Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

You've all seen pictures of my basement, right? I have 10 television
sets down there (long story... there is a certain brand I collect, and
buy every time I see one at a thrift store..)
 
Anyway, I personally like to play on a 19 or 20 inch screen, as that is
pretty much the standard of an ARCADE game, so naturally it would
follow to try to hook home systems up to this standard.
 
I have one table available down there that I'm thinking of doing
something with, like hooking up a computer system with perepherals
(Commodore or Atari computer with disc drives, perepherals, etc.. or
perhaps an Intellivision computer setup, or even an Adam!). The trouble
is, this particular table is long enough, but not quite big enough to
hold a 19 inch TV. I have a small 13 inch TV that would fit perfect,
but I don't know how I feel about playing games on a smaller screen.
 
What are your thoughts about this? On one hand, I really like to stick
with the 19 inch.. on the other hand, didn't a lot of classic game
displays in stores (atari,intellivision) use a 13 inch screen? I guess
I could use that to reconcile the whole small screen thing if you know
what I mean. I'm trying to figure out what to do. What types of TV's do
you hook your games up to?
 
Any advice appreciated. Thank you.

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

"The Space Boss" <drsmith666@aol.com> wrote in  
news:1127269169.264655.234560@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:
 
> What are your thoughts about this? On one hand, I really like to stick
> with the 19 inch.. on the other hand, didn't a lot of classic game
> displays in stores (atari,intellivision) use a 13 inch screen? I guess
> I could use that to reconcile the whole small screen thing if you know
> what I mean.  
 
Tough call.  Really tough call.  Most demos I'd seen before the mid-90s
used smaller TVs, so I think you'd have no problem feeling "authentic".  
however, do you really think you'd be comfortable playing on that size
set in this room?  I don't know... only you can answer that.  If you can
hook up your small-screen set, and see it and be happy, go for it.
 
Or hell, get a new table.
 
>I'm trying to figure out what to do. What types of TV's do
> you hook your games up to?
 
I'm the wrong person to ask this.  The reason being, my setup is  
designed more to suit my immediate needs than it is to make my  
"dream game room".  I do most of my gaming on a 13" TV, because it
fits aside of my desk where I do most of my work (and most of my  
playing).  Occasionally, I'll hook something up to the 27" set in  
the family room, but not often.
 
My goal is to eventually settle on a nice 45-55" HDTV set, and take
my display totally modern.  When it happens, I'm setting up things
*right*.
 
 
 
 
--  
 
Aaron J. Bossig
 
http://www.GodsLabRat.com
http://www.dvdverdict.com

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

I alternate between a DLP XGA  front projector displaying a 100" screen
(with everything upconvereted to 1080i)  to a 13" Commodore 1084s that
I can flip on it's side for vertically oriented games like Xevious.
 
A pretty big difference, but both have their advantages.  It freaks
people out to see Pac-man taking up their entire wall. ;-)
 
All my classic gaming these days is done with a a hacked  Xbox running
emulators.  All of it in one convenient box.

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

> Tough call.  Really tough call.  Most demos I'd seen before the mid-90s
> used smaller TVs, so I think you'd have no problem feeling "authentic".
> however, do you really think you'd be comfortable playing on that size
> set in this room?  I don't know... only you can answer that.  If you can
> hook up your small-screen set, and see it and be happy, go for it.
 
If you remember correctly TVs were much smaller in the 80s. Our 'family
big screen' was probably 25 inches. The TV I used to play most of my
games on was a circa 1980 Sears 12 or 13inch set that was at least in
color. Anyway, screw that. The only displays I have that are smaller
than 15inches are a few old C= monitors I still have. Sometimes I'll
hook up a system to one of those because they have excellent clairty,
much better than a TV set. But for the most part I use my 61in NTSC
RPTV.
 
There's being authentic, then there's being practical.
 
= numsix
= http://www.villagebbs.com

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

rob_ocelot@hotmail.com wrote:
> I alternate between a DLP XGA  front projector displaying a 100" screen
> (with everything upconvereted to 1080i)  to a 13" Commodore 1084s that
> I can flip on it's side for vertically oriented games like Xevious.
 
I though Xevious was a top down shooter??
 
>
> A pretty big difference, but both have their advantages.  It freaks
> people out to see Pac-man taking up their entire wall. ;-)
>
> All my classic gaming these days is done with a a hacked  Xbox running
> emulators.  All of it in one convenient box.
 
do they sell hacked xboxes on ebay?

