Midway Arcade Treasures

Midway just announced a monster compilation disc called Midway Arcade Treasures for release this fall on Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube, and Microsoft X-Box. It will have the following games on it:

Spy Hunter
Defender II
Gauntlet
Joust
Paperboy
Rampage
Marble Madness
Robotron: 2084
Smash TV
Joust 2
Bubbles
RoadBlasters
Blaster
Rampart
Sinistar
Super Sprint
720°
Toobin
Klax
SPLAT!
Satan's Hollow
Vindicators

GameSpot reported this exciting news tonight, which you can read if you click here. The disc will also include interviews with the creators and developers, as well as multiplayer support for two players. Hopefully, the games that originally supported three or four players will also do so here.

This is one of the most exciting video game announcements of the year for me! I'm looking forward to learning more about it!

HOLY SHIT!!!

Even though I already own some these games on their PSX compelations, I will be buying this one without hesitation.

Oh man, I hope they have new interviews as well!

And please, oh please, give Robotron dual analog support like they did with Smash TV.

Now all I need is for them to realse a compilation with all the Mortal Kombats, Nba Jams, Revolution X, and Total Carnage and I'll be set.

If I could push money into my PC monitor to make it spit out the game faster, I would. Dual analog Robotron is going to make me a happy, happy person. :)

And Sinistar, and Spy Hunter, and Toobin, and...

James

this compilation is completely rock. i love nearly every game listed. especially robotron.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Regus
Now all I need is for them to realse a compilation with all the Mortal Kombats, Nba Jams, Revolution X, and Total Carnage and I'll be set.

---

don't forget narc! not the greatest game, but damn that rocket launcher is fun.

Nice, even though almost all of these games came out on Playstation already. Still, Satan's Hollow has never been rereleased before and I look forward to shooting that flying Satan head again.

PS controllers do kick ass at simulating dual sticks as proved by Battlezone and Black Widow in Atari Anniversary Redux.

Woo! A perfect version of Smash TV makes this one a must buy, the rest is just icing on the cake.

JM

I have just about every compilation for the PSX and Dreamcast, so I'm not so eager to purchase this one. If the price is around $30, I'll defineatly pick it up for the chance to play Satan's Hollow again and the interview extra's.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Regus
HOLY SHIT!!!

---

Agreed.

(even though half of those games were made by Atari)

Despite having many of the games on various other platforms, I'm still excited. Hopefully it'll turn out as good as Activison Anthology.

I wish Nintendo would make some damn compilation discs. If they wanted some quick cash just make a disc with the 1st 3 Zeldas on it priced at $29.99. Put in a few extras and BANG instant hit.
I wish the Konami collection game for PC came out for consoles.
Contras plus Castlevainas, how sweet was that!?

Sleeveboy brings up a good point. Midway's compilations are never just Midway games which might mislead people who don't know. This one is a mix of Midway, Atari and Williams games.

EvilMog007,
Now why would they do that when they can just release one game per cart and charge $30 each on GBA? I'd love to see it though. It beats having to pray that your NES won't reset at a key moment in the game. I also wish Konami would've ported that Castlevania/Contra comp on consoles, but I'm not surprised they didn't. I doubt it would sell when almost everyone knows they can download the games for free. :(

Damn.

That's all I have to say.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by sleeveboy
Agreed.

(even though half of those games were made by Atari)

---

Because they owned the arcades in the 80's. Midway was a close second.

If the price is right, I'll buy it. Gauntlet, Smash TV, MARBLE MADNESS!!, and Robotron make it worth a purchase.

EB's website has the price at $30. They only list the Xbox version and it says it's coming November 3rd.

Yumtastic! Color me a purchaser!

I loved Road Blasters. I thought it was an Atari game, though.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by BoBVila
I loved Road Blasters. I thought it was an Atari game, though.

---

It was (see my above post).

Oh, oops. Well, I was going to comment on others too, but you beat me to those :P

That's a good start Midway now continue on that same path and offer us another just as impressive line up in Vol. 2, 3, etc.

Hopefully this compilation is the beginning of a set :)

That's awesome. All they're missing is MK2. :(

Yeah... sign me up.

