(no subject)
I spent a good portion of last night perusing through old Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) games. I don't have the system (rather, I can't find it), but I downloaded some ROMs to play on the computer.
For one, I realized how spoiled we have become when it comes to video games and technology in general. I have distinct memories having a great time playing Bases Loaded II for the NES with my friend Charles when I was 6. What I don't remember, and probably didn't even care about, was how limiting it was. Due to the space limitations on the NES, they had to find every way possible to fit the game on that small capacity gray cartridge. For example, when selecting your team, you have to select from a select few cities.
Except you have to select the first letter of the city's name, because the game's memory isn't big enough. But hey, with teams called Omaha and Utah, how can you go wrong?
Another criticism is about the gameplay in general. When a ball is hit in the air, an outfielder is supposed to catch it, just like a good baseball player would do. But take a look at the camera angle when a ball is hit.
How am I supposed to know where my outfielder is, let alone where the ball is supposed to land? This makes way for many gapping doubles, triples, and inside-the-park home runs.
But the thing is, when I was a kid, none of that mattered. All that mattered was that there were cartoony graphics on the television set that I was controlling. It was pretty magical if you ask me.
I also overlooked a couple other things. Dr. Mario was, is, and always will be a great puzzle game. What I never realized before was how weird it is. First of all, since when did Mario get his MD? This comes from a guy who originated as a short plumber trying to save the princess from this giant monkey. Now he's a doctor? When was he attending medical school?
Also, it seems somewhat bizarre to me that someone would make a puzzle game based on neutralizing viruses inside someone's body.
And last but not least, Tetris. One of my favorite games on any system and any genre. A Russian student named Alexey Pajitnov created it 1984, and as you can see, there are many Russian elements in it. However, it did not occur to me until now that this was propaganda for Russia during the Cold War. Take a look at the Amiga game cover, for example.
The Soviet Challenge? Uh-oh, those pesky, sophisticated Soviets. Perhaps the gameplay is a metaphor for the Soviets' thought on communism - Everything just fits into place. Also, the familiar "Tetris Music" that plays in the background of the Game Boy version is a Russian folk song called Korobeiniki. And that's not all. Check out the victory screen of the NES version.
A space launching? In the midst of the Cold War? Granted, people had already been in space and on the moon when this game came out, but don't you think that the symbolism of this space launching being next to St. Basil's Cathedral is a way of the Russians trying to claim supremacy over American video game players?
Or, maybe it just made the game look pretty :)
Either way, no matter which way I look at NES games now as opposed to how I looked at them when I was a child, they will never get old, simply due to their nostalgic value.
For one, I realized how spoiled we have become when it comes to video games and technology in general. I have distinct memories having a great time playing Bases Loaded II for the NES with my friend Charles when I was 6. What I don't remember, and probably didn't even care about, was how limiting it was. Due to the space limitations on the NES, they had to find every way possible to fit the game on that small capacity gray cartridge. For example, when selecting your team, you have to select from a select few cities.
Except you have to select the first letter of the city's name, because the game's memory isn't big enough. But hey, with teams called Omaha and Utah, how can you go wrong?
Another criticism is about the gameplay in general. When a ball is hit in the air, an outfielder is supposed to catch it, just like a good baseball player would do. But take a look at the camera angle when a ball is hit.
How am I supposed to know where my outfielder is, let alone where the ball is supposed to land? This makes way for many gapping doubles, triples, and inside-the-park home runs.
But the thing is, when I was a kid, none of that mattered. All that mattered was that there were cartoony graphics on the television set that I was controlling. It was pretty magical if you ask me.
I also overlooked a couple other things. Dr. Mario was, is, and always will be a great puzzle game. What I never realized before was how weird it is. First of all, since when did Mario get his MD? This comes from a guy who originated as a short plumber trying to save the princess from this giant monkey. Now he's a doctor? When was he attending medical school?
Also, it seems somewhat bizarre to me that someone would make a puzzle game based on neutralizing viruses inside someone's body.
And last but not least, Tetris. One of my favorite games on any system and any genre. A Russian student named Alexey Pajitnov created it 1984, and as you can see, there are many Russian elements in it. However, it did not occur to me until now that this was propaganda for Russia during the Cold War. Take a look at the Amiga game cover, for example.
The Soviet Challenge? Uh-oh, those pesky, sophisticated Soviets. Perhaps the gameplay is a metaphor for the Soviets' thought on communism - Everything just fits into place. Also, the familiar "Tetris Music" that plays in the background of the Game Boy version is a Russian folk song called Korobeiniki. And that's not all. Check out the victory screen of the NES version.
A space launching? In the midst of the Cold War? Granted, people had already been in space and on the moon when this game came out, but don't you think that the symbolism of this space launching being next to St. Basil's Cathedral is a way of the Russians trying to claim supremacy over American video game players?
Or, maybe it just made the game look pretty :)
Either way, no matter which way I look at NES games now as opposed to how I looked at them when I was a child, they will never get old, simply due to their nostalgic value.