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In my ongoing adventure in retro gaming, I picked up am 8" Sony PVM 8042Q RGB monitor. It's tiny (which is all I have room for), but the picture is gorgeous, and it gives me a proper way to break out my old pre-HD consoles to rediscover my library of games.
My short-term plan is to homebrew my Wii, install Retroarch, and continue to spend some time with the 16-bit JRPG/Adventure catalog—Phantasy Star IV, Crusader of Centy, etc.—in their proper RGB 240p glory before moving onto Baten Kaitos thanks to the Wii's backward compatibility.
Before all that, though, I gotta figure out how to take great photos of a CRT screen so can show y'all how good this monitor looks.
I've got my PSP hooked up via RGB cables—giving me access to a bunch of PlayStation classics, and they look amazing. Pixel art games like Suikoden II look particularly clean. (It's difficult to replicate the rich colours in photos.)
Why am I putting so much time into acquiring and setting up an old CRT monitor to play retro games instead of just loading up an emulator on my computer? Let the guys at @MyLifeInGaming explain:
I've previously written about my experience with scanlines and CRT shaders combined with emulation, which is a great way to experience old 240p games, but I wanted to add to that by getting real hardware. https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/935234318321848320
And now, some RGB/240p goodness thanks to my Wii, component cables, and SNES9X GX. It's impossible to describe the difference in quality between this and my original SNES hooked up via composite cables.
Fun aside: Those purple lights above the TV are the infrared lights used by the Wii sensor bar. Invisible to human eyes.
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing me to move my Virtual Console games from my Wii to my Wii U.
Hooking my SNES Classic controller into my wiimote means I can play all these SNES games using an authentic pad. Feels great.
Ironically, the first game I'm playing isn't an SNES game, but Crusader of Centy for the Genesis. It's been on my bucket list since it first released (I was an SNES kid) mainly because you leave footprints behind when you walk on sand. How cool is that?
I had an interesting experience with this monitor and my 4.5yo kid. I wanted to show her some of the games, so she came into my office. I turned on the monitor before digging through my carts. She clapped her hands to her ears and said, "What is that sound? I don't like it!" 1/2
I couldn't hear a thing. Turns out, the monitor emits a high pitched beep when it's turned on and no sound playing. Once you hit a certain age, you can no longer hear sounds in that frequency. I turned on the console and the high pitched noise stopped and we happily played. 2/2
Now, thanks to the guys @MyLifeInGaming, I realize I'm NOT getting true RGB to my monitor through the component cables for my Wii—so I've got to look into getting a SCART and SCART breakout cable to really up my game.
Here's where I'm at so far:
- Wii (Wii, GameCube) + Homebrew Software for emulation (SNES, NES, GameBoy, Genesis, etc.)
- SNES
- PS2 & PSP (PlayStation)
Everything hooked up via component cables (except the SNES, which is composite) for beautiful image quality.
- Wii (Wii, GameCube) + Homebrew Software for emulation (SNES, NES, GameBoy, Genesis, etc.)
- SNES
- PS2 & PSP (PlayStation)
Everything hooked up via component cables (except the SNES, which is composite) for beautiful image quality.
(Don't ask me how I get stuff out of my filing cabinet. I have bigger priorities right now.)
Now THIS is cool. Trials of Mana/Seiken Densetsu 3 on my CRT. M2, the developer responsible for the English/Switch port, didn't jam the new translation overtop of the existing game, but actually hacked the ROM properly, meaning it's playable on emulators/original hardware.
It looks about a million times more gorgeous on this screen compared to the unfiltered Switch version or the version I played via SNES Classic.
Continuing a trip down memory lane, I've got a thread here about old footage and screenshots from a pre-release version of Chrono Trigger that looks A LOT different than the one we got: https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1141124775760125952
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete is still a beautiful game (and you'll see why I'm playing it again in a few weeks), but god damn these Gorgons can go sit on a cactus.
Fuck yeah, Dyn-- Er... Laike!
If you're also into retro gaming/Golden Age JRPGs—or just interested in themes of nostalgia, changing as you grow up, chasing white whales, and storytelling, I've got a piece at @UncannyMagazine about my experience playing #TrialsOfMana 
for the first time. https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1146118561355538432
for the first time. https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1146118561355538432
I finished CRUSADER OF CENTY! I was charming, fun in places, but ultimately flawed in ways that critically undermine the experience compared to contemporaries like A LINK TO THE PAST.
