I know it works.

My other two Ever Drives that I ordered in November finally arrived.

There's an issue using flash carts on Game Boy Pockets, especially when backlit. Thanks to a blog post by BennVenn I learned that the problem can be solved by putting in a 5V voltage regulator so the cart always gets 5V. It was a pretty straightfoward mod and it works really well.

I also finally got around to doing teh CGB-101 mod on the sweet green Color that I got from @celly in trade. I broke the glass lens :( but I will be ordering a new one soon. I also didn't want to glue the case shut, so that's kind of "just there" , but BennVenn has developed some brackets that can be 3D printed that will allow you to screw the case shut. Once he has a "final" revision he said he'll be releasing the STLs, so I am hoping I can tackle that. I'd also like to look into adding a green power LED and a LiPo.

I try to post up new pickups on Instagram, so if you're into that, you can also follow me there.

[FlyingTomahawk]

@ruckage said in Retro game stuff talk:

@flyingtomahawk said in Retro game stuff talk:

Super light suitcase, extra large around 5000 Yen then just stuff it full of goodies.
You wont need money for hotels, my place is big enough. :)

You heard him everyone, mass meetup at @FlyingTomahawk place ;) (hope you have lots of spare beds).

Oh boy! Maybe my comment was a bit premature? :-))
We sleep on the floor here in Japan. If we can cram up say 10 guys per room I could probably fit 50-60 people? 0_O

@obsidianspider
Man you really should stop buying handheld stuff. What's the current count? 50+ devices?
Save some money and come over here. We can go on a Hard Off safari. :-)

[obsidianspider]

@flyingtomahawk 50? Nah. Here's a photo of my shelf that has most of my gaming systems.

I am still working on a sketch for a custom TV console based on this to hold my non-handheld systems. Once the weather warms up (it's cold in the garage) I will be migrating those systems from the bottom shelf.

If I ever get a chance to go to Japan, I will definitely let you know.