The Gamer's Quarter

Lestrade

I should have started this thread sometime last year, but apparently my meagre mind couldn't put this thought together, and thus I am only doing this now.

For those who don't know, RetroCore is an internet-based show about retro gaming (duh) created by a gentleman from the UK who lives in some godawful-looking, concrete-filled, Japanese suburb. He goes by the name Yakumo, and he seems to mostly support himself through online gaming auctions (a noble trade!).

I don't remember how I found the show, almost a year ago, but I watch it religiously now. It comes out every month as a free download and also as a purchasable DVD. (I've never purchased a DVD, despite the higher quality video and sound, because I'm a cheap bastard. )

The show covers all sorts of old-school games, but Yakumo's bias is clear: he is a Sega fan, through and through. Games run the gamut from NES and Master System titles to as recent as Dreamcast and PS1 games. He also has, for you shooter fans, two "shooter specials", wherein he provides footage and commentary for goddamn near every shooter game for both the Saturn and Dreamcast. Fucking 90 minutes of eye-searing, that's what that is.

Yakumo also has a knack for taking video cameras into traditionally camera-shy Japanese arcades and stores and snooping around for a good while before getting booted out.

He's a funny guy, and his bitterness and sense of good-old-fashioned dry humour make the show interesting. Newer episodes feature screwy Japanese commercials from way back and promotions for his auction site, as well as features such as inter-system comparisons (e.g. different versions of Final Fight) and hardware eye-gasms.

If you're into this sort of thing (21 episodes later, I certainly am), you will have a blast. The man's website is http://www.segagagadomain.com and the easiest way to download the episodes is to head over to Archive.org and search for "retro core."

Sorry for the spammy thread, but I thought it was about time I mentioned this.

dessgeega · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:50 am Post subject:

i used to watch retro core. the show's dropped a lot in quality since its beginning, however.
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Szczepaniak · . Joined: 19 Feb 2005 Posts: 770

Damn right, I love Retro Core. I had even arranged for 10 of his shows (including the shooter special) to be given away free on a DVD on the cover of the old Retro Gamer, along with a write up and interview... But then the mag went bankrupt and my plans turned to bitter ashes.

But yeah, he's a nice chap and quite funny. I like Retro Core because it covers unusual games and often introduces me to something new regarding retro. Also, in light of the utter fucking tripe you can find on the internet, regarding other "videogame shows", his, along with Consolevania, are the best two of the very best. I've not seen the very latest, so can't comment on quality of the newer ones.

Segagaga is cool too, I mean, he has like a review archive that covers hundreds of Japanese Sega CD and Saturn games! Coverage for those games is hard to find, making him a valuable purveyor of knowledge.

Otherwise, I know Yakumo fairly well from my internet travels. He even emailed me once.

Feel free to touch me now, if you like.

dessgeega · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 11:26 am Post subject:

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

I saw the DC shooting special a while ago... I can't say I knew it was a show. I shall look further into this. Also, the price is a little bit high it seems. I wish it was closer to $10 shipped, then I would buy a handful at a time.
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“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

GSL · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 1:36 pm Post subject:

I watched a few episodes, but I got turned off to them pretty fast. The authorial bias really got to me after a while--he does so much Sega wanking and Sony bashing that it becomes tiresome and repetitive, and you really start to wonder if he's really aware of quality titles on anything other than a Dreamcast or Saturn. You also get quite a bit of the "Anything the Japanese produce is immaculate, the rest of the world makes nothing worthwhile" fellating going on.

Now Consolevania--THAT was a gaming show that was fun to watch!

dessgeega · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:04 pm Post subject:

Lestrade · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:35 pm Post subject:

It's true that Yakumo isn't the world's greatest writer, and he often is quite at odds with a lot of the mindset around here, too. Despite the fact that his taste in games is almost entirely opposite from my own (read: shooter after shooter after shooter), I find his show infinitely entertaining. Sometimes he showcases some really interesting, rare stuff, or games that I've always want to see/play but never could.

