Krshna's wierd, wacky bloggy blog

End of blogs!!!!!

2007-05-05T18:41:00.000-07:00

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!

Week 24 - Feedback!!!

2007-05-05T17:48:00.000-07:00

Final Week......YAY!!!!!!!!!

Now time for some Feedback.

First thing I like to say is to remember that 'Electronics games technology' still exist even though you try to ignore us. Like talking about my first year as a 'Artist'. Completely useless for my course.

I also don't like the blogs. It was just a case of surfing the net and writing about my findings along with opinion. We could of just got told at the start of the year to write a gigantic essay about the gaming industry to then be handed in at the end of the year.

I would like to have played some old games while we covered the History bit. That would have been cool. In other words, I would of like this module to be more hands on. So on the bit about different controllers, we would be able to play with other controllers and say how they have improved though the year.

As a tech student, there is very little that I can say I liked about this module. The only thing is liked about this module is that there were very few lectures, but the ones we did have just DULL! And this is probably because lectures were again not mean't for my course.

I know that I probably sound like a gumpy old man but I can't help being annoyed, and you must understand why.

Now to the CELEBRATIONS!!........WOO HOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

Week 23 - Nothing!!!!!!

2007-05-05T17:43:00.000-07:00

YAY Week off........

time to chill............
relax.......................
play games............

Week 22 - GDC conference (anything about it)!!!

2007-05-05T16:51:00.000-07:00

Well this week is to write anythign about the GDC conference that interests me!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I want to talk about the capabilities of Online gaming.

Most of us know online gaming to be counterstrike-source, World of Warcraft, Mario kart or Fifa but it could be so much more...........

Online gaming can be used to expand single palyer games. So games like Super Mario could have an extra 340 levels online because the game disc couldn't hold enough info. And you could expand this so that after you have collected a number of stars or completed a number of levels, then you could be able to download some extra levels. This then means that games developers cannot argue about making games too short, visually rubbish because 'the disc was full'!!! This could destroy games developers who fail to make proper games (like EA making games from films).

Another one is Street Fighter online. Why the hell is fighting games like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter not been made into a online game??? To be able to play fighting games against otherpeople on the net would make the best online games EVER. They wouldn't need a massive bandwidth to play because there are just two characters. This could also make the most addictive game of all time. Capcom and Midway are missing out on big money making ideas.

One final this I would like is to play Online handheld games anywhere. I always have to connect my DS to a wireless station to go online. If only consoles would work like Mobile Phones so you can get connected anywhere. It would be also be cool if you can play online games on a plane.

Online gaming has come a long way in the past few years but it has still got a way to go!!!!!!

Week 21 - A moment to look in the future!?!?!?

2007-04-30T08:58:00.000-07:00

I've got no idea how this is related to this module but here goes...................

For me, University could be the final hurdle of education and I hope to make the best of it. I have already had alot of fun at university and I really want to good time in the next few years of university. Of course I know that the work just gets harder but I work becomes more enjoyable.

Well I haven't decided what I'm gonna do after i've graduated. I have given postgraduate degrees a thought but it is quite costly and I might need to work a year or two before I take on a course like this. But there are many different things I could do after university.

Having said this I would love to get involved in the games industry. I really want to get into creating games and become part of a team that can produce a wide variety of quality games. This is obviously my long term goal. I am not so bothered about a high salary, I jsut want enough to live comfortably, and to afford a Mitsubishi Evolution X (when it comes out)!!!!!!

Week 20 - Creativity

2007-03-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

All about CREATIVITY!!!!

The topic of Creativity is so vast that you can write 10,000 page books on it just to get a real idea about it.........

The ability of creating is within all humans.............it is a part of our lives and the way we think.

Creativity means how one person can imagine somthing and bulid on it. For some people Creativity can be hindered by technical constraints but there are others that can always get around it. It is similay to making Movies. The Director has to come with new techniques to so certain special effects. For example, In the Matrix films, they (film crew) used the loads to cameras to do the to fighting sequences (like when the film pauses and the camera moves around the character while he/she is in mid-air).

I would say that creativity is used in all aspects of creating a game. Some examples would probably be:
- Designers - the idea of a game, and what it would look like
- Artists - create characters, environments, weapons
- Music composers - compose music and sounds to the requirements of the designer
- Programmers - write code, find solutions to problems ocurred while writing the code

I think that programmers have to find ways to implement certain aspects of games, such as AI, which can be seen in games like Half Life 2. For example, the enemies adapt to the way you play and they will move and react in a different way.

I think that it is creativity that what makes games so simulating. As games evolve, the way you play them changes, there are new types of games, better stories, better way of presenting stories, better visual effects and a overall better and a more complete game.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creativity

Week 19 - Life Changing or Career Building?

2007-03-30T10:34:00.000-07:00

This week is to write personal views on this Quote:

"Because your adverts always ask for experienced artists, never for Liberal Arts grads", came the reply from a beleaguered Canadian academic.

