Episode 022 – The Oregon Trail I and II (1971-1996)
Episode 022 – The Oregon Trail I + II (1971-1996)
This week in Your Parents Basement, we are doing our best to survive snake bites, drowning, snake bites, cholera, snake bites, dysentery and snake bites! Originally released in 1971, and with many good re-releases culminating in a second installment in 1996, we’re playing The Oregon Trail and The Oregon Trail II!
You can manually download this week’s rugged podcast here, or subscribe to the show via the iTunes store. To manually subscribe, use this link in the device / podcast player of choice. You can also follow us on Twitter, or ‘like’ us on Facebook.
As always, if you like the show, support us by buying from Amazon! You can use this link to go to Amazon, and any purchase you make will kick a couple bucks to the show, with no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Want to have an email or comment read on the air? Send us a message on the ole Twitter or Facebook, or, shoot that mail to parentsbasementpodcast@gmail.com.
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 – Intro, which is the main traveling theme from The Oregon Trail II. It varies depending on the condition of your group.
- 49:45 – Brisket has a new game that’s already sweeping the nation, getting fanfare and triumphant applause. It’s !
- 58:30 – Emails. We hear from an old friend, and talk about our favorite Mario accessories.
- 1:13:45 – Snifferoo. (It’s from here, not the actual game, unfortunately.)
SHOW NOTES
– Brisket’s Twitch account is available here, where you can see footage of him playing The Oregon Trail II and past YPB games.
– As mentioned on the show, you can play The Oregon Trail and its various incarnations online for free nowadays. If you’re looking for a specific hard copy, the price tends to range from $3.50 to $10 for the game itself. If you want the box and manuals, it ranges from $4 to $22, according to Price Charting.
– Rare has made a ton of games. Wikipedia has the full list here.
Episode 021 – Black Tiger (1987)
Episode 021 – Black Tiger (1987)
This week in Your Parents Basement, we are skulking about neon-lighted dungeons and whipping with our flail past zombies and Venus fly traps! From 1987, we’re playing Black Tiger, an arcade classic for special guest Paul, a.k.a. Pascal’s Pager. NOTE: This week’s episode contains some especially blue language, especially toward the end! You’ve been warned.
You can manually download this week’s zenny podcast here, or subscribe to the show via the iTunes store. To manually subscribe, use this link in the device / podcast player of choice. You can also follow us on Twitter, or ‘like’ us on Facebook.
As always, if you like the show, support us by buying from Amazon! You can use this link to go to Amazon, and any purchase you make will kick a couple bucks to the show, with no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Want to have an email or comment read on the air? Send us a message on the ole Twitter or Facebook, or, shoot that mail to parentsbasementpodcast@gmail.com.
Today’s guest is the co-host of AfterPod, which is a daily podcast show that reviews The Adam Carolla Show and other podcasts. For more information, check out their website, and if you like Paul be sure to subscribe to AfterPod on iTunes as well!
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 – Intro, which consists of the triumphant ending music from the game.
- 58:00 – Emails. We hear from an old friend, and talk about our favorite Mario accessories.
- 1:20:45 – Snifferoo.
SHOW NOTES
– The main image comes from an old sales flyer for the game, from this site.
– Unfortunately, there are no arcade cabinets for Black Tiger on eBay currently. Another game that Paul mentioned, Rastan, is going for $300 and it doesn’t even work. As mentioned on the show though, it is available in the Capcom Classics Collection for the Xbox and Playstation 2. According to Price Charting, it goes for around $25 used, $40 new. If you’re fine with not having a physical copy, it is included in the Capcom Arcade Cabinet, which is downloadable for most systems.
– On the show, Steve mentioned the ridiculous outfit of the female lead in Tales of Hearts R. You can see it here. There are also alternate costumes like a swimsuit and schoolgirl outfit, if that’s not weird enough for you.
GUEST REQUEST
This week, we’re recording a show on The Oregon Trail. If you’re interested in taking part, either via comments or guesting, shoot us an email!
Episode 020 – River City Ransom (1989)
Episode 020 – River City Ransom (1989)
This week in Your Parents Basement, we are trying to rescue one of our girlfriend’s by fighting through hordes of high school gangs and potentially murdering them! From 1989, we’re playing River City Ransom by Technos Japan.
You can manually download this week’s weapon-fueled podcast here, or subscribe to the show via the iTunes store. To manually subscribe, use this link in the device / podcast player of choice. You can also follow us on Twitter, or ‘like’ us on Facebook.