WOW.... Just wow...

Smash TV, w00t.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Regus
And please, oh please, give Robotron dual analog support like they did with Smash TV.

---

For the love of God, why?


As for Marble Madness, unless you have a trackball, stick with the NES version.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Tonydoo
For the love of God, why?

---

Because that more closely mimics the dual-joystick setup ala the original arcade cab.

But yea, this disc seems awesome and I'll be picking it up on release make no mistake.

Play a few levels into Robotron with the analog sticks and you'll quickly realize that they're not going to get the job done.

Play with a dual X-Arcade unit and you'll be in heaven.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by cka
That's awesome. All they're missing is MK2. :(

---

No kidding. I'd actually told them more than once that they needed to release some sort of Mortal Kombat Kompilation. Kinda irks me that MK wasn't included in this list, but then there's always the future....

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Tonydoo
For the love of God, why?

---

Have you ever played Robotron before? Midway's Arcade Party Pack's version of Smash TV had dual analog support, and it was perfect. Would you rather control Robotron using the D-Pad and the Face Buttons?

Any word on a release date?

JM

Quote:

---

Originally posted by JM
Any word on a release date?

JM

---

Quote:

---

Originally posted by NeoZeedeater
EB's website has the price at $30. They only list the Xbox version and it says it's coming November 3rd.

---

Ach! Thanks.

JM

Quote:

---

Originally posted by epmode
don't forget narc! not the greatest game, but damn that rocket launcher is fun.

---

Word.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Regus
Would you rather control Robotron using the D-Pad and the Face Buttons?

---

With a Playstation controller: Absolutely
an XBox controller: Maybe
a Gamecube controller: No

I still want Narc and Total Carnage.

"I'd buy that for a dollar!"

http://conversatron.com/askees/smashtvh.gif

I can't wait to play Smash TV using the Xbox's two control sticks. While the dual shock version on the Arcade Party Pak was great, I can't help but feel the Xbox's sticks would work better. Can't wait to buy this compilation, the price is unbeatable, and the game selection is out of this world. I also think the GC pad would cripple some of these games, Smash TV in particular. Road Blasters and SpyHunter are reason enough for me to pick this puppy up. Everything else will be gravy.

This will more than likly be better than the Activision collection.

The problem with Activision is that they insist on only rereleasing their 2600 versions of games when they released many of the exact same games on far superior hardware.

Vindicators! Too bad Stun Runner didn't make the cut, but Road Blasters is close enough.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the Activison collection, this is just better.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by NeoZeedeater
The problem with Activision is that they insist on only rereleasing their 2600 versions of games when they released many of the exact same games on far superior hardware.

---

Yeah! I had Pitfall II on my C-64 and it was so much better than the Atari 2600 game.

Plus there's all the Activision games that never came out on 2600 at all like Zenji, Hacker, Ghostbusters, Alter Ego, etc.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Jeremy
I can't wait to play Smash TV using the Xbox's two control sticks. While the dual shock version on the Arcade Party Pak was great, I can't help but feel the Xbox's sticks would work better. Can't wait to buy this compilation, the price is unbeatable, and the game selection is out of this world. I also think the GC pad would cripple some of these games, Smash TV in particular. Road Blasters and SpyHunter are reason enough for me to pick this puppy up. Everything else will be gravy.

---

Oohh yeah. I agree with you whole-heartedly on that.

Bought the PS2 version yesterday.

I'm pretty pleased with it so far. Just about every game has analog support of some kind, which works out better in some games than others. Works great for Robotron and Smash TV, obviously, but less so in Spy Hunter where you have to use the right stick for gas. Toobin' is actually pretty cool when played with the analog sticks!

Sound quality is a little mixed. The Atari games (Marble Madness, Paperboy, Gauntlet, Roadblasters) sound great, although there are a few errors here and there (like missing sound effects in Paperboy). The Williams games sound much poorer in comparison, almost like they're in mono. The Midway games sound about as good as the Atari games.

Appearance-wise, the Atari and Midway games come out on the top of the heap. The Williams games look decent, but some have been shrunk down and/or letterboxed (Bubbles, Sinistar).

