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Post by Stan on Apr 9, 2009 16:26:16 GMT
Well, CRV's brining out a sport's title for us this time around. It's one I've been meaning to play, so it's time to pull it out and see what it has to offer. The pick this time is: [glow=red,2,300]SUMMER GAMES[/glow] Here are some screenshots from the database:    I actually haven't played it myself, so I don't have anything to say yet, but I will soon. Have at it! |
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Post by janlazer on Apr 9, 2009 16:52:42 GMT
Dagnabbit. Don't have that one.
Time for emulation.
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Post by CRV on Apr 10, 2009 11:55:47 GMT
I don't have this one, either, but I chose it because I'm currently interviewing Hitoshi Akashi, CEO of Beyond Interactive, for my site. He used to work for a developer called Zap, where he served as director and programmer on the SMS version of Summer Games.
Contrasting this with the C64 version (which I do own on the C64DTV), the SMS version has more colorful graphics and some nice music, but lacks the smooth animation of the C64 version. The SMS version is also missing some events: the 4x400 meter relay, freestyle swimming, and skeet shoot (is the C64 version supposed to have rowing?; the C64DTV version doesn't).
Worth noting is the 1988 Sega copyright on the title screen. That makes sense as Akashi was working for Zap at that time. The back cover of the box, however, has a 1991 copyright. That means the game must have been delayed about three years!
Anybody know how to control the swimming sections (either version)?
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Post by grolt on Apr 10, 2009 17:01:05 GMT
Cool recommendation, I've always meant to play this. Apart from playing California Games briefly I really haven't played any of Epyx's "Games" series. Has Akashi said anything interesting about the port yet?
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Post by grolt on Apr 11, 2009 7:05:43 GMT
So I gave this a run tonight while I was waiting for projects to render. Not bad. As is typical with any culmination of mini games, some are better than others. There is actually some nice technique to the gymnastics bit, since you have to jump, vault, spin and then keep your balance for the landing. It's by far my favorite of the meager five events. The pole vault also requires a bit of timing, but it's nicely simple. The dive is sort of a joke, since you just have to mash the two buttons and watch your choppy figure move around, hoping that he'll land properly. The ratings from each judge after is kind of fun, though. The other two are your typical button mash to get your guy to the finish kind of levels, one with running and one with swimming. To accomplish the swimming, CRV, just hit Button 1 as fast as you can. I haven't had a chance to try the Rapid Fire on this, but I'd imagine it would work wonders as it does in many other track and field games on other systems. The game definitely feels as if it is lacking a few events; I'd imagine the aforementioned C64 version feels like a much more complete whole. The graphics are colorful, but drawn so far away it's tough to really get involved. It'd be nice if they'd cut to close ups after finishing an event or something. Imagine a movie composed entirely of wide shots...it just doesn't work, and it doesn't work here. The music is very prevalent and definitely fills the space, although for me no track really left an impression. I did like how whichever of the eight countries you choose (of which Canada is not one of them  you'd think the G8 would be the perfect list for a game like this, but no!) it'll play the national anthem to get you all jazzed. You haven't lived until you've heard God Save the Queen on SMS hardware. I mostly just practiced or competed in single events, so I don't know if there are some other nice bonuses depending on how you do during the actual competition. I'll have to give that a go next, but so far it's nice, short, forgetful and sometimes fun. |
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Phil
Sonic the Hedgehog
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Post by Phil on Apr 11, 2009 11:05:39 GMT
I had a blast at this yesterday and this is what I concluded:
Pole Vault is pretty simple to master. Press down to plant the vault in the hole and then up/right and button 1 to release the guy over the bar at the right moment. It does get harder obviously as the bar is raised. I managed 5 metres 80, but once you find your limit this event soons becomes pretty boring.
Swimming is a joke since you're the only guy in the pool..no other swimmers to contend with! You only have to press button 1 as fast as you can in this event and try to get the best time. Not having to race against anyone makes this event dull as dishwater. At least with Olympic Gold you have 2 opponents and different heats.
The 100 metres is yet another button bashing event, this time you have at least 1 guy to race against!! You also have to use both buttons in this event which you press alternatively in quick succession. I quite like running events in general and although the computer opponent is very easy to beat, it's good fun.
Diving is an event which you'll probably spend the most time perfecting, trying making sure you do enough to impress the judges. Making sure you can straighten up before you hit the water is a good start I found!
Gymnastics is one event not included on the Olympic Gold cartridge, but is it any good? It's short but definitely sweet. You start running, jump on the springboard and land on the horse. It's then up to you to do a somesault and land gracefully on the mat.
I found this the most difficult event, it's pretty hard to get the girl to land on her feet and when you do she'll still end up losing her balance and falling on her arse! I only managed to get a decent score twice whilst playing this, it's an event I'll definitely be going back to you. I don't like to be beaten!!!
The graphics are definitely not this games strong point. The athletes are small and badly animated, whilst the backgrounds contain little detail. It's a 1988 conversion of a 1984 game, but the graphics are very poor even by 1988 standards!
The music is just above average but does become annoying after a while. Some on the national anthems sound mangled especially East Germany's!
This game is definitely for a group of people (up to 8 infact) but finding another 7 people who would want to play this is a different matter. It was crap when it was released and it's even crappier now!
You might find some challenge with friends, but as a solo player, beating the world records is pretty simple. You'll soon become bored of trying to beat your previous times, infact it just feels like a practice not the real olympics!
Also, another gripe with this version of Summer Games is that is only has a measely 5 events. Why did Sega decide to leave certain events out? I think I would have been cheesed off shelling £24.99 back in the day and getting half a game....
I know Olympic Gold was released much later in '92 but it's so much better than this offering that I find no reason to play Summer Games. Diving and Gymnastics are fun, but I'd stick with Gold as the graphics, gameplay and overall presentation are far superior.
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Post by CRV on Apr 11, 2009 11:50:12 GMT
Has Akashi said anything interesting about the port yet? Luckily, some new answers came in Friday morning. The game was being done for Sega of America. The sound was done at Sega of Japan; specifically, the person who did the sound on Columns was in charge of sound (I guess that's Tokuhiko Uwabo). Imagine a movie composed entirely of wide shots...it just doesn't work, and it doesn't work here. That's pretty much all the Epyx "Games" games. Unlike the SMS version, the C64 version has no music during the events. I did like how whichever of the eight countries you choose (of which Canada is not one of them you'd think the G8 would be the perfect list for a game like this, but no!) it'll play the national anthem to get you all jazzed. The C64 version has 18 countries including Canada and Epyx. |
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Phil
Sonic the Hedgehog
Posts: 2,195
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Post by Phil on Apr 11, 2009 16:28:50 GMT
Whoever did the sound especially those anthems should have been fired  |
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Post by grolt on Apr 11, 2009 17:54:44 GMT
Has Akashi said anything interesting about the port yet? Luckily, some new answers came in Friday morning. The game was being done for Sega of America. The sound was done at Sega of Japan; specifically, the person who did the sound on Columns was in charge of sound (I guess that's Tokuhiko Uwabo). Interesting. You should ask him why the title was delayed for so long. It's funny that even after the system had long been dead in Japan there was still plenty of Master System work for years to come there, even if they'd never see the light of day in the land of the rising sun. |
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Phil
Sonic the Hedgehog
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Post by Phil on Apr 11, 2009 19:51:21 GMT
Summer Games was reviewed in issue 11 of Sega S magazine which is October's 1990 issue. I'm guessing the game wasn't released until early 1991, it must have been delayed a bit. Otherwise why review a game you can't buy for another 4 months or so....
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Post by CRV on Apr 12, 2009 12:51:46 GMT
Interesting. You should ask him why the title was delayed for so long. It's funny that even after the system had long been dead in Japan there was still plenty of Master System work for years to come there, even if they'd never see the light of day in the land of the rising sun. He wasn't sure if the game had been released at all. More answers coming in...They weren't given any code or assets, but they did look at Summer Games on another platform, perhaps the PC-88, PC-98, or Sharp X1 (Japanese personal computers). The reason he thought it was one of those was because Communicate (the first company he worked at) was finishing up Summer Games when he was hired there (Communicate did computer games). |
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Post by grolt on May 14, 2009 0:59:29 GMT
Any other answers, CRV?
And Stan, who's up next, we're past a month now!
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Post by Stan on May 14, 2009 4:48:51 GMT
I need to still pull this one out. I was all ready too when the semester was about to end and then I got a nasty cut on my eye. Healed, and then a few days later opened up again! Now I can finally look at a TV long enough to play it! I'll be going home for a few days, so next week we'll try to set up the next game, depending on who responds first.
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Post by grolt on May 14, 2009 4:53:52 GMT
I need to still pull this one out. I was all ready too when the semester was about to end and then I got a nasty cut on my eye. Healed, and then a few days later opened up again! Now I can finally look at a TV long enough to play it! I'll be going home for a few days, so next week we'll try to set up the next game, depending on who responds first. Your fingers and wrists will need to be in top shape, too, if you plan on even completing a lap in the swimming event! |
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Post by CRV on May 18, 2009 13:21:34 GMT
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you'd think the G8 would be the perfect list for a game like this, but no!) it'll play the national anthem to get you all jazzed. You haven't lived until you've heard God Save the Queen on SMS hardware.