Well my frst thought on this matter is that all employers say that you need experience if they don't want to employ you. Or, if you have experience and no qualifications, they (employers) would say that you need qualifications. It's sad but true...........

One Reason for the above quote is that there are too many university graduates, and to say that they want expericence is the easiest way to filter applicants.

On the other hand, sooner or later we will run out of experienced artists and we will have to start bringing in some new blood (in the form of graduates).

To get accepeted by employers, its always best to do some homework first. This could inlcude a portfolio that shows all the main pieces of work you have done (be sure to show pieces that have not been done in univeristy time). This shows employers that you are passionate about art and you are not lazy person after all..........

Week 18 - Sound

2007-03-27T10:48:00.000-07:00

You sometimes don't understand how important sound is in games..............

How is Sound used in games???
To cut it short
- Music
- Gun Sounds and other weapons
- Vehicles
- People and other characters
- Environment (Whistling wind, waterfalls............)

When games started out, the only sounds you heard were bleeps but in the 80's proper music and sounds were used. Examples of these games were Pacman, Donkey Kong, Super Mario, etc. In the 90's, proper sounds were used for example, Guile shouting 'SONIC BOOM' in Street Fighter II. And by the time the Sony Playstation came out, real music was being used.

Key Composers in games

- Nobuo Uematsu - for the famous final fantasy series
- Koji Kondo - for most of the Super Mario and Legend of Zelda games

My favorite musical moment in a game has to be the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Every Stage used the most unforgetable music in a game. The Music was so good that even Nintendo couldn't compose better music than this.......A real winner!!!!

Week 17 - Game Engines

2007-03-08T13:21:00.000-08:00

WOW - SOMETHING MORE SUITED TO MY COURSE!!!!

Well to start off.........A game engine is an complex software package that allows certain types of games to be made from. It handles: the core source-code and its relationship with graphics, music, and especially hardware. Games like Unreal, Doom, Counterstrike source and Half life 2 are created using bespoke engines.

These engines are also good for creating additions to games that use the same engine. For example, many people create new maps for counterstrike, or people create new skins for half life 2. silimar games can also be created using an existing game engine.

Game developers can either use existing engines or they can make their own. The advantages of buying an existing engine are: Its cheaper, faster, easier to learn as some people would have used these engines before. The advantage of having custom made engines is thatthe engine has all the necessary features to make a certain game.

Subtractive and additive is all about the graphics (sigh!). It deals with colours and paints. Subtractive is when paints and other pigments mix together. Whereas additive is when differentt colours of light mix together.

I think that a key issue for next gen engines it the graphics. People are expecting too much out of next gen graphics and it will be essential for a engine to create powerful graphics within a smaller space of time. Otherwise it will cost companies too much money. in terms of the Nintendo Wii, game engines will have to accomodate the Wii controller (or Wii-mote and nunchuck).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_engine
http://www.edgelib.com/index.php?node=106

Week 16 - Gaming Cultures

2007-02-22T11:22:00.000-08:00

All about gaming cultures..........

I like the idea of online gaming and I do play games online myself. I think that online gaming adds an realistic feel to the game because you play against other people. There is also less chance of getting bored with the game. But you must monitor how much you play, otherwise it will take over your life!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I'm not part of many gaming cultures! Why? Because I haven't got much time to dedicate to hardcore gaming. But never the less, I still play games. In terms of Online games, I play: Counter Strike source, Half-life 2 deathmatch, and Mario Kart on the DS. I have also gor Pro Evo 6 on my PC, but I can't get the damn thing to go online. It could be my firewall???? Who knows????? I have thought about one of those online role-play games but never got round to playing one. The most of gaming I will get is about 2 hours a day, but usually about an hour. In the holidays I will play games more often, whenever I'm Bored.

Week 15 - The Game Industry

2007-02-14T02:23:00.000-08:00

This week is all about the gaming industry

Back in the day, programmers used to write games as a hobby, then they started to sell these for low profit. Eventually games became popular and now the games industry is worth £billions. As a result the cost of making games are much higher, costing millions.

Making a game requires a team effort. There are Programmers and Artists. The Artists have varied jobs e.g. Music artist to compose music in games, games designers. The Programmers deal with all the technical side of making a game.

The Games Industry right now, is generally trying to get more people to become gamers. This is more apparant in Nintendo's consoles. Games companies are also trying to get games to be as much of everybodys lives as TV, Cinema, Radio and Music. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are making their consoles to be a part of everybodys living room (like a TV, DVD, VCR, Sofa, Beer etc) instead of it being in someones bedroom. Games are also being implemented in Mobile Phones and other electronic devices.

The problem with the games industry is that the more complex a games becomes the more expensive it becomes and the longer it takes to make. This means that games will need to sell more to achieve profit. This then leads to most of production costs are used on graphics, because good graphics sells, but games end up being rubbish. This is more apparant in the USA, but in Japan, gameplay is more important. An exception to this is Nintendo and their philosophy behind the DS and Wii. They (nintendo) state that the primary purpose of a game is for fun and entertainment, and that over-the-top graphics are not important in making a GOOD GAME!