And his live stuff—the sneaky trips into game stores, his run-and-gun Akihabara Special—are just so... fun. I mean, here is a 30-year-old man living alone in Japan, listening to bad pop music and recording an internet show about weird Japanese videogames. It's so sad, yet fantastic at the same time; I can't help but be intrigued. (That sounds rude, I know, but I know not of another way to put it.)

I imagine some of his comments, such as, "Ikaruga isn't that great," must really incense some folks, though!

I will admit that Retro Core was what got me to play shooter games again. RayStorm, I love you!

dessgeega · Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:59 pm Post subject:

i admittedly like his voice a lot.
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GSL · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 1:43 am Post subject:

Szczepaniak · . Joined: 19 Feb 2005 Posts: 770

Lestrade · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 5:51 am Post subject:

Thanks for the info, John; I stand corrected. I don't know about the covers you mentioned, no, but that's very accommodating of him.

Actually, he seems like a decent guy. I emailed him months ago with a question and some kudos and he got right back at me. I drop him a line every now and then if an episode is particularly entertaining.

I thnk one of my favourite things is when he sneaks into a game shop and then comes out of it with four or five completely obscure games that (a) I'd never heard of and (b) would probably never risk a purchase on (mostly because I'm cheap). He seems to enjoy playing purely for the sake of it, so more power to him.

GSL: I understand what you're saying. I learned of Yakumo's bias pretty early on, but I just accepted it as a point-of-view I'd never understand but didn't consider to be of particular harm to anyway. He should do some Saturn/PSX comparisons of Wipeout or something to see how "inferior" the PSX was. Lucky for him that he seems to really like 2D shooters; in this case, Sega systems are the way to go.

Anyway, I haven't made a goddamn lick of sense in this thread and I don't know why.

P.S. I don't know if I ever mentioned this, but I'm what you might call a "version whore." I love comparing different versions (i.e. ports) of games to each other. Back in the mid-nineties, Acclaim was trying to get their games on every system known to man, so I was always fascinated by why Game X on System Y would look and sound one way while the same game on System Z seemed so different. This is part of the reason why I enjoy Retro Core so much.

ryan · . Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 999

Is there a reason that the episode repeated itself? I watched another minute or two and skipped around, so I'm not sure if there are outtakes in it or if it was a mistake. If it's the same footage, then that thing just doubled the filesize for no reason.

I'm a bit of a Sega whore myself, so it does my heart good to hear the man talk about Gran Chaser (hey, Cyber Speedway). The thing is, my whoring is really related to the Saturn, which it deserves, so to hear him talk about Illbleed and Geomatrix like they aren't mediocre was kind of painful, so I can see where Greatsaintlouis is coming from. I'm not big into shooters either, but I don't mind watching him give them a go - that R-Type ripoff for the Neo Geo looks awesome.
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Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

Lestrade · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:25 am Post subject:

Ryan, there are many episodes, unfortunately, where Yakumo apparently fucked up the editing, leaving these repetitive sections and other mistakes.

dessgeega · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:34 am Post subject:

he seems to get lazier as the series goes on.

is there a download for the saturn shooting special on the site or archive.org? if not i'll put it up on yousendit. it's easily my favorite thing to come out of the project.
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Lestrade · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 9:40 am Post subject:

All the shooting specials are on Archve.org (or at least they were the last time I checked). Remember, he's completely re-done the Saturn special!

dessgeega · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:26 am Post subject:

he . . . has?

uh oh.
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Yakumo · . Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 31

ryan · . Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 999

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

GSL · Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:00 pm Post subject:

Shaper, since you're the Neo Geo fan: I'm trying to remember the name of a scrolling shooter title that was released only on the NeoGeo CD and not on the AES. Not sure if it had an arcade MVS release or not. I believe the title was a vertical scroller, but I really can't remember. Any ideas what this might be?

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

GSL · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:57 am Post subject:

No, it's definitely not part of the Strikers series, I would have remembered that. Ironclad/Chotetsu Bri'kinger could have been it, though I could have sworn it was a vertical shooter. You know that sudden snap of recognition you get when someone volunteers some piece of info that you forgot? I didn't get it with Ironclad. Then again, it is 4 a.m.

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

Ok, well, that is the only CD only shooter on the system. I will go through an list the vert shooters that came out on the CD system though. Anyhelp on what it looked like (space, history, war, fantasy?).