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

In article <1127269169.264655.234560@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
 "The Space Boss" <drsmith666@aol.com> wrote:
 
> Any advice appreciated. Thank you.
 
I use my 27" screen...
 
But I have access to an 8-foot screen  

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

The Space Boss wrote:
> rob_ocelot@hotmail.com wrote:
> > I alternate between a DLP XGA  front projector displaying a 100" screen
> > (with everything upconvereted to 1080i)  to a 13" Commodore 1084s that
> > I can flip on it's side for vertically oriented games like Xevious.
>
> I though Xevious was a top down shooter??
 
It is, but the monitor is in 'portrait' orientation (taller than it is
wide) in the upright.  If you were to view this on a horizontal monitor
you would end up playing the game in a vertical stripe down the center
of the screen -- not a very good use of the screen real estate.  You
could also play the game in cocktail mode, but that just puts the same
sized vertical stripe to the left and the score/lives display on the
right.  On the PS1 Namco museum disks you could select a rotated screen
with the dip switch settings and turn your monitor/TV on it's side.
Xbox Mame lets you do the same thing.  Pretty darn close to the arcade
experience.
 
> > A pretty big difference, but both have their advantages.  It freaks
> > people out to see Pac-man taking up their entire wall. ;-)
> >
> > All my classic gaming these days is done with a a hacked  Xbox running
> > emulators.  All of it in one convenient box.
>
> do they sell hacked xboxes on ebay?
 
Definitely not, since mod chips or softmodded Xboxes are considered
illegal in some areas -- though not in Canada.  Best bet is to find
someone locally or check the buy/sell forums on www.xbox-scene.com for
someone selling a modded xbox with an upgraded hard drive (for MAME
you'd want around 4 Gigs, Daphne laserdisk mpegs can take up about
15-20 Gigs, An entire Amiga library would use up about 7 Gigs, etc.
The stock Xbox has either a 10 or 20 Gig HD in it (of which only 8 is
actually useable).

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

> Definitely not, since mod chips or softmodded Xboxes are considered
> illegal in some areas -- though not in Canada.  Best bet is to find
> someone locally or check the buy/sell forums on www.xbox-scene.com for
> someone selling a modded xbox with an upgraded hard drive (for MAME
> you'd want around 4 Gigs, Daphne laserdisk mpegs can take up about
> 15-20 Gigs, An entire Amiga library would use up about 7 Gigs, etc.
> The stock Xbox has either a 10 or 20 Gig HD in it (of which only 8 is
> actually useable).
 
You still see modded XBOXs on ebay from time to time, generally if you
avoid the buzzwords you can get away with it, but prices are nuts. The
easiest way to mod an xbox is to just softmod it. You just need any
xbox, a memory card and one of a handful of games, like 007 Agent Under
Fire. It takes all of 5 minutes to do the mod once you know what you're
doing, and works like a charm.
 
The XBOX has 8GB or HD space, but actually only 4.5 or so is usable for
games, etc. But, if you can play emulators/games, etc. off DVD+Rs just
fine, so that's one way around the hard drive limitation. Also, it is
possible to upgrade the hard drive on a soft mod, although I've never
done it. You can find all sorts of tutorials and such with google.
 
As far as emulation goes, nothing short of a MediaPC or something like
that beats an X-Box. Even then, i'd argue the X-BOX is better simply
because its so easy, total plug and play, tons of controllers, etc. No
drivers, no hassle. It will also run you about $1,000 cheaper than a
MediaPC as well!  
 
= numsix
= http://www.villagebbs.com

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

Jack (www.villagebbs.com) wrote:
 
 
 
> The
> easiest way to mod an xbox is to just softmod it. You just need any
> xbox, a memory card and one of a handful of games, like 007 Agent Under
> Fire. It takes all of 5 minutes to do the mod once you know what you're
> doing, and works like a charm.
>  
 
How do you do it??

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

> > Fire. It takes all of 5 minutes to do the mod once you know what you're
> > doing, and works like a charm.
> >
>
> How do you do it??
 
Ask the people who feed you what google is.
 
Hint: Has nothing to do with M-network games.
 
= numsix
= http://www.villagebbs.com

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

Do you have a computer with MAME set up down there too? Turn the monitor  
on its side, then set MAME to shift the display by 90 degrees. Then get  
one of those arcade controllers for your PC. ROCK.

