What I like about your Substack compared to other media that has covered the NES is that it isn't about nostalgia. If a game is awful, you make that clear and if it's a classic, you don't spend 30 minutes telling us all what we already know. I enjoy reading your work because it's like a guided tour through the NES library where I make a mental note of which pieces I'd like in my own collection.
Feedback-wise? It's difficult. I can't say much other than I'd happily read anything you write that's later too: especially on the Gamecube as I know we have different opinions on that console. Writing what creatively fires you up will always be the best bet, at least in my opinion.
Your comment is incredibly helpful, thank you so much!
Nostalgia is wonderful but also very deceptive. I don't expect most NES games to stand the test of time compared to how games have evolved today, but do they have anything at all that makes them worth revisiting many decades later?
The super OCD part of me wants to keep going in "pure " chronological order, general interest be damned. But if I'm honest with myself, branching out to other systems - while still proceeding in chronological order with them - will likely hold my interest while drawing in others as well.
I enjoy the chronological and catalog-encompassing way you’re doing this, but I wanna read what you’re excited about writing with games.
I don’t want you to get bored or burned out by sticking to a formula, especially if there are other related thing you’d be excited to be doing that would align with the content a purpose. If you threw in some Game Boy, some competition perspective from Sega and NEC, or some later-than-NES Nintendo reviews, I’m all for it.
I think it would be cool if you mixed timelines so that you’re going chronologically through each system’s catalog, but we’re not having to wait through several generations before we get to hear your thoughts on Game Cube games. I do like hearing how the gaming landscape evolved and the progression of game development/design as a whole over time, but there’s a (as you aptly stated) lifetime of Nintendo content to cover and I think having some of the other bits in here and there wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.
I’ll be here reading however you decide going forward. Thanks for all the write ups!
I've definitely considered going through each system in chronological order, just alternating. I really like that idea to keep me and others from getting bored with 8-bit stuff. Perhaps that's something I can explore more in the new year 🤔
LJN also came out with the first licensed NES NFL game the following year. It also lacked an NFLPA license and no one remembers it because Tecmo Bowl was so much better.
I think you were right on the money with regard to MLBPA members not wanting to be associated with Fisher-Price. What sort of athlete wants to be associated with the company that created Little People? There's also the chance that Atlus didn't understand the difference between the MLB and MLBPA until it was too late. Maybe Japaense baseball players don't have a union?
Apparently this game was so disappointing that a 9-year old (who had earned the 40 bucks the game cost by turning in cans and bottles for the deposits) sued LJN, MLB and Nintendo claiming it didn’t give the realistic baseball experience promised on the box.
I did check out a Youtube video, but I see what you’re saying, the person recording was just playing a standard game. They weren’t maximizing the jank like they should have been, haha.
What I like about your Substack compared to other media that has covered the NES is that it isn't about nostalgia. If a game is awful, you make that clear and if it's a classic, you don't spend 30 minutes telling us all what we already know. I enjoy reading your work because it's like a guided tour through the NES library where I make a mental note of which pieces I'd like in my own collection.
Feedback-wise? It's difficult. I can't say much other than I'd happily read anything you write that's later too: especially on the Gamecube as I know we have different opinions on that console. Writing what creatively fires you up will always be the best bet, at least in my opinion.
Your comment is incredibly helpful, thank you so much!
Nostalgia is wonderful but also very deceptive. I don't expect most NES games to stand the test of time compared to how games have evolved today, but do they have anything at all that makes them worth revisiting many decades later?
The super OCD part of me wants to keep going in "pure " chronological order, general interest be damned. But if I'm honest with myself, branching out to other systems - while still proceeding in chronological order with them - will likely hold my interest while drawing in others as well.
No worries! I can see why you’d feel that way: an unbroken chronological chain looks nice. I think you’ll make a good decision.
Thanks buddy
I enjoy the chronological and catalog-encompassing way you’re doing this, but I wanna read what you’re excited about writing with games.
I don’t want you to get bored or burned out by sticking to a formula, especially if there are other related thing you’d be excited to be doing that would align with the content a purpose. If you threw in some Game Boy, some competition perspective from Sega and NEC, or some later-than-NES Nintendo reviews, I’m all for it.
I think it would be cool if you mixed timelines so that you’re going chronologically through each system’s catalog, but we’re not having to wait through several generations before we get to hear your thoughts on Game Cube games. I do like hearing how the gaming landscape evolved and the progression of game development/design as a whole over time, but there’s a (as you aptly stated) lifetime of Nintendo content to cover and I think having some of the other bits in here and there wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.
I’ll be here reading however you decide going forward. Thanks for all the write ups!
Hey Chip, thanks for the feedback!
I've definitely considered going through each system in chronological order, just alternating. I really like that idea to keep me and others from getting bored with 8-bit stuff. Perhaps that's something I can explore more in the new year 🤔
Thanks for the support!
LJN also came out with the first licensed NES NFL game the following year. It also lacked an NFLPA license and no one remembers it because Tecmo Bowl was so much better.
Oh yeah, forgot about that one.
Tecmo Bowl forever!
I'm generally not a fan of sports games, but Tecmo Bowl was a classic I could play all day.
Tecmo Bowl remains a gem, for sure.
I think you were right on the money with regard to MLBPA members not wanting to be associated with Fisher-Price. What sort of athlete wants to be associated with the company that created Little People? There's also the chance that Atlus didn't understand the difference between the MLB and MLBPA until it was too late. Maybe Japaense baseball players don't have a union?
Apparently this game was so disappointing that a 9-year old (who had earned the 40 bucks the game cost by turning in cans and bottles for the deposits) sued LJN, MLB and Nintendo claiming it didn’t give the realistic baseball experience promised on the box.
Agh! I can’t believe I didn’t find this sooner. I have to include this now. Thanks for the heads up JT!
I hope the kid settled for a mountain of baseball cards and an NES library.
That makes sense that it took awhile before the team/player licensing finally merged in the 90s.
Isn't Sports Talk Baseball the game that has digitized commentary as well, hence the "Talk"?
Haha, that sounds hilarious. I’ll have to pull up a Youtube video to check it out.
I did check out a Youtube video, but I see what you’re saying, the person recording was just playing a standard game. They weren’t maximizing the jank like they should have been, haha.