Next year, it will be the 30th anniversary for one of the worst game ever, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Also, AVGN will review it in his movie. But this Christmas is coming and nothing specials than this Xmas gift from 1982.
Well, Atari released this legendary bad game in December, 1982. Although they had learned that “quality is important than big names” (because they had released another bad game before, Pac-Man, which is bad and doesn’t resembles ANYTHING from arcade version), they thought that that quicker they made, the richer Atari is. But no! It became one of the worst game EVER since then. Why? Let’s find out.
This is the first thing you see on the screen. As you might know before, the object of this game is to find E.T.’s phone and contact the mothership (also avoid FBI and scientist). The number above E.T. logo is the mode of this game that you can choose in three modes. Number 1 is the original mode, which is, to be honest, hardest! Number 2 is similar but no scientist, so it’s easier because no more scientist that stole your pieces of phone. And, finally, Number 3 which is the easiest one because there’s no more FBI agent and scientist, you can find the phone easier.
Here it is, the most boring game screen ever. What’s it like if you have sit through and play the game which has 90% of green color? Although I play this through emulator and in number 3 mode, I think it’s quite boring to walk, levitate, walk again, accidentally fall in to the hole, levitate, accidentally fall in to the hole again, levitate, grab some candies (well, it’s a dot on the screen that makes you extra life),accidentally fall in to the hole again, and the number beneath the screen is run out, I’m death! What the f*ck?!?! These are the reason why this game sucks.
1) It’s Boring
I think I don’t have to say anything, I said it all above. It’s the same thing over and over and over again, especially the “falling into the hole”. OK, if that’s my intention, it’s not a problem. But many times when I levitate over the hole, I fall back again for no reason! It annoys me a lot and slowly turns into something boring.
2) It’s Complicated
As you can see in the screenshot, what’s the point of navigation arrow? Every time I follow it, it changes direction suddenly. Why? And what about those symbol, I know where the piece of phone is because of trial and error and watch this video.
Whoa! Actually I leaned a little bit more from this manual that tells me what symbols are. To cut a long story short, if you lost the manual or don’t know anything before you play, you’re in big trouble.
3) It’s Rushed-Produced
This is the most important reason. As I mentioned before, it was rushed-produced for 1982 Christmas, the season that many people buy gifts to their family, so Atari told programmer to programmed it in a limited time. And the result? Tons of cartridges were buried some where in New Mexico because lots of people returned it to Atari due to reasons above. But wait! It’s also the symbol of 1983 Video Game Crash because Atari loosed a lot of money to sold and promoted this game, which doesn’t made profit enough for the company. That’s the end of The Golden Age Of Atari and Nintendo will conquer the world years later.
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Although I can beat this game (well, in number 3 mode) by sit through this piece of, nevermind, it still better than many games in these days which is dark and has dull colors. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still playing nowadays games such as GTA series or NFS series but I think it’s like the weird thing, you know? When color comes to game console first time, we were excited and game companies try to put most vivid colors as possible, but nowadays they bored of those stuffs and try to make dark and sombre games.
Anyway, happy Christmas!
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Thanks:
- Wikipedia
- AtariAge for information and screenshots.
- Uploaders and filmmakers of these Youtube videos.
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P.S. I’m new at writing articles in English language. So if you spotted mistakes in this entry (like grammar or information). Please comment below at Comment Box.
I’ve heard that U.S. Congress gonna pass the bill that makes millions of people can’t access websites like YouTube or Facebook, or even worse, they can shut down any websites that they want to. Although I’m Thai people but I’m not sure that how long I can use these websites or watch my favorite shows like AVGN or Cinema Snob. So this is what I can do, spread the word!
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Don’t let █████ ███████ ████ ████████████ ██████ and ███████ the █████ █████ of ███████████ and ██████████, ████████. █████ ████ or we █████ ████ ███████!
I’m censoring my posts in protest of two bills that would censor the web. SOPA and the PROTECT IP act would give governments and corporations the power to take down entire websites over infringing posts by users, endangering the internet as we know it.
To uncensored this post and ensure that internet censorship never becomes law in America contact Congress now. After you do, you’ll see my uncensored post on the next page.
Thanks for doing this — N. Permphi
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Check out: http://americancensorship.org/posts/10600/uncensor
6 months ago, I wrote about many remastered and re-released project in 2011. Well, I just listened to albums that I mentioned before, so let’s talk about the sound quality. All of them are surprisingly better than previous edition, but what shocked me is “Total :From Joy Division To New Order” because, to tell you the truth, it’s the best remastered New Order’s album! It’s better than the ultra-compressed “Singles” and less error than “Collector’s Edition Bonus CD”. This is where the article should end.