The interviews are great (especially the extensive footage of Eugene Jarvis talking about Robotron!) but the video quality is not the greatest.

Overall I'm pretty happy with this collection.

Picked it up yesterday too. Didn't get a chance to go through everything. Played Gauntlet, Rampage and Spy Hunter so far. Good stuff!

Are there alot of extras, like commericals, interviews, etc?...If it is anything like Activision Anthologies, I need to pick this up.

It should be noted that Smash TV runs at only 30 fps in the PS2 version. Or at least it did in our review copy. o_O Xbox had no speed problems.

And Videodrone, it kind of skimps on the historical extras. Most of it seems drawn from the past PSX releases.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skelly

It should be noted that Smash TV runs at only 30 fps in the PS2 version. Or at least it did in our review copy. o_O Xbox had no speed problems.

---

Hmm...

I read there were Smash TV frame rate issues cross platform...

If that's not the case, I'd pick up the xbox rev.

It may be that you read GameSpot's otherwise really good reviews, which happened to be identical for both PS2 and Xbox. I reviewed both for my site, though, and found Smash TV to run fine on Xbox and crap on PS2. Perhaps I am missing something a purist would notice on Xbox ... but it seemed fine.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skelly

And Videodrone, it kind of skimps on the historical extras. Most of it seems drawn from the past PSX releases.

---

That's a shame...but, it is only 20 bucks, so I'll probably still get it.

Just snatched it up today, and barring not being able to choose your character in Smash TV, Rampage, and Gauntlet, and the horrid hyroglyphics icons used for the games on the menu, and the crummy video quality for some of the videos, and not being able to have a "play all" option for the clips, I've got no complaints.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Just snatched it up today, and barring not being able to choose your character in Smash TV, Rampage, and Gauntlet, and the horrid hyroglyphics icons used for the games on the menu, and the crummy video quality for some of the videos, and not being able to have a "play all" option for the clips, I've got no complaints.

---

By "not being able to choose your character", do you mean that the characters are controller-specific (IE: Player 1 is the Wizard, Player 2 is the Elf, etc.) or do they just stick you with the Warrior and that's it?

Not too concerned with the video quality of the bonus stuff myself - but if the games are jacked with in any way I think I'll pass.

Player 1- Warrior (Gauntlet), Red Guy (Smash TV), George (Rampage)
The PS2 version doesn't have this problem, yet is apparantly iffy for Smash TV. I hope that the GC version suffers from none of the problems in the current versions of this compilation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Player 1- Warrior (Gauntlet), Red Guy (Smash TV), George (Rampage)
The PS2 version doesn't have this problem, yet is apparantly iffy for Smash TV. I hope that the GC version suffers from none of the problems in the current versions of this compilation.

---

Can you switch controller ports if you want to play someone else in a single-player game, or do they still give you the 'default' character?

I suppose if it's decided on controller-ports, it'd be somewhat faithful to the arcade versions - but a character select screen wouldn't have taken them that much effort to add. Seems silly.

I'm not sure about that, so I'll check.

Edit- Just checked it out with Rampage, same thing even though my controller was in the second port. Very odd little oversight for this version of the game, which is a shame. Also, Rampage features much better animation in this version than it did on the previous compilation it was on, which I think was the Arcade Party Pak on the PSX.

Smash TV runs like crap on the PS2? Shit...define "crap". I mean, are we talking rampant slowdown or what? :(

You can select players. It's in the options menu before you start a game.

I have the Xbox version. No complaints.

You can? Cool. I kind of wish that more of the games had developer/publisher videos to go along with them.

Edit - Not seeing where you can do that via the options area for the games.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MonsterMash

You can select players. It's in the options menu before you start a game.

I have the Xbox version. No complaints.

---

Thanks, you just saved the purchase, as I was about to not buy it.

But now I am, hurray!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dolemite

Smash TV runs like crap on the PS2? Shit...define "crap". I mean, are we talking rampant slowdown or what? :(

---

I didn't think it was too bad. It's not even noticeable most of the time. However, when the screen scrolls (mainly when you go from one room to another), then the choppiness is readily apparent. Thankfully, you're not really doing anything during these times, so it doesn't affect gameplay. Still, it would've been nice if they could've done the Smash TV emulation with the full framerate.

