Rewriting History
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Mario's Legacy and Sonic's Heritage: Replays and Refunds of Console Gaming History
Mario’s legacy and Sonic’s heritage: Replays and refunds of console gaming history Jaakko Suominen University of Turku / Digital Culture P.O. Box 124 28101 Pori +35823338100 jaakko.suominen at utu.fi ABSTRACT In this paper, I study how three major videogame device manufacturers, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo use gaming history within their popular console products, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PS 3 and Nintendo Wii. These enterprises do not only market new game applications and devices but also recycle classic game themes, game characters as well as classic games themselves. Therefore, these corporations are a part of the phenomenon which can be called retrogaming culture or digital retro economy. The paper introduces the different ways in which the corporations began to use history and how they constructed their digital game market strategies to be compatible with the current retrogaming trend. In addition, the paper introduces a model for different phases of uses of history. The paper is empirically based on literary reviews, recreational computing magazine articles, company websites and other online sources and participatory observation of retrogaming applications and product analyses. Sociological and cultural studies on nostalgia as well as history culture form the theoretical framework of the study. Keywords retrogaming, classic games, history management, uses of history, consoles INTRODUCTION When a game company utilizes its older products to make a new application, when the same company mentions the year it was established in a job advertisement or when it celebrates a game figure’s 20-year anniversary, the company uses history. The use of history can be a discursive act, which underlines continuity and in so doing, for example, the trustworthiness and stability of the firm. -
The Resolution of Sound: Understanding Retro Game Audio Beyond the ‘8-Bit’ Horizon 2018
Repositorium für die Medienwissenschaft Nikita Braguinski The resolution of sound: Understanding retro game audio beyond the ‘8-bit’ horizon 2018 https://doi.org/10.25969/mediarep/3442 Veröffentlichungsversion / published version Zeitschriftenartikel / journal article Empfohlene Zitierung / Suggested Citation: Braguinski, Nikita: The resolution of sound: Understanding retro game audio beyond the ‘8-bit’ horizon. In: NECSUS. European Journal of Media Studies, Jg. 7 (2018), Nr. 1, S. 105–121. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25969/mediarep/3442. Erstmalig hier erschienen / Initial publication here: https://necsus-ejms.org/the-resolution-of-sound-understanding-retro-game-audio-beyond-the-8-bit-horizon/ Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Dieser Text wird unter einer Creative Commons - This document is made available under a creative commons - Namensnennung - Nicht kommerziell - Keine Bearbeitungen 4.0 Attribution - Non Commercial - No Derivatives 4.0 License. For Lizenz zur Verfügung gestellt. Nähere Auskünfte zu dieser Lizenz more information see: finden Sie hier: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDIA STUDIES www.necsus-ejms.org The resolution of sound: Understanding retro game audio beyond the ‘8-bit’ horizon Nikita Braguinski NECSUS (7) 1, Spring 2018: 105–121 URL: https://necsus-ejms.org/the-resolution-of-sound-understand- ing-retro-game-audio-beyond-the-8-bit-horizon/ Keywords: 8-bit, audio, resolution, retro, video games In 2012 the Public Broadcasting Service aired a ‘special’ dedicated to the pop- ularity of retro-videogame-themed music, design, and art.[1] Combining in- terview snippets with footage of historic examples of video game technology as well as their modern imitations, this seven-minute program titled The Evo- lution of 8-Bit Art is implicitly built around the premise that the meaning of ‘8-bit’ itself is self-evident. -
Great Northern Machine Wars: Rivalry Between User Groups in Finland
