I wanna build me some Tetris shelves...

So these are really cool.... but I don't want to buy them, they are crazy expensive. The solution? Build em ... it's quite easy, you don't even really need a pattern since everything is all equal sizes! So I just need to find some wood, and more importantly, some TIME and build my own set of these. They can be reconfigured infinitely, backing or no backing, the color choices are endless... OH MY!

Tetris shelves.....coming soon to a museum near you!

MyMame Project Finally Begins

For a number of years (too many to count now) I've been trying to build a MAME cabinet. I've had the actual cabinet for 7 or 8 years I would gather (maybe more) and it's just been doing nothing. Well yesterday, Jeff and I finally got the cabinet into the garage to start working on it.

You can see that the cabinet is not in the greatest shape. It needs paint, it needs some TLC and the insides need to be completely reworked. Once we got out all the guts, we had to talk about the monitor. I have been saving this really nice 19" CRT monitor for my MAME project for a long time, but the reality is that it just isn't big enough ... so I decided to go with a TV that has nice output. I found what I was looking for in this Toshiba 20" TV. I compared it to other 20" TV's and you can't beat the quality and sharpness on this one.

So Jeff managed to prop up the screen enough to give it that authentic arcade angle, and he's working on making some sort of bracket to keep the screen securely in place. I need to pick up some marine paint and I was looking at side art decals today. We need to also build a shelf/bracket for my X-Arcade stick (which I've had laying around for years) ... it will finally be put to use!

So this is basically how the cabinet stands now. Jeff is working on a lock replacement, we need to figure out how to mount that screen and the joystick and I think we'll be ready for determining lights, artwork and getting the painting done!

Personal Computer Museum 1 Year Later

So last weekend was the 1 year anniversary of the Personal Computer Musuem in Brantford, Ontario, Canada and all went very well. One of the big things we've done is improved the website and now include pictures, system descriptions, and more! The musuem is doing really well and my volunteers have been great! We are starting to get more and more quality items for display and the interest seems to be picking up. I am still hoping that we are able to obtain a larger space and really make it worthwhile and a major attraction. Who knows what the future will hold? In this case, the future is firmly cemented in the past.

Dreamfall: The Longest Journey

Yes, it certainly was. I am not sure what made me want to try out this adventure game for the Xbox and PC but I'm glad I did. I've been wanting to play Indigo Prophecy (which I understand is an even better game) but I didn't have the chance. Next thing I know, Dreamfall is gracing my Xbox like icing on a cake. The cinematics, character development and storyline all draw you in. Wow. After spending something like 10 or 12 hours with this game I still have questions but the point is I want to know the answers!. I've already ordered the previously title, The Longest Journey and it should be in soon.

Yeah, ok I concede that the "action" parts of the game leave something to be desired (especially the fighting) but the exploration and puzzles make up for that.

I'd have to give this game a 7.5 ... it loses points for a couple of things. I read an FAQ where the guy said the game was WAY TOO SHORT. Well ... I would not say that. I appreciate the work that went into the sound, graphics and story and it's a LOT of content to fit on a DVD. So the gameplay knocks it down a bit and the loading was a bit annoying, even from the hard drive...I understand the Xbox only has 64MB of RAM but streaming might have been better. The puzzles, although mostly easy were sometimes annoying with the Xbox controller versus a PC keyboard/mouse and that should have been taken into consideration on the port.

Other than that, well done! Think of it like a nice 12 hour movie!

My annual coffee bitch

You know I'm not really a tree hugger but I do recycle, and I'm fairly vigilant about it. I think leaving lights on unnecessarily is also a waste. I think the waste from things like excess coffee trays is crazy and unnecessary and it bothers me.

For anyone that works at a Tim Horton's (or any coffee place for that matter) please take some advice from me. If somebody orders two drinks at the drive-thru, ASK if they need a tray. Don't ASSUME they do. Almost every modern car today has at least two cup holders in the front.

Nothing bugs me more than being handed two drinks on a tray and then I have to take them out and give the tray back...and techincally they are not supposed to take it because it's against health regulations. How about environmental regulations? There should be something stating though shalt not waste unnecessarily.

GRRRRR!!!!

Games that should be remade - part 3

Before I get into this next post I wanted to share with everyone that the Personal Computer Museum (located in Brantford, Ontario, Canada) website has been updated to celebrate the first anniversary. For more information, visit the site here. Now... the next game on my hitlist. Cinemaware, known for great hits like Defender of the Crown brought us another cool game, Sinbad and the Throne of the Falcon. This was a cool game, at least on the Amiga. I never had the chance to play the other versions but I imagine they lost something in the translation. I remember the one-eyed cyclops and the woman that mesmerized you and huge map that you could control with your big magnifying glass. The sound design was great for the time and the whole experience quite immersive. I can just imagine the varied gameplay making a smooth transition to a 3D environment if this was remade. Heck, I'd like to go back and just play the original. Good thing I have several Amigas all set up ready to go!