Tuesday, April 24, 2012

The Shape of Things to Come

You might have noticed that there hasn't been a new post here for nearly a year and a half; I've been busy with work and life, and to be honest, it's much more fun to play games than it is to write blog posts about them.  But fear not, because I don't plan on abandoning the blog anytime soon.  In fact, not only do I fully intend to finish Dragon Warrior IV, but I've also got all the necessary media for nearly a dozen games after DWIV, five of them (FIVE OF THEM) RPGs!

Now, those of you who follow me on Twitter (@RetroGamerRyan) probably noticed a couple of rogue tweets about Twitch TV and Alex Kidd in Miracle World, and there's a very good reason for that: I've recently had a hankering for some live streaming gameplay action, and I completed my very first stream this past Sunday afternoon with a live attempt at Alex Kidd in Miracle World for the Sega Master System!  I didn't quite manage to finish the game, but I will soon enough.  I still consider myself to be in the setup and testing phases, and I need to work on the screen layout a bit, but the results of this first broadcast are available now to watch at your convenience on my Twitch TV channel:


http://www.twitch.tv/RetroGamerRyan/

There was a break in the stream that cut the broadcast into two parts, but I do have a complete recording (in 720p, no less) that I might make available on YouTube if there's enough interest.

In order to make improvements to the stream, I'd like to get my hands on some better equipment.  I've got a pretty good idea of what I need in some departments (a wireless microphone for the camera, a better camera, a more powerful streaming computer, etc.), but I can't really afford to keep throwing money at such a costly hobby, and that's where you come in.  I've set up a ChipIn widget, which you'll see at the bottom of the right column here, that you can use to help out.  The goal of $5000 by the end of the year is COMPLETELY ARBITRARY, and I'm not expecting to bring in any specific amount of money, but I hope to be able to obtain some of the equipment I'm looking for with your help.  The widget will make appearances in a couple of other places as time goes on as well.

If there's money left over, I plan on using it to buy more games to stream, along with covering other expenses, and if anyone has any equipment or games that they'd like to donate to help more directly, just drop me a line at ryan@retrogamerryan.com, and we'll see what we can work out.

Thanks in advance, and I'll see you in the stream... well, you'll see me, at least.

Monday, January 17, 2011

RGR020 - Endor

I know, it's much later than I said it'd be, but it's finally time to get back to Princess Alena's Adventure. Having proven ourselves by retrieving the Birdsong Nectar to restore the king's voice, we now have permission to use the travel door and visit Endor. The bridge just east of Endor is currently heavily damaged, so we can't go anywhere else at the moment. I guess that's the easy way of making sure we don't get ahead of the story.

Now what were we doing again?
Now what were we doing again?
Wow, that's a fast messenger!
Wow, that's a fast messenger!

AGGHHWHHGGHHWHH!!! Oh, that wasn't so bad.
AGGHHWHHGGHHWHH!!!
Oh, that wasn't so bad.
Uh, did you not just see us enter through it?
Uh, did you not just see us enter through it?


Hey, I remember you guys!
Hey, I remember you guys!
Well, not everyone's literate.
Well, not everyone's literate.

For most people, the big draw of Endor is the giant underground casino; they've got slot machines and poker tables, and the somewhat questionable practice of monster fighting. I don't know, it just seems sort of... barbaric.

BARBARIC!

Ahem... so yeah, the casino deals in coins rather than your normal gold. And you have to buy these coins from them, so they get your money immediately. It's like tokens at older arcades, or those new-fangled card things they've got at what passes for an arcade these days. It most likely serves a secondary purpose of allowing items to be purchased for insane amounts of money, thanks to the exchange rate of 10 gold per coin. In particular, the Metal Babble Shield costs 50,000 coins, which amounts to a half million gold. We played around a bit with the whole gambling thing, but decided not to waste too much time, since we're really here for the tournament.

Now why did we want to come here?
Now why did we want to come here?
The first step is admitting you have a problem.
The first step is admitting you have a problem.

Is this one of those casino buffet-type deals?
Is this one of those casino
buffet-type deals?
Ugh, not another one of these guys.
Ugh, not another one of these guys.


And you'll lose it all tomorrow, I bet.
And you'll lose it all tomorrow, I bet.
I see, get the money up front. Clever...
I see, get the money up front. Clever...

Yes, that's how it works.
Yes, that's how it works.
Video poker... I'm sure this will end well.
Video poker... I'm sure this will end well.

This seems somehow inappropriate.
This seems somehow inappropriate.
Yes, let it ride. That always works.
Yes, let it ride. That always works.

Spoken like a true addict.
Spoken like a true addict.
So go kill some monsters; it's good money!
So go kill some monsters; it's good money!

Yeah, we'll get some logo mugs and Silly Bandz!
Yeah, we'll get some
logo mugs and Silly Bandz!
Ah, so it's like a pachinko parlor.
Ah, so it's like a pachinko parlor.


And by luck, you mean money.
And by luck, you mean money.
You make it sound so depressing.
You make it sound so depressing.

I want items, but I have... no coin.
I want items, but I have... no coin.
Is that why you're not doing it?
Is that why you're not doing it?

Beyond Endor's castle stands a massive Coliseum, where the tournament is held. Before moving on to the tournament, we visited the castle, where we learned of the mighty warrior Necrosaro. People seem to generally fear him, and with a name like that, it's not hard to see why. We then spoke with the king and princess, who were put into an uncomfortable position by a declaration made by the king, stating that the winner of the tournament would receive the princess' hand in marriage.

I do know. I hear earlier.
I do know. I hear earlier.
He's a gambling addict. Guess.
He's a gambling addict. Guess.

Ooh, I hope we're not too late!
Ooh, I hope we're not too late!
That's some skillful foreshadowing.
That's some skillful foreshadowing.

It'd be easier if you had a decent printer.
It'd be easier if you had a decent printer.
Maybe he just likes violence.
Maybe he just likes violence.

The world is ending, duh.
The world is ending, duh.
You could just make a sign and leave.
You could just make a sign and leave.

Ooh, I'll bet the Stones of Sunlight are... wait.
Ooh, I'll bet the
Stones of Sunlight are... wait.
Figures he's inside the castle.
Figures he's inside the castle.


Those are the only two choices?
Those are the only two choices?
Security's awfully lax around here.
Security's awfully lax around here.

I'll bet he's loads of fun, though.
I'll bet he's loads of fun, though.
Really? It doesn't sound so bad.
Really? It doesn't sound so bad.

So he's assembling an extermination team...
So he's assembling an
extermination team...
Maybe we can team up... heh.
Maybe we can team up... heh.


Will she take his name?
Will she take his name?
Will we get to wear camouflage?
Will we get to wear camouflage?

Do you keep using the same water? Eww...
Do you keep using the
same water? Eww...
He'll beat you up!
He'll beat you up!


I could tell, what with the king and all.
I could tell, what with the king and all.
Only if it's significant.
Only if it's significant.

Did you just say wipe?
Did you just say wipe?
Maybe, but it's pretty cool.
Maybe, but it's pretty cool.

I'll win, but not for you.
I'll win, but not for you.
You can't just give the winner money instead?
You can't just give the winner money instead?

I guess it's a good thing this tournament will be won by a woman.