Aero Fighters/Sonic Wings 2/3
Alpha Mission 2
Ghost Pilots
Twinkle Star Sprites (kinda?)

I feel like I am missing one game here. Anyways, Viewpoint... is isometric, so I didn't include that.
_________________
“The average man has a secret desire to be a swaggering, drunken, fighting, raping swashbuckler.”
-Robert E. Howard in a letter to a friend circa Decmber 1932

"There is no place in this enterprise for a rogue physicist!"

ryan · . Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 999

Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

dessgeega · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:48 am Post subject:

GSL · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 2:13 pm Post subject:

dessgeega · Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 4:24 pm Post subject:

i will say that the differences between the ps2 version and the "original" game are negligible, so if you can get one of those cheaper by all means go for it.

that being said, the cheapest way to play the game is with mame and a decent joypad. i, of course, endorse the saturn pad.
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dessgeega · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 3:47 pm Post subject:

so i've been re-watching some of the earlier episodes, for some reason. there's a really good energy near the beginning. and i find yakumo's voice kind of soothing to listen to. except i shout at the computer whenever he calls the pc-engine an 8-bit console.

anyway! the upshot of all this is that i have been working on a retrocore drinking game! so far, i've come up with the following rules:

take a drink whenever . . .

needs more, but it's a start! watching these has put me in the mood to play twinkle star sprites, so that's what i'm gonna do!
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GSL · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 9:22 pm Post subject:

Lestrade · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 12:29 am Post subject:

Dess, don't forget to drink whenever Yakumo starts a sentence, flubs it, and then starts it over (instead of just editing it out). Also, drink heavily whenever the intro animation that says "end of part one" repeats at least once.

Harveyjames · the meteor kid Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 3636

Yakumo · . Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 31

Hey, what's all this about a Retro Core Drinking game Laughing

Sounds like if you follow the rules you'll all be pissed out of your heads within no time at all Laughing

A personal addition from the man himself is - Everytime I call the Famicom a Super Famicom ! (Recently I edit out the mistakes).

I'm glad you guys enjoy the show ! Please be gental since most of it is compiled at 2 or 3 am in the morning !!

Yakumo

http://www.segagagadomain.com/

http://www.segagagadomain.com/RetroCorepage-main.htm
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dessgeega · Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 10:03 am Post subject:

dessgeega · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 12:23 pm Post subject:

so yeah, i'm continuing to watch these. i'm nearly caught up!

it got quite a bit more professional after i stopped watching, with game footage pre-recorded and voice-overed in post-production. most of the segments end with game overs. it's well put-together.

yakumo pronounced ys as "wise" which made me shake my head. and the pc-engine thing still annoys me. he pulled the "ZOMG EVERY GAME ON PC-ENGINE IS A SHOOTER" card which is bullshit if you've actually, you know, played a bunch of pc-engine games.

and yeah, the simpsons arcade feature left me pretty sure that the man is insane. but i'm still watching and mostly enjoying, even if the "help a harem of schoolgirls overcome nightmares by watching them while they sleep" games squick me the fuck out.
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Lestrade · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:28 pm Post subject:

Awesome! Hi, Yakumo! We may sound harsh sometimes, but it's because we care. I check my calendar every month and as soon as the 10th hits, I'm on archive.org, looking for the latest episode, so regardless of my bitching, I'm a longtime fan.

So, yeah; please keep it up! I love the hardware reviews and your East Versus West series.

dessgeega · Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 10:35 pm Post subject:

yakumo just said the genesis version of aladdin is better than the super famicom.

he also used the phrase "butt-raped" in this episode, so i guess i don't give a shit about his opinions? i'm glad this is the last episode so far.
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Yakumo · . Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 31

I was going to say "Arse Raped" ! But then I though....nah.

@dessgeega - do you prefer the SFC version of Aladdin over the MD version? I find the SFC one quite dull since it is basically the same generic Capcom platformer with a new look. Sorry. Still, if we all had the same view and opinions the world would be a very dull place Smile

Guys, I don't mind if you are harsh since it's a way to see what's popular and what is not. Please keep in mind though that Retro Core is mostly put together in the early hours of the morning on a slow arse 1.4ghtz PC in my spare time. So there will always be mistakes of some kind Very Happy

Here's a sneak look at what is featured (may change) in volume 27 which will be out on DVD in 4 days.