Another problem is that the artists are used as games designers when they know absolutely nothing about programming and gameplay!

Week 11 - Gameplay

2007-02-13T12:14:00.001-08:00

Finally something a bit more interesting..........GAMEPLAY!!!

Well.......Where do we start?????????????

Gameplay involves the full interactivity between you and the hardware. It includes Game Mechanics (rules and theroies that make a good game) and AI (the difficult bit). It is extremely important because if a game cannot play good, it is NOT a good game. In other words, if playing a certain game feels more like a chore, then it is a failure at being a good game. The game Mechanics define such rules that are usually needed to make a good game. However these rules do not have to apply to all games e.g. games of a new genre, games of a new platform (Wii, DS), etc. I mean that you can't use rules developed for a D-pad and buttons if there's no use to any (like a touchscreen), so you have to decide for yourself how to make a good game with new technology (usually with loads of testing).

I think that deciding how a game plays is the most important thing about creating a game. But I also think that gameplay should be defined before production, because bad ideas usually result in game with bad gameplay. Good gameplay is creates a good gaming experience and a good form of entertainment, like a good film or a good song that you can never part with. This is probably why programmers are the best designers. Just look at the old games like Tetris, Super Mario, Street Fighter -Pure Addiction..........and it never really gets achieved these days!!!

Week 10 - Elements of Game Design......Story and Characters

2007-02-06T13:47:00.000-08:00

This week is all about characters in games.....

If you think back to characters in films and books, there is often one or few main characters that the story revolves around. Even Lord of the Rings focuses on Frodo and Aragorn more than any other character.

These days, Games with stories seem to have a bigger following then those games without stories. The Legend of Zelda series has had a growing fanbase since the first game came out somtime in the 80's. In this case the main character is Link (the squeaky clean hero), and sub-main characters are Princess Zelda (the damsel in distress princess - and you thought Snow white and Sleeping Beauty were annoying enough) and Gannondorf (the all-evil villian - could possibly be related to Wicked Witch of the West or Darth Vader). And all Zelda games (I think??) have used this template. There have been about 10 sequels and there has been no sign of anyone getting bored of it. I think it is this sort of story that people find irresistable.

But not all games with stories have to follow this pattern. Hitman has a small story in it and you are basically a hitman, who has to assasinate people. But the majority of games revolves around one character e.g. Tommy Vercetti from Grand theft auto, Lara Croft, Super Mario, Max payne, Metroid. Even Final Fantasy games have one main character accompanied with other sub-characters.

I personally like story games that have one main character, especially the Legend of Zelda Series!!!

Week 9 - Game Technology

2007-01-30T15:06:00.000-08:00

Yay.....FINALLY a blog about game TECHNOLOGY!!!

Game platforms have changed alot since I was five. One major change was the technology, and in particular how games were played, and how games are played. A breakthrough in game controllers was the Joystick as it was both comfortable and easy to use. However it only really worked with flying games because aeroplanes have a similar control to navigate the plane.

Other platforms used a stick and buttons pad which was eventually the best platform for fighting games (especially Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat). A standard for controllers was the nintendo (NES) controller. It had a D-pad and two buttons, which is just a simplified version of todays controller. Compared to previous controllers, it was relatively comfortable, and developers used this controller to game various genres of games, most of which played well. But controllers weren't very good with FPS (first-person-shooters) games. This is because you need to aim at your opponent while you move. This is where Sony Dual Shock controllers came to use. It had a d-pad and to two analogue sticks. It made playing easier but it still wasn't that good. That is why FPS games are better on PC's where you use your Keyboard (to move and pick weapons) and Mouse (to aim and shoot). Real time Strategy games are also easier with a mouse.

Ergonomics have become a big issue with games. A controller that feels better to use will porbably have a gamer spend more hours at a time on a game. In other words, it helps to create an enjoyable experience. It also reduces the risks of getting aches and pains or blisters on your hands. I would say ergonomics that became important in gaming with the Sega Saturn and then in the PS1. The N64 controller was not ergonomic because you had to change between the analogue stick and the d-pad for different games. I would also say that the PS2 and the xbox 360 controllers are the most ergonomic as they fit confortabily in anyones hands. Even PC mice have become ergonomic to use. A company called Razer makes computer mice specially built for gaming by using outstanding performance and ergonomic design.

The design of consoles have changed a great deal as well. They have become less of an eyesore and more of somthing you can put in your living room. The only real reason for this is that they want to sell more copies.

The Nintendo Wii changes everything we have become to know about games consoles. The controller adds a new level of interaction with games. It is both ergonomic and easy to use, and it could also show the future of gaming. However, just like every other type of contrroller, it does not 'cater for all' types of games. This is why i think that the normal controllers will remain for the time being........untill they bring out a new type of controller!!!!!!

