Bandrik wrote:You've got one more old-school gamer geek here. I grew up playing the Atari 2600, Colecovision, and the wonderful (but slow) Commodore 64.

One thing that I noticed that was kind of neat was that Xbox 360 is seeing a bit of nostalgia with their "Gameroom" arcade series of downloadable games, which offers a ton of old-timey games. They've even added a few items for the Xbox Avatars, including the yellow "duck" dragon from Adventure (your icon) that can run around a player's Avatar, Pitfall Harry, and even a little Yar's Revenge fly ring.

Yeah, it may be some silly marketing, but I was delighted to see a tip of the hat to Adventure and Yar's Revenge.

I have an xbox downstairs but have not played i a long time. I will go check that out today. THANKS!

mikebbass wrote:It is Atari Adventure
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_(Atari_2600)

But I know what game you mean as well. I loved the text based Adventure as well. My dad used to sneak me into his work when he was a programmer and Adventure is the 2nd game I ever played on a computer. The first was the game you probably know as lunar lander. Except when I played it it was more of a simulator than a game. He worked for Martin Marietta out side of Denver Co.

I tried to find the text based adventure that would play on my PC but no luck.

If you liked that, there's a version of Dungeon that someone has ported to the iPhone. It's kind of a nice toy, but really hard to play with the pseudo keyboard.

I'm late in posting this, but I managed to get one as well.

I've realized the last few Baggie of Cthulhu's I got were very similar to other peoples. I also hadn't been posting on the forums as much either. My Baggie of Cthulhu's were a lot more impressive when I was posting on the forums. Coincidence? I don't think so :-)

I'll post pictures when it arrives!

The waiting is the hardest part!

mikebbass wrote:I have an xbox downstairs but have not played i a long time. I will go check that out today. THANKS!

Bandrick, you're aware that there are freeware emulators out there that allow you to play the *original* code from nearly every 2600 game, right? When i saw your avatar, I got the impulse I get every few years, go download the emulator, then download ADVNTURE.BIN...and play them all over again. Also, Yar's Revenge can be played via Javascript over at http://www.atari.com/play - click on the "Arcade Classics" tab.

Oh Woot, won't you send me a Big Screen TV.
Dialing for Dollars is trying to find me.
Work hard seems a lifetime, just pressing F5.
Oh Woot, won't you send me a Big Screen TV.

Oh Woot, won't you send me a golden letter.
Then send it on a pallet.
That would make it better!
Oh Woot, won't you send me a golden letter.

Oh Woot, won't you send me a refurbished Sansa.
I'm counting on you Woot, please don't let me down.
I'll play it proudly when I go to town.
Oh Woot, won't you send me a refurbished Sansa.

I think I better stick to my day job and give up on lyric writing. Although it is tacky enough that Threepiecewoot might offer me aj ob.

oops hit the post button twice

gnurph69 wrote:Bandrick, you're aware that there are freeware emulators out there that allow you to play the *original* code from nearly every 2600 game, right? When i saw your avatar, I got the impulse I get every few years, go download the emulator, then download ADVNTURE.BIN...and play them all over again. Also, Yar's Revenge can be played via Javascript over at http://www.atari.com/play - click on the "Arcade Classics" tab.

Oh I know I have played that I have Stella on my PC, but I want the entire thing. The console, the games the crappy controllers.

My Blisters On Crumpets have all been meh. The coolest thing was probably the mini RC car. But it's still fun. I'd love something great like a TV (I'm still using a 27" analog CRT), but I'm happy with the mess of crap I usually get.

WTH, it seems like people think woot! is taking requests now?

I think we should be happy that we even got a bag. Remember the 10 commandments, and read through the previous 24 pages of threads were people have been trying for years to snag one and never do.

Their bags of CRAP! Not bags of good stuff. If you don't like what you get, save some bandwidth and let someone else get one.

DurocShark wrote:My Blisters On Crumpets have all been meh. The coolest thing was probably the mini RC car. But it's still fun. I'd love something great like a TV (I'm still using a 27" analog CRT), but I'm happy with the mess of crap I usually get.

Now that's the right attitude

DurocShark wrote:My Blisters On Crumpets have all been meh. The coolest thing was probably the mini RC car. But it's still fun. I'd love something great like a TV (I'm still using a 27" analog CRT), but I'm happy with the mess of crap I usually get.

I got you beat on crappy TVs. 19" Magnavox that I received when I was 16 years old. I am almost 34 :P

I would love a Sansa though. Mine's starting to have many problems and is dying on me and I love that little gadget!

spd2base wrote:WTH, it seems like people think woot! is taking requests now?

I think we should be happy that we even got a bag. Remember the 10 commandments, and read through the previous 24 pages of threads were people have been trying for years to snag one and never do.

