Richard’s Corner

When looking at the history of video games, it is very hard to ignore SEGA’s impact on the industry. One innovation that is often overlooked is SEGA’s groundbreaking on-demand gaming service. SEGA Channel was launched in 1994, and provided 24/7 access to a library of more than fifty games every month.  Subscribers also had access to Sega Channel exclusive titles, as well as demo versions of upcoming games.

I had Sega Channel as a teenager, and it never occurred to me to record the intro screens and menus for posterity’s sake.  In fact, the possibility of such footage never even crossed my mind until I ran across these videos on YouTube.

As a huge SEGA fan, I owe Azuritereaction a debt of gratitude for posting these videos.

Bye Bye Wii

It wasn’t a horrible system by any means, it just wasn’t the right console for me. To be honest, I should have done more research before I bought it. I was enticed by the revolutionary controls, and even though 3rd party support was sparse at best, I figured it would pick up eventually. Well…it didn’t. After owning the Wii for almost a year, I had a grand total of three games: Resident Evil, Super Monkey Ball and Nights.  They were all decent games, but with the exception of Nights…they were all titles I could buy for last gen systems in one form or another. I love online gaming, fps games, fighting games and shmups…so after a year of ownership, it was quite clear that I made the wrong decision. So, I decided it was time for a change.

Hello Xbox 360

Since my last console purchase didn’t work out so well, I decided to do more research this time around. After looking at the existing game libraries, upcoming releases, and online offerings, I decided that the 360 was the better fit for me.

I have owned it for about three weeks now, and I am very happy with my purchase. I bought GTA IV and COD 4 with the console, and both are phenomenal games. The graphics are simply amazing, I love the 360 controller, and Xbox Live has also proven to be a very fulfilling online experience.

I am also very impressed with the titles offered through Xbox Live Arcade. I purchased Rez HD and Ikaruga on day one, and I was completely blown away. Not only did I purchase these games for ridiculously low prices…they are better than the originals. I have also read rumors that Radiant Silvergun may be coming to XBLA. If this proves true…I will be in gaming heaven.

Capcom Vs. SNK 2

As if I hadn’t spent enough dough on games this month, I decided it was time to re-buy Capcom Vs. SNK 2 for my Dreamcast. I owned this game a few years back, but I sold it when I needed quick money. Dumb eh?

The good news is, I didn’t have to hunt for it. I went a local import shop…and they had it in stock. Not only did they have it in stock, it only cost me $29.99. I call that a steal! LOL