Argument Starter - a Graph of how Classic Games have held up

[(+_+)]

I like centipede, but prefer millipede as well.

Robotron wins hands down over all. It is the alpha and omega.   Thought I'd fuel the fire.

[RayB]

I've lost all respect for you Donk. Used to find your posts funny and usually spot on. You need some Centipede schoolin' boy!

[yotsuya]

Centipede is also a good get-together game. Lots of people played it way back when and want to play it when they see it on my cab, men AND women.

[leapinlew]

For the most part I agree with Donk. Centipede wasn't for me, but I realize it wasn't a bad game. Just not for me. Anyhow, maybe this will change his mind

[(+_+)]

That's what we're talking about ^

I think the classic games (and the list is long due to varied tastes) are all alive 'n kicking and have held up very well. The reason being most of us are building cabs or controllers to allow these games to live on in our hearts. I know I've spend at least $5000 dollars on the hobby just to be able to continue playing games that most people wouldn't look at twice without laughing at the cheesiness (graphics, sound, simplicty, etc) of it all. But we don't care. The classics are just that... classics. The same thing applies to music. My kids think the classics from yesteryear suck, but I don't care about that either. I laugh to myself because I know what I like and I also know what they've missed growing up with 'our games'. I have probably had more fun overall playing the oldies as a kid that I have had playing the best of breed games of today. IMO of course.

[Donkbaca]

I used to like centipede when I was a kid.  Got a trackball,, plugged it in, fired up Centipede and thought "I spent 60 bucks on a trackball to play this?"

I thought, hey maybe I'm missing something, fired it back up played it for a little bit, then decided not to put a trackball on my cab.  Game's not that fun.  Only reason I considered a trackball was to play Rampart.

[codefenix]

Missile Command?  Marble Madness?  Don't those scratch you where you itch?

[Donkbaca]

Missile Command is so old, and there are so many ripoffs of it that I have no desire to play it in my cab.  Marble Madness is okay, not good enough to dedicate space on my control panel for it.  Just like Ikari Warriors was fun, but I'm not gonna get rotary sticks to play it, not worth it to me.

[Xiaou2]

trackball novelty.

 A trackball isnt a Novelty.  Its a unique method of control... just like a mouse is different from a joystick.  Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

 A trackball for example, is better than a joystick / mouse  in games which you want the player to really work, such as Atari's XO Football. (need to roll the ball faster to run faster).    Trackballs provide direction and acceleration and speed control, that not many things can match.

 I didnt care too much for Centipede back when I was a kid, cause it stomped me... and there were other more interesting games to play.  However, I did like the control of it, and did play it occasionally.

 After we got an Atari 2600, we also picked up a trackball for it.  My stepfather played Centipede often.  He would roll the score counter.  I didnt like him, so I felt it necessary to beat his score.  In a few weeks, I was rolling the score over as well.  I appreciated the game much more after giving it some serious effort.

 The game starts out a little boring and slow, but quickly graduates to insanity level action.. and from that point on, it becomes a lot more fun.   
(especially when the scorpions come out frequently)

 You just have to get to that point where you are willing to give it a fair chance, jump in rather than dip a toe in... Take a bite, rather than just smell it.

 Its not my fav game, but when I see it on location, I do tend to give it a go.

 

Missile Command is so old

 A LOT of things are Old.  You will be one day too.  But it does not factor into what makes something good or bad.  In fact, not many games are as good and fun as Robotron, and I suspect that even 100yrs from now, people will still be rocking it.

 I prefer Centipede to Missile Command however.

 Crystal Castles however, is one of the best trackball games!  Its like a pumped up version of pacman, without that horribly slow gameplay speed.

 Marble Madness, I can play and replay that game to death and still love it.

 I suspect Donk just does not have the patience or attention span to actually play a game past the 60 second mark.  Not a very competitive player, gives up very easily... which is one reason he will prefer Smash TV, because Smash TV is easy: Just add more credits to win.  Robotron forces you to develop and have skills, if you want to get far into it.


 How anyone could think less of Gorf is also beyond me.  I always have a blast playing it.  Love the different types of levels, different attack patterns, boss ship..etc.

