196 replies to this topic

[JagChris]

GroovyBee, on Wed Jun 8, 2011 2:36 AM, said:

Emphasis mine :-

kevincal, on Tue Jun 7, 2011 7:22 PM, said:

On one or 2 of them a simple cleaning of the contacts was all that was needed. I think a lot of times it's just a bad connection between the Jag and Jag CD systems causing problems. Sometimes you have to reseat the Jag CD on the Jag several times to get it just right.

That's a pretty good description of temperamental if you ask me.

Thats a reasonable assesment. The Jaguar CDs problem is probably because its not one solid piece and can be prone to needing cleaning of the contacts from time to time. But it really is such a small thing.

It just seems to me the last few years the rumor or impression has been going around that the JagCD is not worth getting simply because chances are it will never work right or when it does work right you'll be fighting constantly to get it to do so. If this impression I have been getting is correct then I think it is absolutely and completely unfounded.

The Jaguar CD player in my experience, and from the testimony of several others in this thread bears out the experiences that it is at least fairly reliable overall, if not above that.

OK back onto the topic of playing RR on our awesome Jag CD players!!

[PeterG]

Really nice to see that RR finally got released although I'm short on funds right now so this will have to wait.
What do people say about the game, haven't really heard a review so far? Still too fresh and new? Is everybody having fun with it so far or does it just go into the collection?

On the topic of the Jag CD Rom I must say that mine works really really well from day one. There are just two issues with it which both do not bother me since I know how to work with it and are partially my own fault.

1) Since the day I accidently let a book fall onto my Jag CD, I have to press the button down to close the lid easily. If I just try to close the lid, you have to force it and it feels as something is going to break although it does close in the end but we don't want to risk breaking it, don't we? :-)

2) Two times it happened to me that after a long time of storage when powering up for the first time, the disc would not start to spin. But after pulling the plug and reinserting it again it works flawlessly and doesn't occur again. Don't know where this comes from.

So to finish this, the unit is obviously designed cheaply but in the end I feel that it works into its favour since there doesn't seem to be something complicated that really breaks the system. I can't talk from my own experience since as I said mine does work well and plays everything but the usual stuff with not making good contact, prying up the spindle and worst case install a new motor isn't that bad in my book.
I remember worse from a friends PSX which would not play games or crash unless it was turned upside down. Was there ever a fix for this?

As a sidenote Marc Rosocha from Eclipse had some really fun stories to tell about the time when Atari designed the CD Rom and would not know exactly how to make the lid. His Dev CDrom was without a lid or even the mounting holes and the CD was just held by a round magnet.

[kevincal]

The reason the Jaguar CD all of a sudden got a really bad reputation for not working is because of the Angry Video Game Nerd... He can be funny but he is pretty clueless when it comes to a lot of systems, including the Jaguar which he knew nothing about when he made his Jaguar episode. He claimed to have bought 2 Jaguar CD systems and neither worked. Probably they needed very simple maintenence, some tlc, and would have worked fine.

I bet another thing that happens a lot, you have to press very firmly to pop the Jaguar CD onto the Jaguar. I bet a lot of people never fully pop the Jag CD onto the Jag and thats another reason we get people thinking their Jag CD doesnt work.

But ya, the AVGN is to blame for the belief in mainstream gamers that Jag CD's never work. Those Jag episodes got 10s of thousands of views.

Another big mistake people make with the Jag CD is they try to press down hard on the cd when its in the system, thinking the cd is supposed to pop into place. I think a lot of CD drives get messed up this way or pushed just out of alignment to cause problems.

[PeterG]

kevincal, on Wed Jun 8, 2011 1:53 PM, said:

The reason the Jaguar CD all of a sudden got a really bad reputation for not working is because of the Angry Video Game Nerd... He can be funny but he is pretty clueless when it comes to a lot of systems, including the Jaguar which he knew nothing about when he made his Jaguar episode. He claimed to have bought 2 Jaguar CD systems and neither worked. Probably they needed very simple maintenence, some tlc, and would have worked fine.

I bet another thing that happens a lot, you have to press very firmly to pop the Jaguar CD onto the Jaguar. I bet a lot of people never fully pop the Jag CD onto the Jag and thats another reason we get people thinking their Jag CD doesnt work.

But ya, the AVGN is to blame for the belief in mainstream gamers that Jag CD's never work. Those Jag episodes got 10s of thousands of views.

Another big mistake people make with the Jag CD is they try to press down hard on the cd when its in the system, thinking the cd is supposed to pop into place. I think a lot of CD drives get messed up this way or pushed just out of alignment to cause problems.

The AVGN Videos are pretty recent, sure many people saw his video but the complaints about the CD rom date way back. I even remember a german magazine trying to cover it in a Jaguar special and they weren't able to get it to work. That was over ten years ago and many readers stayed with that in mind.
Still I think that we discuss two different matters in this thread.
One is the fact that the thing isn't built very well so you might get problems (no contact, spindle etc.)
but the other thing is that I feel the CDrom does not break per se, so it is going to work for years and years if only a little care is taken for it and the solutions are pretty simple most of the times.

[Tweety]

Love to buy a copy later this year, I had some huge costs this month on my motorcycle, so the next month I have to watch my spending.
Although I also have an modern game computer, my heart still goes to the Atari Jaguar.

[Songbird]

Thanks again to all the Jaguar fans who have supported the release of Robinson's Requiem! I especially want to give credit to a few people who were instrumental for this release:

• Curt Vendel - Atari preserver extraordinaire who saved RR and many other games from oblivion!
  
• Jason Smith - Avid collector who provided Songbird with the unencrypted master of RR as well as substantial playtesting to confirm its authenticity
  
• Olivier Blaszczyk - Wonderful Atari fan in France who helped me track down the rights to RR over a period of years and was ever patient, ever hopeful
  
• Glenn Bruner - Jaguar tech expert who encrypted the CDs and provided additional testing
  
• Kevin Manne - Excellent manual and overlay design and tech help when the printer had format issues

Atari fans are the best! I'm thrilled so many people are enjoying RR at last. Game on!

[nascarbryant]

Quote

I bet another thing that happens a lot, you have to press very firmly to pop the Jaguar CD onto the Jaguar

that was exactly my problem when i got a new jag cd, some moths ago!

[orpheuswaking]

Songbird, on Wed Jun 8, 2011 9:52 PM, said:

• Kevin Manne - Excellent manual and overlay design and tech help when the printer had format issues

I still wish we could get a real overlay.

[JagChris]

orpheuswaking, on Thu Jun 9, 2011 9:04 AM, said:

Songbird, on Wed Jun 8, 2011 9:52 PM, said:

• Kevin Manne - Excellent manual and overlay design and tech help when the printer had format issues

I still wish we could get a real overlay.

Agreed. There is no way in hell I'm cutting up my instruction booklet nor do I want to photocopy anything.

[syntexerror]

I agree wit this a overlay would be great and as he siad no way in hell would i cut the manual up for the paper overlay.I just got RR yesterday and have been playing the hell out of it great game but i did notice one problem and wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this.When i first tryed RR i got the intro to play and then it froze so i tryed to or three other times still froze after this i tryed a few other games to see if the jaguar cd unit was playing correctly and all games worked well and that was that.So finaly i figured out what the problem was i took the memory card out and RR worked perfectly.My memory card works perfectly with all other jaguar games but RR so i figured out the trick to get the memory track to work with it i had to hold the memory track foward while it was in the slotuntil the intro passes and the title screen came up now i have no problems dont know if this was some sort of bug or a freak thing any way i thank all involved in RR's relase glad to see such a great game be released ty.

[Major Havoc 2049]

I received my copy today! Carl, thanks for all the hard work in bringing us another game.

[Jagman]

just found out about this (from a Neo Geo forum of all places).. very cool! Too bad a missed the discount price. Also is the 3DO version of this game rare? There is one complete game on ebay going for 100 bucks. I figured it would be next to nothing like most 3DO games. If that's the case, it makes the Jaguar CD version much more appealing since it's unfortunatley not an exclusive.

Edited by Jagman, Thu Jun 9, 2011 11:36 PM.

[JagChris]

Jagman, on Thu Jun 9, 2011 11:35 PM, said:

just found out about this (from a Neo Geo forum of all places).. very cool! Too bad a missed the discount price. Also is the 3DO version of this game rare? There is one complete game on ebay going for 100 bucks. I figured it would be next to nothing like most 3DO games. If that's the case, it makes the Jaguar CD version much more appealing since it's unfortunatley not an exclusive.

Well it almost is among consoles. Neither the Saturn or PSX have it. Only the Jag and 3DO do. You can have something Playstation or Saturn owners can't. Think of it that way.

[Jagman]

JagChris, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:19 AM, said:

Jagman, on Thu Jun 9, 2011 11:35 PM, said:

just found out about this (from a Neo Geo forum of all places).. very cool! Too bad a missed the discount price. Also is the 3DO version of this game rare? There is one complete game on ebay going for 100 bucks. I figured it would be next to nothing like most 3DO games. If that's the case, it makes the Jaguar CD version much more appealing since it's unfortunatley not an exclusive.

Well it almost is among consoles. Neither the Saturn or PSX have it. Only the Jag and 3DO do. You can have something Playstation or Saturn owners can't. Think of it that way.

well that's more of less what I was thinking, because the 3DO version appears to be a bit rare and pricy nowadays. Plus, it looks like the 3DO and Jaguar version run on a more updated engine than say the DOS or Amiga version, but I could be wrong.. i've never played either version.

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

I do not own a Jaguar let alone JaguarCD but if you don't mind me asking what would be considered the best version of Robinson's Requiem ? Would it be the PC version or the 3DO? Or are they too close to call?

[JagChris]

ok eagle clawed my right eye out last night. I couldnt get away from him. I was stuck in this one spot on a mountain.

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

JagChris, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 11:55 AM, said:

ok eagle clawed my right eye out last night. I couldnt get away from him. I was stuck in this one spot on a mountain.

OK enough about your personal life, what about the game?

[Austin]

OldSchoolRetroGamer, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:39 PM, said:

OK enough about your personal life, what about the game?

I can't vouch for what the best version is, but if you just want to try it out, I say purchase the PC version found on GOG.com. It's only six-bucks if you want to give it a go yourself and see if you like it.

[Gunstar]

Jagman, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:26 AM, said:

JagChris, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:19 AM, said:

Jagman, on Thu Jun 9, 2011 11:35 PM, said:

just found out about this (from a Neo Geo forum of all places).. very cool! Too bad a missed the discount price. Also is the 3DO version of this game rare? There is one complete game on ebay going for 100 bucks. I figured it would be next to nothing like most 3DO games. If that's the case, it makes the Jaguar CD version much more appealing since it's unfortunatley not an exclusive.

Well it almost is among consoles. Neither the Saturn or PSX have it. Only the Jag and 3DO do. You can have something Playstation or Saturn owners can't. Think of it that way.

well that's more of less what I was thinking, because the 3DO version appears to be a bit rare and pricy nowadays. Plus, it looks like the 3DO and Jaguar version run on a more updated engine than say the DOS or Amiga version, but I could be wrong.. i've never played either version.

I've only ever actually played the 3DO version, but I have seen video on the PC, Mac, Amiga, Atari ST, Atari Falcon and recently some Jaguar footage. The 3DO and Jaguar look like they use a different type of engine, textured polygon, instead of voxel/heightmap that the computer versions use. If you consider textured polygons to be an update from Height-map/voxel engine, then yes, they have an updated version. Personally, I was hoping the Jaguar version would have stuck with the height-map/voxel type engine, the Jaguar does them well (PhaseZero, AtariOwl project).

After watching the Jaguar version a bit on Youtube, I played the 3DO version for a bit last night (killed by wild tiger twice). They appear to be nearly identical, in graphics and frame-rate. From what I've seen of the 3DO game, and Jaguar footage, the only difference I see is the 3DO uses a fog effect to hide polygon pop-up and the Jaguar uses it's special shading effects instead, where distant landscape and objects are silohettes at first and brighten as you get closer. Also, since the 3DO uses the fog-effect, the background is grey. The Jaguar has a background of sky and clouds from the videos I've seen. But maybe this is something that changes later on and both versions have foggy and clear conditions. If that is the case, then I think both versions are identical.

Edited by Gunstar, Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:39 PM.

[JagChris]

Gunstar, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:23 PM, said:

Jagman, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:26 AM, said:

JagChris, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:19 AM, said:

Jagman, on Thu Jun 9, 2011 11:35 PM, said:

just found out about this (from a Neo Geo forum of all places).. very cool! Too bad a missed the discount price. Also is the 3DO version of this game rare? There is one complete game on ebay going for 100 bucks. I figured it would be next to nothing like most 3DO games. If that's the case, it makes the Jaguar CD version much more appealing since it's unfortunatley not an exclusive.

Well it almost is among consoles. Neither the Saturn or PSX have it. Only the Jag and 3DO do. You can have something Playstation or Saturn owners can't. Think of it that way.

well that's more of less what I was thinking, because the 3DO version appears to be a bit rare and pricy nowadays. Plus, it looks like the 3DO and Jaguar version run on a more updated engine than say the DOS or Amiga version, but I could be wrong.. i've never played either version.

I've only ever actually played the 3DO version, but I have seen video on the PC, Mac, Amiga, Atari ST, Atari Falcon and recently some Jaguar footage. The 3DO and Jaguar look like they use a different type of engine, textured polygon, instead of voxel/heightmap that the computer versions use. If you consider textured polygons to be an update from Height-map/voxel engine, then yes, they have an updated version. Personally, I was hoping the Jaguar version would have stuck with the height-map/voxel type engine, the Jaguar does them well (PhaseZero, AtariOwl project).

Looking at the 3do videos it looks like the 3do version may be doing the polygons a little smoother. Wouldnt be surprising considering this was their first time programming on the Jaguar and they were most likely fumbling in the dark with a system with limited ability to do 3d.

[Gunstar]

JagChris, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:33 PM, said:

Gunstar, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:23 PM, said:

Jagman, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:26 AM, said:

JagChris, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:19 AM, said:

Jagman, on Thu Jun 9, 2011 11:35 PM, said:

just found out about this (from a Neo Geo forum of all places).. very cool! Too bad a missed the discount price. Also is the 3DO version of this game rare? There is one complete game on ebay going for 100 bucks. I figured it would be next to nothing like most 3DO games. If that's the case, it makes the Jaguar CD version much more appealing since it's unfortunatley not an exclusive.

Well it almost is among consoles. Neither the Saturn or PSX have it. Only the Jag and 3DO do. You can have something Playstation or Saturn owners can't. Think of it that way.

well that's more of less what I was thinking, because the 3DO version appears to be a bit rare and pricy nowadays. Plus, it looks like the 3DO and Jaguar version run on a more updated engine than say the DOS or Amiga version, but I could be wrong.. i've never played either version.

I've only ever actually played the 3DO version, but I have seen video on the PC, Mac, Amiga, Atari ST, Atari Falcon and recently some Jaguar footage. The 3DO and Jaguar look like they use a different type of engine, textured polygon, instead of voxel/heightmap that the computer versions use. If you consider textured polygons to be an update from Height-map/voxel engine, then yes, they have an updated version. Personally, I was hoping the Jaguar version would have stuck with the height-map/voxel type engine, the Jaguar does them well (PhaseZero, AtariOwl project).

Looking at the 3do videos it looks like the 3do version may be doing the polygons a little smoother. Wouldnt be surprising considering this was their first time programming on the Jaguar and they were most likely fumbling in the dark with a system with limited ability to do 3d.

Sorry, I edited in another paragraph while you were responding. As I said above, my experience at playing the 3DO version, and seeing Jaguar video, they look to have the same frame-rate. What I think you are seeing is that in the Jag version the distant hills/mountains can be seen in silhouette and the pop-up is a bit jerky; this is hidden in the 3DO version with the fog-effect they use

[JagChris]

Gunstar, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:45 PM, said:

JagChris, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:33 PM, said:

Gunstar, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:23 PM, said:

Jagman, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:26 AM, said:

JagChris, on Fri Jun 10, 2011 12:19 AM, said:

Jagman, on Thu Jun 9, 2011 11:35 PM, said:

just found out about this (from a Neo Geo forum of all places).. very cool! Too bad a missed the discount price. Also is the 3DO version of this game rare? There is one complete game on ebay going for 100 bucks. I figured it would be next to nothing like most 3DO games. If that's the case, it makes the Jaguar CD version much more appealing since it's unfortunatley not an exclusive.

Well it almost is among consoles. Neither the Saturn or PSX have it. Only the Jag and 3DO do. You can have something Playstation or Saturn owners can't. Think of it that way.

well that's more of less what I was thinking, because the 3DO version appears to be a bit rare and pricy nowadays. Plus, it looks like the 3DO and Jaguar version run on a more updated engine than say the DOS or Amiga version, but I could be wrong.. i've never played either version.

I've only ever actually played the 3DO version, but I have seen video on the PC, Mac, Amiga, Atari ST, Atari Falcon and recently some Jaguar footage. The 3DO and Jaguar look like they use a different type of engine, textured polygon, instead of voxel/heightmap that the computer versions use. If you consider textured polygons to be an update from Height-map/voxel engine, then yes, they have an updated version. Personally, I was hoping the Jaguar version would have stuck with the height-map/voxel type engine, the Jaguar does them well (PhaseZero, AtariOwl project).

Looking at the 3do videos it looks like the 3do version may be doing the polygons a little smoother. Wouldnt be surprising considering this was their first time programming on the Jaguar and they were most likely fumbling in the dark with a system with limited ability to do 3d.

Sorry, I edited in another paragraph while you were responding. As I said above, my experience at playing the 3DO version, and seeing Jaguar video, they look to have the same frame-rate. What I think you are seeing is that in the Jag version the distant hills/mountains can be seen in silhouette and the pop-up is a bit jerky; this is hidden in the 3DO version with the fog-effect they use

Well hurry up and get yours Gunny and tell us what you think!

I killed that tiger btw. Got like some crazy number of tiger steaks out of him. 50 or so along with some fur.

Edited by JagChris, Fri Jun 10, 2011 8:32 PM.

[kevincal]

No tiger blood for charlie sheen? lol

[JagChris]

I do like the PC versions voxel look. I think the Jaguar would of done this well.

[JagChris]

Hey at one time didnt the RR developers in some interview say the Jag wasnt well suited for Voxels or somesuch which is why they used polygons? Its obviously an incorrect statement so my memory is probably wrong.