Capcom (back) Online

The Dreamcast Junkyard recently suffered from 'technical difficulties' on a scale not seen since the UNSC Pillar of Autumn (left) went down under fire from Covenant forces. Similarly, the 'Yard took heavy losses on the personnel front, but under my supreme guidance full operational ability has been restored. Thankfully, I wasn't abducted like that blithering idiot Capt Keys and subjected to a full cavity search and around the clock anal probage.

The problem was due to my 'template' - the bit with all the HTML for the blog - simply deleting half of itself for no apparent reason. According to Blogger's help forums, it's quite a common occurance, so I recommend that other blogger users copy and paste their current 'template' into a Microsoft Word document so that if it ever happens agin, you can just paste it back into the HTML window.

In other, more important news you can now read my review of crusty shoot 'em up Charge 'N Blast here.

Oh yeah, forgot about this - a few posts ago I mentioned that I was in the process of downloading what promised to be a Sega Saturn emulator for the Dreamcast. I don't even know why I bothered giving it the time of day because I know there isn't a fully functioning Saturn emulator avilible as yet, let alone one that will play commercial games. It took me 3 days (on and off) to download this 'Saturn Boot Disk' off limewire and when I burnt it onto a CD and tried to run it, the DC just went to the dreaded CD Player screen. Not one to be defeated easily, I tried to start it using the RadQuake booter to no avail, and also tried the Utopia disk. Strangely, the Utopia disk started to load something, but then the floating Reindeer (you'll know what I'm talking about if you've used Utopia before) went a bit wired and a picture of what appeared to be two semi-naked men in a bathroom appeared...I'm not making this up! Alas, the 'Saturn' disk didn't do anything else, but I'm very intrigued as to what it is I have actually downloaded. The case will remain open (for now) pending further investigation...

To round off this info burst, go have a look at the newest entrant into the world of Sega related blogs, Sega Freaks. It's compiled by The Gagaman, a regular commentor on the 'Yard and all round Sega nut (according to unconfirmed reports, The Gagaman has leased a black hole from the Imperial Galactic Council of Cleethorpes in order to store his Sega Collection in). Check it out, Y'all - it's the shiz-nay. Cough.

This is just a Tribute...

I feel I have been a little negative of late in my posts so I will dedicate today's to being a little more positive. However when the clock hits midnight I'm putting Linkin Park back on at maximum volume and pulling out the Kalashnikov to take pot shots out the window at the little cunts who shoot fireworks at the house. That'll learn em.

Until then though, let's rejoice at the some of the marvellous examples of Sega-powered gaming that have made it into the Junkyard thus far...

Daytona USA 2001
The ultimate NASCAR game. I had both of the originals on the Saturn and was something of a fan back then, but it's so much better being able to race around Three Seven Speedway and be able to actually see the Sonic wall when you're more than 20 feet away from it (the pop up in the original was horrendous and not massively improved in the pseudo sequel Daytona USA: Championship Circuit Edition). The car handling leaves a lot to be desired, but for all out arcade style action you can't beat Daytona for thrills a minute. And the graphics...Oh God the graphics...Dreamcast underpowered? Have a look at Daytona then come back and say that. Cretin.

The 2K Sports games
By '2K' I mean NBA2K and NHL2K. The 2K2 updates were never launched in the PAL territories I presume because Sega didn't think they'd sell enough to warrant it. However, the original 2K Sports games really are spectacular renditions of their subject matter. I'm not a big fan of US sports (for the most part they don't make much sense...what the hell is NFL all about?!), but basketball and hockey are pretty simple sports to game-ify and when you add presentation like that seen here, you're onto a winner. Both games look awesome and the attention to detail is astounding. Commentary is very life like and there are lots of options to tinker with...I don't even like basketball but I play NBA2K quite often simply because it's such a good game.

Virtua Tennis 1 & 2
The best tennis games ever created and that's a fucking fact. Graphics are unbelievably good, the sound is perfect and the gameplay...well that's perfect too. Virtua Tennis 1 doesnt have that many play modes, but Tennis 2 has a full blown career mode built in and you can kit your tennis player out with all sorts of tennis based guff, from head bands to new shoes etc. As with most Sega games, the attention to detail is astounding - watch the ball boys/girls dodge a wayward volley or the shadow of the clouds create changes in lighting on the tennis court. Amazing stuff.

F1 World Grand Prix 2
This F1 game is, in my very humble opinion, one of the best ever made. It's not as indepth or as good looking as some of the later F1 games on the Xbox for example, but for pick up and play handling and tight gameplay you can't beat it. It's also got PlayStation advertising in it, but I'll forgive and forget.