But wait! Many artists sells tons of remastered CDs this year like the world’s gonna be ended next year. I don’t know why but, phew, let’s take a look at them now. (well, this is just SOME of them)
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1) The Smiths: Complete
Another big box set by big Manchester band. Actually I thought it might be nice if they released it as a separate CD album, but I’m not sure that they released it or not. Anyway, it’s good to see my favorite band treated in the GOOD way besides the band reunion (which will not happened EVER!).
2) Wham!: The Final (25th Anniversary Edition)
Finally, they come out of the closet! (well, the tape vault, actually) The long-awaited remastered of one of the most popular bands in the 80′s, “Wham!”, is kick-started by the reissue of “The Final”, their final compilation before they split up. What I hope about this album are the better sound quality, more bass, more clear, and no more tape damage (especially on the song “Last Christmas” which played like it had a damage on master tape, which disappeared in later compilation “If You Were There…”)
Also, this will be a “Special Edition”, which included a bonus DVD. We expect nothing but The Final Concert (at Wembley, you know, the one that NEVER released or showed anywhere else except bootleg). But after I read a track-list on Amazon, I feel bad for no apparent reason.
3) Manic Street Preachers – National Treasures – The Complete Singles
Although we certainly don’t know where Richie is, but MSP still going on. And in this year, they released new singles collection which traced back from 1991′s “Motown Junk” to their new single. I’m not sure that this album is”remastered” or not, but I’m still waiting to buy it in Thailand (after I’m sick of waiting New Order’s “Total”, duh).
4) REM – Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982–2011
From one of the most breaking-heart news in this year, R.E.M. decided to disband, to the new compilation that included both I.R.S. and Warner era. This might be the same thing you’ve ever heard for the million times, but, apart from the marketing trick, this could be the “memorial” compilation for the one of the “coolest” College Rock band on earth.
5) The Rolling Stones – Some Girls (2011 Deluxe Edition)
One of my most favorite Rolling Stones album! (the other one is “Their Satanic….”) They gonna released it again although this album was remastered 2 YEARS AGO, but, come on, I can’t find it in Thailand. So this is gonna be the best time again to buy, listen their album in the Deluxe Collection (like Exile On Main Street, which is availble in Thailand), and learn how 60′s Rock’n Roll stars fought the 70′s Punk kids back then.
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Sorry, but I don’t have enough time to mention others like U2′s huge “Achtung Baby” box set or new Sting’s greatest hits. But I just want to memorize myself that what happened in 2011. I never see tons of artists released their works like next year is gonna be the end of the world. Anyway, I hope you have fun and enjoy reading this silly note.
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P.S. I’m new at writing articles in English language. So if you spotted mistakes in this entry (like grammar or information). Please comment below at Comment Box.
2011….what a year! I bought lots of CDs in this year for listening pleasure and fulfill my collection. But it just the beginning because there will be lots of stuffs released (and remastered, in some cases) in this year. So what’s the big deal? Let’s find out!
Because I like it and they have a distinctive of….. sorry? The text above is just the title of the reissue project? Not the question to me? Ok, just kidding. I can’t believe that it’s the last time that Pink Floyd will release their work on physical CD. But everything in the world always has the end, like the CD, so this reissue has a lot of surprise in three modes.
- Discovery : 1 or 2 CD per album. Nothing special except remastered sound quality and lots of artwork by Storm Thorgerson, a cover designer of many Pink Floyd’s albums
- Experience*: Including unreleased stuffs.
- Immersion*: Huge boxsets for huge fan like you. Including unreleased stuffs and DVD of concert screen films.
* Only “Dark side of the Moon”, “Wish You Were Here”, and “The Wall”.
I’m not sure which album suit me between “Atom Heart Mother”, “Meddle”,”Dark Side Of The moon”,and “The Wall”. Only time will tell.
After the successful of “Band On The Run” reissue last year (which I bought it and the quality is good), Sir Paul McCartney will released his solo projects again. Although these album come from the same artistthat play every instruments in the album, they have their own way in each other.
While “McCartney”, which released in 1970, has raw and Acoustic Folk Rock style of experiment,“McCarney II”, which released 10 years later, has a look-a-like-Kraftwerkstyle of music (although it sounds cheaper than other Synthpop artists around that time, but it rocks!).
There will be many types of products you can buy, 1 CD Edition, 2 CD Collector’s Edition, Digital Download, or even Vinyl version.
Personal comment: If you like The Beatles in final era, get the “McCartney”. But if you have heard only McCartney’s pop album or other pop artist and want to get to know him, buy “McCartney II”.