As always, if you like the show, support us by buying from Amazon! You can use this link to go to Amazon, and any purchase you make will kick a couple bucks to the show, with no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Want to have an email or comment read on the air? Send us a message on the ole Twitter or Facebook, or, shoot that mail to parentsbasementpodcast@gmail.com.
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 – Intro. This is a sweet cover of the “Boss Theme” from River City Ransom by Sergio Elisondo. He also does a cover of past YPB topics Contra. You can find our episode on that game here.
- 49:20 – Emails. The gang talks motion games (and mostly slags on them), and the past games from 20 years ago, in honor of Show #20.
- 1:05:00 – Snifferoo.
SHOW NOTES
– Todd Brisket mentioned that he does Twitch from time to time. You can find his account here, which has the benefit of providing some peeks at his play sessions for past and future YPB games.
– Patrick Klepek of Kotaku had the most recent update on the sequel, River City Ransom: Underground, in October. Although the status of the game was up in the air after Arc System Works acquired the rights for River City Ransom and Double Dragon, the only thing unknown now is when the sequel will actually release. Siliconera had the original article on Arc System Works acquiring the licenses.
– Juese Cutler submits a piece on Cultured Vultures about the demise of X-Strike Studios, which had planned video game adaptions of things like River City Ransom. It’s very… long, but hey, maybe you’ll find it interesting?
– River City Ransom is available for $4.99 on the Nintendo eShop for the 3DS, Wii and Wii U. At least according to most reviews, it’s faithful to the original NES version, and not the Game Boy Advance version that changed a few aspects here and there.
– According to Price Charting, actual carts for River City Ransom are fairly pricey. The game itself for NES runs between $25 to $40. The box and manual ups the price range, $60 to $80. The Game Boy Advance version, which isn’t held in such high esteem, goes for $15 to $25 for just the cart, but the box and manual only ups the range to $20 to $40.
– The list of prominent games from 20 years ago can be seen here on Wikipedia. There is also this REALLY long list here on IMDb.
Episode 019 – Tecmo Bowl (1989) and Tecmo Super Bowl (1991)
Episode 019 – Tecmo Bowl (1989) and Tecmo Super Bowl (1991)
This week in Your Parents Basement, we’re getting ready for the start of the NFL season by fading back with classic signal callers like Boomer Esasion and QB Eagles! We’re playing Tecmo Bowl and Tecmo Super Bowl, both for the NES, from 1989 and 1991, respectively.
You can manually download this week’s sportsball podcast here, or subscribe to the show via the iTunes store. To manually subscribe, use this link in the device / podcast player of choice. You can also follow us on Twitter, or ‘like’ us on Facebook.
As always, if you like the show, support us by buying from Amazon! You can use this link to go to Amazon, and any purchase you make will kick a couple bucks to the show, with no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Want to have an email or comment read on the air? Send us a message on the ole Twitter or Facebook, or, shoot that mail to parentsbasementpodcast@gmail.com.
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 – Intro. Going through a play and scorin’ a touchdown, from this YouTube video.
- 49:00 – Emails. The gang talks Crusader Kings 2 and their “favorite” movies from vidya games.
- 1:11:00 – Snifferoo.
SHOW NOTES
– For the version of Tecmo Super Bowl with updated rosters, check out the invaluable website resource for the game, TecmoBowl.org. Rosters for the 2015 season aren’t out quite yet, but it’ll probably be any day now, with the season about to start. This is also the site to go to if you’re looking for some online head-to-head, or anything else Tecmo Bowl-related.
– The mini-documentary on Tecmo Bowl and Tecmo Super Bowl is available to watch on YouTube. It’s a 25-minute film by ESPN2, the NFL Network and NFL Films, and has interviews with competitive players and the most well-known players from the game.
– ESPN covered Bo Jackson on their awesome documentary series, 30 for 30. The name of the documentary was You Don’t Know Bo. For more info, check out their website.
– The ESPN show on John Madden Football didn’t run for two years… It ran for four god damn years! Good lord. If you really want information on Madden Nation, Wikipedia has a rundown.
– There hasn’t been an especially exhaustive oral history on Tecmo Bowl or Tecmo Super Bowl yet. Uni Watch has an OK one here, which gets into the licensing issue with Randall Cunningham and Bernie Kosar a little bit.