Week 8 - Storytelling for games

2007-01-30T14:44:00.000-08:00

This blog is all about storytelling in games.

To get one thing certain, it is that Games CANNOT replace literacy as it is a FORM of Literacy. And not all stories are made up, some are real, and some are a mix of the two.

Many games follow storylines, example of these are; Most RPG's (Final Fantasy), Many Action Games (Legend of Zelda, Grand Theft Auto, Max Payne), Fighting (Street Fighter, Tekken, Mortal Kombat), FPS', WWE (was WWF) games, and other genres very often have storylines.

I think that a strong story does make a better game. This can only work if the game requires a storyline. For example Max Payne is set like a movie and you control the main character, if the game never had a story, it would be pointless. A good storyline will drive you to complete the game because you want to know 'what happens next' and it can be like you are in your own movie. We have been reading books and watching films or TV for most (or all) of our lives and now for the first time, we can play a part in these stories....in effect we can live our childhood dreams e.g. being able to play a favorite hero, heroine, or maybe even a drug lord?!?!? etc.

But on the otherside some other games (like Football games) are better without storylines because otherwise, it would be daft.

Storylines can be implemented in many ways. For example, a story can revolve around the main character (which is usually controlled by you), or your character is just a part of a bigger story.

Week 7 - Art Direction for Games

2006-11-18T12:25:00.000-08:00

This week we had our first guest lecture. The problem is that the lecture was mostly about careers in games art and I DON'T DO ART, I do Electronics Games Technology, which is usually about programming and hardware.

Over the next few weeks I will be looking into games design in more detail. This week focuses on Art Direction for Games.

What does an Art Director do?

Firstly, the Art Director has to create an image on paper from a description given by the Project Director (or who ever creates these ideas about games). Secoundly, the Art Director is involved in the production of all elements of art in the game. This includes graphics, intro scenes, cut scenes and advertsing.

Who are they responsible to?

He/she is responsible for the creation for All the art in the game and it is his/hers job to maintain the quality of all this art. More important responsibilities are: working with recruiting department to ensure recruitment of good artists, mentoring less experienced artists, maintaining good communication beween programmers and project directors (good communication usually means a well implemented game), supervising art reviews (maintaing quality of the art) and forseeing if there is enough time to complete required tasks.

Do you think it's a creative role?

Yes I think it is one of most creative roles of making a game. I think its because the Art Director has to create a vision before any production starts. He/she also has to communicate their ideas in the form of drawings and basic 3D images. The abitily to draw somthing form vision does require a vast amount of creativity.

How is art direction in Games similar to or different from Film, for example?

It is different from making a film becasue firstly not all films require CG (computer graphics). Also the Director of the film also acts as an 'Art Director' as he has to create a vision of the whole film before he/she starts any filming. Storyboards are usually used to create simple views of each scene. Also art is implemented in different ways to make a film, e.g. Make up effects (like putting bits of metal and blood on Arnold Schwarzenegger to make him look like a terminator and creating models (like creating the two towers in Lord of the Rings films).

What qualities do you think you'd need to develop if you want to become an Art Director in the future?

I think that I would need:
- Tons of experience in game art (at least 5 years).
- Ability to communicate ideas to other people.
- Ability to supervise other employees.
- Ability to see faults and areas of improvement in others peoples work.
- A Qulaification or relevent experience in 3D graphics or Multimedia.
- Ability to handle a big work load.
- Ability to resolve any problems encountered during production.

Week 6 - Game Design

2006-11-17T14:19:00.000-08:00

This week is all about Game Design...................

What is meant by Gameplay?

Gameplay is about how the whole game functions. This includes the full interation between the player/s (users) and the hardware with the users getting the right feedback. In this case the feedback what you see and hear on the TV (or monitor) and the controls are are what ever you use to play the game. These controlls could be either or a combination of: a mouse, a keyboard, a joystick, a control pad or soon - the new Nintendo Wii remote and nunchuck.

Who are the leading lights in Game Design?

The obvious name that come to mind is Shigeru Miyamoto (I think its spelled like that) of Nintendo. This is the guy wo created the Legend of Zelda, Mario, Donkey Kong, Kirby and Pikman series'. He is somtimes known as the 'Gaming God' for his contribution in the industry. Curently, he is heavily involved in the production of 'The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Hideo Kojima is credited for his contribution by creating many games, the most famous one being Metal Gear and Metal Gear Solid series'. Other big developers include: Square Einx (final fantasy), Sony's baby company Polyphony Digital (Gran Turismo Series), Sega (Sonic!!), Capcom (Street fighter, Devil may cry, Resident Evil) etc. Electroinic Arts are currently the biggest games developers but their games are full of crap.

Where does Game Design take place in the modern Developer?

Well I would think games designing would come straight after sombody has thought of an idea.

Is it a single person's responsibility?

There is usually only one games designer per game and he/she has all the responsibility for making big decisions. And he/she has also go to check the quality of the game, to see if the developing team is making the game to the design specification.