Once upon a time, many New Order fans were disappointed by the sound quality in the reissue CDs from the band. In 2005, “Single” compilation is just mp3-128 kbps sound quality that crammed into 2 CDs (OK, the tracklist and 7″ version of many songs is good, anyway) and 2006 Collector’s Edition of 5 NO’s albums has TONS of glitches! (Check this http://www.neworderonline.com/forums/MessageList.aspx?ThreadID=43684 )
And what about this? The new compilation by Joy Division/New Order? I’m their fan and I think Warner/RHINO should know that we’ll buy your products because of design and good quality (in this case, mastering quality).OK, the design of JD/NO products is always cool because of Peter Saville design (or later,Parris Wakefield, the design company founded by Peter Saville and Howard Wakefield) but what about mastering?
Anyway, let’s take a look at this reissue’s cover. I think it looks like the Pet Shop Boys album or something like that. But this album included “Hellbent”, an NO unreleased track which make this album interesting.
We’ll find out later about mastering quality and booklet inside.
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I hope that these albums will have a satisfied results when they comes……….
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P.S. I’m new at writing articles in English language. So if you spotted mistakes in this entry (like grammar or information). Please comment below at Comment Box.
20 กุมภาพันธ์ที่ผ่านมา เป็นวันคล้ายวันเกิดของ Tony Wilson ผู้ก่อตั้งค่ายเพลง Factory Records และ ผู้ส่งเสริมวัฒนธรรมแห่ง Manchester และในเดือนนี้ยังเป็นเดือนคล้ายเดือนเกิดหนึ่งในผู้ก่อตั้ง Stiff Records อย่าง Jake Riviera อีกด้วย ผมจึงอยากจะเขียนบทความสั้นๆประกอบ Playlist ให้กับบุคคลทั้งสองครับ…..
Side A: Factory Side
Tony Wilson เป็นทั้งพิธีกรรายการโทรทัศน์, ผู้จัดคอนเสิร์ตและเป็นเจ้าของค่ายเพลงชื่อดังอย่าง Factory Records แกเป็นคนที่ทำอะไรตามความต้องการของตัวเองมากกว่าการสร้างรายได้ ซึ่งแม้ว่ามันจะมีบทสรุปที่ค่อนข้างแย่ แต่เหตุการณ์หลายๆอย่างก็กลายเป็นตำนานไปแล้วล่ะครับ…
1) Sex Pistols – Anarchy In The UK
แม้ Sex Pistols จะไม่ใช่ศิลปินในสังกัดของ Tony Wilson แต่เขาเป็นคนแรกที่พาวงพังก์สุดระห่ำวงนี้(และวงพังก์วงอื่นๆ)ออกรายการโทรทัศน์เป็นครั้งแรก ซึ่งสร้างความฮือฮาให้กับผู้ชมและเร่งกระแสวัฒนธรรมพังก์ให้ เติบโตในอังกฤษได้อย่างมั่นคง
2) Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
Joy Division เป็นศิลปินแรกๆที่เซ็นสัญญากับค่าย Factory ที่ Tony ก่อตั้งร่วมกับคนอื่นๆ (เช่น Alan Erasmus, Martin Hannett ฯลฯ) และสารมารถสร้างสไตล์เฉพาะตัวจากงานเพลงที่มีลักษณะมืดหม่น ต่างจากวงอื่นๆโดยสิ้นเชิง ทั้งนี้ต้องขอขอบคุณ Martin Hannett สำหรับการสร้างสไตล์เสียงดังกล่าว
3) The Durutti Column – For Belgian Friends
Durutti Column ก็เป็นอีกหนึ่งศิลปินที่น่าสนใจของค่าย Factory ในยุคแรกๆ พวกเขาเป็นศิลปินที่เน้นการทำเพลงบรรเลงเป็นหลัก และก็ทำออกมาได้ดีด้วยครับ น่าฟังหลายชุดเลย (ควาดว่าไม่ประสบความสำเร็จด้านยอดขายเนื่องจากเป็นศิลปินเฉพาะกลุ่มเกินไป)
4) New Order – Blue Monday
