What is the Holiday Season for you? For me, it's the idea of "free time" (and spending time with friends and family, above all else). I am always getting into something, but during free time, I like to experiment with many technical things, ROM Hacking being one such example. I also do other "technical" things that involve long, drawn out processes due to modern hardware being a pain to work with in regards to retro stuff. That said, let's begin...
Experiment 1!
The Video CD, according to Philips
[img width=385 height=345]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/f38cb4de-4dfc-11e6-966d-7e7ea334f58a_zpsqiarpkkg.jpg[/img]
This is going to sound strange to everyone, I am sure, but I really like what one would describe as "dead formats", but "dead" is far from the truth! While the Video CD is not making a comeback, Laserdiscs and (as far as I know) Betamax Tapes have big collector markets these days. In fact, one store here in my Hometown sells Laserdiscs and makes a lot of money doing it. Anyway, to get to the point, ever since I learned of Video CDs' existence, I've been fascinated with them. So I decided to try my hand at making some. It was hard. See, when the Philips CD-i released (note that my CD-i is the only method I have of playing these Video CDs), Philips added 4 certain files to their Video CDs that prevented them from playing on standard Video CD Players. This odd setup also prevents standard Video CDs from playing on the CD-i. Anyway, the 4 files can be found easily enough by searching the internet, but they can't be added to a CD easily. I learned how to do it thanks to the very helpful folks at the forums here: http://www.videohelp.com/ What's more, your video files need to be of a specific file type and at the same time, encoded a very specific way to work. So why is all this hard? You can't do it on a modern Operating System. You need to use a VM (Virtual Machine), which is an Operating System that works like a program within your current Operating System. Was all this difficult? Yes. Did it take me around 3 days to get it right? Also yes. Was it worth it? To me, very much so. I like older technology, and I'm sure we can all relate in one way or another, considering what this website is.
Experiment 2!
ROM Hacking, because I can
[img width=569 height=521]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/Faxanadu%20ROM%20Hack_zps3ubsfxno.png[/img]
ROM Hacking is hacking an older game's data to modify/add stuff to the game. One thing I love about RPGs is that you can name (or rename) Characters to whatever you want. The example above is from an NES Game called Faxanadu. In the Famicom Version, you could name the Main Character, but for reasons unknown to me, they took this feature out of the NES Version. I found out about this about a year ago, and at the time, I couldn't do anything about it. As time passed, I learned how to hack ROMs, so I did what you see above to remedy it. I did something similar with The Goonies 2, also an NES Game (though you couldn't name characters in that one in any version). At some point after this, I thought "What if I could do this with a 16-Bit Game?", so I tried my hand at ROM Hacking Shadowrun for the Genesis. This was surprisingly easy, and while I don't have a Screenshot on hand to show it, it was also just a simple Name Change. Was this whole thing stupid? To a few people, yes, but I can say that at least two friends thought it was cool.
I get a lot of free time in October, November, and December, and those are just a couple of things I did this year in said free time. The Holiday Season is great: Time with family and friends, time off from work/free time in general, giving and receiving items, and much more. What do YOU like to do during your free time this time of year?
Today, I am proud to announce, that with my acquisition of the NES Game, The Magic of Scheherazade, I have finally completed my goal...100 NES Games are finally mine!! 
Current Games: *100*
Remaining: 0
It's been a long, somewhat rough, road to 100, but in the end, I have prevailed. Across many trades and many purchases, I have reached my goal. Along the way, I've met many friends who have helped me reach my goal in one way or another. I would like to take this time to thank them:
slackur - He could be described as my first friend here on RF Generation. I received several NES Games from him as a Christmas Gift one year.
bickman2k - He could be described as incredibly patient. He put up with me so much in the Chat Room, not complaining once about any of my rants.
singlebanana - He could be described as a very generous (and patient) trader. He sold me an Atari 2600, which reignited my passion for gaming during a Gaming Fatigue burnout.
NES_Rules - He could be described as quiet. He traded me an Atari 7800, which led me to study Gaming History more.
Zagnorch - He could be described as funny. While I've never done any deals with him, I did get him to admit that the Power Glove wasn't that bad. (This was in one of his Blog Posts)
Duke.Togo - He could be described as a Collector. When I had some concerns about giving up my Famicom, they disappeared when Duke.Togo contacted me for it. I know it's in good hands with him.
For the people I can't think of descriptions for:
Tynstar
Shadow Kisuragi
Crabmaster2000
nupoile
Marriott_Guy
noiseredux
Well, that's it. Thanks for the support everyone. You don't know how much I appreciate it. May my number of NES Games soar higher one day, and hopefully, the rest of this year turns out good here at RF Generation. Well then, as we all say here...