Do different genres require different design principles?

Of course they do. A puzzle game cannot be made in the same way as a shooting game becaus they involve different elements. For example need to deal with AI of ememies, environment and bullets. Whereas a puzzle game like tetris need to deal with AI for the speed and picking the next block. Both need AI in the game but they need to implemented differently.

What's important for you, when you play?

Gameplay and story. Interaction between me and the hardware is always important but I also like, whenever possible, a good story line. Role play games usually have the most deep and interesting storylines and I enjoy playing these. Realistic gameplay is important for games that replicate realstic environments e.g. First-person-shooters (FPS), football games, Grand theft Auto, etc.

Week 5 - Writing about Games

2006-11-17T07:51:00.000-08:00

This week is all about Writing about Games. This includes somthing called 'New Games Journalism'????????????????????????????

What issues face reviewers?

Well I think that the internet is one major issue. There seem to be loads of websites that offer game reviews for free, when the game is released. Some are ign.com , gamespot.com and eurogamer.net. Also some reviewers work for companies that sell games and need to point out the good bits of every game and ignore the bad bits. It the game has nothing good about it (cough...EA) then writing a review is a bit difficult. Obvious examples are Playstation Magazine and Official Nintendo Magazine. Another issue is that some reviewers haven't got the time to play the game and write about it. This somtimes leads to a review being based on part of the game.

Who pays their wages?

Magazine producers or people who own the websites. There are even free lance reviews who sell their reviews to magazine companies.

Is an objective ranking system for games necessary for sales, is it even feasible?

The ranking system gives an overall opinion of each area of the game e.g. Graphics, Gameplay, Length, Music etc. But parts like gameplay is a complex area and I think there are many different areas of gameplay in one game. For example, Interactivety, Controls, Fun Factor (games were originally meant for fun and not for crap like the Sims), The full experience (this could include story and emotions felt playing the game. And Graphics play too much of a part in the ranking of a game, especially when the game in question is a puzzle game or a game based on an animation.

Whar are your feelings about the NGJ?

I personally think that it is irrelevent and too long winded. And the writers don't even give the game a rating. What a waste!!!!!!!

What are the particular qualities of NGJ?

It sort of makes it easier to describe the game by using creative media and creative analysis. This makes for interesting entertainment. You also get extra infromation like the background of the game (for no real reason). If you want to read somthing funny and you want some information, you would usually find this in a NGJ.

What other forms of games writing can you find?

Previews, Hands-on features (usually about a playing a preview version of the game), Advertising, statistics...................

How do you feel about your own writing, do you value objectivity or subjectivity?

I think that both are important. A Review is essentially somebodys opinion on something (in this case a game). But at the same time it is essential to find out about important parts of the game. I personally like to find out an opinion of a game from a person who has a good amount of experience of playing games.

Week 4 - My Future of Games

2006-11-15T04:17:00.000-08:00

What do you want from gaming in the future?

Well.........(taking a moment to think about the question).........................urmmmm........................

I would like future games to be about fun. I would like to see games become more like the Wii games since this is offering a brand new style of play.

What games would you like to play?

The first game that comes to mind is The Legend of Zelda: Twilight princess. Grand Turismo for the PS3 looks good and the new Super Mario game is definately a game i want.

How will you play them?

Well if i could afford a Wii and a PS3 i would play it on them otherwise i wont be playing them at all.

Week 4 - The Current History of Games

2006-11-12T12:28:00.000-08:00

Well I won't go on about the present generation (Sony Playstation 2, Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo Gamecube and Gameboy Advance) or next generation games (Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Playstation Portable and DS) because everybody knows about them. If you don't, well just click here

Instead I will be talking about the mopre important issues......................

What are the significant developments facing gaming at the beginning of the 21st Century?

One siginificant development that hasn't ever stopped is the graphics. These days games get so much criticism on how they look. Games that simulate people and real life surroundings take ages to create and I think that gameplay is sacrificed to have more time to create better graphics. This is usually the case with yearly line up of crappy EA games, but it sells!!!

Another siginificant development is realisitc gameplay. Games that simulate people and real-life surroundings demands the gameplay to be very realistic. This is usually done by using Artificial Intellegence (AI). This could control: physics of water, fire, avaters (movement and decision making) and interation with the environment.

Also the ever new styles of gaming (Wii, PSP, DS) are showing how creative games can be. In addition to this, games consoles are becoming the centre of the living room

What pressures does the industry face?

Well it obvously means that games should take longer to make but due to public demand, developers have to make it within the same time limit as older games. But some games are taking longer and longer to be released e.g. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess has been in production for over 3 years and it still has to be released. Another example is Final Fantasy 12.

Also the cost of games is continuosly rising meaning that price of games and consoles are rising and developers have a higher profit margin. This means that developers have to sell a higher amount of games to achieve a profit. Read here for a good article about this.

