1994 by GEnie ========================================================================== This file is brought to you by The Commodore 64/128 RoundTable on GEnie This file may be published or excerpted in User Group newsletters providing credit is given in this manner: "Copyright 1994 by GEnie From the Commodore 64/128 RoundTable File#:#####" This file maybe be distributed, if distributed whole and unaltered, on non-profit BBSs or non-profit networks. For more information on GEnie call by modem: 1-800-638-8369 (8-N-1 300/1200/2400) Enter: HHH Then reply: xtx99018,commrt Then enter: Commodore And enjoy! ========================================================================== From the Commodore 64/128 RT on page 625. An evening with Zach Mesto - SysOp of the Video Games RT Friday May 27,1994 Page Okay? Everyone ready for our first VIDEOGAMES RTC? <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> Genie's first, or the Flagships? The C64/128's 1st <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Actually, I work at home. I'm an author of...Video Game Statedy Books They sell quite well. Some sell extremely well. My book on... Super Mario World has sold over 110,000 copies. WoW! <[Sean] S.ROE3> no SH*T <[Zach] Z.MESTON> No sh*t. :) I also am a contributing editor to VideoGames Magazine..and write reviews for WIRED. C128.JBEE> wow - that must have been a hefty royality check :) <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Yeah, I used that royalty check to buy a new Mac Quadra--and a C128. :) <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> Is the Mac 64 compatable? Zach? Can you tell me how to use a sword properly, in ELVIRA? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Andy: Nope. :) <[e.g.bell] CBM-ED> So you play games for a living Zach? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Ed: Yep. I play games for a living. <[e.g.bell] CBM-ED> Whatta life! And in Hawaii yet. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> k.Schenk: Elvira... man, that's an oldie. <[Sean] S.ROE3> do you take em apart too? What are some of ypur more favorite games? <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> Geez! Whadda ya do on vacation, work? ;) <[Zach] Z.MESTON> My current fave games... Super Metroid for the Super NES... Tempest 2000 for the Jaguar... Twisted for 3DO... and Modem Wars for the C64. BTW: what was the name of the book? Just curious - or do you use a handle like Mark Twain :D <[Sean] S.ROE3> do you dissassemble the programs too? <[e.g.bell] CBM-ED> How long do you have to play a game before you are ready to write a book? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> No, I don't disassemble the games, just describe how to beat them. how is Modem Wars for the C-64? I had it but never tried it because it didnt workwith my swiftlink. Using a "GENIE"? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Ed: It depends on the complexity of the game. The Mario book took about a month... while recent books I wrote for RPGs took about 6 weeks. <[e.g.bell] CBM-ED> Guess there may be a future for my son. :) <[Zach] Z.MESTON> JB: I like Modem Wars a lot. Great fun. Reminds me of RoboSport for the Amiga. <[Sean] S.ROE3> do you write for commedore games too? can you play it over a network or is it modem to modem only? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> I used to write and publish an Amiga fanzine... but I don't write about C= stuff these days. JB: It's modem to modem only. <[Sean] S.ROE3> I am a publisher here in phoenix <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> Is there a "Videogame-Shopper" magazine that sells used arcade games? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Andy: There's a magazine called RePlay that has a large section of ads... selling used arcade games and printed circuit boards (PCBs). It's an expensive 'zine, though. <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> I'd like to find and original Tempest. <[Sean] S.ROE3> have you seen the new CMD mag <[Zach] Z.MESTON> An original Tempest? That would be sweet. :) Sean: No. What's the name of this mag? <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> ..got the Windows version which is pretty nice. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Andy: I heard that the Windows version was pretty good. Have you seen Tempest 2000 for the Jag? <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> Nope. unfortunately noone has the Jag around here except the V12 version. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Andy: Check it out if you can. It's only semi-faithful to the original, but very fun and has awesome music. <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> I miss the $10 worth of free games feature ...I got to the point where I could get the 40 free games on 1 quarter. is tempest the one where you use a paddle to move around different shaped triangles and destroy incoming ships and missles? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> JB: Yep. <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> Shaped like a spider web. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Andy: That's pretty damn good. 40 free games on a single Q? How long did it take to reach that point? That was a cool Game! I haven't played it in years! okay - use to like that one - never realized they had a C-64 version - must have been a long time ago. <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> Can't rememeber. It was a while ago. A year maybe? Anywhy, they took the games out I guess becuase they weren't making any money off them. :) I played Galaga (the one where the motherships join together and beam ya up) for over 8 hours in a video faceoff at Aladdins Arcade in Danvers, MA :) like Asteroids once everyone learned how to hunt Wally and Beaver. <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> I haven't gotten that good on the Windows version. Haven't the time to get back into it. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> How is the control of the Windows version, Andy? Does the mouse work well? <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> ...got up to level 71 I think. I bought a track-ball just for that game. Works best that way. Mouse isn't very good....used to play that in my dreams... <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Andy: Nice. How much for the trackball? like trying to use a mouse for any action game - just doesnt hack it. <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> $50-something. A paddle thingie would be best. Maybe I can convert the trackball into one.... re:trackball - is it an old Atari Trackball or something new? <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> Remember the old "Pole Position" with the movie clip & mechnical car ...you could follow behind a car & play forever. :) <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> something new. Maybe it was a little more. no, but I played the Pole Position (racing cars on different tracks) on the C-64 and it was just as good as the arcade version (SEGA) <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Lou: I think I know what you're talking about, but I never did get to play it. Sounds like fun. Lou, I remember that one and getting run over by fire engines :D <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> LOL! Don't remeber that variation! Lou, trackball works with some paint programs and there is a C-64 PD Missle Command somewhere ... <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> Is pong available for the 64? <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> Burnin' Rubber was funny, too anyone ever use those ATC flight sticks for Flight Simulator? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Not me. always wondered what "real" improvement they provided over my $5 ToysRus specials <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> No, I never did. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> I still use the Epyx 500XJ I bought six years ago. :) I also have a Slik Stik as backup. Great little joystick. with the name I can find anything in Dialog ;D <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> I haven't "flown" for years! That was a fantastic program... I like the Erostick myself <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> ...never bought any "scenery" disks though. I like the slick stik as well, I've been mostly using a Competition Pro 300x what I want to know is "what the heckis SNK Neo*Geo"? <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> The Egrostick IS comfy <- use to sell Ergosticks myself :) <[Zach] Z.MESTON> JB: The Neo*Geo is a home system that lets you play... SNK's coin-op games in the home. Neo*Geo carts are massive... <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> QUESTION: Is there a PD Commodore version of the Windows freebie "Minesweeper"? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> usually in upwards of 100 megabits, which means the carts... cost $100-$250, depending on the age of the game and size of the cart in megs. ** <[Zach] Z.MESTON> disconnected. wow - that is expensive - what arcade games does SNK have? I dont recognise the name.... hold that thought ^ hehehe looks like he'll be back guess that is the trouble of living in paradise :D <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> I don't know about you guys, but I think the NES & Sega game's .......graphics move about kinda jerky imagine getting paid to play games -> AND <- living in Hawaii <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> It shouldnt be hard to write a mine sweeper for the 64. what is the mine sweeper game like? Something we can clone? I have Turbo Grafix 16 not bad :> <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> I think Loadstar 128 has a version (maybe) Lou, the 8 bit ones are inferior to the C-64, though Ithink the 16 bit ones arent. ** is here. <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> Minesweeper isn't too complex at all <[Zach] Z.MESTON> was . Rehi, all... sorry about that. Re's Zach! <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Flaky connection today. <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> RE Zach <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> it's a grid with "mines" hidden under some of the grid squares. maybe a bird passed underneath the satellite! <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Heh heh... I wouldn't doubt it! <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> If a grid has no mine, it will contain a number.... <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> You click a square and it tells you how many mines are located next to that square. You have to uncover all the squares that don't have mines. so how do you sweep them? with depth charges? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> JB: Was my explanation of the Neo*Geo adequate for ya? <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> ...telling you how many mines surround the grid square yes, I wanted to know what SNK arcade games are there? I never heard of them. Is SNK short for something or just a name like JBEE :D <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> You sweep 'em with your brain <[DTJAndy] A.BERNHARDT> ..and luck <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> <<<<<< JB: SNK is an acronym for three Japanese words I cannot spell. :) Among their most popular arcade games are... Fatal Fury, King of the Monsters, 3 Count Bout... Samurai Shodown, and World Heroes. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Every one of those games are fighting games similar to Street Fighter II. those are pretty big cartridges btw <[Zach] Z.MESTON> So do any of you remember Forbidden Forest for C64? I just got a copy of that today. ^yes - gave one away a few days ago I haven't heard of that one <[Zach] Z.MESTON> I've been spending lots of money buying all these C64 games I had as a kid and then lost or sold while I was in high school. :) <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> No, I never heard of it. sounds like what I did with my transactor magazines :D <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Lou: Forbidden Forest was an interesting game. Programmed by a C64 music meastro named Paul Normal. The game's graphics were terrible... but the music was incredible, and it had parallax scrolling, which was... <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> Geez. The darn PET computer wasn't around when I was in High School. :D <[Zach] Z.MESTON> absolutely amazing to me when I first saw it. yes, it resembled an old Atari game - the name escapes me. what is "parallax" scrolling? <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> "Parallax scrolling"? Is that continuious horizontial scrolling? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Lou: Yes. Basically, it's several layers of background scrolling. Shadow of the Beast... is a fine example of parallax scrolling. oh - like American Mutant Camels but a slicker? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Parallax is common on 16-bit game machines and above, but rare on 8-bit consoles. Haven't seen that 1 either <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> Oh, so it gives a 3D kind of effect <[Zach] Z.MESTON> JB: Yeah, somewhat like that. Lou: Yes. It gives the illusion of depth. As long as you're running left or right. :) <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> Kuhl! <[Zach] Z.MESTON> It is cool. And it was *very* cool to see it in Forbidden Forest back in '83. <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> Anybody remember "Fort Apolcalpyse" from 1982? I guess I will have to check the game out again - Iguess I got put off by the cheesy character graphics. <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> I'd like to see a 64 do that. That would be interesting. I think I still have that game around here somewhere Zach, do you have an Atari Lynx? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> JB: Yep. I have just about every game console from '85 onward. Sad, but true. :) cool - I love Xenophobe (before we beat it - takes four hours) Wow! I just got Kung Food :D <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> I was always afraid of Xenophobe myself finally getting revenge on my vegtables! lou - lol <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Yeah, there are some cool Lynx games. Do you have... Battlewheels? nope :'( wish I did (hint hint - want to swap for a month;) <[Lou] L.SCHONDER> Kung Food souns cool! I never saw that in a catalog. I have Zalor Merchanry - that played pretty well - got almost 4 million Z$ <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Heh... yeah, we could arrange a swap. :) Do you have Todd's Adventures in Slime World? I liked that one a lot. Nope, havent even heardof that one!Wwhat is Slime World like? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Slime World's a bit hard to describe... but I'll try... :) It's a side-scrolling game where you run and jump through giant slime-lined catacombs... searching out items, stumbling into secret passages, and trying to escape... to the surface of the planet you're stranded on. There are six different missions... and a superb multi-player (Lynx -Up) mode. I have (2) XYBOTs (dont really like them that much), (1) Kung Food - awesome game, (1) Zarlor Mercenary - nice blast them game, (1) Gates of Zendocon - alright, (1) Stun Runner - I dislike that one :P <[Zach] Z.MESTON> The graphics are good, the sound is great, and there's a good password function... you mean using COM-LINK? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> that lets you continue from exactly where you left off. really? password function sounds great! <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Is it called COM-LINK? I'm sorry, I used "Lynx-Up" 'cause that's the latest term I saw them use in an advertisement. :) Gates of Zendocon has something like that. OIC - guess I am not up to date :D <[Zach] Z.MESTON> It's a wonderful game. It kept me sane during a four-hour layover in San Francisco Intl. Airport. this is a hand held game? actually, Iguess Gates of Zendocon is a good arcade type game - just blasting bugs wasnt for me I guess - just sosmething that didnt click with me. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> JB: Is Gates of Zendocon the vertical scrolling shooter? Or the horizontal shooter? Slime World sounds good for the wife and I - we like to Lynx Up :) yes, you get to blast the heck out of bugs and stuff and in the end you get to blast the spider. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Yeah, I was left a little cold with Zendocon, too. Hey, where is everybody? :) It's okay... first conf., I know better than to expect a big crowd. Cam, the Atari Lynx is a hand held game console with a color LCD screen. Cool!<- deprived of toys you can link up to eight Atari Lynxes together - though I think most games only support 4 at most. Xenophobe is the only one I know of that supports 8? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> I think Slime World does 8 players, too. what did you think of S.T.U.N. Runner? Did thattone leave you cold too? <- checking off Slime World for next week - guess it will be mail order though - local ToysRus dropped the Lynx :P <[Zach] Z.MESTON> I played STUN Runner on both Lynx and Amiga... didn't like either version. Amiga version has good title screen music, though. :) Will the Lynx stick around? Or will it end up like the Turbo Graphix system? how did you like Kung Food? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> The Lynx may or may not stick around. Atari said they'd promote it along with the Jaguar... well, with the JAG out ... hard to tell^ <[Zach] Z.MESTON> but support really hasn't picked up much at all. I think they have 75 games now? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> I think they're (wisely) focusing their efforts and development $ on the Jag. well, when was the last time Atari advertised them? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Yeah, it's about 75-80 games. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> I haven't seen a Lynx ad in ages... the Jaguar is getting some TV and magazine ads. Cam, thought if you bought it you wouldnt be sorry, except for the sore eyes fromplaying it too much. so if I were to invest in one.. it should be the Jag? Yes, about two months ago they were even mentioned in TV guide. LOL JB! well, JAG is also more expensive and isnt portable, it is also 64 bit vs 16 bit for the Lynx, Lynx used a 65C816 <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Outlaw: Yes, I'd go with the Jag. Although the Lynx *is* a fun system. Whats the cost of one? <[Eddie] E.BOURDON1> I love my lynx! I like playing it in bed with the LynxUp Eddie, you are a Lynx fan too? <[Eddie] E.BOURDON1> It seems kinda funny...I have a C-128, no support. I own a lynx, ditto :/ <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Outlaw: Cost of Lynx is $80, cost of Jag varies from $229- 259 depending on where you buy it. Eddie, you will find this even funnier, I have applied to be a Lynx developer :D I guess Lynx would be my first choice! I like the idea of a very small portable color game system What's wrong w/ a game gear ? Eddie, whatis your favorite Lynx game? <[Eddie] E.BOURDON1> I picked up a bunch of lynx titles at the Baystate Expo in Boston 2 months ago when they had a huge 'swap meet' there. I paid $4 each for 3 new games! <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Nothing's wrong with Game Gear at all. Tons of games, tons more coming out all the time. last time I looked it was expensive, is that the portable color one that cost $300. ARG! I knew I should have gone to that! <[Eddie] E.BOURDON1> I love Zarlor Mercenary..I even finished it once actually, almost all the new systems are neat - just a matter of preference. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> JB; The expensive color portable is the TurboExpress, from NEC. Don't bother. :) Both Lynx and GG are well under $100 now. You know the trick with Zalor Mercenary? Buying ships cheap in the 1st six rounds and selling them in the end for a huge profit. can you link GGs together for head to head action? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Yes, but only two. <[Eddie] E.BOURDON1> Naw, the secret is choosing Landru as your character! I think Igot 4 million Z$ and earned Supreme Mercenary. I always choose the robot and pick up the power pills as I go. <[Eddie] E.BOURDON1> I kinda liked the short ending...never double cross a Zarlor Mercenary :) <[Eddie] E.BOURDON1> Is there any truth to Wolfenstein 3d coming out for the lynx? two is enough - that is all I need to hook up - what kind of processor system does GG use and how is the color? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Wolf 3D, doubtful, but Aliens vs. Predator (a Wolf 3D/Doom playalike) is coming out for it. ohhh COOL! I would like one like that. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> I couldn't tell you what processor GG uses--I'm not into the tech specs--but it's more or less a portable Sega Master System (8-bit machine). <[Eddie] E.BOURDON1> A vs P was kinda boring on the SNES. I hope it isn't the same. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> The color is good. 16 colors on-screen out of 32. does it have good games? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> The Jaguar A vs P is totally different. The SNES version was a terrible beat-['em-up.The Jaguar version will be an intense first-person game. <[Eddie] E.BOURDON1> Oh, if you couldn't tell...I love video games ;) like looking through their eyes type of deal? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> JB: Does the Game Gear have good games, you mean? JB: Yes, the on-screen view is through the "eyes" of the character you're controlling--which can be the Alien, Predator, or a human marine. Me too! I think most people that own computers love videogames, which is why the VIDEOGAME RT is now on our main menu :) awesome - sounds like a reason just to buy the Jag! <[Eddie] E.BOURDON1> Really? I go to V rt at least once a week m806;1 ;) <[Zach] Z.MESTON> JB: It should be incredible. Atari is counting on it to sell systems. I think it will. yes, ever game system needs at least one awesome game to sell on the demo machines. I had consider doing a Jag game but it is really out of my field at the moment - really need a very good development team. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> JB: Yep. Nintendo has Mario, Sega has Sonic, and Atari.... er, doesn't have anything yet. Hence, Aliens vs. Predator. :) <[Eddie] E.BOURDON1> My friends brother is an engineer with 3DO JAG is an awesome system - now if Atari doesn't pull a Commodore Amiga they should be all set :-D <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Yeah, let's hope they don't. As the owner of three Amigas, I don't want anything else I own to become orphaned. :) :> I was laughing at a quote I saw about how Commodore marketing works ... if they were selling fried chicken they would advertise it as "warm dead bird" :D LOL <[Zach] Z.MESTON> ROTFL! Does tje JAG support monitors or just TVs? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> There are currently Atari cables for S-Video and composite video... no RGB cable yet, although you can get a custom-made one from Redmond Cable., I would think the graphics would be much better on an RGBA screen? are the JAg controls infrared for couch playing? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Definitely, although the S-Video looks very nice on my 27" boob tube. No infrared controllers. In fact, the cables on the Jaguar controllers are disturbingly short... they added a couple extra feet to the controller after the initial run of Jaguars because of all the complaints. really? cost cutting or EFI concerns for FCC passing? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> a couple extra feel to the controller cable, not the controller itself. :) "mega controller" for weight lifters <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Cost cutting, I suspect. Just like they packaged ancient RF boxes in with the Jag... that appeared to have been taken out of Atari 2600 boxes and recycled. not the tinny metal ones! <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Yes, the tiny metal ones. Not the cool automatic switchers like Nintendo and Sega use. now we know where the some of the excess C-64 materials went - back to Atari :D hehehe <[Zach] Z.MESTON> They got lots and lots of complaints about that. I think they're still using the tinny boxes, but newer models. I would say that they need some image polishing, especially since reviewers are probably use to the nice ones. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Surprisingly, they didn't get slammed in reviews about that. In fact, they won... lots of awards for "Best Hardware in '93..." including the magazine I work for. :) which magazine is that again? see if I can pick one up for kicks :D <[Zach] Z.MESTON> It's called VideoGames. I also work for Computer Player. make sure you include your GEnie address in those articles -lol <[Zach] Z.MESTON> And I do freelance reviews for other mags. (I contributed lots of game tips to .info and RUN.) figures, four videogame magazines and I dont have either one. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> I dunno about giving out my e-mail address in reviews... :) you should submit tips to all the remaining Commodore magazines ... if we could only get the German games over here! <[Zach] Z.MESTON> What C= mags are left? RUN is still around, isn't it? no, RUN died in September, Compute (printed version) folded in Dec <[Zach] Z.MESTON> RUN is dead? Sigh. We have several magazines taking up the slack Zach, I bet you were wondering why they werent sending you checks anymore for those tips :D LOL yep, RUN ran out of breath. <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Oh, I sent those tips a *long* time ago. I got paid $5 by RUN once... and the ones I sent to .info were for free (in exchange for publicity for my Amiga game fanzine). which is? <[Zach] Z.MESTON> Amiga Games Guide. I published six issues over the course of a year... and folded it when I broke into the video game publishing industry.