My extensive review in the thread below. https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1146543422372585473
My extensive review in the thread below. https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1146543422372585473
Earlier in the thread, I mentioned that my plan was to install Retroarch on my homebrewed Wii. Unfortunately, I was never able to get Retroarch to a place I was happy with—specifically, I couldn't get it to output 240p instead of 480i, which degraded image quality.
So, instead, I've installed standalone emulators for each console.
Genesis Plus GX: https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Genesis_Plus
SNES9x GX: https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Snes9x_GX
FCE Ultra GX (for NES): https://wiibrew.org/wiki/FCE_Ultra_GX
Visual Boy Advance GX (GB & GBA): https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Visual_Boy_Advance_GX
Genesis Plus GX: https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Genesis_Plus
SNES9x GX: https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Snes9x_GX
FCE Ultra GX (for NES): https://wiibrew.org/wiki/FCE_Ultra_GX
Visual Boy Advance GX (GB & GBA): https://wiibrew.org/wiki/Visual_Boy_Advance_GX
There are a lot of great writers currently covering retro games and JRPGs for sites like @Kotaku, @USgamernet, @Polygon, etc. In the thread below, I introduce a few of my biggest inspirations. https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1146118561355538432
As for specific examples, I love this piece by @TieryasXu on CHRONO TRIGGER's campfire scene.
He digs into a small, specific scene in the game & examines the myriad ways it creates a memorable emotional impact. It's a great piece of narrative exploration. https://kotaku.com/chrono-trigger-s-campfire-scene-is-a-meditation-on-frie-1820571536
He digs into a small, specific scene in the game & examines the myriad ways it creates a memorable emotional impact. It's a great piece of narrative exploration. https://kotaku.com/chrono-trigger-s-campfire-scene-is-a-meditation-on-frie-1820571536
Also by @TieryasXu is this retrospective review of CHRONO CROSS. Tieryas looks at how CC fails as a sequel, but succeeds wildly when viewed in a vacuum—an opinion that falls in line with my own. https://kotaku.com/chrono-cross-was-a-bad-sequel-but-a-brilliant-game-1785831430
Love it or hate it, Final Fantasy VIII made waves and took A LOT of chances. @The_Katbot argues in favour of one of the PlayStations's most divisive JRPGs: https://www.usgamer.net/articles/final-fantasy-8-was-always-good
. @kobunheat wrote an EXCELLENT book about FINAL FANTASY V (the secret best Final Fantasy)—covering his experience as a youth discovering unlocalized JRPGs, and the game's creation and legacy. Get it from @BossFightBooks, or read an excerpt on @Kotaku: https://kotaku.com/the-friendly-rivals-who-created-final-fantasy-v-1797143910
I wouldn't have been able to get back into retro gaming without emulation. Here's @kobunheat again on why emulation and ROMs are a solution to the problem of disappearing games and broken copyright laws: https://kotaku.com/in-defense-of-roms-a-solution-to-dying-games-and-broke-1828340811
If you're looking to get into retro gaming in 2019, fellow Canadian @nadiaoxford has a good breakdown of the best available out-of-the-box solutions: https://www.usgamer.net/articles/retro-consoles-guide
Also, @nadiaoxford has a totally essential write-up about CHRONO CROSS'S absolutely perfect intro movie. "Scars of Time" still gives me shivers. https://www.usgamer.net/articles/chrono-cross-intro-movie-is-perfect-lets-watch-it-again
Continuing to highlight @nadiaoxford's great work, she has an awesome write-up about one of my all-time personal favourite games: Suikoden II. https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-top-25-rpgs-of-all-time-5-suikoden-2
Today, @jasonschreier posted a wonderful FINAL FANTASY IX retrospective:
"Playing through [FF9] helps elucidate what people love about Final Fantasy in the first place. It’s got the music, the charm, the atmosphere. It’s got that feeling of adventure." https://kotaku.com/final-fantasy-ix-retrospective-the-final-fantasys-fina-1836310854
"Playing through [FF9] helps elucidate what people love about Final Fantasy in the first place. It’s got the music, the charm, the atmosphere. It’s got that feeling of adventure." https://kotaku.com/final-fantasy-ix-retrospective-the-final-fantasys-fina-1836310854
Sticking to the classic PSX-era Final Fantasy tip, Tim Rogers ( @108) has a fascinating video series where he plays through the Japanese and English versions of #finalfantasy7, comparing and contrasting localization and translation choices. https://kotaku.com/s/final-fantasy-vii
And, if that's not enough #FinalFantasy7 for you, @LattMeone has a monstrous oral history of the game at @Polygon. He goes right to the source, and delves deep into the game's making with its original creators. https://www.polygon.com/a/final-fantasy-7
Wow. I was watching the Summer @GamesDoneQuick run of CHRONO TRIGGER, and... in all my times reviving Crono, I don't think I've ever seen the Lucca hug. I *always* bring Marle. It's amazing to still be learning new things about your favourite games.
