Some Jaguar Questions.

[Cloud121]

All right, I hope to be (FINALLY!) buying a Jaguar in a few weeks, and I have a few questions about it.

1. How "rare" is the S-Video cable? I read somewhere that it's somewhat hard to find.

2. How's the game packaging? Is it like MegaDrive, where the cart and booklet are easily accessible, or like the Super Famicom/N64?

3. Is tracking down a CatBox really worth it?

4. How long is the cord on the controller? I've read it's fairly short.

I think that's all for now. If I have anymore, I'll post 'em later.

[Soviet Conscript]

All right, I hope to be (FINALLY!) buying a Jaguar in a few weeks, and I have a few questions about it.

1. How "rare" is the S-Video cable? I read somewhere that it's somewhat hard to find.

2. How's the game packaging? Is it like MegaDrive, where the cart and booklet are easily accessible, or like the Super Famicom/N64?

3. Is tracking down a CatBox really worth it?

4. How long is the cord on the controller? I've read it's fairly short.

I think that's all for now. If I have anymore, I'll post 'em later.

seems like you have some enthusiasm for the Jaguar. well i hope its not as anti-climatic and dissapointing for you as it was for me when i got one at launch....*sigh*

oh...i don't know officially how rare the s-video cable is but i just looked over ebay and found none. consider doing what i just did and send your unit out for a simple
s-video/composite/sterio modification then you can just use any s-video cable and not a special one.

just check out some pics of complete jaguar games on ebay to get a look on how the packaging is

[Pantechnicon]

1. Fairly rare, from what I gather. If you can't find one on Ebay check with www.myatari.com. At the very least get a composite cable for your Jag. These shouldn't go for more than $20 anywhere.

2. Cart packaging is more like Super Famicom than anything else. The carts sit inside of a collapsible cardboard shell contained inside of a box. They spring back to shape easily so if you're not terribly picky you can probably get away with breaking them down and storing them flat. This is what I've done and I have at least 20 or 30 Jag boxes stored this way.

3. I would say no, initially. Get the system, see if you like playing it, then decide if you want the enhancements or not.

4. The controller cords are probably between 4' and 6'. I can measure for certain when I get home from work. These guys (http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/jaguar.htm#Jaguar%20System) sell a 6-foot OEM extension for $12. I could probably use a couple of those myself.

[Iron Draggon]

4. The controller cords are probably between 4' and 6'. I can measure for certain when I get home from work. These guys (http://www.best-electronics-ca.com/jaguar.htm#Jaguar%20System) sell a 6-foot OEM extension for $12. I could probably use a couple of those myself.

hey, thanks for that link! I have the fully functional but very ugly beige extension cables from www.myatari.com which work just fine, but look like shit, so I'll be replacing them with those nice looking black cables ASAP!

[Cloud121]

Hm... The way you described the Jaguar boxes has me thinking I'll go cart only with my Jag games. Are the boxes fairly sturdy, or do they get destroyed easily like SFC games?

[Soviet Conscript]

i thought they were pretty sturdy myself. i had a few games that i've had since they came out. never particularly cared for the boxes well. i came across them some time ago in the shed and they swere still in pretty good shape.

[ooXxXoo]

The Jaguar carts boxes are pretty much like the SNES ones.

[evg2000]

here's another place you can get a video cable
http://morethangames.a8maestro.com/prodgame/advert-g4.htm

[Garry Silljo]

Hm... The way you described the Jaguar boxes has me thinking I'll go cart only with my Jag games. Are the boxes fairly sturdy, or do they get destroyed easily like SFC games?

I would actually compare the Jag boxes to the ones for 32x, They can be easily destroyed, but if you handle them with care, they'll survive.

[Mobius]

here's another place you can get a video cable
http://morethangames.a8maestro.com/prodgame/advert-g4.htm

Hm, is this a reputable seller? The site is... less than encouraging.

[Kevincal]

I know you didn't ask for Jag game recommendations but I thought I'd head ya in the right direction. :) Don't want you getting ahold of too many crappy Jag games and hating the system! Oh and the Catbox isn't worth it in my opinion... The S-video IS worth it. Should cost around $20-$40. The AV cables do the job just fine though. Boxed Jag games stacked next to each other are very attractive imo. It will set you back considerably more money to collect only boxed games as opposed to loose games though. Depends how much money you want to invest. ;) The Jag market is very stable from what I've seen in the last 5+ years. Probably due to the fact that it has a fairly large fanbase still. Right, GOOD Jaguar game recommendations:

Doom, Alien vs. Predator, Tempest 2000, Wolfenstein 3d, Zool 2, Rayman, Super Burnout, Power Drive Rally, Cybermorph (game is hard as nails but if you stick with it, it's good.), Iron Soldier, Raiden, Protector or Protector: SE, Battlesphere or Battlesphere: Gold, Missle Command, NBA Jam: T.E.

