Tag: sci-fi

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 20

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 20

carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1980s and 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. River Raid print ad

This River Raid print ad appeared on comic books and magazines long ago.

Decades before it became an industry giant with the best-selling Call of Duty games, Activision became a standout publisher in the early 1980s with River Raid on the Atari 2600. Designed by Carol Shaw, River Raid was a huge success ending up as the 2nd best-seller on the Atari 2600 as well as Activision’s best-selling game for the year 1983. Apart from showing one screenshot and the box cover of the game, the print ad of River Raid had this mesmerizing 3D image that caught many gamers’ attention and helped them feel like they will pilot on dangerous missions. The 3D image was futuristic in its own style became forward-moving 3D sequences in video games became reality many years later.   

2. Galaga North American arcade flyer

The front of the flyer showing three Galaga machines that arcade operators can choose from.
Key details about Galaga were nicely presented on the rear of the flyer.

In the history of gaming, Namco’s Galaga was played by countless millions of gamers and it is still highly regarded as an arcade classic as well as one of the most enjoyable arcade games ever made. In preparation for the North American launch (October 1981), Midway prepared the arcade flyer showing the three types of machine on the front that arcade operators can choose from. On the rear is the really neat approach of explaining the details of the game, what kind of gameplay is to be expected, and how to play. Whether you are an individual player or the manager of an arcade joint, this flyer suits your needs.   

3. Area 51 arcade flyer and conversion kit flyer

The front of this Area 51 flyer had an enticing message for arcade operators as well as other business owners/managers who are interested in having a machine to add value to their business joints. Atari was already in deep money problems by the time they started making this game.
The Area 51 arcade conversion kit is a cheaper alternative for businesses who want the game.

Moving on to the 1990s, Atari was already struggling financially and desperately needed a hit to lift them up fast. A light gun shooter project was approved as arcade shooters were in good demand and after overcoming serious hurdles during production internally, Atari hired independent team Mesa Logic to take charge of development. After being granted extra time and more creative freedom, the project under Mesa Logic’s handling became a sci-fi shooter titled Area 51. The game became a huge hit in the arcades for Atari resulting in sales of more than 20,000 arcade cabinets as well as a major financial boost for the company (note: Atari still exists today). Atari went on to release Atari 51 versions for PlayStation, Sega Saturn and PC in America in 1996. The Atari 51 flyers you see here are still captivating to look at and were crucial in generating buzz among arcade operators, business joints that had space for arcade cabinets and gamers.

4. Panasonic 3DO print ad

The makers of this print ad forgot to mention the 3DO is also a game machine.

Back in 1993, the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer console manufactured by Panasonic (a licensee of the 3DO Company) was launched with a CD-ROM drive, multimedia features and gaming capabilities (with a 3-button control pad). This print ad strongly emphasized the 3DO’s ability to play high-quality sound and full-motion videos using the Sea of Cortez software which functioned as an interactive movie. Obviously, this did not resonate well with people who loved to play games and by the time the 3DO Company and its partners started marketing games, they could not save the 3DO console from fading to obscurity. The console shown in the ad is specifically model Panasonic FZ-1 R·E·A·L 3DO Interactive Multiplayer. Panasonic was one of five companies that were licensed by the 3DO Company.

5. MechWarrior 3050 SNES print ad

If you were unaware of the 1994 game BattleTech, then this ad would have fooled you into thinking it is promoting a brand new game.

In 1995, the popular BattleTech entertainment franchise arrived on the Super Nintendo Entertainment (SNES) system with MechWarrior 3050 and its print ad had a really blazing artwork of an armed mech in fire which gave readers the illusion of a new and original game. In reality, MechWarrior 3050 was actually a port of BattleTech which was released on the Sega Genesis in 1994. The Genesis game was published by Extreme Entertainment Group while the SNES game was published by the more famous Activision. If you look closely at the MechWarrior print ad, you can tell how hard they tried to sell the game like it was brand new and all-original.

6. Cliffhanger video game print ad

This print ad had Sylvester Stallone hanging on a cliff to be relevant with the title of both the film and the game. They could not show images of Stallone in hard action scenes.

For fans of Sylvester Stallone, 1993 was a big and exciting year as the Hollywood icon appeared in two major action films – Cliffhanger and Demolition Man. Cliffhanger was released first and there were video game adaptations of it released on game consoles, handhelds and computers. This print ad of the Cliffhanger video game had an image of Stallone hanging on a cliff to emphasize the title. The ad makers cleverly posted selected gameplay screenshots and quoted GamePro and Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM) to make the game look credible and worthy of purchasing. The marketing led to nowhere as the game received mostly negative reviews from critics and it faded to obscurity. Lastly, the Cliffhanger game ad had a noticeable amount of space wasted. They could have made the screenshots and text look somewhat bigger to sell the game.

7. Ballz: The Director’s Cut print ad

I never got to play this game on the 3DO.

Here is another ad of the video game released on the failed 3DO console. As its title made obvious, Ballz: The Director’s Cut is an enhanced version of the original Ballz game of 1994 that was released on other consoles. The print ad had an eye-catching piece of artwork and posted beside it were selected shots of the gameplay. Strangely enough, the creative writing on the lower part of the ad does not make any sense and did nothing to convince gamers to play the game. As Ballz: The Director’s Cut was released in 1995, this ad shows the revised 3DO console from Panasonic (model: Panasonic FZ-10 R·E·A·L 3DO Interactive Multiplayer).

8. NFL GameDay 2000 print ad

Did you find this ad funny to look at in 1999?

To promote the PlayStation-exclusive NFL GameDay 2000, Sony publisher 989 Sports and the ad makers decided to implement a humorous look at football TV coverage by having two sportscasters wearing shorts in front of a TV camera that was only showing their heads and upper bodies. The TV sets on the side show screenshots from the game to emphasize the sports gaming experience. Ultimately the game scored mostly positive review from the critics.  

9. WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams print ad

WildC.A.T.S. art by Jim Lee was used to promote the SNES video game.

When Image Comics launched in 1992, WildC.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams was Jim Lee’s creator-owned comic book franchise and its launch issue was a big seller. Years later, WildC.A.T.S. grew in popularity with comic book fans and the franchise achieved multi-media status by venturing into TV (with an animated series) and video games. This print ad promoting the video game adaptation had no screenshots to show which kept fans and gamers guessing how the game will turn out in terms of gameplay and game design. It was obvious that the people who made this print ad had to rely on the best WildC.A.T.S. artwork they could find drawn by Jim Lee. This ad made me laugh back in the old days because if you did not look closely, it might fool you into thinking it was more about comic books than the game on the SNES.

10. Cutthroat Island print ad

Exciting imagery without Geena Davis and Matthew Modine was used to promote the video game adaptation.