KEEP IT ON CHANNEL 3!!
Welcome back. As of today, I have decided that Famicom Games WILL count in my quest to get to 100 Games. Why? Well, they were here before NES Games, and since many of them were released in the US anyway, I've decided that they count now.
Current Games: 89
Remaining: 11
Oh, and by the way, if you want to see what games I have, check my collection. Please do not keep asking me here, and yes, I do update it now. 
With another 5 Games added to my Collection, I move slowly, but ever closer to my ultimate goal. Victory awaits me at the end of this long road, and man, will it be sweet!
Current Number: 81
Games To Go: 19
...What? That's it. Go home already! I was just updating you all on my quest! 
Hey all. I was able to pick up 5 Games at the local Retro Game Store yesterday, kicking up my Number of NES Games to 76. I'm so close to victory, I can almost taste it!
...and that victory, for whatever reason, tastes like a Well-Done Burger from an old restaurant that I wish was still open around here.
Also, I will be doing Punchout for my next PGGS. You all can thank bickman2k and wildbil52 for that.
See you next entry.
Hey all. Some of you may recall a post of mine from a while back, stating that I wanted to get 100 NES Games, mostly as a personal goal. Well, I'm almost there! I currently have 71, and I'm going NES Game Hunting tomorrow, which should really boost that number upwards.
In other news, I'm gonna do a new entry in my PGGS soon. Please suggest a game for me out of these 3:
Back To The Future
The Adventures of Bayou Billy
Punchout
That's all for now. Later.
Uhhh...Right. As you can all see, I recently posted an entry on my Blog stating that I was leaving RFGeneration. Well, after reading several comments on that Entry, I've come to realize that I was wrong for trying to leave.
I honestly don't know what the hell I was thinking. I guess I was just in some kind of slump, which led me to believe that there was just no point in continuing to update this Blog.
Anyway, I guess I'm here to stay. Your friendly neighborhood Nintendo Man isn't going anywhere.
...What? That's it. Go home already! I'll update the Blog with a real entry later!
After a long hiatus, I am back at last. Why have I been gone? Recent events, such as a passing in my family, and events with friends, prevented me from returning sooner. All things considered, I'm actually doing alright. Now, enough about my life, onto the article.
The Power Glove: A controller (if you will), that is hated by everyone. Well, except for myself. As far as I know, it was only released in the USA and Japan, but have you ever stopped to think that there may be differences between the US's and Japan's? If you have, then your correct. There are differences. We'll start with some information and pictures:
US - Made by Mattel
JP - Made by PAX
[img width=700 height=283]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/PG2.jpg[/img]
US - Does not have Words or Symbols
JP - Does have Words and Symbols
[img width=456 height=706]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/PG3.jpg[/img]
[img width=666 height=529]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/PG4.jpg[/img]
US - Has white material inside
JP - Has black material inside
[img width=700 height=405]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/PG5.jpg[/img]
US - Uses NES Input
JP - Uses Famicom Input
[img width=308 height=382]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/PG7.jpg[/img]
[img width=440 height=410]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/PG6.jpg[/img]
US - Junction Box has logo and help-line Phone Number
JP - Junction Box has logo only
[img width=700 height=296]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/PG8.jpg[/img]
But do the Gloves work differently from each other? Just a little bit. They both have the same Program Inputs for every game, but the big difference is this: The JP one works better than the US one. After testing several games with both, I found that the JP one was generally more reliable than the US one. The JP one has slightly better centering, and it's general functionality is better.
Well, that's it for this entry. This is ReddMcKnight, signing off!
[img width=640 height=911]http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/8/587058_49845_front.jpg[/img]
Now, here's an interesting one. 1942 is a Shmup released by Capcom in 1986. It is set in the Pacific theater of World War II. The goal is to reach Tokyo and destroy the entire Japanese air fleet. The player pilots a plane dubbed the "Super Ace". The player has to shoot down enemy planes; to avoid enemy fire, the player can perform a roll or "loop-the-loop". During the game the player may collect a series of power-ups, one of them allowing the plane to be escorted by two other smaller fighters in a Tip Tow formation.
There's actually a Program in the Power Glove for this specific game. When you load it, your hand becomes the plane. By pulling your arm backwards, the plane moves downwards. By moving it straight ahead, the plane moves upwards. The Turbo-Type features of the Glove work really well with this game, allowing you to shoot down enemies quickly. It's also easy to move around, but dodging enemies may become difficult as your arm gets tired from moving around so much.