This is a cool video from @MyLifeInGaming about useful ROM hacks for retro games. From colourizations to fan translations to quality of life improvements, these help make old games feel new again:
This is a fascinating deep dive interview with Ryusui, the person responsible for the fan translation of Breath of Fire II (SNES). The official release of BoFII features one of the worst localizations ever—Ryusui's work is a gold standard example. https://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-interview-breath-of-fire-ii-translator-ryusui-132649.phtml
I find the whole fan translation community to be deeply impressive and humbling. An incredible amount of talent and hard work goes into re/translating these games. (Woe be those who insist on "literal" translations, however.)
I discovered Trials of Mana, Treasure of the Rudras, and Mother 3 all thanks to fan translations. All of them are terrific games that I wouldn't have ever been able to play if not for those fan communities. (Except, very recently, Trials of Mana.) https://uncannymagazine.com/article/was-trials-of-mana-worth-growing-up-for/
Over on @Polygon, @AlexaRayC does a wonderful exploration of the fan translation community, and introduces some of its stars, including @mato, whose team graced us with the incredible Mother 3 fan translation: https://www.polygon.com/2014/5/14/5335288/fan-translations-japanese-western-localization-translation-games
This American Life launching a discussion about the damaging elements of the Damsel in Distress trope via Final Fantasy 7? Yes, please. (Aerith was always my favourite character.) https://www.thisamericanlife.org/679/transcript
Some thoughts on how certain JRPGs rise above the crowd by crafting great NPC dialogue that serves multiple purposes. I think there's something to learn there for writers in all mediums. Even your most basic dialogue can serve multiple purposes. #videogame https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1150877419907141638
As @rshunter88 suggests, the closest modern successor to these Game Arts-style NPCs is the TRAILS IN THE SKY series. There's a living world in those games, and you fall for the NPCs because they seem real. They even get their own multi-game narrative arcs. https://twitter.com/rshunter88/status/1150880959924846593
Last summer, I wrote a thread about how Japanese RPGs from the 16- and 32-bit eras (Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, Suikoden 2, Grandia, etc.) influenced me as an SFF writer just as much as the novels I was reading at the same time. https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1030504284738080768
THIS is amazing. Original LUNAR: THE SILVER STAR storyboards from Hajime Sato featuring a bunch of scenes that never made it into the final game. Getting some major Nausicca vibes from the first one.
More here: http://www.lunarthreads.com/viewtopic.php?t=5984
More here: http://www.lunarthreads.com/viewtopic.php?t=5984
I *love* #DragonQuest—but the series can admittedly be a little difficult to get into because there are so many games across so many systems. Here's a great resource with all the info you need to pick a game and get started. (*coughDQ5cough*) https://www.resetera.com/threads/a-guide-for-getting-into-dragon-quest.64979/
While y'all are ogling Tom Hanks, I'm, like, "Daaaaaayum, was that a 20" Sony PVM monitor??" https://twitter.com/ABeautifulDay/status/1153288588794060800?s=19
(I know the M in PVM stands for monitor.)
Over on @kotaku, I've got a deep dive look into the ways Japanese RPGs from the SNES and PlayStation eras—like #FinalFantasy, Chrono Trigger, and Star Ocean—influenced a whole generation of #sciencefiction and #fantasy writers. #JRPG #videogames https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1151547420326559744
I don't know what Space Football is, but I found this at my parents' place and I'm EXCITED to find out.
Turns out Space Football is a lot like Rocket League but on the SNES and really, really bad.
A bag o' goodies from my parents' house. Includes Kirby Super Star, F-Zero, Donkey Kong Country, among others.
Also in that bag was an OG GameBoy (my first system, where I fell in love with games, a GameBoy Color, and a GameBoy Camera(
).