I never saw the Hollywood mega-flop Cutthroat Island nor have I ever played any of its multiple video game adaptations (released on SNES, Sega Genesis, Sega Game Gear and Game Boy). The video game print ad, however, caught my attention back in 1995 because the ad makers cleverly used a photograph from one the many expensive movie sequences filmed and the hard, physical work by the filmmakers was clearly visible. Then the ad makers had four screenshots placed on the lower-left part and inserted descriptive text that sounded exciting. Lastly, the ad mentioned a sweepstakes promo.

Without using any images of stars Geena Davis and Matthew Modine, this ad was a strong attempt to get gamers excited for the video game adaptation. Like the movie itself, this game flopped and has faded away to the land of the forgotten.

11. AH-3 Thunderstrike print ad

Captivating artwork, vibrant colors and orderly text descriptions made this an effective ad.

AH-3 Thunderstrike is one of the better games that was released on the Sega CD add-on (requires the Sega Genesis console) in 1993. Similar with MechWarrior 3050, the game was actually a port of Thunderhawk which itself was released on the Amiga and MS-DOS PC in 1992. The print ad showcased a captivating artwork (which was also used on the game’s box cover), a few screenshots and strategically placed text descriptions to sell the game. This ad still looks good.

12. James Bond 007 print ad

This print ad appeared in many comic books in 1984.

This is a print ad I saw many times while reading comic books in 1984. James Bond 007 for Atari 2600 was an ambitious licensed video game as it featured levels that were inspired by missions in the James Bond movies Diamonds are Forever, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker and For Your Eyes Only. Keep in mind that programmers back then had to deal with memory limitations and primitive tools to make games.

To promote the game, original art of Agent 007 was used which did not resemble the James Bond star of the time – Roger Moore. Strangely enough, the illustrated James Bond slightly resembled Timothy Dalton whose debut as 007 happened in 1987. Adding further zest to the add was the use of fictionalized quotes pointing to fantasized critics as sources (example: Vincent Can’tbe is a reference to real life critic Vincent Canby). The use of a pink background made this catchy ad look really odd.

13. Choplifter III: Rescue Survive print ad

A captivating print ad that brought gamers’ attention to the Choplifter series again.

This print ad of Choplifter III: Rescue Survive has a striking look showing a military officer who needs your help as he has been stranded behind enemy lines. The presentation reflects the long-time tradition of the Choplifter game franchise which has been about piloting an armed helicopter to the opposition’s territory, shooting at bad guys and then rescuing the hostages or prisoners-of-war (POWs). The game eventually gathered mostly positive feedback from video game critics.

14. Defender of the Crown print ad

Cinemaware took a gamble with the visual concept of this print ad.

Released in 1986 for home computers, Defender of the Crown was made with a high level of quality backed with solid artistry. To capture gamers’ attention, Cinemaware came up with this print ad showcasing a pretty model looking somewhat seductive which reflects what happens in the game when players rescue a damsel in distress. The selected screenshots showed what the game looked like on different platforms, and the lower part of the ad made the game feel like it was a historical epic waiting to be discovered. Defender of the Crown eventually became a big hit with computer gamers.  

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 19

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 19

carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1980s and 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Vendetta UK and North American arcade flyers

Vendetta arcade flyer for North America
Vendetta arcade flyer for the UK.

In 1991, Konami released the 2D side-scrolling beat-them-up game Vendetta in arcades around the world achieving commercial success. While it is hard to tell if the promotions helped the game commercially, there is no doubt that the arcade flyers for the North American and United Kingdom (UK) markets were indeed very eye-catching.

The North American Vendetta arcade flyer had a photographic approach showing models playing characters supposedly representing the Cobras gang and the Dead End gang. The display of wooden boxes and the rope was done to symbolize the rough city environments of the game. On the other hand, the UK arcade flyer has illustrated artwork that captured the look of the Cobras gang from the game.  

2. Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters print ad

This ad has great art that strongly emphasizes its science fiction concept.

This print ad of Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters (PC version) really caught my attention when I read gaming magazines in the early 1990s. The painted artwork showing a human and a hideous alien in the background with a planet, space ships and space stations filling the rest of the space was very captivating to look at. So captivating, it enticed me to search for the game but our PC at home had really low specs. Strangely enough, I played another version of Star Control II on a rented 3DO Interactive Multiplayer console in 1995. For the newcomers reading this, the game was critically acclaimed and was declared as one of the very best PC games ever made. Enjoy looking at the print ad above.

3. Space Channel 5 print ad

The visual style and character designs are the result of the game designer’s research that includes interviews with lots of young girls over their interests and tastes in video games.

When Sega launched their Dreamcast console in Japan in late-1998, their financial health was already in a very bad state and the future looked grim. Even as they faced tremendous odds, Sega still went on to aggressively sell Dreamcast consoles with exclusive games and Space Channel 5 was one of them.

First released in Japan in 1999, Space Channel 5 was a musical, puzzle-oriented game that was the result of Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s work backed with research he did that included interviewing young girls to find out what their tastes in gaming are. The print ad showing the highly stylized protagonist Ulala and a few screenshots really caught the attention of gamers and kept the Dreamcast in their minds. While the game did not achieve commercial success as a Dreamcast-exclusive, Sega went on to release a version of Space Channel 5 on the PlayStation 2 console, plus sequels.

4. Cybernator print ad

The mention of Terminator and RoboCop rivaled the artwork when it comes to grabbing people’s attention.

I remember seeing the print ad of Konami’s Cybernator (Japanese title: Assault Suits Valken) in several comic books I read back in 1992. I never got to play it but the print ad’s artwork was memorable as I was fond of robots in anime, movies and video games back then. What was arguably the most memorable aspect of the print ad was the line that mentioned RoboCop and the Terminator in a comedic way. This is a creative way to market the game.

5. NBA Basketball 2000 print ad

There were a lot more NBA video games back in the 1990s.

NBA Basketball 2000 was one of those basketball videos games of the 1990s that was not published by EA Sports nor published by the other established game publishers like Sega, PlayStation and Konami. In fact, the one thing on the ad that caught my attention was Fox Sports Interactive which published some sports videos games during the decade. The print ad also served as a reminder that there were a lot more NBA video games for gamers to choose from during the 1990s.

6. Food Fight arcade flyers

Food Fighter arcade flyer with illustrated artworks.
Food Fight arcade flyer with a photographic touch and actors.

I never got to play the 1980s game Food Fight in the arcades nor did I ever had the opportunity to play it on Atari consoles and Xbox 360. Released in 1983 in the arcades by Atari, Food Fight was designed to allow players to control a character moving through a 2D field to consume an ice cream on a cone (placed on the opposite end of the field) before it melts while avoiding the chefs who are out to chase and block the player.

The arcade flyer with illustrated artwork on the characters interacting with the arcade machine is really amusing to look at. Equally amusing is the other arcade flyer that had a photographic approach showing two kids (one playing the arcade machine and the other about to throw a pie) and four chefs. Considering the nice visual concepts Atari came up with for the arcade flyers, Food Fight actually never became a commercial hit selling only a few thousand arcade units.