หลังจาก Ian Curtis ซึ่งเป็นนักร้องนำของ Joy Division ได้ฆ่าตัวตายในปี 1980 สมาชิกวงที่เหลือทั้ง 3 ได้เพิ่มสมาชิกใหม่เข้าไปอีก 1 คนและเปลี่ยนชื่อวงเป็น New Order โดยมีซิงเกิ้ล Blue Monday เป็นเพลงแรกที่ทำให้คนทั่วไปรู้จักพวกเขามากขึ้น (ทั้งๆที่ออกอัลบั้มมาแล้ว 2 ชุด และออกซิงเกิ้ลมาแล้ว 4 เพลง) และกลายเป็นเพลงเต้นรำในตำนานไปในที่สุด
5) Happy Mondays – Step On
Happy Mondays เป็นศิลปินที่ทำให้ Factory กลับมามีชื่อเสียงอีกครั้ง ด้วยเอกลักษณ์อันโดดเด่นของพวกเขา(ที่ไม่ควรเลียนแบบ) ทั้งเรื่องของการใช้….เอ่อ สารเสพติด ท่าเต้นแปลกๆ รวมถึงการถลุงเงินของ Factory Records จนเกลี้ยง (ร่วมกับวง New Order) ในช่วงปี 1992 จนทำให้ Factory Records ล้มละลายในที่สุด
อย่างไรก็ตาม เหตุการณ์ทั้งหมดนี้ก็กลายเป็นตำนานของวงการเพลงไปแล้ว และผู้มีบทบาทมากที่สุดก็คงจะเป็นตัว Tony เองที่ต้องรับภาระหลายๆอย่างของค่าย ตั้งแต่ในช่วงก่อตั้งจนถึงช่วงล้มละลาย ผมรู้สึกว่าแกสุดยอดมาก เพราะแกเป็นคนที่ทำอะไรตามใจตัวเองมากกว่าคำนึงถึงรายได้ ซึ่งผิดหลักธุรกิจโดยทั้งหมด แกถึงกับกล่าวไว้เลยว่า “We made history, not money” หรือ “เราสร้างตำนาน ไม่ใช่รายได้” และแกก็ทำสำเร็จแล้วครับ ผมนับถือแกจริงๆ
R.I.P. Tony Wilson (1950-2007)
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Side B: Stiff Records and related Side
Jake Riviera เป็นหนึ่งในสองผู้ก่อตั้งค่ายเพลง Stiff Records ร่วมกับ Dave Robinson ทั้งคู่เป็นคนที่ทำงานเกี่ยวกับวงการดนตรีในผับต่างๆจนวันหนึ่งเกิดความคิดจะทำค่ายเพลงขึ้นมา โดยเลือกชื่อ “Stiff” (ซึ่งแปลว่าซากศพ) เพื่อดึงดูดความสนใจรวมถึงเป็นมุกตลกๆของทางค่ายด้วย
1) Wreckless Eric – Whole Wide World (Live)
ในช่วงแรก Stiff Records จะเป็นค่ายเพลงที่มีศิลปินแนว Pub Rock เป็นหลัก นี่คือหนึ่งในศิลปินที่แม้จะไม่ประสบความสำเร็จในยุคนั้น แต่เพลงนี้ก็ยังคงถูกกล่าวถึงรวมถึงนำไปเลือกใช้เป็นเพลงประกอบภาพยนตร์ด้วย
2) Elvis Costello – Watching The Detectives
นี่ก็เป็นศิลปินที่เซ็นสัญญากับ Stiff ครับ หลายคนอาจรู้จักเขาในฐานะเจ้าของเพลงดังอย่าง She แต่นี่คือผลงานในยุคแรกๆของเขาที่น่าสนใจไม่แพ้กัน
3) Ian Dury – Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll
Ian Dury เป็นอีกหนึ่งศิลปินของค่ายที่จะทำรายได้ให้กับ Stiff ในอีกหลายปีต่อมา แต่ซิงเกิ้ลแรกของเขาอย่าง Sex And Drugs And Rock And Roll กลับมียอดขายที่ไม่ดีเท่าที่ควร (แต่ในตอนหลังเพลงนี้จะดังมาก)
4) Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Accidents Will Happen
หลังจากนั้นไม่นาน ปัญหาทางการเงินที่รุมเร้ามานาน ส่งผลให้ Jake ลาออกจาก Stiff และพาศิลปินที่เข้าเป็นผู้จัดการอย่าง Nick Lowe และ Elvis Costello ไปอยู่ต้นสังกัดใหม่อย่าง Radar Records โดยมีเพลงนี้เป็นเพลงที่น่าจดจำมากๆ เพราะมิวสิกวีดีโอที่ฉีกไปจากยุคนั้นโดยสิ้นเชิง
5) Madness – Our House
ในขณะที่ทาง Stiff หลังจากผ่านพ้นมรสุมและความสำเร็จของเพลง Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick ในปลายยุค 70 แล้ว ช่วงยุค 80 ก็มี Madness ที่ทำรายได้มหาศาลให้กับต้นสังกัดครับ
6) Tracy Ullman – They Don’t Know
…และในช่วงต้นยุค 80 นั้นเองก็มีศิลปินสาวมาดขำๆอย่าง Tracy Ullman ที่สร้างชื่อให้กับค่าย หลังจากเพลง They Don’t Know ของเธอทะยานสู่อันดับ 2 ใน UK Chart (และมันจะเป็นครั้งสุดท้ายที่ Stiff สามารถสร้างผลงานเพลงติดชาร์ทได้….)
