Posts Tagged 'Super Mario Bros'
YOU ARE HERE: How games have become domesticated
In their dawn, games used to live in the wild. The savage beasts that they were didn’t care if you managed to collect all the 50 secret gems or if you didn’t realize that fruit basket in the living room was part of a puzzle. These beasts left you to roam without an inkling of direction.
Try to remember the last time you were lost in a game. When you had to wander aimlessly, trying to find something – even if you were still unsure of what you needed to find. In fact, when was the last time you discovered something in a game? Something cool that was not already stated in your objective list? When was the last time you found something that truly surprised you, like a secret dungeon or an item whose existences wasn’t already hinted by the vacant spot in your inventory?
Well, how far back did you have to go? I passed through a couple of Animal Crossings along the way, but was only able to find the “Era of Discovery” – when the blurb “Discover Planet X” on the back of a game box made sense – back in the days of the original Zelda and Metroid. Games during which we were asked to discover what we were supposed to be doing in the first place.
YOU ARE HERE: How games have become domesticated
In their dawn, games used to live in the wild. The savage beasts that they were didn’t care if you managed to collect all the 50 secret gems or if you didn’t realize that fruit basket in the living room was part of a puzzle. These beasts left you to roam without an inkling of direction.
Try to remember the last time you were lost in a game. When you had to wander aimlessly, trying to find something – even if you were still unsure of what you needed to find. In fact, when was the last time you discovered something in a game? Something cool that was not already stated in your objective list? When was the last time you found something that truly surprised you, like a secret dungeon or an item whose existences wasn’t already hinted by the vacant spot in your inventory?
Well, how far back did you have to go? I passed through a couple of Animal Crossings along the way, but was only able to find the “Era of Discovery” – when the blurb “Discover Planet X” on the back of a game box made sense – back in the days of the original Zelda and Metroid. Games during which we were asked to discover what we were supposed to be doing in the first place.
A protagonist is NOT you
Most protagonists are empty, hollow shells in need of something to fill them. Thus was our verdict, as handled by our own Stefan Samurai (this is the link to which this article is a response, by the way… CLICK IT!). What
A protagonist is NOT you
Most protagonists are empty, hollow shells in need of something to fill them. Thus was our verdict, as handled by our own Stefan Samurai (this is the link to which this article is a response, by the way… CLICK IT!). What
Simplify, Simplify
We live in complicated times. The modern blockbuster title demands twelve buttons and three directional pads, some buttons doing different things when pressed in combination. There are multiple situations your character gets stuck in. You’re no longer just running around
Simplify, Simplify
We live in complicated times. The modern blockbuster title demands twelve buttons and three directional pads, some buttons doing different things when pressed in combination. There are multiple situations your character gets stuck in. You’re no longer just running around
Making a Mario game is hard!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in6RZzdGki8&fs=1&hl=en_US] I’ve posted about some knockoff Mario related things over the months we’ve existed. You know, Super Mario Crossover and Super Mario Bros. X. You might remember the first, and not remember the second. Well, now here’s Infinite Adaptive Mario,
Making a Mario game is hard!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in6RZzdGki8&fs=1&hl=en_US] I’ve posted about some knockoff Mario related things over the months we’ve existed. You know, Super Mario Crossover and Super Mario Bros. X. You might remember the first, and not remember the second. Well, now here’s Infinite Adaptive Mario,
Super Mario Ragtime is pretty awesome
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZMroQOtS_U&hl=en_US&fs=1] You’ve got me, gentle reader: I’ve got nothing to post today. Sure, there’s a really questionable new legendary in Pokemon Black and White, but I care as much about legendaries as I do about Hannah Montana. And it’s too
Super Mario Ragtime is pretty awesome
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZMroQOtS_U&hl=en_US&fs=1] You’ve got me, gentle reader: I’ve got nothing to post today. Sure, there’s a really questionable new legendary in Pokemon Black and White, but I care as much about legendaries as I do about Hannah Montana. And it’s too
Multiplicity and Identity Mitigation in Video Games
Where before we traditionally thought of identity as a monolithic construct, modernity demands recognition of multiplicity and fragmented identities. Okay, that’s a mouthful, what the heck am I saying? Well, think about how people with multiple identities are more likely
Multiplicity and Identity Mitigation in Video Games
Where before we traditionally thought of identity as a monolithic construct, modernity demands recognition of multiplicity and fragmented identities. Okay, that’s a mouthful, what the heck am I saying? Well, think about how people with multiple identities are more likely