7. X-Kaliber 2097 print ad

This print ad from the 1990s had a nice visual style.

The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) had plenty of 2D side-scrolling adventure games and among them was X-Kaliber 2097 released by Activision (now a Microsoft-owned company and integral part of Xbox) in America in 1994. The game had a really interesting story concept about a chaotic far future society plagued by overwhelming crime and violence. The print ad showed a mild taste about the game’s concept and gameplay, but it was more effective when it comes to showing the formidable foes that await the playable protagonist Slash. This print appeared in several comic books I read and was eye-catching.

8. Jet Moto 3 print ad

When was the last time the police caught you for over-speeding?

This print ad for Jet Moto 3 had a clever concept of showing a police officer apprehending a jet biker for over-speeding. The visual presentation was done in photo-realistic fashion to make the sci-fi aspect of the video game look real. The ad made me interested enough to do some research of Jet Moto 3 a few months before finally buying it for my PlayStation console.

9. Wipeout 3 print ad

Were you fond of futuristic racing and techno music back in 1999?

Released in 1999, Wipeout 3 was one of those video games that showcased what the PlayStation (originally launched in Japan in 1994) could do in terms of visual fidelity, special effects and frame rates. The print ad, which had a radical visual concept emphasizing intensity and energy, had style listing down vertically the technical details of the game which required a close look in order to be read. With only two screenshots displayed, the ad makers smartly included the E3 acclaim of “Best Racing Game of E3” as well as the names of artists behind the game soundtrack on the lower-right corner. This print ad was cool and intriguing to look at.

10. Breath of Fire II print ad

This was a good effort to lure American gamers to buy and play Breath of Fire II.

When Breath of Fire II was released on the SNES in America in late 1995, Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) were not yet wildly popular among American gamers. To grab the attention of gamers, Capcom and the ad makers came up with the eye-catching image of a sword and posted key questions to emphasize the fantasy aspect of Breath of Fire II. While the game received mixed reviews upon its North American release, Nintendo Power listed it as 171st best game in its Top 200 Games chart published in 2006.  

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 34

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 34

carlocarrasco

Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

Minty Comedic Arts’ trivia video about V: The Original Miniseries, V: The Final Battle and V TV series  – If you are a fan of the V sci-fi entertainment franchise that made big waves on television in the 1980s, then you must watch Minty Comedic Arts’ video which covers V: The Original Miniseries (1983), V: The Final Battle (1984) and the creative mess that was the V TV series. The video also includes the 2009 V TV series which makes it a complete package for all V fans. If you are a long-time V fan, now is a good time to test your knowledge by watching the video below.

Moneymaking locations in Red Dead Redemption 2 – If you have been struggling to make big money in the realm of the 2018 blockbuster video game Red Dead Redemption 2, then this video by YouTuber MrBossFTW must be seen. In RDR2 there are indeed places where you can find gold bars, sets of Dollar bills and other valuables that can sell in-game. There are indeed challenges to find the riches but they are worth doing.

Hezbollah terrorists and allies hit hard by as their communication devices blew up  – Recently several Hezbollah terrorists and some allies got hit hard because the pagers used turned out to be bombs which blew up and crippled their communication network. The initial attack even injured the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon himself got injured because he was also using the same pager that Hezbollah uses. The high-tech attacks not only happened in Lebanon but also in Syria where some Hezbollah terrorists were present. Unsurprisingly, the Islamic terrorists blamed Israel. Watch and learn from the videos below.

Wokeness of Dragon Age: The Veilgard exposed – I really don’t like when the woke activists working in entertainment deform video games, movies and comic books as they turned them into vehicles promoting their pathetic agenda. Simply put, whatever the Satanic Left touches, they ruin it. The same can be said about the upcoming video game Dragon Age: The Veilgard. Already it can be seen that there is indeed a lot of woke stuff in the new game and YouTuber Ryan Kinel – RK Outpost posted a video explaining what was found and why the gamers heavily rejected the new Dragon Age game. Watch and learn from the video below.

Kamala Harris’ dishonesty and lying – There is no doubt that the Democrats in American nominated a very dishonest candidate for US President with Kamala Harris. Harris is truly a Communist and she will do anything bad to gain power. That being said, her lying is clear and the corrupted mainstream news media just let her get away with poisoning people’s minds. Watch and learn from the videos below.

PS5 Pro reactions  – In recent times, Sony unveiled the PlayStation 5 Pro (PS5 Pro) which is the upgraded version of the PS5. Apart from the flawed console presentation by Sony, PS5 Pro is overpriced at $699 for America and it does not even have an optical drive and no vertical stand is included. For your reference, posted below are selected videos about the reactions and analysis of the PS5 Pro. Things are not really looking good for the upgraded PS5.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 33

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 33

carlocarrasco

Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

Google in legal trouble in America  – Did you notice how overwhelming power Google really is in business as well as in your daily lives? Are you aware that Google made multi-billion Dollar deals with its competitors to ensure its dominance on search, online advertising and other forms of business? Google is now in legal trouble with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in America and ColdFusion’s video below is a must-watch!

Games to look forward to while subscribing to Xbox Game Pass – In recent times, there were changes on Xbox Game Pass (XGP) implemented by Microsoft which I did not like (click here and here to learn the details). If you own an Xbox and you still have not yet subscribed to XGP, you should decide first based on how much you can afford to pay the new rates (note: there are different tiers to subscribe to in Game Pass), what kind of games you really like and how much time you can spare for playing in the comfort of your home. If you are into adventure gaming, then the video by YouTuber Skycaptin 5 below is a must-watch for your reference. Take note that one of the games shown has yet to be released and a few of the games may require the Ultimate tier of XGP.

A look back at Amazing Spider-Man movies of Sony Pictures  – Do you have any fond memories of the two movies that had actor Andrew Garfield as the cinematic Spider-Man? I saw The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) in the cinemas and I can say that they never thrilled me nor satisfied me as much as the first two Spider-Man flicks of Tobey Maguire. Those movies directed by Marc Webb were not terrible actually but flawed works. Whether you loved or felt disappointed with the two Amazing Spider-Man movies, I urge you to watch the analytical video by YouTuber Owen Likes Comics below.

25 years of the American launch of the Sega Dreamcast – It has been over twenty-five years since Sega launched the Dreamcast console in America. In gaming history, the date of September 9, 1999 is still remembered as the time when Sega really made a very serious effort to re-establish trust with American gamers and they made record-setting numbers in the first 24 hours. As such, it was no surprise that “25 years” or “25th anniversary” videos about the Dreamcast suddenly appeared on YouTube and posted below are videos I selected for your viewing.

You, Me and the Movies’ video reaction of Clash of the Titans (1981) – Whenever I search YouTube for movie reaction videos about the 1981 film Clash of the Titans, not too many pop out for some reason. If you are interested to see the film but don’t have the time or money to watch it in full, then the reaction video by You, Me and the Movies should entertain you.