Their bags of CRAP! Not bags of good stuff. If you don't like what you get, save some bandwidth and let someone else get one.

Not really putting in requests, more like dreaming. We know we're going to get stuff that is barely worth the 8$ but the thrill of getting one and the anticipation and excitement are definitely worth the expense and effort =)

Swayde wrote:I got you beat on crappy TVs. 19" Magnavox that I received when I was 16 years old. I am almost 34 :P

I would love a Sansa though. Mine's starting to have many problems and is dying on me and I love that little gadget!

Yikes!

I *do* have a HD... An old CRT projection tv with a bad convergence chip. It was given to me. I thought to replace the chip, but instead it's been hiding in the garage collecting sawdust for over a year.

The best part about my last (& probably this) Bag is that I now have Xmas gifts for my frenemies and white elephant gifts galore! You can't beat that for $8.

jennsplace wrote:The best part about my last (& probably this) Bag is that I now have Xmas gifts for my frenemies and white elephant gifts galore! You can't beat that for $8.

That is a great point. I had not considered that as an option for my case of mini tripods.

spd2base wrote:WTH, it seems like people think woot! is taking requests now?

I think we should be happy that we even got a bag. Remember the 10 commandments, and read through the previous 24 pages of threads were people have been trying for years to snag one and never do.

Their bags of CRAP! Not bags of good stuff. If you don't like what you get, save some bandwidth and let someone else get one.

Here, here! If Woot started fulfilling requests, it wouldn't be random, would it?

Yes, we buy boggies with the hope that we'll get something valuable. But read BigRedDogATL's last post - he said the most fun things he got were High School Musical Alarm Clocks that he modded into Woot clocks. Well, I did the same thing, and a Woot clock is now sitting in a prominent place on my desk, blocking my view of my digital photo frame. Who needs to see pictures of my kids when I can see that Woot logo and sack o' crap instead?

No, I won't complain if Woot sends me the Hope Diamond in my boggie. But I won't complain if I get Hip Hop Hippies either (but please - no more 2010 calendars!).

I have to say, when I finally got the e-mail stating Random Crap, I was screamin! Been waitin 4 years for this! I got a little scared there for a while, given after I hit the huge button, it decided to error out on me, and then everything went haywire. But it'll be on its way soon, and I could REALLY use some bubblewrap...

As for ancient computer, try a KayPro... Good God that thing was ancient.

tunaman wrote:

As for ancient computer, try a KayPro... Good God that thing was ancient.

I was thinking about the hybrid machine... The Commodore 128. Zilog Z80 chip AND the usual 6502/6510.

I ran a BBS with a 128D, a Lt. Kernal hard disk (with a whopping 200mb hard disk!), a CMD RAM expander with 16mb and a 4 meg Commodore RAM expander (started as 256k...)

That was a zippy system. I ran the BBS, did Geos 2.0 desktop publishing, etc etc. Way more fun than the uber expensive MacBook Pro I'm typing on right now.

OOOHHH! Remember SID music?

http://www.hvsc.de/

And the dual-SID hack to get stereo?

I also got one... just adding my name to the list. If I get anything cool, I'll post it here and like a million other sites just to show off :D

OK so we are all old geeky bastards. I wonder what the age demographic breakdown of Wooters is.

I got one too!

I couldn't believe that I was lucky enough to snag it. It's my first purchase here too!

I'll be sure to show everyone what I get, otterific or not.

The only thing I really, really want is a question mark bag. I'm pretty sure I'd frame it.

1st Baggie of Cthulhu + birthday coming up with insane celebration...EPIC!!!!!

Robman62 wrote:1st Baggie of Cthulhu + birthday coming up with insane celebration...EPIC!!!!!

Funny you should post that. I just checked back in to see if my first Baggie of Cthulhu had shipped yet. My Bday is the day before Halloween, depending on when it gets here, I may (try to) wait to open it till my Bday. It might be educational for my kids to watch Daddy open a present that no-one knows what is inside - and might just be actual CRAP!

sorry for posting again, but how are you guys checking the fed ex page for this? i remember being able to add order numbers or something... please help ?

nalmatic wrote:The only thing I really, really want is a question mark bag. I'm pretty sure I'd frame it.

I got one in my last bag and I love it! I decided to put crap in there and when a guest says something like "Wow, you got a Beautiful Ocean Cabana!" I'll offer them the contents of the bag. Right now there's a Belkin iPod to car stereo transmitter in there. I hope whoever gets it lives way out in the sticks so they can actually use it.

OK, Folks, so what's your Baggie Wish List?

I mean, Sansas are great,
Digital Cameras are better,
Big TVs and Laptops are Best.

At least they are when I don't have to spend a working weekend in Key West to get a new one!

I'm an old school gamer as well. My computer history went from an Atari 400, to an Atari 800, and ended with an Atari 130xe. Had all the peripherals, and many cartridges, and a suitcase full of 5.25 floppies.

