Pong and the art of playing with oneself

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Sorry about the subject line, but I figured it'd get some attention. :D

I got a big laugh out of my wife a little while ago. I was recording video of one of the Odyssey x000 dedicated consoles in action so I could grab screen shots (I know, I know, you seen one Pong, you've seen 'em all, but trust me, the screens are subtly different from machine to machine!), and had a pretty good volley of video ping pong going by myself. This is a skill of mine that dates back to not being able to find another player for the first video game my family ever owned, the Sears Pong Sports IV console. I can actually keep a pretty good Pong game going with just me, myself and I.

Anyone else have this rather unusual skill? LOL

[Oberfuhrer Hamm]

Unfortunately no. ( LOL )

I grew up after they learned what "Single Player" was.

[rolenta]

Uh, isn't the main reason for having a wife is so you have someone to play 2-player videogames with? :-D

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

She was getting ready to go to work at the time, so I wasn't gonna bug her. Besides, her tastes run more toward Star Control 2. :P

[SoulBlazer]

Your wife has VERY good taste, dear Sir. :)

Do you guys have the kick ass 3DO version with the voices? :D

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Gosh no. She swears by the original MS-DOS PC version.

Since we got married in 2000, I have learned more about Spathi and Captain Fwiffo than I ever would've learned otherwise. LOL

[SoulBlazer]

MS-DOS? How do you get that to even RUN on a modern system? :)

Well, you can have the best of both worlds soon -- Toys for Bob, the makers of the game, are currently working on a updated PC version of the game. They had to use the 3DO source code, as the PC has been lost after all these years, but you'll be able to play with original (PC), enhanced (3DO), and remixed music, voices on and off, and other small changes to retro back to the DOS version if you want.

But after playing the straight game like with the 3DO, your wife will never want to go back. :) I took one look at the new intros and endings and said "This is how the game should have been!".

The website escapes me right now, but there's a playable version of the build finished. Actually, they need more players to help to find and stamp out bugs.....

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

If you find this site again, let me know. I'm sure she'd be more than happy to beta-test for 'em.

[SoulBlazer]

Well, that was'nt hard to find...... :roll:

http://www.classicgaming.com/starcontrol/

On the right side of the main menu are information and links on the 'The Ur Quan Masters Project'. They have to call the game "The Ur Quan Masters" since Star Control (the name) is still held by Accolade (or whoever owns them now :) )

I played through the beta version myself last month and it is possible to go from start to end. But there's still a lot missing. At least you can download the 3DO intro, ending, and music to go with the beta, as well as the voices, as those are not included yet.....

Oh, that site is the BEST Star Control fan site on the web also. :D

[kevates]

OK, pdf... I've been playing pong by myself for a half-hour now and I'm getting pretty good. My right hand is much better than my left hand, but let's not go there... what's your longest volley so far?

[IGotTheDot]

I didn't have a Pong tallent, but I did get really good at Air Sea Battle with my feet.

If anyone out there has a 2600 joystick that smells like stinky feet, I want it back!

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I got about a three-minute volley going today, I was rather pleased with myself. LOL