Last week, 20 February, was a birthday for Tony Wilson, the Factory Records founder and cultural promoter of Manchester. Also, it was a birth month for Jake Riviera, one of the founders of Stiff Records, the London-based independent record company. So, I want to write a short articles about both men with playlists.
Side A: Factory Records and related Side
1) Sex Pistols – Anarchy In The UK
Although Sex Pistols is not the Factory artist, Wilson received credits for brought them (and other Punk bands) on his TV show called “So It Goes”, which informed many people about “Punk” and inspired many people to be (punk)rock-stars.
2) Joy Division – Love Will Tear Us Apart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHYOXyy1ToI
Joy Division is one of the early artists who signed the contract with Factory Records, the record label that founded by Wilson (along with other people, such as Alan Erasmus, Martin Hannett,etc.). Joy Division created distinctive sound, which is totally different from other Punk bands and will become their signature. That’s because of the sounds produced by Martin Hanett. (….Thank God)
3) The Durutti Column – For Belgian Friends
Durutti Coulumn is one of should-be-famous artists in Factory. It’s an easy-listening Rock/Ambient band (er… I mean, Vini Reily and his friends in the backup band) that did many instrumental stuffs, and this is one of my most favourite DC songs.
4) New Order – Blue Monday
After Ian Curtis,lead singer and composer of Joy Division, suicide in 1980, the three remaining members found another one member and formed a new band called “New Order”. This was their first hit in 1983, which brought many income (and expenses due to die-cut floppy disc sleeve) to Factory.
5) Happy Mondays – Step On
And finally, the Happy Mondays was the band that brought fame and money back to Factory once again in the late 80′s ’til early 90′s. The band was (in?)famous for drug usage, Bez’s dances steps and,of course, their destroying of Factory Records by spent a lot of money for recording the album “Yes Please!”, which I think it worse than amount of money that used in recording.
Anyway, these events are now the legend of music history because of Wilson’s will and desire to “made history, not money”, and I think it works!
Tony, I idolize you!
R.I.P. Tony Wilson (1950-2007)
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Side B: Stiff Records and related Side
Jake Riviera is one of the Stiff Records’ founders (along with Dave Robinson). They had to be a Pub Rock band’s manager before founded the legendary record label
named “Stiff” because it draws attention and it’s a joke from the label.
[This playlist contain Stiff and related stuffs]
1) Wreckless Eric – Whole Wide World (Live)
In the early days, Stiff was a Pub Rock label. This is one of the Stiff’s artist that may not famous at the time, but it still cult and cheers me up.
2) Elvis Costello – Watching The Detectives (Live)
Elvis Costello is one of the first Stiff’s artists in 1977. Although we might know him from his later works such as “She”, his early stuffs (like this song) is also interesting.
3) Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Accidents Will Happen
Later, the financial problem from Stiff concert tour caused Riviera to departed from Stiff and brought his under-management artists, Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello, to Radar Records. This is one of the most Costello’s memorable music videos in the Radar era.
4) Ian Dury – Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
This is the first #1 chart hits for Stiff in 1978. With its distinctive Rock/Jazz style and Ian’s vocal, this is one of the most remarkable Stff Records’ single of all time.
5) Madness – Our House
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shVdK2cbRuA
In the 80′s, Stiff moved into Pop/New Wave movement. And Madness is one of the most famous act in 80′s-Stiff version. (FYI, I choose this song because it’s my most favorite Madness song.)
6) Tracy Ullman – They Don’t Know
….and also, there’s a chart-attacker of Stiff named Tracy Ullman. Her single “They Don’t Know” , a cover version of Kristy MacColl’s Stiff single in the late 70′s, was went to #2 in UK Charts. Sadly, this will be the last hit single from Stiff because the label was bought by Island Records and ZTT, respectively, because of failure of the deal with Island.
Nowadays, both Riviera and Robinson are involve in music industry. Although they’re not as famous as Stiff days, they’ll be remembered as the founder of “The most flexible record label”, named Stiff.
P.S. I’m new at writing articles in English language. So if you spotted mistakes in this entry (like grammar or information). Please comment below at Comment Box.