Filling in gaming’s gaps
It’s a given that videogaming has changed extensively since it was first available. We’ve gone from 4-directional, one-button joysticks to vibrating, multiple analogue sticks with speaker systems, networking and cameras built in (thanks to Nintendo for that one). But there are certain aesthetics of older games that culturally we’re revisiting, and play mechanics we are only now able to appreciate by their contrast with richer, demanding modern games. What we call ‘casual gaming’, in many ways, is a call to silicon, to gaming that doesn’t require booting a system, inserting a CD, and waiting for a load. Visiting a bookmark and immediately playing a game is closer to the experience of sticking a cartridge into a console; some more recent games and systems (and I’m sticking a finger at you, Nintendo, with your slow Wii menus and constant loading) are feeling more like the 15 minute wait for a C64 game to load, with the sense of obligation to play a game once it’s loaded, even though the monumental load time has already ruined the experience.
slyrabbit 7:54 pm on April 29, 2008 Permalink | Log in to Reply
so why should we tweet? seems like it’s only used by office drones bored at work or school kids who think anything they say is of interest to everyone. twitter shitter anyone?