There are more good games on the Jag than this. Just thought I'd list some. :P

[Soviet Conscript]

Cybermorph

............................................

i don't know....this game ranks up there for me with some of the worst games ever. but its probibly just me....i was expecting so much from the jag and then....Cybermorph

[RARusk]

If you have trouble finding cables then you could try a modification similar to the one I did for mine about a couple of years ago and chronicled in this thread at AtariAge:

http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=91059&hl=

[tom]

Yes, Cybermorph rocks, as does the sequel, Battlemorph. As said before, gotta stick with both games, play 'em through, hard, but very rewarding.

Actually, Cybermorph: 50 planets (levels) to chose from, totally 3D free roaming enviroment, real time light sourced polygons, 50 frames per sec, excellent stereo/superb voice effects/audio at 27 kHz DSP, not bad at all for a 1993 cartridge (Nintendo only managed this 3 years later for the ill-fated N64 (And they only managed to squeeze 15 levels into the cartridge...and it was a restricted enviroment too)).

Some more good Jaguar games: Hover Strike I and II, Gorf, Cannon Fodder, Rayman, Vid Grid, Flip Out!, Flashback, Myst, Zoop (hey, I like Zoop).
Homebrews: Atomic, DiamJAG
Bad game which plays quite good funnily enough: Air Cars.

[Soviet Conscript]

as i said, i think this game is perminantly ruined for me. when i got my jag i completly and utterly fell for the hype. i was expecting something that would make my head explode with 64 bit intensity.

then after finally hooking it up what did i get...Cybermorph.

first off it really wasn't my style of game and i'm sorry but i thought it was really really ugly and drab. then again i'm not a fan of early 3d games by any extent.

in short i was expecting so much more and got a underwhelming game i felt was very boring at the time.

once my jag gets back from being modded i think i'll try to give it anouther try as a few people seem to think highly of it. i'm pretty sure i'll still think it sucks though.

[bangtango]

All right, I hope to be (FINALLY!) buying a Jaguar in a few weeks, and I have a few questions about it.

1. How "rare" is the S-Video cable? I read somewhere that it's somewhat hard to find.

2. How's the game packaging? Is it like MegaDrive, where the cart and booklet are easily accessible, or like the Super Famicom/N64?

3. Is tracking down a CatBox really worth it?

4. How long is the cord on the controller? I've read it's fairly short.

I think that's all for now. If I have anymore, I'll post 'em later.


1. Don't know. I sucked it up and used RF when I owned the system.

2. Already been answered. The cardboard tends to degrade over time. Plus the packaging is tight, meaning you have to get the white slipcase and manual in there just right. Otherwise the box won't close or worse yet, you might tear the manual if you close the box top too quickly. Same thing can happen with GB and SNES games, though.

3. No. You'll regret buying it and sell the thing within a few years when money is tight.

4. About the same as the Genesis 3-button cords, give or take.



Cybermorph rocks, as does the sequel, Battlemorph. As said before, gotta stick with both games, play 'em through, hard, but very rewarding.

Actually, Cybermorph: 50 planets (levels) to chose from, totally 3D free roaming enviroment, real time light sourced polygons, 50 frames per sec, excellent stereo/superb voice effects/audio at 27 kHz DSP, not bad at all for a 1993 cartridge (Nintendo only managed this 3 years later for the ill-fated N64 (And they only managed to squeeze 15 levels into the cartridge...and it was a restricted enviroment too)).


Like tom before me, I also recommend Cybermorph. So I second his vote. One of our former members here, Anthony1 (who has since been "banned"), is also a big fan of the game.

You've gotta be in the right frame of mind to enjoy it, since it is an acquired taste and certainly not for everyone. If you can get into it, though, it is a very engaging and interesting title. One of the best games I played from that particular era (early to mid 90's).

[Steve W]

Another vote for Cybermorph. It blew me away back when I first played it. I was used to extremely low polygon (as in a couple dozen) flat looking flight sims on the Amiga, and here was an immersive full roaming 3D realm of shaded polygon environments that looked like they were out of the movie Tron. The fact that it was a good game just made the whole package that much better.

[namzep]

I've owned Cybermorph for months and have yet to play it. With all the recommendations for it in this thread I think I'm going to have to break it out and play it this weekend (if I can get away from House of the Dead 2 & 3 and Super Smash Bros. Brawl). Actually, sounds like there are quite a few games that I should try picking up for my Jag (I only own Iron Soldier, Cybermorph, and Hover Strike, currently).