Week 3 - My Later History of Games

2006-11-06T13:53:00.000-08:00

My History of Games is very long so i'll keep it as short and sweet as possible. OK?!?!?!? Here we go.............................

- In the Early 90's I revieved a Gameboy for Christmas. It came bundled with Tetris, Multiplayer wire and headphones. I later got Super Mario land I and II, Jurassic Park, Pokemon Red, World cup 1994, Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat II and a couple of others.

- Towards the Mid 90's I got my first PC. It was a Daewoo (yes the company thet makes cars and millions of other things), and it had Windows 3.11 preinstalled in it (good ole days with the MS-DOS). That main games I played on it were: Rise of the Triads, Duke Nukem, Fifa Soccer and the super-fantastic Sensible Soccer.

- Around 1998 I got a Playstation. The sort of games I played on it were: Gran Turismo 1 and 2, WWF Smackdown 2, Street Fighter Alpha 1 and 3, Abe's Exodus, Tekken, Final Fantasy VIII and IX, Fifa 1998 and Pro Evolution 2.

- Towards the late 90's I got a new PC. It was a Fujitsu with a Pentium II processor and a 6.4GB Hard-drive. Games: Unreal, Fifa 2000 and a couple of other shooting games.

- Later on I got a Gameboy colour (and I thought...Gameboy + colour screen = best Handhled EVER!!!). The sort of games I played on it were: Pokemon (Red, Pinball and Crystal), Mortal Kombat 4, Tetris Dx and all my Original Gameboy games.

- In 2002 I got a Gamecube (yay thank god for the mighty CUBE) and on it I played: Super Monkey ball, Starfox Adventures, WWE Day of Reckoning 2, Tales of symphonia, Resident Evil 4 and The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker (it was a limited edition version that included the Ocarina of Time and Master Quest).

- Around the same time my brother brought Playstation 2. Some of the games were: Gran turismo (3 and 4), Splinter cell, Grand Theft Auto (Vice City and San Andreas), Prince of Persia and Devil May cry (1, 2 and 3).

- Other PC games I have played are: Doom 3, Counter strike source, Hitman 4, Godfather, Football manager, Pro Evolution soccer 4, Age of Empires II, Max Payne 2 and Half Life 2.

- Today, I still somtimes play my Gamecube and with The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess to come, my 'cube is far from retirement. I also play my Nintendo DS. I have the original DS but I can't help thinking how nice the DS lite is. Some of the Games I play are: Super Mario 64 DS, New Super Mario Bros, Mario Kart DS, Warioware Touched, Dr Kawashiimas Brain Training, Kirby and Nintendogs Dalmation Edition.

Week 3 Middle History of Games - 1980 - 1999 (part 2 of 2)

2006-11-05T11:24:00.000-08:00

The Middle History of Games…………………1980 – 1999 (part 2 of 2)

The Super Duper 90's................................................

Gameboy
In 1989 Nintendo released the Gameboy. It originally came with Tetris and it quickly became a household name. Before long everybody wanted a Gameboy and as it sold for £60-£70 everyone could afford one. Its main competitor is was the Sega Game Gear but due to the lack of build quality and battery life it wasn't very succesful. Despite its lack of sales the Game Gear was the longest running handheld not owned by Nintendo. Worldwide sales are as follows: Gameboy sold 69.42 million and Game Gear sold 8.65 million.

The biggest console war
This was known as the forth gerneration of gaming. In 1989 the Sega Genesis (Sega Megadrive) was released and in 1991 the Super Nintendo (SNES) was released. This sparked the most fierce was between two consoles. Sega had Sonic, a blue Hedgehog with lightening speed. And Nintendo had Mario, a hight-jumping plumber who had the job of rescuing a damsel-in-distress princess. Both consoles had similer specifications and superb games. This was also the generarion of games that sparked the fighting games. It started with Street Fighter II (available on both consoles) and then followed the Mortal Kombat series that was also available on both consoles. At the end, Nintendo had just won, with worldwide sales of 49.02 million and Sega had worldwide sales of 30.75 million.

3D Games---------Here comes a new Challenger........Sony
The fifth generarion of gaming sparked the birth of 3D games on any console. The first consoles released on this generation were the Sega Saturn and Sony's Playstation (PSX) but later the Nintendo 64 (N64) was released. The N64 Super Mario 64 defined the 3D platformer with the moving camera angles and the free movement. Other milestone games of this generarion were: Legend of Zelda - Ocarina of Time (N64), Goldeneye (N64), Final Fantasy VII (PSX), Gran Turismo (PSX) and Metal Gear Solid (PSX). The worldwide sales standings are as following:
Sony Playstation - 80.49 million
Nintendo 64 - 40 million
Sega Saturn - 15.26 million

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_computer_and_video_games

Week 3 Middle History of Games - 1980 - 1999 (part 1 of 2)

2006-10-30T09:00:00.000-08:00

The Middle History of Games……………………………1980 – 1999 (part 1 of 2)

Lets start with the significant bits of the Electric 80's.