Jet Set Radio
One of the Dreamcast's defining games. A truly unique title at the time it was released (since then everyone and their mum has done cell shading), and a true genre definer. The soundtrack is fantastic - I could actually listen to it while not even playing the thing...it's that good. In an age where originality is lacking in games, Jet Set Radio is a prime example of Sega's unrivalled greatness when it comes to new ideas.

18 Wheeler
Not a big hit with everyone, but I think its an often overlooked title. Sure, it's got a few problems (scruffy graphics, not a lot of replay value), but who else could make trucking into a game - and make it fun?! Since this came out there's been the apalling mess that is Big Mutha Truckers, but that pile of shite doesn't come close to 18 Wheeler.

There are a host of other titles that the Dreamcast Junkyard would like to give a special mention to and I urge you to seek them out and play them...and witness true greatness...

Space Channel 5, Out Trigger, Crazy Taxi 2, Code Veronica...

Just thinking about all the FUCKING KICK-ASS games on the DC is making me Dr David Banner style angry...can't control hands...things becoming hazy...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!...SHOW THE NON BELIEVERS WHAT THEY ARE MISSING!!! PS2? FUCK THAT SHIT! DREAMCAST IS KING!!!

Now where's that Kalashnikov got to...

Tomleecee: Big Game Hunter

Yesterday I took a little bus journey away from Manchester to quaint little village called Stockport (see picture). And a very nice place it is too. My main objective was to see if I could get a cheap coat as my current one is no match for the British summer - continuous torrential rain. As ever, my Dreamcast scanner was running in background mode just in case something good turned up...

The initial outlook was bleak. After nearly an hour of aimless wandering around boring twatting clothes shops, I hadn't spotted a single games emporium...and then I turned a corner and saw a 'Gamestop.' Now, I now that this is an American chain of shops much like our own Gamestation so I literally sprinted into the place with high hopes of Dreamcast-related bargains aplenty. Alas, after clearing his greasy mop of hair from his eyes, the oil slick behind the counter grunted that they didn't stock Dreamcast stuff. Fuck, Fuck and indeed Fuck thrice.

A few minutes later I spotted a sign that marked the entrance to the promised land: Gamestation! Guess what...1 Fucking Dreamcast game!!!! I shit you not. That is the first time I have ever been into a Gamestation and been shocked at the lack of DC stuff...they didn't even have a customary ball of tangled up control pads hanging out of a dead tramp's pocket like they do in the two Gamestations near me. I left, dejected...walked straight past GAME (the mortal enemy of all Dreamcast owners), down a strange alleyway in search of a Chippy...and lo and behold there was a tiny independent games shop with no sign! I slowly pushed back the door to find a Gremlins curio shop-esque interior full of Xbox and PS2 stuff.

I ventured in deeper and found the tiniest selection of DC games imaginable...however as the old phrase goes - it's all about the quality and not the quantity. You see, what greeted me was Virtua Tennis 2, Daytona 2001, Crazy Taxi, Ecco, NBA 2K and Sega Bass Fishing. I picked up VT2, Daytona (both modelled by my friend, Mr Scribblehead - he's a real hit with the ladies by the way), NBA2K and Bass Fishing for under £20. Oh, and a rumble pack thing for a quid (modelled by a Gamecube - a friend of Mr Scribblehead and a bit of a useless waster). Bargainous I think you'll agree.

Tabloid in Bullshit Scandal!

Now, while this post isn't strictly about the Dreamcast (it isn't...at all), I just had to share something I spotted in today's edition of The Sun. On page 63 there is a section on games written by a complete cretin called Jonathan Weinberg. His 'review' of The Godfather is about as probing as you'd expect from something that appears in a British tabloid and makes gratuitous use of the phrases 'polished gameplay,' 'blood soaked violence' and 'Grand Theft Auto school of gameplay.' It makes me want to vomit that twats like this are actually employed to do a job that we all want to do...but with no knowledge of games whatsoever.

But it gets even more embarrasing! Oh yeah, baby! The bottom half of the page is taken up by an interview with the 'Steven Spielberg of games,' Mr Shigeru Miyamoto. Apart from the fact that the interview reads as if it were copied and pasted together from seperate articles found on the internet, Mr Weinberg tells us that:

"Making games mainstream through innovations in technology has always been Nintendo's ambition - from humble beginnings with Space Invaders to the million-selling Nintendo DS..."

Er...WHAT?! Space Invaders was created by Nintendo? Funny...I always thought that accolade went to Taito. And naturally, there's no mention of the complete disasters that were the Virtual Boy and 64DD...