).
8-bit Aidan.
Guessssss what I found? https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1141125317454487552?s=19
If you guessed "your original copy of this issue," you're RIGHT! You win nothing other than a slight, temporary boost to your ego. https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1155875328595652608
Skipping back to GameBoy's for a second, here's a short thread detailing the time I decided to mod and overhaul my original GameBoy Advance with a new backlit screen. https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/875054385847336960
And here's the final result!
In all, I'm really happy with the mod in terms of the screen (I installed a voltage regulator, so it's super bright, and the glass lens makes a world of difference), but the aftermarket case feels cheap, creeky, and brittle. It's a sight to look at, even if it feels odd to hold.
I found my original (grimy and dusty) PlayStation, and thought it'd be fun to pop it open and find out what the last game I played on it was. Turns out it was a bootleg copy of Suikoden II. Good taste, younger Aidan.
Fortunately, I've since upgraded my copy of Suikoden II to an official one. It's a thing of beauty.
If you're unfamiliar with the Suikoden series, please head on over to @transgamerthink's recent @Kotaku article on the subject of why it's the right time for Suikoden to return. There's a reason I'm so happy to own this disc. https://twitter.com/transgamerthink/status/1156542784016457728
I've misplaced a bunch of my PSX games, so I've started to pick up a few of the affordable gems to rebuild my collection. (Thank goodness I kept track of the pricey stuff like Suikoden II, Lunar: SSSC, Tales of Destiny 1/2, etc.)
My 4yo and I got our Mario Paint on this morning and made a rather idyllic little village.
One of the things I've been thinking about a lot lately while playing LUNAR: SSSC is how badly I miss JRPGs that were focused on adventure and kindness. GRANDIA, coming soon to the Nintendo Switch, is a perfect example of this. https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1158748083804491776
The stories and personal motivations in GRANDIA and LUNAR were both driven by a desire for personal growth, rather than a reactive measure against a violent external force (though both games eventually feature that, too), which is such a compelling set up for me.
I love stories about people who reach out for something better for themselves and others. Justin in GRANDIA wants to be the greatest adventurer in the world. Alex in LUNAR wants to be Dragonmaster, to provide for those around him. Their journeys begin by pursuing these goals.
So many narratives involve the ordinary hero starting off with a mundane goal until, generally through no act of agency on their part, they get sucked into a much larger story that they can't escape. They're pulled along by the current of events. It's inexorable.
Alex and Justin, on the other hand, are constantly pushing things forward. They're given many opportunities to exit the story, but they don't. Their goals, from the very opening of each game, ARE the plot. It's inextricable.
Game Arts developed both games, and they really hit that nail on the head. GRANDIA is hitting Switch soon, and LUNAR is available on mobile devices. They're both absolutely worth playing—especially if you need a boost of positive storytelling in your life.
Not only are CRTs great for gaming, they also make all your DVDs look *beautiful.* There's something about the texture of low-res output that acts in concert with movie magic, especially for older SFF films, that HD is missing. I can't watch Jurassic Park in HD anymore.
It's like the opposite of that 48fps junk that Jackson tried to push for THE HOBBIT. More detail isn't always better. All the special effects and practical trickery blend into the real stuff seamlessly. It's like film or vinyl. These photos don't do it justice.
You go into any second hand store and there's a TON of old audio equipment—from receivers to turntables to speakers—but the same market doesn't exist for older video equipment. I hate to think how many CRTs are destroyed by recycling centres these days.
Of course, that's not to discount Blu-Ray and 4K TVs or high-end, cutting edge video technology—it's all great and beautiful in its own way—but, just like Spotify and vinyl can co-exist, I think there's a lot of value in what various video formats offer.
I touch on how this phenomenon affects older games, where the artist, the graphics, and the player have to form more of a symbiotic relationship to present the whole picture. Technical limitations and low-fidelity can lead to tremendous creativity. https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1159172072037158912
These CHRONO TRIGGER portraits from @DaveRapoza are absolute perfection. https://twitter.com/DaveRapoza/status/1158861663631597568
Pete from MAD MEN and Nash from LUNAR: SILVER STAR STORY COMPLETE are the same person. Discuss.