– According to Price Charting, used carts for the original Tecmo Bowl are pretty affordable, at around $7. If you want the manual and box, the price increases, from $15 to $20. Tecmo Super Bowl is pricier, around $15 for just the car, and $25 to $30 for the box and manual. (It’s worth it, though.) The Genesis and SNES versions are more expensive, with the second one costing around $35 for the loose cart, and $60 to $100 for the box and manual. The second one only had a limited run, and isn’t really any better than the third, just rarer.
– The game Brisket mentions in the email segment, Crusader Kings II, is on sale at WinGameStore for $7.99. It’s also available in various collections on Steam for the full price, which is around $40.
– The Mega Man movie was first reporting by a site called the Tracking Board. Their news item on it is here. The site that reported a Golden Axe movie has since taken it down, and the Borderlands movie has been rumored on tons of places on the ole Internet.
GUEST REQUEST
For next week’s show, we’re covering River City Ransom! If you’re interested in guesting, shoot an email to parentsbasementpodcast@gmail.com.
Episode 018 – Myst (1993)
Episode 018 – Myst (1993)
This week in Your Parents Basement, we’re opening books to unravel the mysteries of a family squabble on a mystical island. From 1993, we’re playing the game that spurred folks to buy a CD-ROM, Myst! And on this week’s show, we have a special guest, friend of the show Jovial Jackee.
You can manually download this week’s mystical podcast here, or subscribe to the show via the iTunes store. To manually subscribe, use this link in the device / podcast player of choice. You can also follow us on Twitter, or ‘like’ us on Facebook.
As always, if you like the show, support us by buying from Amazon! You can use this link to go to Amazon, and any purchase you make will kick a couple bucks to the show, with no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Want to have an email or comment read on the air? Send us a message on the ole Twitter or Facebook, or, shoot that mail to parentsbasementpodcast@gmail.com.
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 – Intro. “The Tower” theme from Myst.
- 47:45 – Emails. Jackee sticks around, and the gang talks Katamari Damacy and music peripheral games.
- 1:01:00 – Snifferoo.
SHOW NOTES
– There are several playthroughs of Myst online, such as this one.
– The storyline of Myst and its various sequels is incredibly complex and tangled, but Wikipedia does a decent job of hashing it all out here. And as you can imagine, TV Tropes has quite a bit of fun with the series.
– For more information on the annual Myst convention, Mysterium, visit their website.
– According to Price Charting, Myst is pretty affordable nowadays, if you want a physical copy. The PC edition is around $4, although as we said on the show, it can be a bit finicky to get to work. On Steam, the updates and re-releases of Myst go for around $6. Some of the rarer console versions, like 3D0, Jaguar and CD-I, range from $10 to $20.
– Myst has a game spoofing it, called… Pyst. The concept is a tour of the island after four million people have toured it, and includes solutions to puzzles from the game scribbled on scenario. It got so-so reviews, and it’s out of print now. Oddly enough, this causes it to be worth more than Pyst, around $8 used to $20 new.
GUEST REQUEST
For next week’s show, we’re covering Tecmo Bowl and Tecmo Super Bowl! If you’re interested in guesting, shoot an email to parentsbasementpodcast@gmail.com.
Episode 017 – Smash TV (1992)
Episode 017 – Smash TV (1992)
This week in Your Parents Basement, we’re shooting through hordes of baseball bat swinging mooks for the chance to win a year’s supply of good meat! From 1992, we’re playing the Super Nintendo’s Smash TV, also sometimes called Super Smash TV. (It’s kind of a thing for games on that system – more than 70 have ‘super’ somewhere in the title.)
You can manually download this week’s gore-tastic podcast here, or subscribe to the show via the iTunes store. To manually subscribe, use this link in the device / podcast player of choice. You can also follow us on Twitter, or ‘like’ us on Facebook.
As always, if you like the show, support us by buying from Amazon! You can use this link to go to Amazon, and any purchase you make will kick a couple bucks to the show, with no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Want to have an email or comment read on the air? Send us a message on the ole Twitter or Facebook, or, shoot that mail to parentsbasementpodcast@gmail.com.
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 – Intro.
- 49:30 – Emails. Todd explains his absence from last week, and the guys talk scary vidya game experiences.
- 1:05:00 – The return of the ToddBitSkit!
- 1:08:00 – Snifferoo.