The fall of Circuit City explained  – Way back in 2001, I visited a branch of Circuit City in California. I visited because I was curious and also interested in video games and also movies on DVD format. What I found was a variety of consumer electronic products and the presence of TV units with built-in DVD drives caught my attention. It was my one and only Circuit City visit and many years later, their brand re-emerged when there were these widespread news reports about its bankruptcy and liquidation. If you want to learn about the rise and fall of Circuit City, watch the video below.

GoodBadFlicks’ comprehensive video about The Blob (1988) – The Blob remake of 1988 has always been very entertaining to watch. Not only does it have a really solid story to tell, it has a fine blend of spectacle with well-crafted action/stunt scenes and top-notch practical effects. On 4K Blu-ray, the movie looks better than ever and it is worth purchasing. When it comes to the making of The Blob (1988), the best video to watch online is the one from YouTuber GoodBadFlicks which is posted below for your viewing pleasure.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 18 (Fighting Games Special)

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 18 (Fighting Games Special)

carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – specifically about fighting games that were released in the 1990s. The said decade marked the time when Street Fighter II became a massive hit in the video arcades (and on game consoles) which sparked a wave of new fighting games from business competitors. In that same decade, 3D polygonal fighting games were also released which added greater choices of fighting games at the arcades and on game consoles that players could choose from.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Dead or Alive Japanese arcade flyer

Dead or Alive was the start of new success that impacted the direction of Tecmo in the gaming industry.

The above arcade flyer of Dead or Alive gave Japanese arcade operators and gamers a taste of what to expect with the game. While the screenshots showed some resemblance with what gamers saw in Virtua Fighter 2, the character designs Tecmo and its developers came up with were unique.

Before Dead or Alive was released in Japanese arcades in 1996, company Tecmo was in financial trouble and they asked Tomonobu Itagaki to make a fighting game similar to Sega’s polygonal blockbuster Virtua Fighter. A breakthrough for Tecmo happened when Sega announced they were licensing their Model 2 arcade to third-party companies which paved the way for Itagaki’s team to make Dead or Alive with it. The game became a big hit and it paved the way for Tecmo to release it on Sega Saturn and PlayStation, and the sequels that followed years later.

2. North American Soulcalibur Dreamcast version print ad

Namco came up with a creative approach to emphasize heart-and-soul promoting their game and the Dreamcast.

On September 9, 1999, Sega launched their Dreamcast console in America. With a gap of around ten months between the Japanese launch (November 1998) and the American launch, Sega had time to prepare Dreamcast’s release to American gamers with a huge lineup of games (both Sega’s games and from other publishers). Fortunately for Sega, they had Namco (their rival on arcade games) supporting their console.

Behind the scenes, Namco’s developers worked hard to not only port their arcade hit Soulcalibur to the Dreamcast, but to enhance the graphics using the console’s more advanced technology. The visual enhancements include rendering all of the games stages (and backgrounds) into full 3D polygonal environments. Namco also implemented different game modes and added even more content to ensure satisfaction to Dreamcast gamers.

The above 3-page print ad of Soulcalibur on Dreamcast was undeniably strategic and captivating to look at. The ad described the console as the heart, showed Soulcalibur character Mitsurugi (one of the game’s most popular characters) in the middle and then described the game (with 3 screenshots of game rendered with Dreamcast graphics) as the soul. It was a strong way to promote both the game and the console. In the years that followed, Soulcalibur grew into a popular fighting game franchise and the Dreamcast version will always be remembered as the crucial turning point.

3. X-Men: Children of the Atom arcade flyer

Anyone who read lots of X-Men comic books in the 1990s should be able to tell which character was drawn by which artist.

When Capcom first released X-Men: Children of the Atom in the arcades in the mid-1990s, I was surprised because I did not anticipate the day would come when the company behind Street Fighter II would actually make a 2D fighting game showcasing the Marvel’s mutants. Even more intriguing was the X-Men art Capcom used for the arcade flyer to promote the game. I recognize Jim Lee’s artworks of Magneto, Cyclops and Colossus. The art of Wolverine shown was drawn by Andy Kubert. It was a wise move for Capcom (with Marvel as a business partner) to use established X-Men comic book artworks instead of having their internal illustrator draw the characters. That being said, this arcade flyer still looks great and captivating to look at.

4. North American Ranma ½: Hard Battle print ad

A print ad promoting the game while saving some space to promote the anime and comic books.

By 1993, Street Fighter II and its upgraded follow-ups were wildly popular both in the arcades and on game consoles around the world. At the same time, there were many other 2D fighting games released to compete with and cash-in on Street Fighter II’s success. Believe it or not, the established anime franchise Ranma ½ saw a video game adaptation in the form of a 2D fighting game – Ranma ½: Hard Battle.

The North American print ad above published by DTMC (in cooperation with Viz Communications) promoted the game (one screenshot, the SNES game box and images of the characters as they appeared in the game) as well as Ranma ½ on anime videos and comic books. The way it was presented, the print ad promoted Ranma ½: Hard Battle without much heart nor passion.

5. Fatal Fury: King of Fighters arcade flyer

An intriguing visual presentation on the front.
You get to know the characters and what the game features are.

There is no doubt that Fatal Fury: King of Fighters is the most significant game that SNK made. Apart from being the company’s first fighting game for the Neo Geo system, it established the fictional “king of fighters” tournament that became the core concept for The King of Fighters series of games in the years that followed. Fatal Fury itself is notable for being designed by Takashi Nishiyama, a former Capcom employee who created the original Street Fighter game. What Nishiyama could not do with Street Fighter, he accomplished while making SNK’s fighting game. Compared with the combo-oriented approach of Street Fighter II, Fatal Fury was designed to emphasize the timing of special moves, confrontational play, cooperative play and the 3D-like spacing between characters (background row and foreground row in each stage) while telling a story in a solid way.  

The above arcade flyer of Fatal Fury has this unique looking artwork on the front showing stylized rectangular shots of the major characters Terry Bogard, Andy Bogard and Joe Higashi. On the other side of the flyer are the details that emphasized the creative concept of the game, who the characters are and what they could expect with regards to gameplay features. This flyer is still captivating to look at and it could entice you to try playing the original Fatal Fury game before trying out the sequels and spin-offs.

6. Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes arcade flyer

This is NOT a comic book crossover.

If there is anything that truly emphasizes the essence of a fictional crossover in terms of visuals, it’s the art that Capcom and Marvel agreed to for Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Superheroes which is evident on the front of the above arcade flyer. By looking at how the Marvel characters were drawn, it looks like someone at Capcom illustrated the artwork as the Capcom characters still maintained that particular art style seen in the artworks of the Japanese company’s other games like Street Fighter, Darkstalkers, Mega Man and Strider. Regardless, the artwork still is amusing to look at.

