Last week I randomly indulged in a nostalgic whim and picked up copies of Super Star Wars and Super Empire Strikes Back off Ebay. If I remember correctly, I used cheats on these when I was a kid, and I think it was justified.

These games have something that we simply don’t get anymore, and I don’t think it would be allowed. They are punishing and unforgiving. You do not want to die, and you will die. Both games are not amazing, but play fairly well, probably averaging a low 80s in my book. But even on easy these games are hard. You miss a jump, you die. Bosses will kill you if you are not damn careful. Enemies hurt you bad, and only the plentiful health-power ups prevent you from dying. There are occasional cheap deaths, Wampa freezes you, then whacks you, you slide into spiked pit an die. Yet I don’t feel totally cheated, as it was my own stupid ass fault for getting frozen and trying to frontally assault a Wampa. Yes, this game says “be careful, take your time, there will be no coasting through this game please.” (more…)

The termination of Jeff Gerstmann at Gamespot has erupted quite a response. As it should, and fortunately it is opening dialogue about game reviews and game critics. Some of it is rather interesting, most of it is just bitch fest and a lot of ‘I knew game reviews were all lies anyway.’ But I think it brings up the discussion of how game reviews have evolves, and that the stakes regarding game reviews, and game sales, are at a point where they are uniquely high, especially since the purchasers of games are more likely then ever to read reviews.

Here is a bit of speculative history. Go back to the 80s and early 90s. When the majority of gaming was a market for kids. Video game reviews were sparse, precisely because there was little market for them. Children, and their parents, didn’t want to read reviews of games, they just got they wanted. Game journalism emerged as ‘tips and tricks’, I remember subscribing to Nintendo Power in 1992, why? I wanted the level maps, the cheat codes, and also a heads up on what new cool games was coming out. The reviews were something I never paid attention to.
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I have been replaying Secret of Mana. Even when I have quite a bit of new gamage to go over, it just sort of stole my attention and put it into a vice grip away from all those shiny new packages and their brilliant and bright graphics and audio. But why?

The simplicity, grace, elegance, of gameplay and of the story behind Secret of Mana make it much like the Legend of Zelda series. The player has a seamless experience that really brings one into the fold. The world of Mana is one I care about, and the simplicity of characterization aids in forming the myth type narrative that is I find creates the most compelling game experience. Some games like Planescape, are more of a narrative then game, but in myth-narrative games the gameplay is never subordinated to the tell of the tale, it in fact I think allows the tale to appeal to a broad audience and allows it so speak of more fundamental and universal principles. (more…)

I am kicking myself for missing this movie when it was screened at the MoMa. According to this post, the “rock-mentary” touches upon a lot facets of the gaming culture, with an emphasis on the more “artsy” aspects. This movie seems like it would complement the Culture section of the seminal work Rules of Play.
It’s hard to tell if this documentary is a genuine, sincere, examination of gaming culture or some pretentious, hipster, self-indulgent piece of $hit. It could go both ways really. But 8-Bit does seem worthwhile to check out. I hope it comes out on DVD or comes back to NYC for a screening. (more…)

Sometimes I get extremely frustrated and or depressed with the state of supposed game journalism and its associated game writers. Primarily this revolves around the sheer juvenality and sensationalism of their work. But if I swing the other way, to the reporting of the mainstream press, even among its game journalists, there is a lack of knowledge and facts. NYTimes has plenty of game articles, but the majority of them have egregious errors or misunderstandings of the things they are talking about. There has to be a middle path, being able to report on games with a cool objective viewpoint. Being able to understand the technology and technical jargon, while understanding the non-technical aspects of narrative and game play. (more…)