Hey everyone, how's it going!...

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:52 pm

It's been a while since I posted on here; wanted to say hi to everyone! Life is pretty good right now, I just got a job at Safeway, bagging. I hate retail sales, and most of my job experience is in grocery, so I figured why not go back to it? I just hope they don't strike (if they do, it would be over pensions)!

As far as gaming goes, I've been on classicgameroom.net I really like Mark's new reviews of games for classic and current systems, as well as the forums.

I finally played some Vectrex, on a Java-based Vectrex emulator, and I think it may well be the best system I've ever played-and I'm told that the emulation doesn't do the real system justice!

And maybe I'll get an Arcade 360, once I get enough money! But it's great to have a job that I already know backwards and forwards, and income again!

D · Post by D » Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:30 pm

Hey, long time no see!
Welcome back.

jpj · Post by **jpj** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:42 pm

good to hear you're in better spirits dave

Dragoforce · Post by **Dragoforce** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 6:53 pm

Hi!

Vectrex is an awesome system indeed. Your absolutly right about emulation not doing it justice, there is something about those Vector monitors than can't be duplicated on any other kind of display. That and the overlays of course. My favorite Vectrex games is probably Fortress of Narzod, Cosmic Chasm and of course minestorm. Try them out if you haven't played them yet!

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 8:05 pm

Long time no hear from ya, Dave4shmups. ^_~

Coming around full circle and going back to working in the grocery industry. Yeah, sometimes that does happen to some folks.

Working in the grocery industry back in the early 1990s wasn't too shabby, especially if you worked in a union grocery store. Pay raises, health benefits & 401k options were top notch. Striking would be used as a last resort type of measure. But if you do end up striking, you better be prepared for the long haul -- however long that may be. You might recall the Southern California union UFCW grocery strike from 2003-2004 -- it lasted something like eighteen months or so. Lots of folks lost their homes and whatnot during the strike. Sometimes you gotta sacrifice your job in hopes for a better tommorrow. So be it.

Yeah Dave4shmups, you should pick up a used Vectrex, they aren't too expensive these days. You would just need a good and reliable Vectrex control panel to play them Vectrex carts. If you can get ahold of an Vectrex Multi-cart, especially the ones made by Sean Kelly, they're worth their weight in gold due to all the cool Vectrex games to check out on a single cartridge setup. ^_~

There is no substitute for a real vector monitor...super razor-sharp and crisp. Only if GCE (General Consumer Electronics -- a subsidairy of Milton Bradley U.S. game and toy juggernaut back in the early 1980s) had been able to market an affordable color Vectrex console, that would have been cool to have seen done. Alas, only just one color Vectrex prototype exists today. The real reason why the color Vectrex wasn't mass produced was that the designers found out that it would've costed more to manufacture them and sell them at retail than the traditional black and white Vectrex console -- somewhere in the neighborhood of $500.00+ USD per color Vectrex console. So now you know why. ^_~

The MSRP of a Vectrex brand new back in 1982 was at $249.99 USD. A single Vectrex boxed game cartridge was at MSRP of $29.99 USD. If you were able to scoop up a brand new Vectrex during the Great Video Game Crash of 1983-1984, you could've gotten one for a mere $50.00 USD if you knew where to get them at that lowball price. Brand new Vectrex games and in boxed condition with all the original paperworks and new screen overlays were priced to move at $5.00 USD back in 1984. Quite a steal at those prices back in the day, indeed. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:27 pm

Thanks for the info! The only thing that worries me about a strike is the lost income. But, my Dad told me that this is not a workers economy, so they probably wouldn't strike for that long. The longest strike they've had is 42 days, and that was back in 1996.

I'd also really like to get an Intellivision-I played some games on VH1, and they blow away anything I've ever played on an Atari console!

PsikyoPshumpPshooterP · Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:34 pm

hi dave..its PPPP...remember me?? weeeee...welcome back

neist · Post by **neist** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:44 pm

I have no idea who you are, but welcome back.

The more the merrier, I say.

I actually managed to get to play a Vectrex once in a con. It had some Asteroids type game in it. I have to admit, they are quite fun. If they weren't so fragile/expensive, I'd try to get one online somewhere.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:12 pm

neist wrote:I have no idea who you are, but welcome back.