[Nephasth]

How anyone could think less of Gorf is also beyond me.  I always have a blast playing it.  Love the different types of levels, different attack patterns, boss ship..etc.

Agreed.... for once.

[Vigo]

Yeah, Gorf rules. Hands down cool game. I don't quite enjoy centipede either, but it was never a favorite of mine. I came to recently realize is that I seem to enjoy more spinner games than trackball games these days. It's amazing how time can change a man. 

Oh, and needs more 1982  Dig Dug, Pole position, Burgertime, Satan's Hollow.

[pinzach]

There are many games that I didn't put in the chart.  I will definitely need a part II.

http://mamezach.blogspot.com/2011/09/arguechart-how-classics-have-held-up.html

[pinzach]

I definitely didn't include lots of games that I could have.  I'll have to make a chart - part II.

http://mamezach.blogspot.com/2011/09/arguechart-how-classics-have-held-up.html

[Vigo]

  I would always be up for a sequel on this.

[smartbomb2084]

Me too.

JOUST over DEFENDER?

What, no STARGATE?

Can I get a little WIZARD OF WOR or MAJOR HAVOC?

I think age may be playing a role here... argument starter indeed.

[JODY]

To each his own.  I'd personally move Frogger and Star Wars up and to the right.  Other than that, I think we have a lot of game tastes in common.  Go Robotron!

[Vulgar Soul]

Lol now hold up. Is Centipede all that bad or are you bad at Centipede lol. Jus jokin. I like Centipede almost as much as GnG (...almost). I love retro shmups like that centiped, galaga, or juno first. Millipede on the other hand is a piece of garbage.

I think Millipede is an improvement in just about every way over Centipede, including more variety/less repetitiveness, increased game speed and difficulty, all without radical changes to the original game.  It also has that rare quality where you get in a zen-like trance while you are kicking ass, sort of like Robotron.  It's one of the few great sequels I can think of.

Centipede didn't have a whole lotta frills but to me it's one of the most balanced 80s shmups ever. In terms of the game's pace, speed, difficulty, controls, and overall fun factor, Centipede was just a very balanced and well made game. I felt like a lot of the improvements added in Millipede only got in the way and ruined the consistency of the original. The game just feels a bit too quick, confusing, and choppy to me. Their attempts to make the game better just ruined the perfect formula if you ask me. It's not a bad game on it's own merits, but it's like Donkey Kong 3. Compared to it's predecessor it jus feels bland.

Now Missile Command, there's a borin ass game I jus couldn't get into.

[Level42]

I'm glad to see Berzerk down in the corner. It's a slow game with awkward controls. But Crystal Castles? come on man....

Slow ? HAHAHAHAHA. Let me see you respond in the first second of a new level above the 10000 score.

Awkward controls ? Left, right, up, down, diagonal and a fire button, what's awkward about that ?

Berzerk (WITH A ZZZZZZZ not BerSerk !) is a brilliant game. I would rate it low as liked in the past. Although I never played the arcade version BITD I played it a lot on the A8 (which is almost a perfect conversion). Thought it was a fun game then, but nothing special.

Now I own the cab....I love it. I think I easily rate it 2nd after my SW cockpit as my favorite.

By the way, Centipede is brilliant too. Can't understand it's getting so much bashing here...

I think DK would be completely up in the right corner for me though...

[yotsuya]

By the way, Centipede is brilliant too. Can't understand it's getting so much bashing here...

I think DK would be completely up in the right corner for me though...

Actually, only one person has consistantly bashed it. Most of us like it and recognize why it's a classic. I don't think it's a gimmick at all. Arm Wrestling? Now THAT'S a gimmick-y controller!

[Vigo]

Yep, for the record, even though centipede is not my cup of tea, I recognize that it is a very involved game. Probably more strategic than most games at the time. I never quite worked out a good technique, but I am guessing it has to do with how and where you take out the mushrooms.

[Vulgar Soul]

Yep, for the record, even though centipede is not my cup of tea, I recognize that it is a very involved game. Probably more strategic than most games at the time. I never quite worked out a good technique, but I am guessing it has to do with how and where you take out the mushrooms.

The trick is to catch the centipede when its comin straight down a row of mushrooms, then blast that muhfuh piece by piece. works everytime!