I'm not sure if you really had all the items at the beginning of Super Metroid, but you had more than when the "proper" game started, that's for sure.

No.

You're right. It's been some time since I played that game...

CAsinclair, the Manuel Göttsching link was ace! I loved it!

Heh heh, thanks. 

Fun factoids: E2-E4 was sampled in the in the 80's "one hit wonder" song Sueno Latino. Its cover was ripped off by LCD Soundsystem for their (his) 45:33 album. James Murphy called it a "tribute", Manuel Göttsching apparently didn't see it that way and sued him (I think).

I'm not sure if you really had all the items at the beginning of Super Metroid, but you had more than when the "proper" game started, that's for sure. In SoTN though, you were pretty much all maxed out.

I second that. Link's Awakening is probably the Zelda I have the fondest memories of.

Anyway, Phantasy Star collection is pretty good if you can find it cheap, even though they omitted the fourth (and best) one and Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is a surprisingly good hack'n'slash RPG/Diablo clone.

VVVVVV. I can't advertise this game enough. It's just too good.

Also,
All of Kenta Cho's games
Warning Forever
Umbrella Adventure
Jumpman
Ikachan
Legend Of Princess
Runman: Race Around the World

lots of others, but I'm too lazy to think right now. 

The system most games with generated levels (apart from some roguelikes) use is based on predefined "tiles"  that are are randomly stuck together (see Diablo, Spelunky etc.). You'll have to write an algorithm that makes sure all the tiles fit together properly, that the player's path isn't completely obstructed etc.

Since this is a shmup, I'm not sure how much you're going to do in terms of objects in your levels aside from enemies. Because if it's mostly just enemies, randomly generating groups of them is pretty easy. Just think of these "random event charts" in games like D&D.

Everyone knows Metroid Prime is the Citizen Kane of games. It's a SCIENTIFIC FACT, proven by the experts at ABC and IGN.  

OF COURSE

The truth was right there all along...
So what is the name of the videogame Orson Welles and does he get drunk on TV

Halo.

I find it really interesting that so many posts, in discussing video game stories, are completely focused on the storytelling, where "storytelling" apparently means voice acting, animation, and skin shaders, rather than the actual writing.

Maybe because there is so little actual writing (i.e. not purely utilitarian) in videogames?

How could you tell that you've just played the game equivalent of Citizen Kane? A game whose author(s) would, in a few hundred years, be remembered as the marble gods of storytelling using video games as a media? Or maybe it is sort of impossible, that games today have too much existing media to be inspired from to TRULY innovate.

Everyone knows Metroid Prime is the Citizen Kane of games. It's a SCIENTIFIC FACT, proven by the experts at ABC and IGN. 

VVVVVV hope theres a demo

There'll be one once it's finished I think.

Edit: Also, LA MULANA Wii has some of the best 2D graphics I've seen in a long time.

Probably one of the best, and certainly the best this year to be exact. 

I'd describe it as a mix between old-school precision platforming, new-school puzzle platforming and Metroidvania. It's also a marvel from a design perspective. I mean, I have rarely seen so much variety in a game that consists, essentially, of a single game mechanic. My theory is that Terry used some kind of forbidden Voodoo ritual to conjure VVVVVV. Its greatness can't be explained otherwise.  :D

I just wanted to say, that has to be some of the most delicious-looking pixel cake and ice cream I've ever seen. Will download and comment on gameplay later.  :D

Terry's VVVVVV is available for purchase, but it's in beta at the moment.   The game is for the most part complete though, and I did a couple hundred words on why it's awesome over at PTT. *points to signature*

thanx dude, but im not looking for retro/nes type games. i just bought a new hd4850 so i want eye popping stuff like gumboy i know its out there.. just gotta find it

 

I should probably read posts more thoroughly. You already mentioned Cave Story. 

Anyway, there's a great port of Rrootage on the PSP. There are also Kaiten Patissier and Portable Gannatsu, two great platformers from Japan both made by the same person whose name escapes me at the moment.

It also results in our scientists generally being badasses, compared to the pale geek fucks other countries have. Believe it or not, good ol' Arnie is a doctor.

I am probably going to invest in a decent sized external HD sometime soon, which means i can stick everything on that and use my puny laptop drive (40GB) to install both XP and Linux on. Best of both worlds

Buying an external HD is one of the best things you can do as a computer owner.  :D

I dual boot Mac OS X and Win XP on my Macbook (80GB) via Bootcamp. The XP partition is 10GB and I use it pretty much exclusively for gaming-related stuff when I don't have access to my desktop PC (which also runs on XP). I usually don't even go on the Internet with it.

I usually really don't like Jimmy Fallon but thought this was great:

http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/11/neil-young-sings-fresh-prince-theme-song-video.html

That's awesome! As are the Pixies.

Also, Talking Heads- Don't Worry About The Government

I think I confused Hydrogen and LMMS there. LMMS is a decent Fruity Loops clone (however, I don't know how easy it is to get VSTs running, if at all). The last version of Hydrogen I used, which was some time ago, was extremely basic.

Rosegarden is supposed to be pretty good too, but I haven't tried it.

We fight with sticks and stones. Those who survive get a science degree.

We don't have "Computer Science" in my country. We don't have "classes" either.

So it's like these "robot battle" games?