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25Aug/101

Game Collector Interview: Caztro72

Caztro72 (real name Anthony) is an avid "YouTuber" who often posts videos showing his video game finds from various thrift stores. With great enthusiasm he parades the items he's purchased, how much they cost him, and an estimate of what they are worth (from Digit Press). Clearly he has obtained a wealth of knowledge and experience thrifting so we've reached out to him to gain his insight and advice.  Enjoy...

How long have you been using thrift stores for video game finds, and do you recall what the first gaming item that you found?
I've been using thrift stores as a means of finding classic video games since GameStop dropped the 8 and 16-bit bargain bins from their stores. This may have been 8 years ago! I believe the first thrift store game I found was Starship Hector for the NES.

How frequently do you visit thrift stores and do you have a specific routine in looking for items?
I usually visit a thrift store once a week, sometimes on a Wednesday morning or Thursday afternoon. I believe the middle of the week is the best time to search these stores as most product from the back rooms have been processed by then and are available for sale. I tend to check behind the main counter before I search the sales floor as most thrift shops consider video games too valuable to be left alone on the regular shelves.

What item are you most proud to have purchased from a thrift store and why?
Hmmm...tough question. I found a Namco Arcade Joystick for the PS1 for 7 dollars at the Unique Thrift Store (my main thrifting store). That was an unusual find. I don't know who would have donated that stick as they are uncommon and are compatible with PS2. Yes, I'm proud to have found that particular item! LOL!

What about regretful purchases? Do you have any of those?
Oh my! Yes! My collection has gotten to a point where I accidentally buy doubles of games I already own! Just recently I found Shadowgate for the NES at a Salvation Army Thrift. I purchased it thinking that I didn't own the game. Turns out that I did. Oh well! LOL!

Do you have limits on what you collect and why?
I tend to limit myself in terms of money. Collectors are usually frugal by nature. I try not to buy cartridges over 5 bucks. I also never buy PC games. I just don't find them collectible. I'm really just a console guy! (Sorry to all you PC fans out there! LOL!)

You seem to have a mixture in gaming tastes, from old to new. Do you have a preference of retro gaming over modern, or vice versa?
Great question. I have a preference for retro more than modern. I started going back to 8 and 16-bit games just as PS2, Xbox, and GameCube were leading the revolution. Long, drawn out story lines, and 3D graphics just don't make a game for me. I enjoy simple 2D gaming that you can pick up and play with not a lot of commitment. I also prefer the simple 8 and 16-bit ditties over today's orchestrated music.

What are your thoughts on classic games being re-released on modern consoles like the PSN? Do you feel it diminishes the collecting hobby?
Tough question. Well, I think retro downloads keep the classics alive. So in that respect I am in favor of Virtual Console and the like. And let's face it, many gamers aren't going to search out original hardware and software to play the classics when they can just download. True collectors will always search out the original carts no matter what. So these downloads are a nice alternative that I don't think hurt the hardcore collector.

If you had to pick just one what is your favorite all time video-game?
That is a tough one! I would have to go with Taito's BUBBLE BOBBLE. I think it captures the essence of what a video game should be. Simple play mechanics that require an amount of skill to master, coupled with dozens of levels, quirky game music, fun game play, and lovable characters!

What made you decide to start talking about your classic games collection and thrifting experiences on Youtube?
I had originally created a YouTube account to upload a video from my vacation in Europe. Then I started to see gaming channels that other people had created. Echo036 in particular had inspired me to start talking about my video game collecting habits. Love his channel!

What gaming websites do you frequent?
I'm not much for surfing the video game sites. I actually subscribe to Nintendo Power, Playstation Magazine, The Official Xbox Magazine, and Game Informer. I like print!! But when I feel like surfing I check out Digital Press' site and IGN.com.

Is there anyone you want to do a shout-out to?
Big shout out to Echo036! He was the first guy to comment on my earliest videos! And his channel inspired me to build mine! http://www.youtube.com/user/echo036

Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?
To all my subscribers out there I humbly thank you for all your support!! Happy gaming!!

I want to thank Caztro72 for sharing his time with us.  Check out his YouTube channel here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Caztro72

Filed under: NES Collecting, SEGA Genesis collecting, SEGA Master System Collecting, interview 1 Comment
9Aug/100

RoadBlasters For Nintendo NES





RoadBlasters for Nintendo NES was one of the treasures I took home from the Classic Gaming Expo. This isn't the first time I've owned the game as I remember buying it new when it first came out.

The game is a port of an arcade game and can best be described as rad racer with guns (or can be considered a point of view version of SpyHunter with fuel challenges). You have a rally point you must meet prior to running out of fuel. You can pick up green or orange orbs that will give you more fuel. A weapons... jet... will supply you with upgrades.

Some of the upgrades include an 'UZI' which is just a rapidfire machine gun. Cruise Missles vaporizes everything on the screen included the armor cars. There is also a turbo upgrade which temporarily increases the speed of the car.

As long as you complete each rally with some reserve fuel you'll continue to the next stage. When using your gun your point multiplier will increase as long as you don't miss your enemies. You can only go up to x10 which rewards you with 10,000 bonus at the end of the rally.

RoadBlasters is a sound arcade port. Some of the enemy cars are a little drab but the speed of the game makes up for it.

Filed under: NES Collecting No Comments
28Jul/100

RoboCop 2 For Nintendo NES





I was having a reasonably bad day today, and what I thought would be a silver moment was the confirmation that RoboCop 2 for Nintendo NES was waiting for me at my post office.

What better way to left off some steam by killing thugs! I'll make those virtual crooks pay! Yeah.. uh.. ok.

The game sucks. It doesn't feel like RoboCop at all. He is disproportionate, glides when you let up off the controller and cannot retreat when necessary! That's right, just like the Original Super Mario Bros. as the screen scrolls you cannot go back. Which forces you to repeat the stage if you missed an item.

The Hogan's Alley-esq shooting gallery is unnecessary.

DataEast got RoboCop perfected with the arcade version... how they turned the Robo franchise to crap is beyond my understanding. I looked at the credits at MobyGames.com and it seemed the original version was created by Japanese producers where as this pant load was created by either the American or the English.

It's simply awful.

Filed under: NES Collecting No Comments
27Jul/100

Pro Wrestling for NES

Pro Wrestling for Nintendo NES - quite possibly the best wrestling game on the NES.  Large characters, nice touchees such as an audience, ref, camera men, and more!  This game has it all and showcases what could have been done with the NES even early on in the console's life.  Atleast half of the wrestling games on the NES were part off the WWF franchise and most were weak at best.  Just look at this game!  It's how babies are made!

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22Jul/100

Nintendo NES Black Label Games

 

Well another collecting milestone is about to pass. My original quest to collect all of the Nintendo NES black label games is about to be complete. All I need now is Donkey Kong JR. Math and Clu Clu Land.

Clu Clu Land is easy to come by, DKJR Math... not so much. So what's next to collect? I'd like to hammer out a few of the remaining franchises. I'm shy two CastleVania's and two Ninja Gaidens. 6 MegaMans and all three Lolo's... or maybe it's time to complete Tengen...

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21Jul/100

Stinger For Nintendo NES

Stinger for Nintendo NES... this is the Americanized version of one of Konami's TwinBee games. This vertical and horizontal shooter features an array of bizarre enemies, simple but colorful graphics and takes place in Tennessee. Tennessee? Yeah I have no proof of this except I've never seen such a high concentration of churches in one place. The scrolling landscape is full of them.

You can play co-op in this game which was a rare commmodity at the time and you can shoot up or straight. Blasting clouds reveals bells which you can 'juggle' into different colors which provides points and power ups.

All of this guff is in preparation to rescue Professor Cinnamon or Cinnamori depending on where you check your facts. The game begins with a quick cutscene of the professor's lab exploding and an alien spacecraft taking the poor professor away.

This is by no means the greatest shoot 'em up ever but it does have a charm to it not found in other games. It's very clear the programmers had fun with this title and I can't help but feel it had an influence on Paradius.

Filed under: NES Collecting No Comments
18Jul/100

Weekend Videogame Finds

 

 

 

 

 

It's been a good weekend for game collecting... Strider for SEGA Genesis complete for less than $3. CastleVania for NES fir $2 and original Donkey Kong and Kid Ikarus for $7.50.

Filed under: NES Collecting, SEGA Genesis collecting No Comments
13Jul/100

Ninja Kid For Nintendo NES

Ninja Kid for Nintendo NES by Bandai... Which came first: Ninja Kid or Chubby Cherub? I'm not quite sure but it's easy to tell that both games game from the same company. The art and feel of both games are similar.

I had this game for two years almost and only tried it tonight. It's pretty cool actually. For starters you begin in an overworld map. Different obstacles or temples or something stand in your way. Walk into one and you're transported to typical platform action but not before being treated to a 'title card'. It's basically just text on the screen with the name of the level. Cool names such as Guerrila War and Dog Fight.

You have a standard Ninja Knife and you can pick up other weapons such as stars. A variety of monsters attack you including ghosts. You can jump from platform to platform and duck/squat. Stereotypical asian music highlights Ninja Kid. It has a great beat and fits the theme well.

This certainly isn't a Shinobi or a Ninja Gaiden, but it's still a fun game...

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11Jul/100

City Connection – Arcade Purity On NES

I've reviewed City Connection before in 20 words or less... now it's time for something a little more proper...

This game is presented to us by Jaleco, and it's a port of an arcade game. Depending on which story you read the jist is the same: paint all segments of the freeway by driving over them. Collect oil cans to throw at the cops. Avoid spikes and cats. Complete a level and you go to a new major city. Repeat.

The game has a catchy upbeat song that loops. It's beat matches the reflected lights in your vehicle's windows and as you manuver around by jumping or turning the car around (which triggers a necessary but complicated animation) gives the illusion that your car is dancing.

Paralax scrolling, when refering to a video game means there are two layers of images moving at independent speeds giving the illusion of depthy. City Connection is one of the earliest Nintendo games I recall having this illusion. Technically there are three layers... the skyline, the freeways, and the enemies/oil-cans. Some might argue that enemies and oil-cans can't be considered a layer, however in City Connection the enemies move relative to the screen position and not to the environment. It is that 3rd layer that makes this game great and unpredictable. No two games will ever be played the same.

The city-scape backgrounds are simple but detailed with Paris and NYC looking especially beautiful. The game has a score and it's repeatative nature gives it an arcade experience everyone can love...

Filed under: NES Collecting, Uncategorized No Comments
10Jul/100

Dragon Warrior Map

Dragon Warrior for Nintendo NES. I've beaten this game. It was a long and tiresome chore. I've never understood the interest in games where you have to 'read' the action. Why do I need to select 'stairs' to go up stairs? Ok, so the game isn't my cup of tea, so why bother to play it to the end?

This was a long time ago when a long adventure was welcomed. Back then (1990) I was in Junior High sso I couldn't just get a new game when ever I wanted. A friend introduced me to Dragon Warrior but before even seeing the game in action I had become hooked on the paper map. I had maps to other games prior to Dragon Warrior, but this was different... it was huge!

For a kid a map is a cool thing. It promises adventure and treasure. And in this case it almost makes up for having to 'read the action'.

Filed under: NES Collecting, Uncategorized No Comments
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