[Garry Silljo]

Put me in the anti-Cybermorph camp. I gave it an honest try and just found it boring. I wasn't immersed in the least, and the whole experience was just dull. Battlemorph wasnt bad though.

[Stark]

There was nothing like Cybermorph back then so if you had a Jag at launch like me you should have at least had some fun with the game. Comparing it to anything is pointless unless the other "better game" has a bald green chick in it.

http://www.atariage.com/Jaguar/screenshots/s_Cybermorph_5.jpg

[Cloud121]

I've already compiled a list of Jaguar games to buy. Though I noticed a few that I hadn't heard of before.

Oh and, was Cybermorpth available separate, or just as a pack-in? I'm thinking of going for complete games for my Jaguar now.

[tom]

I've already compiled a list of Jaguar games to buy. Though I noticed a few that I hadn't heard of before.

Oh and, was Cybermorpth available separate, or just as a pack-in? I'm thinking of going for complete games for my Jaguar now.

Both.

[Kevincal]

And there's also a 1 mb and a 2 mb version of Cybermorph. ;) The 2 mb version is the original version packed in with the system and features an animated intro screen, more voice effects during gameplay, and I think an animated ending. Whereas the 1 mb version has none of the above, except it does have Sklyar speaking during gameplay, just not as much as in the 2 mb version.

[Cloud121]

Anyway to tell the difference between the 1MB and 2MB versions of Cybermorph by the packaging?

I always see that S-Video cable site when I search for cables for the Jaguar. Anyone ever purchase those before? Are they any good?

[Cloud121]

Well, just bought my Jag.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150244952572&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=005

I must say, I got a hell of a deal on all that.

[ssjlance]

I traded my Jaguar for a bass and haven't looked back since.

[OldSchoolGamer]

Well, just bought my Jag.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150244952572&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=005

I must say, I got a hell of a deal on all that.

Well I've no Jaguar experience, but if your like me there is something cool and fun playing any system for the first time, I used to have a Genesis and Sega CD years ago, just recently I won an auction for a CDX plus 13 games, I've played them all before but am still lookiing forward to trying them on the CDX it's just a cool looking system..............enjoy your Jag!

[Sweater Fish Deluxe]

4. How long is the cord on the controller? I've read it's fairly short.
I would definitely recommend getting a ProController. not only does it have a longer cable, it also has a much much better dpad and better action buttons. It's only too bad that the additional buttons weren't remappable to whatever keybad buttons you needed on a game by game basis, then it would have been perfect. The default mapping is pretty good, though, and the controller overall just feels so much better than the stock pad that I consider it a totally necessary purchase.

Cybermorph sucks.


...word is bondage...

[Kevincal]

Cybermorph doesn't suck. The problem is that it is a difficult game, so most of the time the player sucks and gives up on the game instead of mastering it. ;)

[Soviet Conscript]

Cybermorph doesn't suck. The problem is that it is a difficult game, so most of the time the player sucks and gives up on the game instead of mastering it. ;)

after getting my jaguar back from being S-video modded i decided to give this game anouther honest shot

after seeing so many people here give it so much praise i assumed i was missing something...well ok, maybe it was a technical marvel for its time but other then that i acually think its worse then i remember it being

no, didn't find it it hard at all but its is so damn bland and dull. as for the green chick i find her horribly annoying. i don't neccissrily hate this genre cause i've played plenty of games like it on the amiga. i just think Cybermoph sucks, and i stand by this after giveing it anouther shot

for the life of me i can't figure out why so many of you guys like it so i'm going to stick with my theory

"apperently at some point a space-time rip appeared and a large amount of people from bizzaro world entered our world. they promptly signed up to to DP forums...these people like Cybermorph and there are a supriseing number of them."

[Ze_ro]

I had a lot of fun with Cybermorph myself. The pop-up is pretty brutal, but I always thought the control was decent.

Battlemorph is my favorite Jaguar game, and it expands on Cybermorph quite a bit. If you have a Jag CD, I highly recommend it.

--Zero

[DeputyMoniker]

i just think Cybermoph sucks, and i stand by this after giveing it anouther shot

Yeah. Back when it was new, I had a buddy who had Cybermorph and AvP. I didn't like either of them. Cybermorph was such a bore. He liked it though...so I guess some people actually enjoy it.

[Kevincal]

Well, just bought my Jag.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150244952572&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=005

I must say, I got a hell of a deal on all that.

Very nice deal with many great games. How are you liking your Jag? :)

[Leo_A]

Why would you mod a Jaguar for s-video when all you have to do is buy the Jaguar s-video cable?