Great Northern Machine Wars: Rivalry Between User Groups in Finland Petri Saarikoski University of Turku, Finland Markku Reunanen Aalto University School of Arts, Design, and Architecture, Finland The history of computing has been colored by “computer wars” that have raged between competing companies. Although the commercial wars have received much attention, clashes between supporters of different platforms remain largely undocumented. This article approaches the topic from a Finnish hobbyist perspective, focusing on three case studies that range from the emergence of affordable home computers and videogame consoles to modern-day wars. Home computer culture has always been different things to the participants. Most marked by a rivalry of user groups. A typical notably, the grassroots wars are often emo- confrontation takes place between the user tionally loaded, personal, and local. The groups of two competing computer models, “flame wars” taking place in social media such as the competition between PC and share several traits with the machine wars.3 It Apple Macintosh users. Another well-known would be an oversimplification to claim that case is the struggle of Linux operating system the users are fighting for the companies users against Microsoft Windows users start- because their motives are much more com- ing in the 1990s. In addition to computing plex than that. So far, most publications have platforms, there have been battles between focused on the commercial side of things and the users of videogame consoles, games (for in only a few countries,4 such as the United example, Super Mario versus Sonic the States or UK, creating a knowledge gap con- Hedgehog), and even hardware extensions. -
Pelit-Lehden Lukijakirjeet [email protected] Ja Digipelaamisen Muutos Suomessa Vuosina 1992–2002 Turun Yliopisto
Pelitutkimuksen vuosikirja 2012, s. 21–40. Toim. Jaakko Suominen et al. Tampereen yliopisto. http://www.pelitutkimus.fi Artikkeli PETRI SAARIKOSKI “Rakas Pelit-lehden toimitus...” Pelit-lehden lukijakirjeet [email protected] Turun yliopisto ja digipelaamisen muutos Suomessa vuosina 1992–2002 Tiivistelmä Readers’ letters in Finnish Pelit gaming magazine during Artikkelissa tarkastellaan lukijakirjeiden roolia Pelit-lehdessä vuosina 1992–2002. Aineisto 1992–2002 tarjoaa ainutkertaisen aikalaiskuvan suomalaisesta pelikulttuurista. Kyseisenä ajanjakso- na Suomessa PC oli tärkein pelikone kotitalouksissa, konsolien merkitys alkoi näkyä vasta Abstract tarkasteltavan ajanjakson loppupuolella. Kirjeissä pelaajat ottivat yleensä kantaa lehdessä Article examines the history of readers’ letters in Finnish Pelit computer game magazine julkaistuihin juttuihin tai muihin pelimaailman ajankohtaisiin ilmiöihin ja tapahtumiin. during 1992–2002. Letters provides a unique picture of the Finnish game culture in time Niissä kyseltiin myös paljon pelaamisen liittyviä vinkkejä ja vihjeitä. Osa kirjeistä voidaan when PC was the most popular game machine in Finland. The importance of game con- luokitella niin sanotuiksi “fanikirjeiksi”, joissa lukijat jakoivat kehuja lehden tunnetuille soles, such as Sony Play Station, began to emerge from late 1990s onwards. In the letters peliarvostelijoille. Kirjeissä näkyy miten tietoverkot, aluksi BBS-purkit ja myöhemmin players gave their opinions of the published game reviews or commented on the contem- Internet, alkoivat vakiinnuttaa asemaansa pelaajia yhdistävinä viestintävälineinä, mikä porary issues and events in gaming culture. They also asked for a gaming tips and tricks. lopulta näkyi myös postitettujen kirjeiden määrän romahtamisena vuodesta 1997 eteen- Some of the letters could be classified as so-called “fan letters”, where readers shared their päin. praise for the well-known game reviewers. -
Kalle Kotipsykiatri -Tietokone- Ohjelma Tekoälyn Popularisoijana 1980-Luvulla
THS Tekniikan Waiheita ISSN 2490-0443 Tekniikan Historian Seura ry. 37. vuosikerta:3 2019 https://journal.fi/tekniikanwaiheita ”Leiki pöpiä – Kalle parantaa”: Kalle kotipsykiatri -tietokone- ohjelma tekoälyn popularisoijana 1980-luvulla Petri Saarikoski, Markku Reunanen & Jaakko Suominen Jaakko Suominen https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1352-7699 To cite this article: Petri Saarikoski, Markku Reunanen & Jaakko Suominen, ”'Leiki pöpiä – Kalle parantaa': Kalle kotipsykiatri -tietokoneohjelma tekoälyn popularisoijana 1980-lu- vulla” Tekniikan Waiheita 37, no. 3 (2019): 6–30. https://dx.doi.org/10.33355/tw.86772 To link to this article: https://dx.doi.org/10.33355/tw.86772 ”Leiki pöpiä – Kalle parantaa”: Kalle kotipsykiatri -tietokone- ohjelma tekoälyn popularisoijana 1980-luvulla Petri