BTW, with regard to my original topic, I called it "a massive 22-gun salute to great gaming!" That should be a "24-gun salute," since there are 24 games in the package (two more than we originally were told). :)

Does anyone know of any sites that compare all versions? I want to make sure I buy the best one.

Well, it's not too complex so far. PS2 is worst because of a halved framerate in Smash TV and a few scrolling errors. Xbox has smooth Smash TV and high score upload via Xbox Live. Haven't seen GameCube yet so I can't comment on it. Xbox seems a safe bet, though. There are no major problems when compared to PS2.

Edit: A Midway employee posting on the PS2 board at GameFAQs did say this, though: "By the way. I honestly think for Robotron and Smash TV that the Gamecube version owns. There is no slowdown, and the C-Stick has little notches in it, which makes it easy to shoot the direction you were meaning to shoot." I've been looking forward to the GCN version for just that reason -- helpful notches in Robotron and Smash TV.

Those are the only impressions of the GCN version I've seen, and I'm glad to see the GCN's controller will be put to good use for Smash TV. Still, I'm glad I got the Xbox version, if I ever get XbL, it'll be neat to upload my scores.

I'm the 66th best Paperboy player. IN THE UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!!1

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skelly

Well, it's not too complex so far. PS2 is worst because of a halved framerate in Smash TV and a few scrolling errors. Xbox has smooth Smash TV and high score upload via Xbox Live. Haven't seen GameCube yet so I can't comment on it. Xbox seems a safe bet, though. There are no major problems when compared to PS2.

Edit: A Midway employee posting on the PS2 board at GameFAQs did say this, though: "By the way. I honestly think for Robotron and Smash TV that the Gamecube version owns. There is no slowdown, and the C-Stick has little notches in it, which makes it easy to shoot the direction you were meaning to shoot." I've been looking forward to the GCN version for just that reason -- helpful notches in Robotron and Smash TV.

---

I'm planning on the Xbox version, despite these news... the idea of being able to compare scores is just awesome.

Any comments on how Rampage plays? I spent so much money on it at the arcades when I was young... I need this collection.

I find Rampage to be one of the most obviously dated games on the collection. It doesn't seem fun to me anymore. I don't have much nostalgia for it, though -- mainly just played the NES game at my friend's house.

It's all about Paperboy and Root Beer Tapper.

Root Beer Tapper is addictive as hell..

But it's no Robotron.

Rampage is still fun, although only in really short bursts. Rampart has aged well. Marble Madness is a blast. Road Blasters is still one of my favorite games ever. Paperboy and Klax are fantastic as well. I loved 720 back in the day, not so much now though.

The PS2 version of MAT is good for the most part. Roadblasters seems about perfect (though I'd hope it supports a steering wheel, since the Dual Shock is a tad touchy) and holds up decent. While I'm not so much into Rampage anymore, it's good to know they fixed the framerate there. Unfortunately, Smash TV's choppiness is jarring. If as I remember the PS1 ran it smooth on Party Pack, what's the deal?

I'm tempted to buy it once more for the GCN.

Bought the Gamecube version over the weekend. Pretty good compilation, despite the horrid menu screen. Dual analog Smash TV and Robotron rock the house.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skelly

I find Rampage to be one of the most obviously dated games on the collection. It doesn't seem fun to me anymore. I don't have much nostalgia for it, though -- mainly just played the NES game at my friend's house.

---

Same here. I can't believe how boring the game is. I remember when I was playing it on the NES and exclaimed, "Man, I wish there was a three-player mode!" Now, almost ten years later, I'm left with a three-player disappointment. Damn you, crushed dreams!

Also, I really want to hurt the guy who thought it was a good idea to only give unlimited credits in Gauntlet. It totally negates the need for food thanks to a dumb press of the X button. Idiots!

I'm a bit shocked that with a collection that touts Rampage, Gauntlet, Smash TV, Spy Hunter, and Marble Madness, I'm having the most fun with Paperboy, Root Beer Tapper, and Robotron. Haven't had the chance to try everything in the disc yet, but I'm really glad I spent the $20 on it.