All the same, 1942 is really fun to play with the Power Glove. If you want to try it yourself, load Program 5 and off you go!
But wait! There's more to this entry!
[img width=640 height=913]http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/bigboxshots/3/563433_29025_front.jpg[/img]
Ah, The Legend of Zelda...a game we all know and love. It's fun, it's big, and it's become a classic. But how does it play with a Power Glove? Here's a little math for you: Power Glove + Legend of Zelda = No.
Why, you may ask? For one, Legend of Zelda requires accurate movements on the player's part to fight monsters and such, and since the Power Glove's centering features are kind of messed up, it makes it 3x as hard.
Even an Octorok is life threatening while playing with the Power Glove. I haven't been hit by one in YEARS, and using the Power Glove changed that. Still, it was definitely a unique experience using one with this game.
While I do love the Power Glove, this is one game that you do NOT want to try with a Power Glove. After trying it for myself and getting owned by a freaking CAVE (don't ask), I must say that this is one game better left to controllers.
Still, if you MUST try it with a Power Glove, it's best to use Program 1 for it. Maybe you'll have better luck than I did, but I personally don't think it's a good idea. The game is hard enough without using one.
Anyway, that's it for this entry! Thanks for reading! Keep an eye out for the next entry!
[img width=339 height=481]http://blogs.setonhill.edu/MikeRubino/TheWizardDVD.jpg[/img]
Today, I'm here to review the Movie known as The Wizard. Described by most as a "90-100 Minute Commercial for Nintendo", it's actually a lot more than that. It's a really good movie, but it's certainly not perfect. Here's why:
Story: The story is this, a Young Boy wants to go to California, but because of some emotional trauma, he can't get there alone. His mother puts him in a home, and his older brother breaks him out so they can get to California. They later find out from a girl that a Video Game Tournament, Video Armageddon, is being held in California. The older brother, Corey, finds out that his little brother, Jimmy, is good at Video Games, so to prove that he doesn't need to be placed in a home, he decides to enter him into the tournament and win the prize money. The girl, Haley, agrees to help them for half of the money, and they agree, which begins they're grand adventure to California.
Video Quality: Being an older movie, you wouldn't think that the quality of the movie would be that good, but it surprisingly is. The color is bright and clear, making this one pleasant on the eyes.
Sound Quality: The sound quality isn't as good as the video quality, but it's still good. It's just above average if you ask me. I don't have any samples from the movie, so you'll have to watch it if you want to hear it.
Fun Factor: This is definitely a fun movie to watch. While it does have some sadder, more emotional moments, it also has it's funny and heartwarming moments. It can also be cheesy at times, especially during the famous "Power Glove Scene". (Video at the bottom of this post).
Would I recommend it: Yes, I would, especially if you like Video Games. This is NOT a family movie though. There's lots of foul language, and a bunch of comic mischief.
Final Score: 8.0/10
2 Points taken off for:
1. Sound Quality
2. The sadder moments. I don't like sad movies. 
Well, that's it for this review. Thanks for reading.
Power Glove Scene:
NOTE: When I said I "had no samples", I meant of the DVD. I think this footage is taken from the VHS Tape.
[img width=700 height=243]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/4.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=437]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/3.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=362]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/2.jpg[/img]
[img width=659 height=284]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/1.jpg[/img]
Impressive, huh? I'm getting close to 100 Games!
[img width=700 height=439]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/100_0884.jpg[/img]
Today, I'm here to show you one of the coolest NES Controllers around! (The one in that Picture above is mine).
The Joycard SANSUI SSS Controller is very unique, in that it lets you use headphones while playing your NES. How does it work? You plug it in Controller Port 1, plug the Red Composite into the Red port on the right side of your NES, plug your headphones into the controller, and bam! You can now play your games without disturbing others!
That's not all it does! It also features multi-function turbo switches for the A and B buttons! If you look at the picture, you can see that the switches have three options: Normal, Turbo, and Super Turbo.
But wait, there's more! On the bottom of the controller, there is a "Sound Shift" switch. When turned on, the sound in your headphones will switch sides depending on what side of the screen your character is on! Neat, huh?
But wait! There's STILL more! It even has a volume slider if the sound is too quiet or too loud for you!
But how does it control? It does a very good job, actually. The controller is well built and durable, making it easy to play games. It has very good response time.
The controller was made by Hudson Soft Co.,LTD. It was made in Japan, but I'm unsure if it was made exclusively for them. It resembles a Famicom Controller, so it's possible, but due to the Famicom's lack of a Red Composite port, it's unlikely.