7. Art of Fighting arcade flyer

The front of the flyer.
The cast of characters showcased on the other side of the flyer.

Following the success of Fatal Fury, SNK went on to release Art of Fighting in arcades in 1992 and it became successful enough for the company to make sequels. With regards to the realm of fantasy, Art of Fighting was part of the same fictional universe as Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters, and there were times when its own characters appeared in other SNK games.

Art of Fighting’s arcade flyer had an energetic visual concept on the front with a rectangular lightning portion on the left balanced with five screenshots of the game itself. Once you get to the other side of the flyer, you will see really nice art of the characters with Ryo Sakazaki and Robert Garcia as the most dominating figures. Sakazaki and Garcia are the major characters of the Art of Fighting series. This flyer confidently introduced the characters and succeeded in making them look interesting.

8. Fighter’s History arcade flyer and print ad

Great looking front artwork showing the game’s characters, posing and some action.
If you look closely at the controls, you will see the six-button layout and functions which are the same with those used in Street Fighter II.
Data East offered two ways for gamers to enjoy Fighter’s History – pay a high price for the SNES version or gamers can go play the game in the arcade by dropping a few coins.

In 1993, Data East released their fighting game Fighter’s History in the arcades around the world. Along the way, the company released their arcade flyer which had a very captivating art work on the front featuring their characters and some action. The other side of the flyer showed the technical details on how to play, how the control works and who the characters are. Fighter’s History was nicely received in the arcades and the success led Data East into porting the game for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). If you look at the print ad above, you can see how clever Data East was promoting the SNES version of the game while keeping an image of the arcade machine which serves like a subtle reminder that the same game is still available in video arcades.

Shortly after the release of Fighter’s History in the arcades, there were gamers who noticed that it had certain visual and gameplay elements that made it so familiar with what Street Fighter II had. When Capcom became aware of the similarities, they sued Data East claiming that Fighter’s History was too similar to their game and that copyright infringement was committed. Capcom lost the case ultimately and Data East went on to release two more Fighter’s History games.

9. Virtua Fighter 3 arcade flyer

Virtua Fighter 3 truly raised the standards for arcade game graphics back in 1996.

When it comes to gaming innovation and standing out among the rest, Sega did exactly those when they released Virtua Fighter 3 in arcades in 1996 and it had the best-looking and really mind-blowing graphics at the time. Developed by AM2 (led by Yu Suzuki) on the very expensive Model 3 arcade hardware, Virtua Fighter 3 broke new ground on graphics as it moved over 1 million polygons per second, had highly detailed visuals on the characters and surroundings, realistic reflection effects, detailed shining, parallel lighting and high-specular Gouraud shading to name some. Even the characters’ eyes followed the opponent’s position.

The Virtua Fighter 3 arcade flyer showcased their reflective, metallic character Dural who in turn was part of the graphical showcase (emphasizing reflections, smooth animation and liquid metal effects) when the game was previewed in the 1996 AOU event in Japan. The words “The New Standard” written on the lower-left corner of the front of the flyer was justified and truthful.

10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters print ad

This print ad had a nice visual presentation and was easily recognizable to the many TMNT fans.

In 1989, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) franchise made quite a splash on video games which is not surprising as the multimedia franchise was already a popular in the West. More video game adaptation of TMNT were released in the early 1990s providing fans and gamers a lot of fun gameplay at the arcades (click here) and on consoles. Konami had the video game rights of TMNT and in a clear response to the sudden popularity of fighting games, they released Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters on the most popular game consoles of the time achieving varying levels of success critically and commercially (note: the SNES version stood out as the best). This print ad of the fighting game was effective in visually promoting the three console versions and the displayed text contained enough information to lure the attention of both fans and gamers.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 17

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 17

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Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1980s and 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Sega Dreamcast launch print ads

This cryptic Sega Dreamcast American launch print ad has an image that emphasized that gamers are being watched.
This one has an image emphasizing emotions, impulse and excitement.

By the time Sega launched their Dreamcast console in Japan in late 1998, the company was already bleeding from back-to-back years of financial losses. The Dreamcast was their big bet to regain the trust of consumers and business partners, to sell a lot of consoles and games, and somehow survive.

For the North American Dreamcast launch, Sega of America organized an intriguing series of ads emphasizing the September 9, 1999 launch date in very stylized and cryptic ways. As seen in the two selected ads above, the Dreamcast name was not even mentioned but the console’s trademark swirl was present. Anyone who was obsessed with video games – even if one was not a Sega fan – could tell that the print ads made clear that the Dreamcast was going to launch in America. Ultimately, Sega sold roughly $98 million worth of Dreamcast consoles, games and peripherals in the first 24 hours in America.

2. Point Blank 2 print ad

This ad appeared in comic books and magazines.

When Namco released the first Point Blank game, it was commercial successful in both arcades and on the PlayStation console in different parts of the world. To keep on succeeding, Namco made the sequel Point Blank 2 and their confidence in it was made clear with the above PlayStation version print ad that promised it to be multiplayer-oriented and ensure enough content to give players sufficient bouts of fun whichever game mode they pick. The ad’s image of the lady with a gun (Namco’s Guncon peripheral) and the animal trophies were done with humor in mind.

3. Pac-Man arcade flyers

This ad showed that arcade operators can choose which type of machine of Pac-Man they could order.
Midway issued this flyer when Pac-Man was already successful.

In 1980, Namco released Pac-Man in Japanese arcades and it became a big hit in a short span of time. This prompted them to bring the game overseas, especially in America which already had a growing arcade market. In November that year, Namco brought Pac-Man and their other arcade game Rally-X game to a tradeshow and only got mild attention from attendees and distributors. After being turned down by Atari, Namco signed a contract with Midway to distribute Pac-Man and Rally-X in America, and they were formally released the following month.

Upon release, Pac-Man became a strong attraction in American arcades with weekly sales surpassing $8 million per week. When it comes to the presentation, Midway’s arcade flyers above gave arcade operators and gamers a clear view that Pac-Man is fun and available in three physical units (emphasized in the first flyer) and that it made a positive commercial impact (emphasized in the 2nd flyer). Ultimately, Midway went on to sell over 100,000 Pac-Man arcade units resulting in a massive gross of over $1 billion in quarters (coins of twenty-five cents in American currency).

4. Silent Hill print ad

A clear atmosphere of psychological horror in this ad.

Made by a certain team within Konami, Silent Hill on PlayStation turned out to be a surprising and intriguing hit game in 1999. It was a polygonal survival horror game that drew a few comparisons with Capcom’s Resident Evil but ultimately stood out with its gameplay features and psychological horror concept.

The people at Konami must have anticipated that gamers in America would be attracted by the game so they came up with the creepy print ad above which promoted the game with a clear touch of psychological horror. If you look closely, the 2nd screenshot (in the middle) even showed blood in digital form. This Silent Hill print ad was clearly aimed at adult gamers and PlayStation gamers who craved for more horror gaming.

