Let's talk - video games.

[The Curmudgeon]

Or, rather, let's talk about arcade games.

It's been one of The Curmudgeon's long standing dreams to own an actual arcade machine. I spent so much of my youth in those bleak, dingy arcade halls feeding coins into the damn things it seems like, I dunno - closure. Whatever, I want to go back into the old-skool arcade mentality where bunches of fruit lying on the ground equals points, where the background moving equals a new level and where genuine, honest to goodness GAMEPLAY was the key.

See, I've bought one of those arcade compilation things for the PS2, and it's absolutley superb. True, a few are dated beyond enjoyment, but there's the likes of New Zealand Story and Rainbow Islands and, to quote La Mode - I just can't get enough.

So here it is - opinion time. How do I go about feeding my addiction? Do I buy more arcade compilations for the PS2 (and there's loads), do I download them for my PC, do I buy an actual arcade machine, or do I get one of those Jamma things and build it up myself (which should be.. interesting).

Tell me.

[InvisibleWolfMan]

I would say...download them. Or I could burn you a CD with the stuff I've already got. It's great to play them, and some of the emulators come with memory slots so you can start from a difficult point rather than from the get-go.

[The Curmudgeon]

You know, I've been thinking about it, and I think that's probably the way to go.

I mean - let's be, gulp - mature, here. An arcade machine? I've been checking ebay and the like and hells bells - they ain't cheap. And then if I was to get one of those Build It Yourself Jamma Kits I would probably end up making a toaster out of the damn thing.

I've been looking on ebay and there's guys selling, like, 4000 games for about £4. Can't argue with that.

See, at first I had reservations about playing them on my computer. My uncomfortable seat, the small monitor.. but hey, there's no other way about it. I could buy some more of those PS2 compilation things but they have about 30 or 40 games for £20. Or 4000 for £4. Do le math.

Wolfman, I couldn't possibly ask you to send me anything else. Seriously guy, I only have so much nerve. You've already sent me a DVD and a graphic novel for nothing - you've done quite enough already!

[InvisibleWolfMan]

Ahhhh, what are friends for anyways? I can at least then find out the best web address and send them to you via e-mail so you can download them directly.

By the way, check out your REASONS TO BE HAPPY: JUNE as I just put a reply there that'll make you jump for joy and tear out your hair at the same time...

Trust me.

[The Curmudgeon]

You know, Back In The Day (which I HATE people saying) I would have snapped that up in a shot. What's that, exact same content but different box? Buy, buy, buy! That's why I have three different "Symbol" albums and three different Batman soundtracks.

Nowadays, of course - different story. £50 is just too much to go splashing out on something I already have. I can just IMAGINE The Wife's reaction....

I've made a bit of progress on the old arcade games front. I'm buying a PC port thing that lets me plug in my PS2 port and then buying that 4000 game disc thing I mentioned earlier. Should keep me going anyway....!

[Ben]

Expensive yes, but I'll be the first to tell you NOTHING tops having, and being to play whenever you want to, your own arcade machine. One of my friends is fortunate enough to have a Centipede machine and another has Ms. Pacman. Expensive, but worth it.

[InvisibleWolfMan]

www.dohgames.com/index.php

Use a pop-up stopper or at least be prepared to stop a few windows (dumb ads for online poker) but you can download ALL the system emulators and available games you want.

[RWEREW]

Edited by the Curmudgeon.

The entire post was some weird bunch of random letters that led to links which probably wouldn't have been fun "time waster" types.

Yeah, this counts as spam, and yeah it gets wiped.