Saarikoski1, Markku Reunanen2 & Jaakko Suominen3 Tekoälyä koskevalla vilkkaalla julkisuuskeskustelulla on oma monipuolinen taustahistoriansa. Artikke- lissa käsitellään Pekka Tolosen luoman Kalle kotipsykiatri -ohjelman vaiheita 1980-luvun tietokoneleh- distössä. Kalle kotipsykiatri tunnetaan varhaisena esimerkkinä tekoälyä simuloivasta keskusteluohjel- masta, jonka Commodore 64 -käännösversion koodivirheitä korjailtiin yli vuoden ajan kotitietokoneisiin erikoistuneessa MikroBitti -lehdessä. Johdanto Tekoälyltä koskevalta keskustelulta voi tuskin välttyä nykyään missään. Tekoäly esiintyy uu- tisissa, poliittisissa puheissa, mediajulkisuudessa sekä ihmisten kasvokkais- ja nettikeskuste- luissa. Tekoälyllä viitataan muun muassa robotteihin, erilaisiin digitaalisiin -
Balasko-Mastersreport-2020
The Report Committee for Alexander Balasko Certifies that this is the approved version of the following report: An Untitled Goose by Any Other Name: A Critical Theorization of the Indie Game Genre APPROVED BY SUPERVISING COMMITTEE: Supervisor: _____________________________________ James Buhler _____________________________________ Bryan Parkhurst An Untitled Goose by Any Other Name: A Critical Theorization of the Indie Game Genre by Alexander Balasko Report Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Music The University of Texas at Austin May 2020 An Untitled Goose by Any Other Name: A Critical Theorization of the Indie Game Genre Alexander Balasko, M.Music The University of Texas at Austin, 2020 Supervisor: James Buhler As the field of ludomusicology has grown increasingly mainstream within music studies, a methodological trend has emerged in discussions of genre that privileges the formal attributes of game sound while giving relatively little attention to aspects of its production. The problems with this methodological bent become apparent when attempting to discuss the independent (“indie”) game genre, since, from 2010-2020 the indie game genre underwent a number of significant changes in aesthetic trends, many of which seem incoherent with one another. As such, the indie genre has received relatively little attention within the ludomusicological literature despite its enormous impact on broader gaming culture. By analyzing the growth of chiptune aesthetics beginning in 2008 and the subsequent fall from popularity towards 2020, this paper considers how a satisfying understanding of the indie game genre can be ascertained through its material cultures, rather than its aesthetics or gameplay. -
Limitations in Early Video Game Music and Their Aesthetic Impact Think
Limitations in Early Video Game Music and Their Aesthetic Impact View the audio examples given throughout this paper in this accompanying Youtube Playlist: https://bit.ly/2IzqdmX Think back to the first time you picked up a video game controller. You may remember the graphics or art style of that game, a favorite character, or that one level that you were stuck on for hours on end. Along with these memories, it’s quite likely that you thought of the infectious melodies that accompanied your virtual adventures. Undoubtedly, video game music is one of the most memorable and essential parts of this medium that we hold so dear. It is important to note, however, that many of these soundtracks which we recall so fondly were made in the presence of technological challenges. The composers of video game music for the home consoles of the late 1980s and 90s overcame the limitations of these early systems by viewing what on the surface appeared to be constraints as challenges that would guide and enhance their creativity rather than control and restrict it. The choices made to combat or circumvent these technological limitations took place primarily in the areas of organization and timbre. It is in these areas that the limitations faced by early video game music composers have had a lasting influence on the aesthetic choices of contemporary video game composers, and as a result — the modern landscape of video game music. Before we can properly identify how technological limitations have influenced the development of video game music, it is necessary to establish the context in which these limitations were faced. -
The Gamification of Digital Gaming – Video Game Competitions and High Score Tables As a Prehistory of E-Sports in Finland in the 1980S and Early 1990S