The more the merrier, I say.

I actually managed to get to play a Vectrex once in a con. It had some Asteroids type game in it. I have to admit, they are quite fun. If they weren't so fragile/expensive, I'd try to get one online somewhere.

For neist,

You can pick up a used Vectrex console for about $45-$50. Just be sure that the Vectrex control panel works (i.e. analog/digital joystick and all four push buttons work as promised) and the internal springs (that are attached to the joystick) aren't broken -- if they are stiff, then they'll need to be replaced pronto.

Yeah, that built-in Asteroids clone/spinoff would be none other than the classic Mine Storm game. Once you get to the higher stages, you'll definitely encounter the magnetic/fireball/invisible mines. They'll try to ram you from all directions...so it's best to keep moving and counterattack when you have the chance. The sly ol' Minesweeper can be a nasty enemy, you don't know from which direction (either up, down, left or right portion of said minefield) that it'll make it's intial appearance after destroying the very last medium sized mine in a given stage (it is randomly generated by the CPU). With the crazy zig-zagging patterns, the minesweeper can ram into you quite suddenly while re-seeding the current minefield being played...so a quick and nimble finger on the fire button is your best bet. ^_~

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

The n00b · Post by **The n00b** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:56 pm

Hey Dave, nice to see you getting back to your classic self. Just don't keep all the hilarity on the classicgameroom.net forums.

ROBOTRON · Post by **ROBOTRON** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:15 pm

Shmup, dave...shmups happnin' dude?

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:37 am

I've also thought about getting an Amiga-though, will all the Amiga sites with games on them for download, I'm starting to wonder if Amiga emulation is legal, like ZX Spectrum emulation.

I'll track down an Intellivision first, though. Where in the heck could you get a Vectrex for $45?!

BrianC · Post by **BrianC** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:18 am

welcome back. Intellivsion is a great system. It has some very unique titles. It's an interesting case since dedicated developers that first worked at Mattel, who knew the workings of the system, made many of the notable games. One warning, some games like Auto Racing, Armor Battle, and Space Battle have multiple versions. I have both versions of Auto Racing. One plays great and the other sucks due to the odd control setup.

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:47 am

Hey Dave. Good to see you. I won't go over every single detail of my boring life, just mention I managed to 1CC Einhander last night, and I have the pics to prove it. I guess I can finally get rid of it.

Good to know you're still alive, to quote GlaDos.

UnscathedFlyingObject · Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:11 am

There's always Hard difficulty for double the excitement!!!

(second loops or whatever too)

Most great games I always miss after selling, so I'd recommend you against it.

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:19 am

Yeah, I won't. Thanks for the advice.

For the sake of not starting a thread just for that (forgive the slight hijack, Dave.), here's a pic, taken on the PSP. I just have to share my joy with the forum.

lilmanjs · Post by **lilmanjs** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:09 am

nice to see ya back dave

handsome_rakshas · Post by **handsome_rakshas** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:18 am

Don't know ya Dave but good to see you! Sorry I'm a new guy!

Post by **Shatterhand** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:17 pm

I'm going to hijack Dave's thread completely, to say I'm back too.

I didn't had internet connection for some time in my home, and was having some trouble in my life ,but mostly is solved now.

And now I am working full time as a teacher now... I teach computer programming at a school, and I'll probably start a game-making course on the same school.

It's been awesome, I am making less money but I am much happier now.

Have been playing DDP-DOJ and Gradius V lately. DDP-DOJ is a bitch, but I love it. Best Cave game for me now

And just got Trigger Heart Exellica for the PS2 , but still didn't play it

Oh, BTW, welcome back Dave

Edit; Oh, and today is my birthday. So happy birthday to me!

Khan · Post by **Khan** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:22 pm

I dont know you guys but Welcome back!

Btw. Shatter happy birthday dude! can I ask how old are you now?

freddiebamboo · Post by **freddiebamboo** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:03 pm

Good to see you both back!