SHOW NOTES
– There are plenty of good videos on Smash TV on the Internets! Here’s a speedrun in 28 minutes, and a longer play of more than an hour.
– According to Price Charting, Super Smash TV is about $16 for the loose cart. If you want the manual and box, the price shoots up to $40, and new or perfect condition copies run $115 currently. There are also inferior home versions available for the NES, Game Gear and Genesis, all of which run for $6 to $8.
– As mentioned on the show, Smash TV used to be available on the online stores, but it was taken down after Midway went bankrupt and got sold in 2010. It is available in Midway Arcade Origins, a compilation disc for the PS3 and 360 released in 2012. Although some of the games in that collection have iffy controls, Smash TV is still pretty solid. It’s available used for about $10, new for $20.
– The “sequel” to Smash TV is called Total Carnage, although it’s more of a spiritual successor as opposed to a straight continuation. It’s not nearly as well-reviewed or popular though.
Episode 016 – Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City (1994)
Episode 016 – Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City (1994)
This week in Your Parents Basement, we’re throwing down dunks for fire basketball power-ups! From 1994, we’re playing the much-forgotten Michael Jordan: Chaos in the Windy City, a SNES-exclusive from Electronic Arts. Today’s special guest is Steve’s buddy Dale!
You can manually download this week’s wonderful podcast here, or subscribe to the show via the iTunes store. To manually subscribe, use this link in the device / podcast player of choice. You can also follow us on Twitter, or ‘like’ us on Facebook.
As always, if you like the show, support us by buying from Amazon! You can use this link to go to Amazon, and any purchase you make will kick a couple bucks to the show, with no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Want to have an email or comment read on the air? Send us a message on the ole Twitter or Facebook, or, shoot that mail to parentsbasementpodcast@gmail.com.
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 – The intro, which is not The Police, but is from a stage in the game.
- 1:00 – Todd’s not here, man.
- 46:00 – Emails. There could be foul play involved with this week’s show, and not enough video game questions.
- 60:30 – Snifferoo.
SHOW NOTES
– According to Price Charting, a copy of Chaos in the Windy City costs about $7 for the cart itself. If you want a new copy, or just one with the box and manual, it’s around $20 to $40.
– For a play-through of the game, with some commentary, check out this YouTube video. The speed run video is around 44 minutes, and available here.
– There isn’t much info on this game available on the web, since it isn’t “so bad it’s funny” like Shaq Fu. (And hey, reminder – We reviewed that one too!) However, as mentioned on the show, this game was the first one designed by Amy Hennig, who would go on to design and develop some much better games.
GUEST REQUEST
For next week’s show, we’re covering Smash TV! If you’d like to participate, shoot an email to parentsbasementpodcast@gmail.com. Recording time will be 11 p.m. EST Wednesday.
Episode 015 – Little Samson (1992)
Episode 015 – Little Samson (1992)
This week in Your Parents Basement, we’re defeating evil wizards as a dragon, a golem and a mouse in one of the most valuable NES games out there. From 1992 and near the end of the NES lifespan, we’re playing Little Samson, with special guest DJ!
You can manually download this week’s wonderful podcast here, or subscribe to the show via the iTunes store. To manually subscribe, use this link in the device / podcast player of choice. You can also follow us on Twitter, or ‘like’ us on Facebook.
As always, if you like the show, support us by buying from Amazon! You can use this link to go to Amazon, and any purchase you make will kick a couple bucks to the show, as no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Want to have an email or comment read on the air? Send us a message on the ole Twitter or Facebook, or, shoot that mail to parentsbasementpodcast@gmail.com.
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 – The intro, which is the end boss theme for Little Samson.
- 38:15 – Emails. Cul-de-sacs and wrestling video game talk.
- 52:00 – Snifferoo.
SHOW NOTES
– During the show, DJ mentions a video that gets into the history of Little Samson. It’s by a neat YouTube creator, the Gaming Historian, and it can be viewed here.
– Want to collect every NES game? Titles like Little Samson make it tough. John Blanco at Jinja Bobot has a good list of the toughest finds, which includes Little Samson, Panic Restaurant, and the Nintendo World Championship carts.
– The video game value site that Steve mentions, Price Charting, can be found here. It’s a pretty nifty resource for buying and selling games. As publicity on Little Samson’s rareness has increased, so has its value, from the $90 range in 2008 to around $150 in 2011, $500 in 2013 and $700 to $800 in 2015. If you want the manual and box, you can add a surcharge ranging from 15 percent to 50 percent. To see Little Samson’s entry on the site, click here.