5. Tomorrow Never Dies game print ad

The use of the image of Pierce Brosnan as James Bond in this print ad was the right move to inform readers that the 1997 movie’s video game was coming out.

Believe it or not, there was indeed a video game adaptation of Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and the weird thing was that it was released for PlayStation in November 1999. In fact, the game was released eight days after the American premiere of the James Bond film The World is Not Enough (1999). The game development was unusually long and the release was delayed several times going into 1999.

To really capture the attention of James Bond fans and gamers, MGM Interactive and Electronic Arts (the co-publishers of the game) came up with a Tomorrow Never Dies game print ad showcasing Pierce Brosnan as the iconic Agent 007 in a dominant fashion leaving a minor space for the text description, two screenshots and other details displayed. While some people might look at the ad as an act of desperation to sell the long-delayed game, I find it eye-catching and engaging to look at. It also was a lively reminder back then that Brosnan was James Bond of the 1990s.

6. Wipeout 64 print ad

This is still cool and sleek to look at.

Wipeout, the series best known for its very futuristic portrayal of high-speed anti-gravity racing, showcase of dynamic visuals and the use electronic dance music, made its way to the Nintendo 64 console with Wipeout 64. This 1998 release was significant because at that time developer Psygnosis was already owned by Sony and most Wipeout games of the decade were released on PlayStation. Wipeout 64 was released before the PlayStation-exclusive Wipeout 3 came out.

The above print ad had this very sleek display of two anti-gravity racers moving at high speed and on the side are five screenshots showing what the game looked like on the N64. If you look very closely, one of them shows the 4-player split-screen mode identified with the Nintendo 64’s capabilities. Overall, the Wipeout 64 print ad captured the vibe of the Wipeout series and remains very cool to look at.

7. Ehrgeiz print ad

You want a 3D polygonal fighting game that has Final Fantasy 7 characters in it? Ehrgeiz was the answer.

In 1999, the landscape of gaming really changed. More gamers played 3D polygonal fighting games over the 2D fighting games, and demand for Final Fantasy and Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) were in high demand in the West arguably because of the massive commercial success of Final Fantasy VII on PlayStation. That being said, Squaresoft released their own 3D polygonal fighting game that had Final Fantasy VII characters in it – Ehrgeiz.

After achieving success in the arcades, Squaresoft brought Ehrgeiz to PlayStation in America in 1999. Unsurprisingly, the print ad had Final Fantasy VII protagonist Cloud and his signature sword in a prominent position which was obviously done to attract the millions of FFVII for potential sales. The screenshots on the ad were presented not for showing off but to give readers a clear view of what kind of gaming experiences they could expect. Ehrgeiz on console even had a standalone RPG mode.

8. Driver print ad

The art used for the muscle car and the police car was a tribute to the car chases of movies from long ago.

Even before it was released on PlayStation and PC in 1999, publisher GT Interactive knew they had something big for gamers to engage with. That game was Driver and developer Reflections Interactive made it with a lot of inspiration taken from cinematic car chases. This particular ad emphasized car chases, the exploration of four real-life cities in digital form, and engaging in a variety of missions. As it successfully delivered what it promised, Driver went on to become a big commercial success on PlayStation and PC, and spawned sequels in the years that followed.  

9. Eidos Interactive games print ad

From the time when Eidos Interactive was at the top of its game and Lara Croft was its most popular character.

By the end of the 1990s, Eidos Interactive became a major game publisher which is the result of the massive success they achieved with the Tomb Raider games which collective sold many millions of copies worldwide.

Along the way, they acquired developer Crystal Dynamics which was already a prolific team with many games released and new projects in development. Under Eidos’ banner, Crystal Dynamics went on to release Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver in 1999. That being said, this print ad shows the ambitious offers Eidos Interactive had with the Tomb Raider, Gex and Legacy of Kain franchises. It is a reflection about success and confidence about the future of video games.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at The Last Starfighter #1 (1984)

A Look Back at The Last Starfighter #1 (1984)

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Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1984 to take a close look at the official comic book adaptation of the classic sci-fi movie The Last Starfighter.

The Last Starfighter is highly memorable for its extensive use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) which brought its science fiction concepts of war and space travel to life. Directed by Nick Castle, the film is also remembered for its unique storytelling (note: with scenes set on Earth and in space) as well as the solid performances by Lance Guest, Robert Preston, Dan O’Herlihy, Catherine Mary Stewart and Norman Snow.

I should also state that the movie was released during the golden age of arcade games in America and its narrative has video game elements within. The Last Starfighter, which had unreleased ports for Atari consoles and an actual game released on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), clearly has a place in retro gaming culture. To know more about the movie, watch the retrospective video by Oliver Harper by clicking here, the retrospective video by GoodBadFlicks by clicking here and the movie trivia video by Minty Comedic Arts by clicking here.

Marvel Comics was in-charge of producing and publishing the comic book adaptation of the movie. In fact, it was released as issue of the Marvel Comics Super Special (AKA Marvel Super Special) series and also in the form of a 3-issue mini-series.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at The Last Starfighter , published in 1984 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Bill Mantlo and drawn by Bret Levins. This is the first chapter of the 3-issue mini-series.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins on a sunny day at a trailer park filled with residents who know each other. Maggie Gordon searches for Alex who is busy playing The Last Starfighter arcade game inside the local store. Alex’s little brother Louis was told to inform him that a neighbor’s electricity problem needs fixing.

Alex is laser focused on playing the arcade game which has an immersive space shooter game design. As Maggie tells him that their friends had arrived, Alex decides to let Louis play the rest of the game as he moves out.

Just as Alex and Maggie are about the leave, his mother tells him that he the neighbor’s electricity problem needs his repair service making him miss the trip.

In the evening, Alex resumes playing The Last Starfighter and shortly after scoring over 900,000 points, many members of the local community flocked inside the grocery to watch him play…

Quality

There is nothing like being inside a very futuristic place and getting involved in a galactic conflict.

Considering the limited scope of the narrative – which ends with Alex already far away from home – and the creative liberties committed by the production team, this comic book is faithful for the most part and it does a good job replicating the vibe and tone of the movie.  

Bill Mantlo’s script focused on the more important dialogue from the film and it did a good job following Alex Rogan (the protagonist) who is a video game achiever who happens to be striving to move forward with his life. He is a likable guy facing great odds as well as the harshness of reality, and he has hope with Maggie who just might become an integral part of his life in the years to come. Centauri is clearly the 2nd most notable character after Alex and through him, the narrative moves forward a lot leading to the greater science fiction stuff sourced from the movie.

The wild ride!

As it is clearly not a 100% replica of the movie’s screenplay, the script Mantlo made ensured that this comic book has a whole lot of relevant details, notable moments and characterization that readers can immerse themselves into.

