Apr192005

That Sega Controller!

Remember that Saturn-style USB pad I bought? Yeah, the main purpose was for playing emulators. I’ve always been a stickler for playing games using the original hardware, but using a console controller with a PC comes close enough, especially when my game collection is 6000 miles away. Currently going through Earthbound; that game never gets old.

After playing with it for a while, though, I have a few comments to make about that Sega controller: it’s not good for playing Super Nintendo games. Of course, Genesis, Nintendo, and Game Boy Advance games are no problem. But the Sega-specific structure of the buttons (three large on the bottom row, three small on the top) makes it difficult to play SNES games that require four buttons in a diamond pattern (the familiar BY/AX set). In addition, the shoulder buttons seem really flimsy; they almost feel like mouse buttons. The directional pad is also hyper-sensitive to diagonal direction inputs.

It probably seems like I hate the darn thing, but in reality I’m glad I bought it. It seems pretty difficult to find a regular, non-analog game controller these days, and this controller at least fits well in my hands. The other option is to buy a console controller->USB adapter. This would probably would be the best way to play emulators, if you have access to the controllers you want (I don’t).

I also bought the full version of Gish, and the controller makes playing it quite a bit more fun. I recommend you!

No comments · Written by Nathan at 9:14 pm · Tags

Apr182005

From Slashdot

A cool article about the Apollo 13 mission. I’m still amazed by this story, and how much effort many highly trained engineers put forth in order to save the lives of three astronauts. It’s really too bad that NASA sucks now, because the old space program seems really exciting; obviously it would be even more so for the people of the 70’s.

2 comments · Written by Nathan at 1:13 pm · Tags

Apr162005

use your imagination

Angsty entries are an online journal cliche, so if I go for days at a time without updating, just imagine that I’m writing the word “hate” over and over.

I went to Denny’s with Brendan tonight, which was interesting. I wanted pancakes or something, but the menu was entirely Japan-ified. No eggs, bacon, or waffles, but soba and hamburg (not a typo). I ate overpriced lasagna. It had a lot of cheese, though, so that was some small consolation.

I also gave myself a haircut for the first time in four months. It’s too short.

1 comment · Written by Nathan at 2:19 am · Tags

Apr132005

stupid

My apartment was besieged by Japanese Mormons today; these two old ladies who about crapped their pants when I answered the door. In spite of that, they still valiently tried their best, but most Japanese people don’t realize that they should speak slowly to people who obviously aren’t good at the language (i.e. all foreigners, at least in the Japanese mind). I eventually butchered my way out of the situation.

Yeah, it’ll be good to get back to the States. I’ve come to the conclusion that everything I like about Japan can be enjoyed just as much in America, if not more so.

No comments · Written by Nathan at 10:28 am · Tags

Apr102005

Weekend? What’s that?

Due to elements beyond my control, I’m now being forced to work on Saturdays, with Sunday and Monday off. This really wouldn’t be such a bad thing (actually, it is a bad thing, because national holidays that fall on a Monday now mean absolutely nothing), except that it totally throws off my internal clock: I know that today is Sunday, but it doesn’t FEEL like Sunday. It doesn’t feel like anything, actually, but at least I don’t have to work, which puts a postive spin on the entire situtation.

I showed Brendan a picture I had taken of him. “My head seems small,” he noted.

Links for your viewing pleasure (or displeasure; far be it from me to force you into automatic acceptance of something I find amusing):

What would you pay for gas?
This is not the next Bemani game, although it would be cool if it was.

Speaking of Bemani, I played Guitar Freaks and Pop’n Music today. Watching crazy Japanese kids absolutely go nuts on these games always makes me think that it’s really quite a waste. Here they are learning a skill that is in no way transferrable; it gives no benefit other than itself. When the arcade stops carrying that game, it doesn’t matter how good you are, all your efforts are basically thrown away. I still stand by my idea of making music games that use real notation, where at least the kid would learn how to read sheet music, if nothing else.

I also went to an amazing store today, where everything costs 390 yen. This in and of itself is not particularly amazing. The amazing thing is the variety of the store’s products. In one box, they had a large stack of old, 50’s era full page advertisements. There were piles of American licence plates (kinda cool for Japanese folks). They had actual USED CLOTHING, stuff that I would ACTUALLY BUY, all the same price. I ended up buying one of the old advertisements, because it seemed appropriate.

I really need to go out and take pictures of drunken Japanese people sitting under cherry trees
Daffodils

Hey, you should all keep playing rock/scissors/paper

3 comments · Written by Nathan at 11:03 pm · Tags

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