Early 80's
The Early 80's saw the release of computers such as: the Commodore 64, the Apple II and the ZX Spectrum. The Commodore 64 was the biggest console of this time and hundreds of games were released such as: Donkey Kong, Spy Hunter, and Pacmania. Most of these games were played on the keyboard or a controller consisting of a control stick (a sort of a joystick but without any buttons on the stick) and two buttons. The games of the first version of the commodore 64 were on cassettes. Later C64's had a 15.4" floppy disc drive. The success of the Commodore 64 was a catalyst for the Great Games Crash of 1983. In my opinion the Commodore 64 is probably the best console before the days of Nintendo.

The Great Games Crash of 1983
In 1983 there was a sudden crash in the games business and resulted in bankruptcy in many computer and games companies in North America. There were various causes for this crash. These include: the success of the commodore 64 (due to its marketing), there were too many different consoles and home computers to play games on and too many games that weren't very good (in fact they were rubbish). It resulted in many unsold hardware and software being returned to companies but the companies hadn't had new products or money to refund and therefore they became bankrupt.
Find out more here

Nintendo and the first 'Console War'
If anything good did come out of the end of the Great Games Crash, it was Nintendo. Just like how japanese companies revolutonised the Motor Vehicle industry in the 80's, they (the japanese companies) did the same for the games industry. Nintendo of Japan released the 'Nintendo Entertainment System' or it is usually called the 'NES' (pictured right). Also in 1986 Sega released the 'Sega Master System' or 'SMS'. On both of these consoles, games were stored on cartridges and games were played using a control pad. Both control pads consisted of a D-pad (on the left) and two buttons (on the right). This format is still used on todays consoles. The similarities of these consoles created the first console war. Nintendo won the war, with sales of 61.78 million compard to the 13 million of the SMS.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Entertainment_System
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Master_System

Handhelds
In 1980 Nintendo released their Game & Watch lines. There were about 59 individual games including some of Nintendo's biggest franchises. Most of these games had one LCD screen but some had two (they looked a bit like the Nintendo DS).

Creation of some of Greatest Franchises in the Industry
The 80's saw the birth of some of the greatest franshises in games. Shigeru Miyamoto of Nintendo created: the Mario series, the Legend of Zelda series and the Donkey Kong series. Super Mario Bros is still the best selling game of all time, selling 40.24 million copies. Hironobu Sakaguchi of SquareSoft (now SquareEinx) created Final Fantasy. And Hideo Kojima crated the Metal Gear series.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_games

Week 2 - My Early History of Games

2006-10-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

Now to get on with my earliest history of games..................

Back in the early 90's (my god, seems like yesterday...........Its amazing how old you feel when you are 18 and you look back at your childhood!!!), I first played on a computer called a 'Dragon 32' its from the 80's. And on it I played: the King (usually called Donkey Kong), frogger and Pac-Man. The games were stored on audio cassettes and a tape deck was needed to load them. It took ages for the games to be loaded. The dragon-32 itself had: a Motorola 6809E at 0.89MHz processor, 32KB memory and a Microsoft Extended Basic operating system. It was like using MS-DOS. You can find out more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_32

I also played on another computer called an 'Amstrad CPC 464'. Again this was released in the 80's, the games were stored on audio cassettes and it was also like using MS-DOS. Games were more advanced and therefore they sometimes took hours to load. There were more branded games including the original Golden-axe. It came with a simple joystick with two buttons on the base. You could also use it to program simple games. You can find out more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_CPC_464

Above: The Amstrad CPC 464
[Credit to Cc-by-2.5 (from wikipedia) for this image].

Both of these computers (they were not consoles) started getting me hooked on games. I was only about 5 when I started playing on them. I was DOOOOOOMED from the start!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Week 2 - Early history of games!!!!!!

2006-10-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

Sorry ‘bout the late update but here is the Early History of Games!!
Well to get on with the history of games……………………………1947-1979

The first computer game of any kind was made back in the 1947 and it was actually tic-tac-toe (noughts and crosses)

In 1958 Willy Higinbotham created the first computer game that was used for fun. It was called ‘Tennis for Two’ (well you can’t exactly have tennis for one!!!). It showed a tennis court from the side, it had a net, and it was affected by gravity (picture right). It was made to entertain people at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. The game used a cathode ray tube for display. After that in 1961, students at MIT (inc’ Steve Russell) created a game called Spacewar. It pitted two players against each other that were capable of firing at each other.

Before then, in 1951, a man called Ralph Baer had an idea that became a billion pound industry. His idea was to create games that could be played by connecting it to your TV. Thus he is widely known as the creator of Video Games. Later on in 1966 he created a game called ‘Chase’ that was played using your TV.