For his part, Bret Blevins (note: his name was spelled as Brett Blevins here) did a fine job replicating the movie imagery that includes the locations, the characters, and the sci-fi elements. While it is not clear if the comic book team was authorized to use the actors’ likenesses when drawing the characters, there were a few instances in which Alex somewhat resembles actor Lance Guest, and Centauri looking a bit like the late Robert Preston.

Conclusion

Have you ever experienced attracting a lot of people while playing an arcade game?

Even though there were no battles within its narrative, The Last Starfighter (1984) is a good comic book adaptation. Having seen the movie a number of times in my life, I can say that this comic book recaptures the feel and tone of the film in varying degrees. Of course, the illustrated literature format can only go so far with adapting the movie’s greatness. That being said, if you truly want mesmerizing imagery, strong thrills, great music and the dramatics of the characters, watching the movie is the clear option (note: The Last Starfighter 4K Blu-ray is available). This comic book is a worthy partial companion and I can confirm that it has convinced me to read the next issue.

Overall, The Last Starfighter (1984) is recommended.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 30

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 30

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Welcome back, my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following topics and the related videos I found.

Dance Away behind-the-scenes video  – Way back in 1994, I saw the Japanese anime feature film Project A-ko (1986) on Laserdisc format (dubbed in Japanese with English subtitles). As I viewed it, I noticed there were three English language songs that played in the background and the one I enjoyed most was the song Dance Away which was performed by Annie Livingstone (with supporting vocals by Samantha Newark and the late Valerie Stevenson). Project A-ko’s behind-the-scenes information revealed the three singers working together on Dance Away which you can watch in the video below. These singers have beautiful voices and were really talented to watch.

AI and automation are taking over grocery stores and drive-thru lanes  – In America, inflation spiked so much under the Biden administration which contributed a lot to higher prices of food and the suffering of consumers who need food. That being said, the food industry has invested a lot on artificial intelligence (AI) and automation so that they can lower labors costs and somehow improve sales to keep the businesses alive. In fact, technology is becoming much more integrated in places where people buy food and that also means making orders not in front of a human worker but in front of a computer (example: a touch-screen monitor where you choose what to order). Watch and learn from the video below.

Assorted videos about The Last Starfighter – Released way back in 1984, The Last Starfighter was a memorable movie that carefully blended science fiction concepts, adventure, fine performances and video game elements together. It was also one of the early movies Hollywood made that extensively used computer-generated imagery (CGI) which defied the era’s standard of using practical and optical effects. Now available on 4K Blu-ray format, The Last Starfighter is a popular subject of varied YouTube videos and I selected some for your enjoyment below. However, if you have not seen The Last Starfighter yet, I urge you watch it first before seeing any of the movie reaction videos featuring it. You make the decision.

HolyLandSite’s Capernaum to Bethsaida walking tour video – I love Israel and I will always stand with it. For the newcomers reading this, Israel is where the Holy Land is and it has always been the land that the Lord God designated to the Jewish people. Recently HolyLandSite released another video showcasing a walking tour in the Galilee region specifically from Capernaum to Bethsaida. If you have not read the Holy Bible extensively, Lord Jesus spent a great deal of his ministry in Galilee. I myself had been to the Galilee region and many times during the pilgrimage tour there and in other parts of Israel, I witnessed the Holy Bible come to life on-location. Watch the video below.

More people in Iran coming to Lord Jesus– It is not a fantasy to say that the current regime of Iran (in power since 1979) made their nation a terrorist state. Iran is truly sponsoring terrorist groups in the Middle East and they have Hamas, Hezbollah and other terrorists doing their work to destroy Israel. While the Iranian regime is clearly evil and murderous (note: their leaders declared in their own language death towards America, Israel and England), there are many Iranians who do not follow their government. In fact, there are Iranians who even left Islam behind to come to Jesus whom they accepted as their Lord and savior. Be aware that the Iranian government had harmed their fellow Iranians many times and this includes human rights violations. That being said, the people in Iran who desired Lord Jesus and freedom from their oppressive government need our prayers of support. Watch and learn from the video below.

Rocky II (1978) reaction/review videos – If you have been watching movies for decades and if you have been following the career of Sylvester Stallone, then you would be already aware of the significance of the 1976 film Rocky. Considering its success, Rocky spawned several sequels and a few spin-off movies through the decades. Going back to the late 1970s, Sylvester Stallone came up with the effort to make the sequel Rocky II (1979) which itself became featured in several movie reaction/review videos and retrospectives. Watch the videos I selected for you all below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 16

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 16

carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1980s and 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. A-Jax North American arcade flyer

Another one of Konami’s arcade flyers showing a pretty fashion model with a touch of militarism.

A-Jax (also referred to as Ajax) is another one of the many military themed games Konami released for the arcades in the 1980s. It was a 2D vertically scrolling shooter in which players use aircrafts to shoot enemies both in the air and on the ground. The game was a hit in Japanese arcades and Konami came up with the North American arcade flyer showing three screenshots, an archive footage shot of a military helicopter and a sexy lady (with a light military look) with a machine gun. The style of presentation was similar in style with the North American arcade flyers of Contra and M.I.A.: Missing in Action.

2. The Combatribes print ad

The short comic book approach was used to emphasize the setting and concept of the video game.

Technos, the Japanese company behind the wildly popular Double Dragon games franchise, proved to be successful with the arcade release of The Combatribes. In an attempt to keep the wave of success moving, Technos released The Combatribes on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1992 and someone involved with the North American marketing came up with the idea of creating a comic book-style presentation for the print ad. Creatively speaking, the comic book approach was done to emphasize the story and visual concepts of the game, and entice readers to play it. By today’s standards of video game marketing, this print ad’s approach is both unusual and notable.

3. Dead or Alive 2 Dreamcast port print ad

This was a wide print ad that appeared on magazines and it sure was eye-catching. It was an effective way to promote the game and inform people of the Sega Dreamcast’s presence in the market.

When Dead or Alive 2 was released in the arcades in 1999, a lot of gamers were astounded by it as developer Team Ninja (led by Tomonobu Itagaki) made it much bigger and a lot better than its 1996 predecessor. Team Ninja really went all out making the sequel utilizing Sega’s NAOMI arcade technology, inviting martial artists to do motion-capture, and having a very ambitious game design. Since the game was developed with the NAOMI hardware, porting the game for the Sega Dreamcast was reportedly convenient and smooth for the developers who went on to add more gameplay features and modes. Publisher Tecmo came up with this wide print ad (promoting the Dreamcast release) showcasing three characters, six screenshots and text descriptions emphasizing the universal acclaim the game received. The promotional approach was simple yet effective.  

4. Jet Moto (PC version) print ad

From PlayStation to PC.

In November 1996, the futuristic all-terrain hoverbikes racing game Jet Moto was released on the PlayStation which went on to sell well and attract mostly positive reviews. Sony Computer Entertainment eventually released a version of the game for the personal computer (PC) in November 1997. As seen in the above print ad, the network play option and compatibility with Direct3D video accelerators were emphasized as such features resonated with the interests of PC gamers of the era. This print ad showed how willing Sony was to release PlayStation hits on PC back then.