DC - Moero Justice Gakuen
DC - Death Crimson OX
PSX - Burning Road
PSX - Recipro Heat 3000
SAT - Cotton Boomerang
SAT - Dracula X (Castlevania)
MS - Shinobi
MS - Golivus
MD - Gunstar Heroes
MD - Warnder No Mori Special
N64 - ?????
AC - ESPARADE
AC - Sailormoon (actually editing that as I type this)
PCE - ??????
FC - ???????
SFC - ?????
MOBILE PHONE - Devils May Cry

and some other stuff including more dodgy undercover game shop filming.

Yakumo
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http://www.segagagadomain.com

Lestrade · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:22 am Post subject:

Oh shit yes, Saturn Dracula X! I'll be looking forward to that, as well as the shaki-cam footage of stores. I love when you do that; I'm pretty sure I recognized some of the shops you went into during the Akihabara Special from my own travels. (I'll find out in the spring when I go again!)

You and I certainly have opposite tastes in games, but that's partly why I like RC so much; it features games I would never even consider trying, or even looking up. I've played some unconventional stuff (for me) because of the show.

Hey, you should call us all a bunch of douchebags on the next episode!

dessgeega · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 11:03 am Post subject:

Yakumo · . Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 31

You may or may not know that I was in fact a massive SFC fan back in the 90s than a Mega Drive fan. I still now think that the SFC is by far the better of the two when you look at the shire variety and quality that the SFC had over the MD. I still enjoy the MD though thanks to some of it's great exclusives. Now the Saturn Vs the N64 is no contest. The Saturn (if you have access to Japanese stuff) is a goldmine of classic gaming. I'm up to almost 800 original Saturn games now.

Yakumo
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dessgeega · Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2006 12:17 pm Post subject:

you're a dangerous man!

speaking of the super famicom, i started a thread about your sfc top 10 list, which kind of dumbfounded me. i know you love wild guns!
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Yakumo · . Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 31

Retro Core Volume 27 is out now on DVD with the download version coming on December 10th.

It was time to put on that long over coat again as I did some undercover filming in what can only be described as an Otaku's paradise. This shop covers everything from character models to games. Unfortunately I couldn't get permission to film in this shop but as if that would stop me (^_^). As well as that feature, from this month Retro Core will have two commercial brakes featuring Japanese game adds from years gone by. Sit back and enjoy Retro Core Volume 27's games reviews a featuring..

Dreamcast - Moero Justice Gakuen

Saturn - Cotton Boomerang

Saturn - Akumajo Dracula X (Game of the Month)

Saturn - Shenmue (What ever happened to...?)

Nintendo 64 - Top Gear Overdrivin

Nintendo 64 - Super Speed Racing

PlayStation - Ciriticom (Shite of the Month)

PlayStation - Recipro Heat 5000

Mega Drive - Gunstar Heroes

Master System - Golivus

PC Engine - Knight Rider Special

Super Famicom - Super Adventure Island

Arcade - Pretty Soldier Sailormoon

　
Yakumo
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dessgeega · Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:14 pm Post subject:

guardian heroes is on the mega drive?
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dark steve · . Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 1110

yeah, they call it "yuyu hakusho"
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Yakumo · . Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 31

Oops. that should have been Gunstar Heroes. I've changed that now.

Yakumo
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http://www.segagagadomain.com

Lestrade · Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:58 pm Post subject:

SHIT! I hope you have lots of footage of the Saturn Dracula X; I'm really looking forward to this episode.

Yakumo, what's going to be different between this showcase of Shenmue on Saturn and the previous footage you featured?

Tim · . Joined: 08 Feb 2006 Posts: 54 Location: Millersville, MD

Yeah, I really need to catch up on these. I'm like 4 episodes behind now!

I'm looking forward to this regardless. I always liked the diverse selection of games, and that the show is all game footage. This show has turned me on to a lot of games I otherwise wouldn't have heard about.