3 ms·

Tengen: Atari Games vs. Nintendo (2015) [video]

ariehkovler 8y ago
I still miss my Atari 2600, back when it made sense to put a wood-style finish on a games console and when you could play Breakout using a paddle dial thingy instead of a joystick.
- jasonkostempski 8y ago
  The paddles are exactly the reason I recently rebought a 2600. The feel is as close to moving a physical object as can be. I noticed some of that feel is lost through a modern TV. I tried a tube tv and I nearly double my recent breakout hi score on the first run. I dont care what anyone says about perceptible latency, it made a huge difference. Emulation with a mosue doesnt even come close to capturing the feel. And the local multiplayer (up to 4 at once) games are a blast.
  - snarfy 8y ago
    IIRC the paddle's circuit was a simple resistor/capacitor combo that was tied to the beam scanning timing of the TV. It felt physical because it kind of was.
tokyodude 8y ago
Well if we're posting links to documentaries here one from the BBC about Tetris. The Tengen vs Nintendo suit comes up. I haven't watched it in a while but IIRC the editing makes the Tengen guys look like that had some really bad luck thinking they had a legit license and it also makes Nintendo seem like a bunch of jerks for being so mean about it, as if there was no way to figure out any kind of mutually beneficial outcome. Also IIRC Tengen's version is considered better than Nintendo's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ohCy4ktA5w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ohCy4ktA5w
- djur 8y ago
  The Digital Antiquarian had a really interesting series on the origin of Tetris and the complicated mess of licensing agreements that resulted from business negotiations across the Iron Curtain. Lots of really fascinating individuals in there bouncing around between the corporate heavyweights. https://www.filfre.net/2017/06/tales-of-the-mirror-world-part-1-calculators-and-cybernetics/ https://www.filfre.net/2017/06/tales-of-the-mirror-world-par...
city41 8y ago
The Gaming Historian does a great job. Especially fond of his video on Satoru Iwata (former President of Nintendo) https://youtube.com/watch?v=k4cJh2YgrKE https://youtube.com/watch?v=k4cJh2YgrKE

I still miss my Atari 2600, back when it made sense to put a wood-style finish on a games console and when you could play Breakout using a paddle dial thingy instead of a joystick.

jasonkostempski 8y ago
The paddles are exactly the reason I recently rebought a 2600. The feel is as close to moving a physical object as can be. I noticed some of that feel is lost through a modern TV. I tried a tube tv and I nearly double my recent breakout hi score on the first run. I dont care what anyone says about perceptible latency, it made a huge difference. Emulation with a mosue doesnt even come close to capturing the feel. And the local multiplayer (up to 4 at once) games are a blast.
- snarfy 8y ago
  IIRC the paddle's circuit was a simple resistor/capacitor combo that was tied to the beam scanning timing of the TV. It felt physical because it kind of was.

tokyodude 8y ago

Well if we're posting links to documentaries here one from the BBC about Tetris. The Tengen vs Nintendo suit comes up. I haven't watched it in a while but IIRC the editing makes the Tengen guys look like that had some really bad luck thinking they had a legit license and it also makes Nintendo seem like a bunch of jerks for being so mean about it, as if there was no way to figure out any kind of mutually beneficial outcome. Also IIRC Tengen's version is considered better than Nintendo's https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ohCy4ktA5w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ohCy4ktA5w

djur 8y ago
The Digital Antiquarian had a really interesting series on the origin of Tetris and the complicated mess of licensing agreements that resulted from business negotiations across the Iron Curtain. Lots of really fascinating individuals in there bouncing around between the corporate heavyweights. https://www.filfre.net/2017/06/tales-of-the-mirror-world-part-1-calculators-and-cybernetics/ https://www.filfre.net/2017/06/tales-of-the-mirror-world-par...

city41 8y ago

The Gaming Historian does a great job. Especially fond of his video on Satoru Iwata (former President of Nintendo) https://youtube.com/watch?v=k4cJh2YgrKE https://youtube.com/watch?v=k4cJh2YgrKE