Several years ago, I sold all of the stuff off piece by piece on Ebay, starting everything off at $0.01. I received over $1,000 in bids on everything. I was shocked to find that everything, but 2 floppies and the casette recorder worked after being stored in my closet for over 15 years. Now I miss it!

To get back on topic with my three previous Bags of Crap, I received some useful stuff on the first 2, only the 3rd was sort of a dud. Here's the 3 pics:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=972028&l=9d036f4b8f&id=1071787528
highlights - new ipod controlling Timex watch and working HP wireless mouse

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1099445&l=be520d2b00&id=1071787528
highlights - 2 loose, but working TV tuner cards

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1258747&l=786c7dc2f3&id=1071787528
highlight - screaming monkey

DurocShark wrote:I was thinking about the hybrid machine... The Commodore 128. Zilog Z80 chip AND the usual 6502/6510.

I ran a BBS with a 128D, a Lt. Kernal hard disk (with a whopping 200mb hard disk!), a CMD RAM expander with 16mb and a 4 meg Commodore RAM expander (started as 256k...)

That was a zippy system. I ran the BBS, did Geos 2.0 desktop publishing, etc etc. Way more fun than the uber expensive MacBook Pro I'm typing on right now.

Wow, the only thing I remember about Commodore 64 (Yeah...) was the *8* ditty, and some killer games, like Ghostbusters and the Summer Games.

And wow, BBS's...Haven't heard that term in 10 years. God I miss Renegade...

Here's a shout out to all those night forum readers I hope you get what you want cause all I want is crap that's again Woot for another Beautiful Ocean Cabana

DurocShark wrote:I ran a BBS with a 128D, a Lt. Kernal hard disk (with a whopping 200mb hard disk!), a CMD RAM expander with 16mb and a 4 meg Commodore RAM expander (started as 256k...)

My first BBS was on my TRS-80 Mod 4P, which I'd hotrodded with two half-height double-density 80 tk floppies, 720K each, and a 300 baud internal modem. (Back then a super-high-speed 1200 baud modem cost probably half of what I paid for the computer.)

My first machine was one of the first TRS-80 machines ever built. I consider myself an unpaid alpha tester, considering how that thing went in for warranty work close to 20 times, was sent all the way to Texas a few times after the regional facility gave up, went through five main boards, and STILL ran like a three-legged horse. This was before they came up with kludges like the "buffered expansion interface cable" and the "pregnant cable" (to run NEXT to the buffered cable). They eventually gave me the buffered cable, but I guess my warranty must have expired before they came out with the "pregnant" cable (or else they just gave up on me).

I eventually built that thing out to four DS/DD 720K floppies -- came real close to buying the "huge" 5MB hard drive when they marked it down to the insanely low price of $700 for the clearance sale (but went with the floppies instead). Until the day it died, that thing was always living on the edge -- several times a day I literally had to whack it on the side to "unstick" it. NOTHING would make it run reliably. It was an early, crude design, and the rough edges gave it about all the character it had.

I must say I was thrilled when they finally came out with a kkey-ddddebouncce driver patch!

Kinda feel ill when I think how I had poured close to four grand into that system (including $1200 for my NOISY as hell IDS line printer) -- in circa early 1980s dollars (probably 2.5 times that value in current money after factoring in inflation).

Ah, memories...

gormnt wrote:sorry for posting again, but how are you guys checking the fed ex page for this? i remember being able to add order numbers or something... please help ?

OK, here's the deal. Logged in to Woot!, click on the "My account" link. Click on the "Rand0m Cr@p" link for your winning Box of Crackers. You'll see a "click here to view your receipt" link. Click on that. Now you see a page with your order number, "ORDER 123456789" or whatever. Now, open the FedExsite. The menu bar has a "Track" menu; pick the "Track by Reference" entry. Put your Woot order number in the "Enter Reference" box, ignore the ship date, and pick your country and ZIP code. Click on the "Track" button. Once Woot initiates the shipment, you'll find your Box of Crayons.

It'll not have any real detail initially. Once you have a FedEx tracking number for your particular Bed Of Crackers, you can use your "My FedEx" account to figure out the package weight. And an approximate size.

Sorry - double post due to Woot! giving a server error.

To add something worthwhile, I'm not seeing any tracking info yet on my Baggie of Cthulhu.

Cercopithecoid wrote:I got one in my last bag and I love it! I decided to put crap in there and when a guest says something like "Wow, you got a Beautiful Ocean Cabana!" I'll offer them the contents of the bag. Right now there's a Belkin iPod to car stereo transmitter in there. I hope whoever gets it lives way out in the sticks so they can actually use it.