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

Jack (www.villagebbs.com) wrote:
> The only displays I have that are smaller than 15inches are a
> few old C= monitors I still have. Sometimes I'll hook up a
> system to one of those because they have excellent clairty,  
> much better than a TV set.
 
Frantic, 2D shooting games seem better on my C= monitor.  I think
the small size of the screen allows the eye to take in the entire
playfield, lessening the chances of dying from some unseen
projectile catching your vision off guard.  Plus, it's a snap to
flip the monitor vertically to play in "tate" mode.
 
--crymad

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

rob_ocelot@hotmail.com wrote:
> The Space Boss wrote:
>> do they sell hacked xboxes on ebay?
>  
>  
> Definitely not, since mod chips or softmodded Xboxes are  
> considered illegal in some areas -- though not in Canada.  Best
>  bet is to find someone locally or check the buy/sell forums on
>  www.xbox-scene.com for someone selling a modded xbox with an  
> upgraded hard drive
 
Your local craigslist is a good way to find a mod job.  I had mine
done this way -- I wanted a hard drive upgrade and didn't want to
attempt it on my own.  Total cost was $45 plus cost of hard drive.
  Plus cost of Xbox, of course.
 
The potential for easy emulation was the initial draw.  But the
Media Center is getting quite a workout too.  Download video,
transfer them to Xbox via disc or FTP with crossover cable, and
enjoy on the big screen.  Or put the Xbox on your network, and you
don't even have to bother with transferring.
 
--crymad

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

The 2600 goes on a 25" Sanyo and the Jag goes on a 45" Mitsubishi.

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

MrBiggles wrote:
> Do you have a computer with MAME set up down there too? Turn the monitor
> on its side, then set MAME to shift the display by 90 degrees. Then get
> one of those arcade controllers for your PC. ROCK.
 
Yes sir I do.. I don't have all the ROMS, but I have a lot of them. I
also have another computer that is EXCLUSIVELY dedicated to NEO RAGE
(but I also have Neo Geo CD, AES *AND* MVS down there as well so maybe
it's overkill

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

> The 2600 goes on a 25" Sanyo and the Jag goes on a 45" Mitsubishi.
 
I had high hopes for the Atari Jag. I mean I totally dumped my SNES in
order to buy one.

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

Me, too, considering the last game system I bought before my Jag in
1995 was a Colecovision back in 1982...although I still like playing
the ol' Jag (just yesterday I was messing about with Hover Strike and
Worms).  I think a game like Tempest 2000 really shows off the system,
people like Raiden, and back in the day Alien vs. Predator was pretty
neat and it still elicits a generally positive reaction in this climate
of Half-Life 2 et al.  Attack of the Mutant Penguins, Brutal Sports
Football, and Primal Rage get a lot of play, too.

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

> Me, too, considering the last game system I bought before my Jag in
> 1995 was a Colecovision back in 1982...although I still like playing
> the ol' Jag (just yesterday I was messing about with Hover Strike and
> Worms).  I think a game like Tempest 2000 really shows off the system,
> people like Raiden, and back in the day Alien vs. Predator was pretty
> neat and it still elicits a generally positive reaction in this climate
> of Half-Life 2 et al.  Attack of the Mutant Penguins, Brutal Sports
> Football, and Primal Rage get a lot of play, too.
 
I'll go on record: The Atari Jaguar is by far, the worst mass marketed
game system of the last 25 years. Take away Tempest 2000 and maybe 1 or
2 other games, and you've got a few (and I mean a few) 'OK' titles
(mostly ports) and a lot of just unplayable garbage.
 
= numsix
= http://www.villagebbs.com

Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)

> Jack (www.villagebbs.com) wrote:
>> The only displays I have that are smaller than 15inches are a
>> few old C= monitors I still have. Sometimes I'll hook up a
>> system to one of those because they have excellent clairty,  
>> much better than a TV set.
>
> Frantic, 2D shooting games seem better on my C= monitor.  I think
> the small size of the screen allows the eye to take in the entire
> playfield, lessening the chances of dying from some unseen
> projectile catching your vision off guard.  Plus, it's a snap to
> flip the monitor vertically to play in "tate" mode.
 
I'd have to agree with this.  I have a 1702 and things are much easier to watch
on a smaller screen.  For when I want to sit on the floor I hook up to a small
TV.  Playing Geometry Wars on the big scree