This piece from @kobunheat about the retro game gold rush, fueled by deep-pocketed collectors driving up prices to astronomical levels, is absolutely bananas. I'm so glad I already own most of the older games I want for the purpose of playing. https://kotaku.com/deep-pocketed-collectors-are-fueling-a-retro-game-gold-1837073847
As for the rest? Well, thank goodness for emulation. PSN, for instance, is LOADED with PS1 games (some of which go for $200+ for hard copies) for $10 and under. Load 'em up on a PSP, hook it up to your CRT via component, and you've got a gorgeous solution. https://kotaku.com/in-defense-of-roms-a-solution-to-dying-games-and-broke-1828340811
I really loved this piece from @jmrivera02 about how great RPGs share a lot of elements with great books.
"It’s just cool to see video games fall so neatly in this tradition, another voice in one big story that we’re all telling." https://kotaku.com/i-love-when-a-book-feels-like-a-good-role-playing-game-1837001209
"It’s just cool to see video games fall so neatly in this tradition, another voice in one big story that we’re all telling." https://kotaku.com/i-love-when-a-book-feels-like-a-good-role-playing-game-1837001209
I'm currently working on a listicle for @BNSciFi about "Books for JRPG fans," so I was particularly keen to see @jmrivera02 line up @MarlonJames5's BLACK LEOPARD, RED WOLF with SUIKODEN II. There's so much crossover between games and books.
I'm in heaven.
(Ethically questionable) repro SNES carts with various ROM hacks.
OMG. Absolutely gorgeous complete-in-box copies of Chrono Trigger and Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen.
I think this store (in Victoria, BC) was the first place I've actually seen a copy of Dragon Warrior 7 (for the PlayStation) in the real world. I legit forgot there was an English release.
This moment from the intro to VAGRANT STORY is one of the best in all of gaming. You KNOW Ashley Riot's going to be different than your usual JRPG hero from the 90s.
nice water
Yesterday, I took a moment to appreciate the work of the women who helped shaped the sound of the original PlayStation's library of great games—including Yoko Shinomura, Michiru Yamane, and Michiko Naruke. Their earworms are STILL stuck in your head. https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1164646149954740224
An excellent suggestion from @aethelred below. Higashino's work on SUIKODEN 2 is best in class. https://twitter.com/aethelred/status/1164961319352786944
Digging around my parents' house and found the jackpot. $14.99 for Breath of Fire IV! Tales of Destiny 2! All the PlayStation Final Fantasies!
Some Japanese Mana games!
Unfortunately, I also found a copy of Lunar: Dragon Song, which, well... was better off forgotten in a closet.
The absolute ace of the find, though, is this poster hand-signed by @Reggie. He really appreciated my efforts as a Nintendo fan.
Some excellent non-gaming gems like this @AvrilLavigne DVD and the Friends Finale on DVD (Excluuuuuusive LIMITED Edition!)
Another highlight is this VHS recording of the American Idol finale? Justin vs Kelly or Clay vs. Reuben? I'll never know! #teamclay
A sweet ass Geordie LaForge commemorative plate. I come by my nerdiness honestly.
New classic gaming self, who dis?
The CHRONO CROSS soundtrack is now available on Spotify. It's legitimately, no hyperbole, the best video game score of all time. https://open.spotify.com/album/3aH6GfSzEl0trQzpOWEX5D
CHRONO TIGGER (which is also amazing) is available, too. https://open.spotify.com/album/2kOD9QzcUkeT57RJkNvQpH?si=d4TotoRNQm6VqtZIWfCEZg
Just popped into a local retro game shop to get my (scratched to hell) copy of FF7 resurfaced, and walked out with BoF: Dragon Quarter. I've always been curious to play it.
This store (Epic Games & More in Victoria, BC) is bananas.
I miss the days when games came with beautiful boxes/cases. Not just the full colour manuals, which are a lost art themselves, but stuff like this extended mural on the FF7 case and manual. It's so slick, and leaves an impression before you even play the game.
An all time great @EGMNOW cover.
Since today's #NationalVideoGamesDay, it seems like a good day to share my piece on @Kotaku that explores how the Golden Age of 16- and 32-bit JRPGs, like #ChronoTrigger and #FinalFantasyVIII, influenced a whole generation of SFF authors.
Read it here: https://kotaku.com/how-japanese-rpgs-inspired-a-new-generation-of-fantasy-1836426975
Read it here: https://kotaku.com/how-japanese-rpgs-inspired-a-new-generation-of-fantasy-1836426975
And then make sure you check out @griffski's wonderful piece on @tordotcom that digs into how video games can teach us about storytelling.
"Final Fantasy was as good in my mind as Gormenghast: it gave me music, and art—and, most importantly, agency." https://www.tor.com/2019/09/12/learning-storytelling-from-video-games/
"Final Fantasy was as good in my mind as Gormenghast: it gave me music, and art—and, most importantly, agency." https://www.tor.com/2019/09/12/learning-storytelling-from-video-games/
Daaaaamn. This #LinksAwakening remake is sure looking good.
But, seriously, the Link's Awakening remake for Nintendo Switch is gorgeous. I'm still absolutely blown away that this exists.
Play #LinksAwakening in full backlit glory for the first time ever! (If you ignore the Super GameBoy and GBA and, well...)
This is a great quote from the writer of Lunar: TSS, Kei Shigema, about how he opened the game in a cold village to ensure Luna would be properly dressed.
"Naked girls swinging swords were insanely popular, and I didn’t like that."
Full interview: https://www.lunar-net.com/interviews/lunaripii4.php
"Naked girls swinging swords were insanely popular, and I didn’t like that."
Full interview: https://www.lunar-net.com/interviews/lunaripii4.php
Is that Tir McDohl? https://twitter.com/HG_101/status/1179803005497090048
The Gameboy's #LinksAwakening has always been one of the #LegendOfZelda's best entries. Now, a gorgeous, melancholy, and oh-so-cute remake on the #NintendoSwitch is introducing a whole new generation of gamers to mysterious Koholint Island.
My review: http://aidanmoher.com/news-opinion/2019/09/30/open-your-eyes-links-awakening-switch-2019/
My review: http://aidanmoher.com/news-opinion/2019/09/30/open-your-eyes-links-awakening-switch-2019/
I'm afraid Kyle's... predisposed at the moment. Can I take a message?
As God—er... Tetsuya Nomura intended.
I'm really liking this new character. She's got great healing magic and is kinda sassy in a cute flower girl kinda way. I'm definitely gonna use her for the whole game.
Things are getting serious, guys. Definitely not letting her go.
OMG.
fuck
Guys!
WTF?
My bae!
Phew. Guys. I think there's a way to get her back. http://ff7rumors.tripod.com/aeris.htm
If there's one thing that drives me bananas in modern retro-style games, it's when mixed pixel resolutions are used across different graphical and UI elements. Like these chunky pixel character sprites and backgrounds mixed with a clean, hi-res menu/dialogue font in DQ11S.
I'll never understand how anyone can grow up loving FF7—a game about a grassroots resistance taking on a corrupt, fuedalistic, planet-killing mega-corporation—and not become a pro-socialist/environmentalist. The remake is going to tackle some REAL relevant issues next year.
Pre-rendered backgrounds are such a lost art. There was this amazing period between the high-end of 16-bit pixel art and the proliferation of 3D graphics where they were really allowed to shine.
The worlds they created were so detail rich and unique. No repeating tile sets. No blurry textures. The fixed perspective allowed for beautiful and narratively useful framing. Each new screen was its own little creative piece of artwork.
I feel like we're only now getting to the point where 3D worlds match the complexity and uniqueness of pre-rendered backgrounds. But, even so, one area in Dragon Quest XI feels much like the last except for a fresh coat of paint. FFVII never suffers from this.
So, I guess what I'm trying to say is that pre-rendered backgrounds are sick.
Just look at these!
One of my absolute favourite places on the Internet is this album collecting EVERY SINGLE background, including animations, from #FinalFantasy VII.
(Look at those beautiful CRTs!) https://imgur.com/gallery/9JqPC
(Look at those beautiful CRTs!) https://imgur.com/gallery/9JqPC
Same hair.
nice
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there's a save point on this floor.
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there's a save point on this floor.
I must've watched this #FinalFantasy 7 cutscene 18,000 times as a kid. It was beyond anything else in gaming at the time.
Saying goodbye today to this beautiful little monitor. I'll miss her.
Because I upgraded, y'all! 
The first major task I have now is to properly tune and calibrate this new monitor. It has some geometry funniness and overscan issues, both of which I can fix with the service menu. Then colour correction.
Bonus Avatar: The Last Airbender pic included.
Bonus Avatar: The Last Airbender pic included.
As always, YouTube is a huge help in learning how to do this. I've never done it before, but here are some of the resources that I've found.
Starting with @MyLifeInGaming's video on the @240pTest tool:
Starting with @MyLifeInGaming's video on the @240pTest tool:
And this here is a great, simple explanation of how to you the SMPTE colour bars (which you'll recognize above right away) to adjust the monitor's colour, brightness, and contrast.
And here's a SUPER handy cheat sheet I stole from r/CRTGaming about what each setting does as I adjust the set's geometry.
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/crtgaming/comments/7h50ta/crt_service_menu_cheat_sheet/
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/crtgaming/comments/7h50ta/crt_service_menu_cheat_sheet/
Ah! Now we're getting somewhere.
I've never really known how much of the overscan area to leave visible.
I've never really known how much of the overscan area to leave visible.
For fun, here are the settings changes I made in the secret options menu (that you can access by pressing the degauss and enter button at the same time.)
The *best* thing about the process, though, are the settings called "SEXY," "BURST GATE PULSE," and "CRYSTAL." Suitably sexy, SF, and epic fantasy respectively.
It's impossible to describe how good this looks in person, and the pics don't do it justice. Just gorgeous, y'all.
Some more pics. I forgot to mention this is a Sony Trinitron PVM-1351Q. It's 13", so a fair size up from my 8".
Games are Final Fantasy 7, Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete, Trials of Mana, and Breath of Fire IV.
Games are Final Fantasy 7, Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete, Trials of Mana, and Breath of Fire IV.
More scanline-y goodness.
Games: Super Mario Bros. 3, Phantasy Star 4, Link's Awakening DX.
Games: Super Mario Bros. 3, Phantasy Star 4, Link's Awakening DX.
Now here's an effortless beauty.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night on PlayStation.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night on PlayStation.
Some more pixelated beauty.
Symphony of the Night (PlayStation), Final Fantasy 7 (PlayStation), Treasure of the Rudras (SNES), Illusion of Gaia (SNES)
Symphony of the Night (PlayStation), Final Fantasy 7 (PlayStation), Treasure of the Rudras (SNES), Illusion of Gaia (SNES)
Any particular games you'd like to see screenshots from? I have access to a wide variety of games from the 16- and 32-bit eras.
Per @AndruC's request, here's one of the Super Nintendo's most impressive looking games: STAR OCEAN (SNES, 1996). https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1196856237301751808
Is Final Fantasy VII secretly a game about early 21st century America?
It costs me money to save my game? FF7 is *definitely* about capitalist America.
Some hot CRT action in #FinalFantasyVII.
A little #SuperNintendo love today.
Games: Super Metroid // Turtles in Time // Mega Man X // Earthbound
Display: Sony Trinitron PVM-1354Q
Games: Super Metroid // Turtles in Time // Mega Man X // Earthbound
Display: Sony Trinitron PVM-1354Q
This is a wonderful, in-depth read from @thedextriarchy about the history of CRTs, their modern relevance, & the people working to preserve them.
"[They’re] the only way to give people a sense of how a game’s original players would have experienced it." https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/6/16973914/tvs-crt-restoration-led-gaming-vintage
"[They’re] the only way to give people a sense of how a game’s original players would have experienced it." https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/6/16973914/tvs-crt-restoration-led-gaming-vintage
Let me introduce you to my new favourite Twitter account: @crt_bot
A new pic of a gorgeous CRT monitor every hour.
A new pic of a gorgeous CRT monitor every hour.
I wrote a thread about the #FinalFantasyVIIRemake and Kazushige Nojima's comments about how changes in graphics and technology have fundamentally changed the way he's able to tell Final Fantasy's story at the expense of space for the player's imagination. https://twitter.com/adribbleofink/status/1199372433263939584
As usual, @TieryasXu is dropping some truth bombs on @kotaku about Golden Age JRPGs. This time, he's singing the praises of one of my favourites: SUIKODEN.
"If there’s one series I wish more gamers knew about, it’s Suikoden." https://kotaku.com/the-first-suikoden-is-an-underrated-gem-for-the-ps1-1840075011/amp?__twitter_impression=true
"If there’s one series I wish more gamers knew about, it’s Suikoden." https://kotaku.com/the-first-suikoden-is-an-underrated-gem-for-the-ps1-1840075011/amp?__twitter_impression=true
This is a really excellent thread from @codeman38 about tracking down the unlikely source of a classic gaming font. https://twitter.com/codeman38/status/1200243842521415681