Yeah. I feel pretty bad about my last two bags. I don't really deserve them, especially seeing as most of the contents are still sitting around the room. I've made offers, but the Disney Director Packs are just so hard to give to people. That's an excellent idea, though.

Swayde wrote:Not really putting in requests, more like dreaming. We know we're going to get stuff that is barely worth the 8$ but the thrill of getting one and the anticipation and excitement are definitely worth the expense and effort =)

Ok, if we can dream, then I'll dream big!

Hey, Woot! how about sending me a new car for my Bundle of Crappie? Imagine the publicity!

Then again, I will love whatever you send! Heinz!!!

Ok, looks like people are beginning to ask questions, so I guess I'll go ahead and post my "famous" primer now, and then we'll have a re-post or two as pages will begin adding quickly when actual shipping starts...

In fact, there's been some shipping activity observed by me as of recently.

- The Little Giant Ladder from the morning of the same day BоC showed up has shipped via FedEx Home delivery directly from manufacturer, and is trackable by reference as of Friday, but no official word from Woot.
- The VuPoint slide converter, which was up AFTER BоС does not show up by reference, or on account, but according to e-mail from Woot shipped on Sunday via FedEx (not smartpost)... The tracking number does not work yet though...

Anyway, too much talking... Here's the primer you've been asking for:

-----8<----cut---here----8<-----


FedEx SmartPost primer for newcomers, and a reminder for the rest of Wooters (v. 1.3)

1. Before the tracking information shows up: Sometimes Woot is not e-mailing the tracking numbers until a few days after the packages are shipped. You can try and get the number by reference, by going to https://www.fedex.com/AltRefTracking?cntry_code=us and entering these three things: Your Woot order number goes to reference numbers box, select United States in destination country drop down, and Your Zip Code in a respective box. It's important to get all three pieces. Keep refreshing it, and if you're lucky, the tracking number will pop-up before the official e-mail comes. It doesn't ALWAYS work, but there's a good chance. Note, that if you've made multiple orders from Woot, you can enter several order numbers into the reference box, one per line.

1.1 If your weight shows as 1lb, it is most likely a placeholder, which will be replaced by more accurate weight once the package actually starts moving (or reaches a sorting station - see below). The dimensions will probably show as NA/NA/NA on those placeholder packages. Some people have reported packages showing as 1lb all the way until delivery, but turned out to be anything but, though there's always a slight chance that your package actually is a 1 pounder. So you never know.

2. To get the dimensions you need to create My FedEx account (no charge, and you don't have to give them cc number if you don't want to): http://my.fedex.com/ and make sure to switch to new or advanced version. Enter your tracking number, and the dimensions will pop...

2.1 Another way to get dimensions: If you have problems with My FedEx site, or just to make things easier - you can also download a very convenient FedEx Desktop application. It uses the same log-in credentials as your My FedEx account (you'd still need to have one), and tracks the same packages right from your desktop, without the browser.

3. Don't get too exited. For the first few days most people will probably have some sort of cubed dimensions. This is because in the beginning the dimensions are not real. They are guesstimaged by FedEx based on weight (which may or may not be accurate). Here's the famous formula for you to check:

SIDE = ( 330 * WEIGHT ) ^ (1/3)
(side in inches, weight in lbs)

If it matches your dimensions to a few tenths of an inch - you know they are not real. That's for smaller packages. Those over 15lbs would always have the "dimensions" of a 15lbs package (or was it 16)... Again not real...

4. Once your package passed the first sorting station - the updated weight and real dimensions may show up. Usually that's the first stop it makes after Dallas. In my case (North-East) in either Kansas City, KS (as of recently - FedEx must have adjusted their routing in my direction) or Martinsburg, WV, for many others it's New Berlin, WI or another major SmartPost hub.

5. USPS Handoff: Once the package is reported to have passed a city near you - start tracking it on http://www.usps.com/, because that's who's delivering it to your door, and once the package is handed over by FedEx, they will have more up to date information. Do make sure that you track by actual tracking number (it will show up if you got a hit with reference tracking), because USPS does not track by reference. A thing to note - when handed over to USPS, FedEx always says a standard "allow 2-3 for business days for delivery". This is a standard message, and if your USPS facility is efficient enough, you may get it delivered as soon as the day of handoff (if it happened early enough).

Good luck to all waiting for their hauls, and let the Woot Gods bless you with some amazing crаps!

nalmatic wrote:Yeah. I feel pretty bad about my last two bags. I don't really deserve them, especially seeing as most of the contents are still sitting around the room. I've made offers, but the Disney Director Packs are just so hard to give to people. That's an excellent idea, though.

Wait patiently until one of those disney video cameras (for which the packs are made) shows up on Woot. Then post your offering in the discussion thread! I did that last time with Pirates of the Caribbean pack, and got rid of the whole box in a day! I offered them to anyone willing to pay actual shipping....