Obscure Systems

[maxlords]

We know a lot about importing for systems like Saturn, PSX, Neo Geo, and other fairly mainstram systems, but what about the obscure ones? What do you know about the SC-3000? Or the FM Towns Marty (and someone I'm sure wants to hook me up with a Marty and games! lol). What about hte MSX and MSX 2? or the Sharp X68000? I'd love to hear more about anyone's experience with the obscure import systems, even newer ones like the GP32!

Personally, the most obscure system I have is either a Duo or a frontloader Neo Geo CD, so my firsthand knowledge is lacking in this area!

[IntvGene]

I've got a Neo-Geo pocket... and it was good for a bit. It's a little out of its class now though. The SNK Capcom games were good for it. And, I liked Faselei too.

The SC-3000 really doesn't interest me. I consider it the Atari 800 or XE in Japan. It played other Sega games Mark I + II, but had that crappy basic built in. Who cares about that?

The MSX systems are interesting, but I've only seen a handful of games on them though. I'd love to give them a shot, but they're pretty rare to come across.

[maxlords]

MSX systems are pretty common in Japan and there are TONS of games for em. I'm seriously tempted to get an MSX 2 and a stack of games honestly. Tons of action stuff for it!

[GaijinPunch]

There's loads of MSX/MSX2 stuff here in Japan.. you're right about that. Not sure what the systems run, but the games vary.

I was lucky enough to dig up an FM Towns Marty recently (before anyone asks --- no, I can't get anymore). The games are even harder to find. I have been able to get some goodies, although the only one I've tried out is Alshark, which is disappointing. I'm still trying to locate a Turbo Duo version to compare them. Tatsujin-Ou looks fantastic though!

X68000 is another popular machine with lots of software, but you still don't see as much of it as the 32-bit stuff (namely PSX).

[ArnoldRimmer83]

The MSX2 kicks a lot of ass, and I sure wouldn't mind having one of those. I've played some Aleste games on it, and they are amazing. (Of course I don't think I've ever played an Aleste game by Compile that sucked.) And then there's Konami, who was a big supporter of the MSX and MSX2. I pretty much enjoy all the games Konami made for both MSX systems. The Metal Gear games, Space Manbow, SD Snatcher, and King's Valley 2 were their best MSX2 games. I'm suprised Konami never made a compilation of their MSX2 stuff. The Konami Antique games for PSX and Saturn only covered MSX1. (And sadly the Goonies is not on any of those compilations since it was a licensed game. Sucks since it was one of my favorite MSX games. Completely different from the Famicom one.)

Sega's SG 1000 was a nice little system, but it didn't last long so only a handful of games are available on it. But there is some good stuff, like Pitfall, Chack n Pop, and a nice conversion of Activision's Hero.

[Saturn Sensei]

The 8-bit Amstrad GX4000(1990) is pretty obscure over here as it was only released in the UK.

I got one quite cheap with the game Burning Rubber from www.retroaction.co.uk

see the system here:
http://uk.consoles.users.btopenworld.com/Archives/Web/v2.0/gx4000.htm

Otherwise, I'm looking for a C64GS. The Commodore 64 Game System. Also only released in Europe.

[Dire 51]

I'd love to get a Marty just so I could get the Marty version of Splatterhouse.

[maxlords]

And the Marty version of Splatterhouse is the most expensive Marty game out there...ranging from $200-400! *gag!*

[Dire 51]

X_x

You're kidding, right?

[ArnoldRimmer83]

Wish Namco would continue making Namco Museum games, instead of rehashing Dig Dug, Ms Pacman, and Galaga over and over and over again. They're great games don't get me wrong, but do we need to have them on every system known to man? There are still a lot of terrific Namco arcade games out there that they could throw into a compilation, but they friggin won't and it's frustrating.

Splatterhouse comes immediately to mind. Now that would be a very nice alternative for people who could not afford the Marty. Would also be nice to get the arcade version of Burning Force and Phelios in a Namco Museum compilation, and hell maybe even Lucky & Wild. Imagine if they had Guncon support for that title. Heh

I'm still bitter that Encore didn't get released here. I would've loved to play Rolling Thunder on my TV. Sigh.

[Dire 51]

Arnold, you read my mind. I've been clamoring for a U.S. released NM disc that includes these games:

Splatterhouse
Phelios
Burning Force
Rolling Thunder
Rolling Thunder 2
Dig Dug II
Dragon Saber
Solvalou
Starblade
Galaga '88
Libble Rabble
Mirai Ninja
Pac & Pal
Shadowland
SkyKid
SkyKid DX
Motos
Rompers
Wonder Momo
Steel Gunner
Steel Gunner 2
Tinkle Pit
Lucky & Wild

It's never going to happen, of course, but that would be a damned near-perfect obscure-Namco-arcade-game comp. I can't see why they don't just just make a deluxe box set with ALL of their games on it...

[Kid Fenris]

I'd love to get a Marty just so I could get the Marty version of Splatterhouse.

I'd want one just for the Marty edition of Emerald Dragon, supposedly the best version of the game. It showed up on eBay once so far this year, and I missed it because the seller SPELLED THE TITLE WRONG. And, of course, it sold at a price much lower than what I was willing to pay.

[GaijinPunch]

Emerald Dragon is one I'm on the look out for.
Hopefully it'll show up sooner rather than later.... :)

[maxlords]

X_x

You're kidding, right?

Fraid not. It's really that expensive.

[Dire 51]

Gad...

[jaydubnb]

We know a lot about importing for systems like Saturn, PSX, Neo Geo, and other fairly mainstram systems, but what about the obscure ones? What do you know about the SC-3000? Or the FM Towns Marty (and someone I'm sure wants to hook me up with a Marty and games! lol). What about hte MSX and MSX 2? or the Sharp X68000? I'd love to hear more about anyone's experience with the obscure import systems, even newer ones like the GP32!

Personally, the most obscure system I have is either a Duo or a frontloader Neo Geo CD, so my firsthand knowledge is lacking in this area!

LOL...as you know from our IM convo the other night, I'm definitely thinking of getting into the MSX scene. Konami is probably my all time fave gaming company and they seem to have blessed the console(s) well. I still cant find too much info on the system, other than a few USENET posts over the years, but i'm still interested.

Oh, and the frontlit GP32 is definietly on the list for a system I want to buy. There are a couple of games that i want to get for the handheld itself, plus the ability to take just about any past system on the road with you is nicccccccce :-D

[slapdash]

I LOVE obscure systems... That's not to say I know much about them... But I've been able to pick up a few here and there over the years, and hope to pick up more over time.

If you think the SC-3000 is obscure, what about:

Casio PV-1000
Casio PV-2000
Epoch Cassettevision
Epoch Super Cassettevision
Epoch PokeKon
Gakken TV Boy
Bandai TV Jack 1000

and some I don't have yet:

Tsukuda Othello Multivision
Nichibutsu MyVision
Bandai TV Jack Supervision 8000

And that's just Japan!

[GaijinPunch]

Sheesh... I've never even heard of any of those.
You can go to some game stores and see some ancient crap in the showcase though.. I usually don't bother with it.

The most noticeable thing is the stand-alone "Puck-Man" games, before Namco changed the name ( to appease the western marketers ).