This thing is one of the best controllers for the NES ever made, and I personally love using it. I highly recommend this thing. That is, if you can find one.
This is ReddMcKnight, providing the Internet with cool stuff since 2002! See you next time!
[img width=700 height=436]http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a136/DarkTheThief/TT360.jpg[/img]
Perhaps one of the most interesting controllers for the NES is the Turbo Touch 360 (The one you see above is from my own collection).
Created by a Company known as Triax, this controller is unique in that it features a Touch-Sensitive Control Pad, as opposed to a regular D-Pad. It also features turbo buttons for the A and B buttons.
But is this thing any good? I personally think, yes, it's alright. It's certainly not perfect though. Here's the 411 on this thing.
It was advertised as a superior controller to regular, first party ones (Commercial at the bottom of this post). However, a lot of people didn't like it for whatever reason.
Using it myself, I found it to be easy at some points, and hard at other points. A perfect example is "The Adventures of Bayou Billy". The Turbo Buttons are handy for fighting the extremely tough enemies, especially when it comes to the first "Street Fighting" Boss in it. Now the Driving Stages, on the other hand...I could not get through them to save my life. The directional pad is VERY sensitive, which caused me to drive the truck like I was playing Twisted Metal. Needless to say, I lost all my lives pretty quickly.
Now, for the street fighting stages, the directional pad is okay. It's a lot easier to maneuver around using it, as opposed to a regular controller, but it CAN get annoying sometimes, having nothing to rest your thumb on.
Would I recommend this controller to my friends? Yes, I would, but I would NOT use it for driving games, unless you like crashing.
Well, that's it for this post! Thanks for reading!
Oh, and here's that commercial I mentioned earlier:
Well, it's been a long, rather tedious quest, but I FINALLY have a working NES.
As you all may remember from my previous "Hunt For NES" Post, I bought one that didn't work, despite it supposedly having a *new* 72-Pin Connector. Anyway, I finally bought a new Connector, and now it works flawlessly. Well, ALMOST flawlessly. I still have to depress the games to make them work, which kind of worries me, but it definitely works for the time being, and that's just fine with me.
Well, excuse the short post, but I'm off to play Super Mario Bros. 3.
The President has been kidnapped by Ninjas! Are you a bad enough dude to rescue the President?
Ah, Bad Dudes...This game has a special place in my NES Collection, mostly because it's fun to play, but also because it has such a simple, yet somehow ridiculous story. Basically, the President of the USA has been kidnapped by Ninjas, and it's up to two "Bad Dudes" to rescue him. What makes this story so odd is that NO ONE, not even a Ninja, could approach the President without being shot. At least, that's what I think. Anyway, on with the review.
Gameplay: 3.0/5.0
This is a pretty basic Beat'em Up, but I still find it fun. You move left and right, punching and kicking enemies (In this case, Ninjas) to kill them. There aren't many moves, and the enemies are fairly weak, save for the bosses, but being Ninjas, they have some dirty tricks up they're sleeves, such as setting themselves on fire and then running at you at full speed. One trick I especially hate is when they throw spikes on the ground, which can be a pain to jump over.
Graphics: 3.5/5.0
This game has some decent graphics that are just above average. It's definitely nice to look at, especially the Japanese Version, as that version has the bosses taunt you before each fight with them, and they're faces look really good in 8-Bit. This was taken out of the US Version for whatever reason. I'm not sure why.
Control: 1.5/5.0
Ugh...the Controls...It feels like the buttons are incorrectly mapped, but wait! That's because they are! For more unknown reasons, the attack button and the jump button were switched around for the US release. Seriously, this is annoying, and it makes the game harder than it actually is.
Difficulty: 4.0/5.0
This game is hard, as I mentioned before. There is little that is easy about it, but I love a good challenge, so I didn't have a problem with this. One boss in particular, Stage 6's, is especially tough, as his hits can drain your health before you even know what's going on.
Overall Score: 4.0/5.0
It may seem like I was a little harsh on this game, but I really do like it. It's fun, and well worth any NES Player's time. The ending is lame as hell though. Still, the ending song "Hail to the Chief", sounds pretty cool in 8-Bit Sound.
Thanks for reading!
Fun Facts:
-There is an Arcade Version of this game.
-The Japanese Version is called "Dragon Ninja".
-In the Arcade Version, the President is named Ronnie. Most likely based off R. Reagan.
-The Arcade Version is MUCH more difficult than it's NES brother.
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