5. Elevator Action Returns Japanese arcade flyer

Great looking art on the front.
The rear of the flyer.

When Taito released Elevator Action Returns (also titled as Elevator Action II in other nations) in the arcades in 1994, it became a hit as gamers enjoyed its action-packed gameplay, ambitious 2D visual presentation and varied level designs that clearly went beyond its 1983 predecessor. The front of the Japanese arcade flyer has really nice art showing the three playable protagonists on an elevator on their way to do their mission. The back of the flyer shows screenshots (which emphasized the varied level designs), text descriptions explaining how the game played (English version printed), and what the features are. Another text description confirmed that terrorists are the antagonists that players will be dealing with which was reflective of the rise of Islamic terrorism in the 1990s. Oh yes, if you look closely you will the word “item” misspelled as “items”.

6. Sunset Riders print ads

The Sunset Riders arcade machine, the SNES version, screenshots and a can of pork-and-beans on this ad.
This print ad appeared in some comic books I read long ago.

After enjoying a lot of success in the arcades with their 1991 game Sunset Riders, Konami went on to release ports of it to the Sega Genesis in 1992 and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1993. With regards to conversions and procedural/artistic changes between the arcade and console ports, the SNES version had few changes implemented compared to the one released on the Genesis. As seen in one of the print ads of Sunset Riders on SNES, it came with 7 arcade levels, 2-player mode and additional shooter stages. What the print ads did not reveal were notable replacements of specific characters in key parts of the game such as the dynamite-tossing female bandits getting replaced by male bandits, North American Indian villains getting replaced with outlaws, etc.  

7. Jackal Japanese arcade flyer

Whoever was the artist Konami hired truly delivered great-looking art!

Konami’s military themed game Jackal (Japanese title: Tokushu Butai Jackal) debuted in Japanese arcades in October 1986 and became a hit. The Japanese market arcade flyer had great looking artwork on the front that strongly emphasized the very concept of the game (players move military jeeps to shoot at enemies as they move into enemy territory). One of the characters (the one wearing the red beret) somewhat resembles the late Sean Connery which only shows that someone within Konami’s development team took inspiration from movies. This arcade flyer’s front still looks great.

8. Aliens North American arcade flyer

A good amount of effort was done to truly capture Aliens’ concept using hired models (as Ripley and Newt), a Xenomorph physical model and a suitable background.
The key details presented on the rear of the flyer. The Xenomorph’s presence adds tension.

In 1990, Konami released their ambitious arcade game Aliens which was loosely based on the 1986 movie that starred Sigourney Weaver and was directed by James Cameron. As Konami’s Aliens license was only temporary and the movie was so highly regarded, the Japanese company’s marketing team really had to exert extra effort to truly capture the film’s sci-fi horror concept in order to make a strong presentation towards arcade operators and their paying customers (the gamers).

Apart from showing screenshots on the front, the creative team hired a blonde model as Ellen Ripley holding a gun and a young girl as the character Newt, and have them pose convincingly in front of a Xenomorph model (darkened in the foreground). On the back of the flyer, the team heavily revealed the details using the text description to emphasize the gaming experience and story concept. The technical details, meanwhile, were presented in simplistic, easy-to-follow fashion. Aliens was a smash hit in the arcades and there are long-time gamers who regard it as one of the best game adaptations of the 1986 movie. This arcade flyer is a strong reminder that the featured game was never ever ported to any game console nor to any personal computer.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at RoboCop 2 #2 (1990)

A Look Back at RoboCop 2 #2 (1990)

carlocarrasco

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1990 to take a close look at the 2nd part of the comic book adaptation of the movie RoboCop 2 (1990).

In my previous retro review of Robocop 2 #1, I pointed out that the comic book was not a faithful adaptation of the movie but more of the creators’ creative interpretation of the movie script they had which resulted in a stylized presentation. It was a surprisingly enjoyable reading experience for me.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at RoboCop 2 , published in 1990 by Marvel with a story written by Alan Grant and drawn by Mark Bagley based on the movie screenplay by Frank Miller and Walon Green.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins in Detroit with RoboCop reduced into a very bad condition with most of his parts missing. The cops are still on strike and the ultra-addicting drug Nuke continues to spread through the city causing social problems. Cain and his gang are still on the loose, and his video statement (which emphasizes his gang’s defeat of RoboCop) spreads through the news cycles.

Inside a hideout, Cain and his loyal companions terrify and killed traitorous police officer Duffy for betraying them. Meanwhile at police headquarters, the support crew bumps heads with the Omni Consumer Products (OCP) executive who does not see RoboCop’s poor state as a problem. As far as OCP is concerned, getting replacement parts for RoboCop is very expensive.

Over at OCP, the psychologist executive Dr. Juliette Faxx begins researching criminals for the new RoboCop project…

Quality

The motorized encounter between RoboCop and Cain here is shorter and much inferior compared to what the movie showed.

As with issue , this comic book followed the events and scenes of the film but left enough room for the creative team to make their stylized version suitable with the literary format. Mark Bagley, who is best known for drawing Spider-Man and Venom in the 1990s, came up with nice artwork that brought Grant’s script to life. There were a few shots here that were pretty graphic or brutal to see at the time of publication which makes me wonder why did the Comics Code Authority (CCA) give its approval to this comic book.

Without spoiling the plot, I can say that the creative team and editor Gregory Wright did a good job adapting scenes of the movie script to (fill up the pages) while also succeeding in setting up readers for the final conflict in the 3rd and final issue.

As a standalone reading material, this comic book will lead readers deep into the crisis of the police force as well as into the developments behind the closed doors of OCP. Due to the selected scenes of the film’s script, RoboCop has sufficient presence but lacked his normal personality. That being said, the movie’s comedic look of RoboCop acting very out-of-touched (hint: OCP tampered with his mind digitally) did not translate well into literary format. If you’re hoping to see solid storytelling with a consistent tone, you won’t find it here.

When it comes to action, there is just enough of it to keep the reading experience entertaining. Again, this comic book does not have the final conflict and the selected action scenes are rather limiting in terms of impact. If you want to see the police raid of the Nuke facility as well as RoboCop’s motorized chase with Cane, you are better off replaying the movie.  

Conclusion

There definitely is something wrong with RoboCop here.

Considering the selected movie script scenes for adaptation, RoboCop 2 (1990) lacks impact compared to the first issue. In fairness, this comic book was clearly meant to set-up readers for the next issue. If there is anything worth looking at within the 2nd issue’s pages, it would be the details that were highlighted during the internal developments at OCP and the police. As mentioned earlier, RoboCop is not his usual self for a significant portion of this comic book. While the engagement and fun factor are lower this time around, I’m still interested to read the next issue.

Overall, RoboCop 2 (1990) is serviceable.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco