Blog Changes & The 1-Console Challenge

Yes, I know.

I've been a little lax in my actual Transformer blogging, but I can honestly say that it hasn't been due to lack of trying or laziness.  Rather, it's been due to a variety of factors I think that are more on the positive side.

Ever since I returned to collecting back in 2011, I hit the Transformer scene hard doing my best to make up for lost time and catch up to my numerous years of absence, and for 4 years I did quite well. But, as with all things; time, wisdom, life and money have all played a factor in getting to where I am now.  I have two young children that require attention.  I moved last year and renos kept me busy for a god part of 2015.  I think my OCD in terms of only buying items in a certain condition is only getting worse I fear. eBay prices have become absolutely ridiculous, and along with the exchange rate and shipping charges I've had to become more picky in what I buy online.  My two weekly podcasts, Transformers & Beer and STCPod are fun but time draining. And on top of it all, I've returned to retro gaming.collecting which pulling some of my budget away from my Transformers buying.

As such, I've had to re-evaluate my collecting habits, as well as to how I'll be proceeding with my future postings.  If I will be splitting my purchases, then logically my posts will be reflection of this as well.  Never fear Transformer collectors, this blog started off as a Transformer blog and it will still predominately be one.....just one sprinkled with my video game pick ups whenever they occur.

To pick a single console and only play video games on it for the entire year of 2016. 

I have been called out....


......though not in the sinister way that you might see in the movies. Nope. Not even close.  In actuality, it could be considered a punishment of some sort (if you are into playing multiple systems at the same time) that the boys of the Retro Fandango Podcast wish to "share" with others; though they will deny this and officially call it a challenge.

As a member of the Cartridge Club gaming community (www.CartridgeClub.org), I have had the sincere pleasure of meeting and talking to a wide variety of exceptional individuals, all who share a common interest in video gaming.

Kevin (@Buried_On_Mars) & Richard (@TheRamVox) have issued out a challenge to the gaming community, based upon a question proposed to them by co-founder, P2 (@CartridgeBrosP2), of the Cartridge Club  of whether it was now possible to play just one game console for an entire year?

And thus the challenge was made....

For a full list of the rules of the contest CLICK HERE

At first, I didn't have any inclination of being a part of this since I already kind of do it.  I have tended to play with the latest system that's out until the next generation of it appears.  A little bit of this is out of my OCD since all my old systems are put away, and thus once put away, stay put away.  I just figured there would be no point in me doing the contest then since it wouldn't really feel like one to me.  But after thinking about it for some time, and with a little bit of advice from my co-host of STCPod.com, I've decided that I will accept this challenge. but I'm really going to make it a challenge for myself.

I have decided to play the............

This may seem like nothing really significant to some as it's just another gaming system. Yes, that's true....except for one thing.

I HAVE NEVER OWNED A SNES UNTIL 1 MONTH AGO.

For some reason, it had just been one of the systems that I had skipped buying, probably because I was a teenager at that point and just never saved up enough for it.  I did do the old Blockbuster 7 day rental program numerous times so I have played it along with many of its games.  I regret not buying it originally, but the serial number version I have of it now isn't 1st gen so it did work out, though the 3rd release of it would have been the best one to get as that is the 1-chip version (check for a serial number UN3XXXXXX). Almost all serial numbers starting with UN3 are a one chip.  Essentially, the 1-chips has the motherboard which produces the best picture.

Anyway, the one I have now was picked up for me by my brother from Kijiji for $50, no yellowing at all, 2 controllers and all hookup accessories.  He also gave me a few doubles; Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario Kart, Super Castlevania IV & The Legend of Zelda : A Link to The Past.

LEFT : Custom paint job my brother did to one of his SNES'
RIGHT : The one on the right is the one my brother picked up for me

So I don't have that many games to play at the moment, and I think that is the charm of deciding to go with this system.  I could have gone the route of the PS3 until I get the PS4, as I certainly own enough PS3 games to start. Also, if you have checked out the rules for this 1-Console Challenge, if the system has backwards capability, which mine does, I would also be able to play PS2 games on there of which I also have a number yet to finish.  Thus the decision to go SNES makes this a way more intriguing challenge since for me to continue playing all year, as to continue with the challenge I will have to further my SNES collection by continuing to buy games for it.  This also gives me the opportunity to do some more game write-ups as well.

So that's it for now.  Thanks for catching up with me.  Please continue to come back for Transformer posts and for my new game posts as I progress, or try to, through the entire new year of 2016 by just playing the SNES.

Keep on collecting!
Joe
@ACDecepticon