– For a gameplay video on Little Samson, click here. The best speed run of the game is in about 10 minutes.
Episode 014 – Contra (1988)
Episode 014 – Contra (1988)
This week in Your Parents Basement, we are fighting our way through jungles, the tundra and H.R. Giger styled bases to strike at the heart of the alien invasion! That’s right, we’re playing that classic run-and-gun shooter from 1988, Contra! With special guest and Contra virtuoso Backsack! (He got to the ice stage without losing a life!)
You can manually download this week’s wonderful podcast here, or subscribe to the show via the iTunes store. To manually subscribe, use this link in the device / podcast player of choice. You can also follow us on Twitter, or ‘like’ us on Facebook.
As always, if you like the show, support us by buying from Amazon! You can use this link to go to Amazon, and any purchase you make will kick a couple bucks to the show, as no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Want to have an email or comment read on the air? Send us a message on the ole Twitter or Facebook, or, shoot that mail to parentsbasementpodcast@gmail.com.
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 – The intro, which features music from video game music cover band The Minibosses.
- 44:15 – Emails. The gang talks guilty playshures games.
- 1:02:00 – Snifferoo.
SHOW NOTES
– As mentioned in the timestamps, the main theme this week is by video game music cover band The Minibosses. Besides Contra, they do a lot of other cool tunes that you should check out. The sound effects from Contra were gotten from this nifty site.
– Amazingly, some people can play Contra even better than Backsack! There are various speedruns on YouTube, such as this one in 10:11, which seems to be the world record as of 2012. It tends to be a popular pick for charity gaming sessions and what not.
– The resemblance between the heroes of Contra and 1980s action movie heroes has not gone unnoticed over the years.
– While we spoke briefly about all of the weird post-Contra Contra games out there, we didn’t talk about the cost of the game. It’s actually somewhat pricey on eBay, with the cost ranging from $25 to $40 for just the game itself. The box and the manual ups it to $70. There is a similar price range for the NES sequel Super C. It oddly has not had a re-release on the Xbox or Playstation stores, but it is included on various Konami classic releases for the Nintendo DS and PC.
– Clu Clu Land was mentioned several times by Backsack. You can read more about the game on its Wikipedia page. Or, see it in action on YouTube!
– The weird video game simulation series Steve was talking about, GameBiz, can be downloaded here. There are three installments out, but oddly, they each add and subtract good things. The first is the best at single game development. The second adds the ability to train staff (which is very annoying to do) and multiple game development. The third lets you also develop hardware (which takes forever).
Episode 013 – Comix Zone (1995)
Comix Zone (1995)
This week in Your Parents Basement, we’re getting transported into an alternate dimension to fight comic book monsters! We’re playing Comix Zone on the Sega Genesis, a game with awesome artwork but frustrating play issues.
You can manually download this week’s podcast here, or subscribe to the show via the iTunes store. To manually subscribe, use this link in the device / podcast player of choice. You can also follow us on Twitter, or ‘like’ us on Facebook.
As always, if you like the show, support us by buying from Amazon! You can use this link to go to Amazon, and any purchase you make will kick a couple bucks to the show, as no extra cost to you. It’s a win-win!
Want to have an email or comment read on the air? Send us a message on the ole Twitter or Facebook, or, shoot that mail to parentsbasementpodcast@gmail.com.
TIMESTAMPS
- 0:00 – The intro, which features the main title theme from Comix Zone.
- 37:50 – The ole YPB email box!
- 1:01:45 – The snifferoo for next week’s episode.
SHOW NOTES
– We mention the Japanese box art on the show, which is shared by Brisket. You can find it here. It’s not NSFW, but it’s not exactly normal either.
– Also at several points, we mention the music video for “Take On Me” by A-ha, which you can read about on Wikipedia here. If you’ve somehow never seen it, it is on YouTube.
– Want to see a ridiculous speedrun of Comix Zone in 12:36? As usual, YouTube delivers.
– Interested in Game Center CX? You should be, it’s oddly hypnotizing to watch! Arino’s challenge of Comix Zone is here.
– Comix Zone starts at around $10 on Amazon, although the box and manual adds around $20 to the purchase price. As we said on the show, the game is available on Steam and online console stores for $3 and $5, respectively.
Your Parents Basement 
