X-strike Podcast

[shadowdancer21b]

Yeah, the Spectrum didn't get big across the pond.

[dave auto]

I recall the C64 making a pretty noble stand over here, but by 1988 or so, nothing could withstand the mighty NES. I remember seeing ads for NES ports of Codemasters games, like Dizzy, in games magazines back then. I'm pretty sure they didn't have a license from Nintendo of America, and were making their own bootleg cartridges and selling them directly, though maybe I should check my facts EDIT: Duh! The Game Genie! Perhaps Codemasters' single largest contribution to the collective consciousness of young NES players in the States. That thing was huge over here. So huge Nintendo tried to sue its distributors. And Codemasters did have an unlicensed American publisher, Camerica, manufacturing goony-looking gold and silver carts that zapped the NES' lockout chip to get them to run.

I always meant to try the Dizzy series, beloved as it is. But I don't think the Speccy has ever had a large retro following over here, and I think it's because we don't have the same nostalgia for its trademark graphical style. Something about how every individual object is only one single color... I'm sure we don't mean to judge a book by its cover, but there's something, I don't know... very Euro about that

But hey, many English studios have been huge over here: Rare, especially, and of course DMA (Rockstar North), but also Psygnosis (now SCE Liverpool), Bullfrog>Lionhead>Microsoft Game Studios, and even Codemasters has a small but devout following among the racing crowd.

@Dr. Jon: Yes. I would love to do a hacking/modding consoles segment. I'll see what I can do about that

[Reznor]

Where's the weekly beef?

[Ekkebus]

Its right here on my computer. I'm listening to it right now. Its soooooo good.

[Reznor]

Wow, this is quite the large audio steak. Time to chow down.

[Reznor]

Okay, someone needs to get off of their ass and create the "Legend of Zelda: Master of MacGuffins" game cover/poster now.

[gobbleskat]

If you can explain to me what the fuck a MacGuffin looks like then I'm all over that shit.

[Wood]

I'm assuming a chest with a bunch of items Link has to collect that don't do anything him traversing the world. I'm thinking, 3 pendents, 8 crystals, the triforce, 8 instuments, stuff like that.

[VFKevin]

CLOAK & DAGGER is the sort of film that would have appealed to most people on these boards as a kid. It has not aged very well (sadly). Its a cross between a boy-who-cries-wolf/overactive imagination kid with a conspiracy thriller with an augmented reality premise, with videogames.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087065/

Of the War Games/Last Starfighter genre, for sure. Not as much product-placement as The Wizard.

[Reznor]

I'm assuming a chest with a bunch of items Link has to collect that don't do anything him traversing the world. I'm thinking, 3 pendents, 8 crystals, the triforce, 8 instuments, stuff like that.

This.

[gobbleskat]

I can't believe I had such fond associations with Cloak and Dagger, yet couldn't remember anything about it.

[DrJonAngus]

Before I graduated from high school last year, I heard sex in the other room while I was playing through 999. Every single time I hear Binary Game, I just start to laugh.

[Wood]

Before I graduated from high school last year, I heard sex in the other room while I was playing through 999. Every single time I hear Binary Game, I just start to laugh.

That, sir, is awesome!

[King wiL]

Is the diamond jacket still up for grabs? for i know what Crash Bandicooting is.

[Ekkebus]

You have to write into the podcast!