iPad Thoughts

My 3DS thoughts last week has a corollary: the iPad!

The iPad seems like a great device: I could read my favorite PDFs (like Houston Freeways), play all sorts of games in full screen (Monkey Island 2, Riven), and fly through Google Maps with my fingers. But there's a dark side. First, the cost: it's about $500, which, in comparison to a full-functioned laptop, still seems like too much (and especially for the fact that it's meant to complement a home computer, not replace it). Secondly, the DRM, while not as bad as Nintendo, is a bit frustrating. It doesn't use Flash, which is necessary for things my college homework (and some games, but that's besides the point). Thirdly, it doesn't have buttons, which is bad because it makes typing and playing games especially much harder (thankfully some add-on accessories do the trick). Fourthly, there's only ONE App Store, controlled by Apple. While it does have some degree of quality control, Steve Jobs largely has control over it, often removing apps at his own discretion. Many things have been removed for a variety of reasons: everything from pornography to religion. Additionally, emulators are also off-limits (except for maybe an Apple IIGS emulator. Of course, you can install more apps via jailbreaking, but wouldn't it be nice if you could download the apps you want without having resort to that?

Currently Playing: Retro-Fuelled Adventures

I used to be on a Nintendo-themed forum a long time ago before the jerks got the favor of the forum administrator and the atmosphere became very vulgar and hostile. Needless to say, I am no longer a part of it.

However, it was the first Internet forum I ever joined, and I did like a few threads of it, including a thread called "Currently Playing". I made some updates on it, the last of which being on August 4th 2010, where I mentioned I was currently playing

- New Super Mario Bros. Wii
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX

Of course, those options change. For a while in early 2011, it was SimCity 4 all the way, and I've gone through other phases, including Classic Macintosh gaming.

Right now, however, I'm using my Wii controller (hooked up via DarwiinRemote) to play two classic games, Super NES-style.

Naturally, it's emulators (not a real SNES) but it's these two games (which I alternate between):

-The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
-Pokémon Yellow

Now I've played both games before, but never beaten them. Well, A Link to the Past I sort of did, but it was using a GameShark to prevent damage and excessive freeze/defrost. Now, I only use freeze/defrost very sparingly (boss battles only, and even that once or twice). Currently, I'm on Ice Palace and facing one of the hardest puzzles in the entire game (later removed for the GBA version), in which you have to push a block down a hole (just Googled that right now). Pokémon I've never fully finished (my brother did, though), and intend to beat it and use the GameShark function (built-in) to get all 151. Like a "true" SNES, I use the Super Game Boy border. And in case you're wondering, currently I'm in Pokémon Tower (about halfway done with the game, maybe).