The Gamification of Digital Gaming – Video Game Competitions and High Score Tables as a Prehistory of E-Sports in Finland in the 1980s and Early 1990s Petri Saarikoski, Jaakko Suominen University of Turku Finland [email protected], [email protected] Markku Reunanen Aalto University Finland [email protected] Abstract: The aim of this paper is to examine the “prehistory” of E-sports from the Finnish perspective. In the context of the GamiFIN conference, we approach E-sports as a gamified form of video gaming. In particular, we study the early Finnish game championships of the 1980s and the early 1990s as well as the high score lists of Finnish computer and video game magazines. We ask the question: how did these publications and activities construct video gaming as a socially-experienced competitive practice? In addition, we seek answers to the following questions: Who were the early video game contestants? How was competitive gaming presented in media? What kind of rules were defined for the contests? How was cheating dealt with? Keywords: Competitive gaming, game history, e-sports, high score tables, Pac-Man 1. Introduction Academic research on E-sports has focused on competitive game playing as a contemporary popular cultural phenomenon. The studies have touched upon, for instance, questions on game playing and tactics, comparisons between E-sports and traditional sports consumers’ behavior, as well as other activities revolving around E-sports. (Hamari & Sjöblom 2017.) The studies often briefly mention the history of competitive gaming and typically date its roots back to the activities from the mid or late 1990s that took place in the US, South Korea, UK, and other countries, in relation to different online game genres and the rising interest towards competitive gaming (e.g. -
Digra Conference Publication Format
Game Reviews as Tools in the Construction of Game Historical Awareness in Finland, 1984– 2010: Case MikroBitti Magazine Jaakko Suominen University of Turku, Department of Digital Culture P.O. Box 124 28101 Pori, Finland [email protected] ABSTRACT The paper introduces a case study on game journalistic practices and on the construction of historical self-understanding of game cultures. It presents results of the study of Finnish digital game reviews, retrieved from a major computer hobbyist magazine, MikroBitti. The results are based on a qualitative content analysis of 640 reviews from two magazine issues per year (1984–2010). The aim is to examine changes in the production of game reviews, in the work of individual reviewers, and then to focus on particular stylistic characteristics: to study how game journalists refer, on the one hand to other popular media cultural forms and products such as television series, cinema, comics, literature, sports, news, board games, and on the other hand, to other digital games, game genres, genre-hybrids, game producers, national game product styles as well as game designer auteurs. The paper argues that by using these references and allusions game journalists construct historical understanding of digital gaming as a particular popular media cultural form. The preliminary research hypothesis was that digital game cultural references increase and other media cultural references decline in reviews. This has proven to be partially incorrect. The content analysis of reviews hints that historical self-understanding of game cultural actors as well as the press and gaming industry has grown and been enriched since the 1980s. -
Mappy Motos Ms. Pac-Man New Rally-X
This issue of Classic Gamer Magazine is freely distributable under a Creative Commons license, but we suggest that you pay what it is worth to you. Click the PayPal link above, or send payment to [email protected]. Thanks for your support. Classic Gamer Magazine Vol. 3, Issue #1 Editor-in-Chief Chris Cavanaugh Managing Editors Scott Marriott Skyler Miller Layout and Design Skyler Miller Contributors Mark Androvich Chris Brown Jason Buchanan Chris Cavanaugh Scott Marriott Skyler Miller Evan Phelps Kyle Snyder Jonathan Sutyak Brett Weiss Contact Information feedback@classic gamer.com Products, logos, screenshots, etc. named in these pages are tradenames or trademarks of their respective companies. Any use of copyrighted material is covered under the "fair use" doctrine. Classic Gamer Magazine and its staff are not affiliated with the companies or products covered. - 2 - contents 24 Cover Story: The Pac-Man Legacy 4 Staff 5 Classic Gaming Expo 2010 6 Nintendo @ E3 7 Batter Up! A Visual History of NES Baseball 8 Super NES vs. Sega Genesis 13 Bringing the Past Back to Life 16 It's War! Classics vs. Remakes 18 Five Atari 2600 Games Worse Than E.T. 21 Podcast Review: RetroGaming Roundup 23 Revenge of the Birds 34 Shovelware Alert! Astro Invaders 35 Pixel Memories 39 Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands 41 Arcade ... To Go 46 Another Trip Inside Haunted House 47 3D Dot Game Heroes Review 49 What's New in Arcades? 