Post by **Shatterhand** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:24 pm

always good to see new faces around

I'm 26 years old now

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:48 pm

Happy Birthday! I will be 32 on May 9th! @Specineff, congrats on that 1cc, that is a hard one to get!

sven666 · Post by **sven666** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:12 pm

good to see you back, the both of you, also glad to hear youre both doing well in your lives

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Fri May 15, 2009 9:25 pm

Well, I'm really depressed. At the end of last month, I left Safeway due to back pain. A couple of years ago, I fell and crushed my sciatic nerve on my left side, and all that lifting and pushing carts was too much. Perhaps I should have tried a back brace, but I don't know if that would have helped.

I really have no idea what I'm going to do now. I could go back to retail, but I'm not a salesman, that's for sure. I was thinking about entry-level office work, but I don't even know Excel, although my Dad told me that a lot of places will train you in it.

I was thinking about working as bank teller-has anyone here done that?

My parent's are both in their mid-60's, and if anything were to happen to them, I'd be homeless.

jpj · Post by **jpj** » Fri May 15, 2009 9:43 pm

sorry to hear that dave.

i'm myself just getting out of retail. i know a couple of people who have gone into working as cashiers. i don't know how it works in the states, but over here it's actually still relatively low-paid work, and a good 10% of your income comes from end of fiscal year bonuses. not really stuff you can rely on in today's climate

from the sounds of it, an office environment would be much better considering your health issues. best of luck with whatever you choose

The n00b · Post by **The n00b** » Fri May 15, 2009 9:44 pm

Sorry to hear about your horrible luck Dave. I'm not doing too hot over here either. I've been on tons of interviews but I can't land a serious career. When I go out for entry level IT jobs though they tell me I'm overqualified and will walk within two months if they hire me so they won't.

WTF?

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Fri May 15, 2009 10:52 pm

dave4shmups wrote:I was thinking about working as bank teller-has anyone here done that?

My mom did it for some years up to the very early 80s, I believe. You'll have to put up with office politics, catty girls, and also possibly the occasional bank robbery (and if my recent trip to the bank is any indication, people going on about how their car was repo'd and the bank needs to help them out...this is a time when you're going to see more people feeling strung-out visiting the bank). Also, you need to be really careful counting money or you could be held accountable for any shortfall.

I'd go with Excel.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Fri May 15, 2009 11:07 pm

Ed Oscuro wrote:
dave4shmups wrote:I was thinking about working as bank teller-has anyone here done that?
My mom did it for some years up to the very early 80s, I believe. You'll have to put up with office politics, catty girls, and also possibly the occasional bank robbery (and if my recent trip to the bank is any indication, people going on about how their car was repo'd and the bank needs to help them out...this is a time when you're going to see more people feeling strung-out visiting the bank). Also, you need to be really careful counting money or you could be held accountable for any shortfall.

I'd go with Excel.

Thanks for the info. The pay is at least $10.00/hour, which is certainly better then the $7.30/hour I was getting at Safeway. By some twisted union logic, I owed them over $100 for being "reinstated" at Safeway, so they took an addition $5 out of every paycheck in addition to the close to $9 union fees!

I just wonder if I did the right thing for my health, or if I should have tried a back brace. But I really don't know how they support your back.

I didn't try any Tylenol Arthritis on the job, because I'm a little sketchy on pain medication. A few months after I injured my sciatic nerve, I was put on Lodine, which was fine until I started having really bad heart burn. My "regular" doctor told me to get off of it, which I did. He told me about Tylenol Arthritis, that you can take it as often as you want, and it won't ever cause anything like a bleeding ulcer.

But then his nurse told me to use the Geltabs, because they're easier on your stomache, and said to take it with food??

I've thought about working for the Apple Store in a mall near us; I love Apple products.

Honestly, GameStop was the biggest job disappointment I've ever had, because it was a chance to work in an industry that I dearly love, but they gave me so few hours that I never had a chance at moving up to a position where I could get a decent amount of hours.

jpj · Post by **jpj** » Fri May 15, 2009 11:22 pm

that's the problem with a lot of national chains sadly. the ones in the UK only tend to give full-time contracts to the manager and assistant manager, whilst everyone else is on 8 hour contracts (so even if you work 40 hours a week 32 will be classed as overtime, and you get no annual leave

).

what about the writing, is anything happening with that?