How is Spy Hunter on the collection? I have the DC collection, and although Spy Hunter was good, it had control issues. I have the same problem running it in Mame on my Xbox, the controls are too sensitive for the pad and it makes it hard to play. I'd drop the cash for a good Spy Hunter port.

Spy Hunter is mostly OK except for the fact that the default position for the Oil Slick is on the stoopid Z Button of all places, and the gas is the R trigger.

Oh, and I cannot hold the GC controller normally and utilize the analog and C sticks without the thing falling out of my hands after thirty seconds. The only way I can play Smash TV and Robotron is by wedging the controller onto one of my legs and pinching the C Stick like a teeny joystick.

My main thing with playing console spy hunter is that in the arcades, the way I play is I keep it in high gear ALL the time, but only tap the gas barely, keeping it at the speed you would be in if you were in low speed with it floored, so that if I need a quick boost of speed, I can push the pedal a bit for as much speed as I need.

I can't do this properly in any home version :(

I think I'm gonna pick up the Xbox version when I get some more cash. Damn car needing a clutch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NeoZeedeater

EB's website has the price at $30. They only list the Xbox version and it says it's coming November 3rd.

---

$15 at Target.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GohanX

My main thing with playing console spy hunter is that in the arcades, the way I play is I keep it in high gear ALL the time, but only tap the gas barely, keeping it at the speed you would be in if you were in low speed with it floored, so that if I need a quick boost of speed, I can push the pedal a bit for as much speed as I need.

I can't do this properly in any home version :(

---

Since the Gamecube version has a pressure sensitive R trigger for the gas, you can use this technique with ease.

Is anyone else bothered that there's no way to set credit limits on some of the games? If they had just provided a default ammount of credits or given us the option to set the ammount of credits, I wouldn't have to worry about tainting my high scores in games like Smash TV and Gauntlet.

*shrugs* Just exit the game before you put your intials in.

Speaking of which, I'm curious; would there be enough interest here to make a TNL Score Attack thread for this game? Yes I do mean the entire game, too :)

$30 at my local Gamestop.......new.


Ugh. :(

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dog$

would there be enough interest here to make a TNL Score Attack thread for this game? Yes I do mean the entire game, too :)

---

Go for it.

Some of the games have high score threads of their own (like Smash TV), but they've all been dormant for awhile.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dog$

Speaking of which, I'm curious; would there be enough interest here to make a TNL Score Attack thread for this game? Yes I do mean the entire game, too :)

---

If you build it, they will come.

this is a pretty decent game collection. the only quip i have with it is the fact that it lacks any flexibility when it comes to control configurations. I own the Xbox edition, and I was quite pissed that I wasn't able to remap buttons for Spy Hunter. I don't think you should have to press a button to shift gears, or use the analog stick to steer (why couldn't they make it so that you could use the d-pad?) It's not so bad when playing Defender, Road Blasters - to give a few other examples. I am wondering if this inflexibility is the same on all versions.

...and in other news, Spy Hunter 2 was a major disappointment!

Is there any way to turn off the unlimited continues for Smash TV and Gauntlet? They are quite annoying :\

It's not hard to refrain from using them...

Yeah, looks like Smash TV suffered the same fate on this comp as it did on the Arcade Party Pak, which oddly featured the game going at full-speed or whatever, unlike the PS2 rev.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dog$

*shrugs* Just exit the game before you put your intials in.

Speaking of which, I'm curious; would there be enough interest here to make a TNL Score Attack thread for this game? Yes I do mean the entire game, too :)

---

I made one.

No one posts in it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wEEman33

Since the Gamecube version has a pressure sensitive R trigger for the gas, you can use this technique with ease.

Is anyone else bothered that there's no way to set credit limits on some of the games? If they had just provided a default ammount of credits or given us the option to set the ammount of credits, I wouldn't have to worry about tainting my high scores in games like Smash TV and Gauntlet.

---

In Gauntlet, you're not really tainting your high score by using continues. What goes in the list is your "Score Per Coin" (Vindicators does this also). If you use 5 credits and end your game with a score of 50525, then you'll actually get 10105 in the ranking table instead of the larger amount. Fewer credits used = more potential points.