51 Words from the Weiss 54 Scott Pilgrim vs. CGM 56 Happy Birthday Pac-Man! - 3 - staff Mark Androvich has written over 13 video game strategy guides, been a contributor to Hardcore Magazine, reviews writer and editor for PSE2 Magazine, and the first U.S. -
Nintendo and the Commodification of Nostalgia Steven Cuff University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee University of Wisconsin Milwaukee UWM Digital Commons Theses and Dissertations May 2017 Now You're Playing with Power: Nintendo and the Commodification of Nostalgia Steven Cuff University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.uwm.edu/etd Part of the Communication Technology and New Media Commons Recommended Citation Cuff, Steven, "Now You're Playing with Power: Nintendo and the Commodification of Nostalgia" (2017). Theses and Dissertations. 1459. https://dc.uwm.edu/etd/1459 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by UWM Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UWM Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. NOW YOU’RE PLAYING POWER: NINTENTO AND THE COMMODIFICATION OF NOSTALGIA by Steve Cuff A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Media Studies at The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee May 2017 ABSTRACT NOW YOU’RE PLAYING WITH POWER: NINTENDO AND THE COMMODIFICATION OF NOSTALGIA by Steve Cuff The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2017 Under the Supervision of Professor Michael Z. Newman This thesis explores Nintendo’s past and present games and marketing, linking them to the broader trend of the commodification of nostalgia. The use of nostalgia by Nintendo is a key component of the company’s brand, fueling fandom and a compulsive drive to recapture the past. By making a significant investment in cultivating a generation of loyal fans, Nintendo positioned themselves to later capitalize on consumer nostalgia. -
Spencer L. Bevis. Software Emulation and the Video Game Community: a Web Content Analysis of User Needs
Spencer L. Bevis. Software Emulation and the Video Game Community: A Web Content Analysis of User Needs. A Master’s Paper for the M.S. in L.S. degree. April, 2019. 76 pages. Advisor: Megan Winget. In the past decade, archives have utilized emulation to preserve older pieces of software including video games and make them accessible to patrons. However, recent literature neglects user needs for emulated software in archives. Using web content analysis, this study examines the text of nearly 1,200 online comments, threads, and forum posts about software emulation from four different websites. The findings suggest that audiences are keenly aware of software emulation but not of emulation as a way to preserve video games. It also found that user needs are often unique or even contradictory, and much user attention is paid to the visual quality of emulation systems as well as the quality of the emulated experience. The author suggests a number of policy proposals for libraries and archives that argue greater public input is necessary in the creation and development of systems that preserve software through the process of emulation. Headings: Information needs Digital preservation -- Video games Digital preservation -- Software Internet research -- Content analysis SOFTWARE EMULATION AND THE VIDEO GAME COMMUNITY: A WEB CONTENT ANALYSIS OF USER NEEDS by Spencer L. Bevis A Master’s paper submitted to the faculty of the School of Information and Library Science of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Library Science. Chapel Hill, North Carolina April 2019 Approved by _______________________________________ Megan Winget 1 Part 1: Introduction As a popular entertainment medium, video games are a cultural powerhouse.