Moving on to the gooooooovy 70’s………………..In 1971 a coin operated version of Spacewar was sold. It only sold 1500 machines because people found it difficult to play. In 1972 Ralph Baer created ‘Magnavox Odyssey’ – the videogame console. It was played by connecting it up to your TV and it played ball and paddle games. But also in 1972 the Atari was released. It came with pong – one of the most influential games in the gaming industry (pictured below). The Atari sold over 19,000 pong machines. The end of the 70’s also saw Space Invaders, Asteroids, and Pac-Man. The period of games between 1972 and 1977 is widely known as the First Generation of gaming.

The period of games between 1972 and 1977 is widely known as the First Generation of gaming. Also Second Generation gaming was between 1976 and 1984.

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_computer_and_video_games
http://www.designboom.com/eng/education/pong.html
http://www.pong-story.com/

Footy games are BACK!!!!

2006-10-16T10:02:00.001-07:00

Yaaaaaay.......................

It seams that we are approaching christmas and this signals the release of our yearly supply of Football games. EA has now released its Fifa 07 game, the Crappy Championship Manager 2007 is out and the brill' Football manager 2007 has come out. I haven't played the new Fifa game but most of the reviews said that EA has finally managed to make a decent footy game. I think its because EA has decided to leave out the rubbish "new innovative" gameplay of previous games.

But to save the best till last, Pro Evolution Soccer 6 still has to be released. And with the addition of the DS version (with WI-FI online play) this is the game worth waiting for!!!!!!!!!!!

Week 1 tasks

2006-10-10T13:19:00.000-07:00

To get on with the tasks……………………………

Who's writing, and how do you perceive them to be?

Well I’ve been looking at http://www.shinyshinyshiny.blogspot.com/ and it turns out that he’s a bit of a nutter (sorry Mr. P)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He makes all sorts of witty remarks, such as ''I decided to watch the lab buckle under the strain of 39 freshers eager to get hold of the furniture and break things. Bless.'' This makes for cool and entertaining reading. I am also looking at http://scaryduck.blogspot.com/ and http://ohdearmybrainisleaking.blogspot.com/ (another two nutters)!! Weird-duck-man (scary duck) swears more and his jokes tend to be for older people where as leaky-brain-man (of dear my brain is leaking) and Shiny (shiny shiny shiny) tend to write jokes that anyone would find funny.

Does blogging strike you as objective or more personal?

I think blogging is more of a personal thing where you can talk about how you feel. And you can basically write anything you want (just don’t make any enemies). If you don’t care about what people think then you can just disable any comments.

How often do they write?

Looking at the dates of shiny’s blogs, it seems he tries to post new blogs whenever possible. Leaky-brain-man looks like he posts new blogs mostly on Monday and Tuesday, probably that’s when he has free time. And weird-duck-man posts new blogs Monday to Friday, every week.

What do they write about?

Weird-duck-man likes talking about weird subjects but he sometimes goes a bit too personal (read about the Handy Shandy stuff). But otherwise it’s all funny stuff. Shiny and leaky-brain-man enjoy talking about recent events and anything they would make people laugh. They both tend to avoid writing anything people would find insulting in anyway. But they all seem to use the blog in a way to reflect on what has just happened.

How do you see yourself using a blog?

After having a feel using blogs, I can now honestly say that I could see myself using blogs more often although I’m not sure how often I would post new blogs. I would probably write about interesting events and funny thoughts. But I wouldn’t put anything about the news on it.

Do you feel comfortable writing for an invisible audience for example?

Yes, I do feel more comfortable writing for an invisible audience. Well basically I can say what I want. I can also talk about stuff other people would find boring but some other people might find interesting.

Blogging

2006-10-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

I've heard that quite a lot of people are frustrated with the new assessment but I’m finding this quite coooooooooooooooool. It's exciting, innovative and you can get on with your work wherever you can get access to the net! Just imagine doing your work while on the bus (if you have one of those PDA thingies); just don’t say you’ll be doing your blogs on the bog! I think it’s better that those essays, no drafts, no formal stuff and no writing as if I was a stupidly annoying person who speaks in million letter words. Yes it’s now time to put those thesauruses to retirement. But this time you can’t say your dog ate your blog because then you’ll look like an idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello

2006-10-09T12:09:00.000-07:00

Horraay!!! I finally set this site up.

This is my blog site and i will be putting all sorts of things on it. Well actually it will probably be just stuff about games.

Well to get onto the subject about games, I own: Sony playstation 1 and 2, a Gamecube, a gameboy, a gameboy color, a gameboy advance SP, a DS and a sony PSP. So you can see that i am passionate about games. As for types of games, I try to play as many different of games as possible e.g. Grand Theft Auto, Legend of Zelda (breathtaking), Super Mario, Final Fantasy, Street fighter (what a classic), Doom, Resident Evil, Pro Evolution Soccer and even WWE games.

Well over the next few weeks I will be posting more blogs, and updating my site.

Oh, I forgot to introduce myself..............my name is Krshna Chauhan and im 18 years of age. I am a first year at DMU and the name of the course I am doing is 'Electronic Games Technology' (and now you understand the games bit).