Videogames: Still fun?

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Vidoegames used to mean alot a few years ago. They were the last vestige of absraction due to lack of technical mastery left in the art world. That is to say, realist painting and sculpture have been perfected for many years, film and telvision heve been both in color and with sound since the 60's, and compact discs cause instant music perfection. The last thing left to become totally sophisticated, as of the 80's, were videogames. But now, they are close to film realistic in terms of the reprodustion of the human form in terms of both form and motion . Were things better when Pitfall Harry was the closest one could come to depicting a human being in a videogame format? Isn't there something to be said for the innocent charm of technical limits?

― Sister Christian, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

video games have been heavily damaged by the pointless drive for photoimmersive realism in the last 8-10 yrs - everything from myst onwards has been pretty bad.

― bc, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't think video games are anywhere close to film realistic. The closer they get, the more boxy and retarded they look, actually. Video game graphics are really great for creating alternative universes, not so much for recreating ours.

Were things better when Pitfall Harry was the closest one could come to depicting a human being in a videogame format?

Yes because humans don't belong in video games in the first place.

― Kris, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

http://www.theoriginalsoundtrack.com/art/harrier.gif

― geeta, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm off to dig out my Atari ST and play what geeta just posted.

― Graham, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

yay graham!! space harrier rulez! video games ARE GREAT I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY also video game MUSIC is the best kind of music (and the minibosses = the best band in the world)

Yes because humans don't belong in video games in the first place.

what?! you mean TRON wasn't supposed to be the future?! there is no hope, is there?!! if the most "futuristic" thing we have in 50 yrs is surgically invasive palm pilots i will be v. v. pissed off

― geeta, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Bah, it's just that bloody 80s revival entering its most poxy pointless stage yet. NO videogames weren't BEST IN THE OLD DAYS and YES they do kick arse now, I mean, is Grand Theft Auto 3 out on the fucking Amiga 500? NO! Spend £300 on an original Atari 2600 if you like, I shall laugh at you and enjoy games from NOW.

― DG, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

My video game gene just withered and died somewhere around '88. One or two games aside, I really don't have any interest in whatever came out since and only indulge in my collection of MacMAME roms, generally.

Why? I don't know if it has to do with the general complexity and technical advances at play or not, but a friend once said that the older games were just more playable. Might have something there, but I dunno.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

What amazes me is people playing those simulation games in the arcades nowadayz where they do real drumming, real keyboarding etc; man they should network these machines to let them jam together and plug them on the net for them to save their best tunes. If investors got their act together just by adding live cams and highspeed net access they could build something like accessible international art collaboration. (excuse my bad english btw). Anyway, it's true games are more complex now; for an example I know first hand that to be good at a game like _battle realm_ it requires as much time and skills as to be good at _novell_ operating system. funny thing is in both cases this knowledge will be more or less obsolete in a year or two from now.

― The Hegemon, Tuesday, 9 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

if the most "futuristic" thing we have in 50 yrs is surgically invasive palm pilots i will be v. v. pissed off

Me too, but hey...

― Kris, Wednesday, 10 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

the pointless drive for photoimmersive realism

What about the cartoon immersiveness of the kiddy games like Mario 64, and the STILL FANTASTIC Zelda OOT? These games (particularly Zelda) are better GAMES than any 8-bit game. They are better designed, with a wider "vocabulary of action" and a better understanding of game design, reward structure, general player interaction. ALL ROUND BETTAH!

― Alan T, Wednesday, 10 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah, "drive for photoimmersive realism" my ass - well unless you insist on playing games w/20 minute cut scenes.

Has anyone played Rez?

As usual when a videogames thread comes up I recommend the excellent TRIGGER HAPPY by STEPHEN POOLE.

― Tom, Wednesday, 10 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

alan - no prollem w cartoony games - often these are the ones where solid gameplay and imagination meet.

just can't stomach first person action/espionage/quest, racing, sports or simulation games - these aren't interesting fantasies or activities for me to want to play as vg's. these genres are typically at the realist/tech for tech's sake end of gaming, and don't typically include gameplay or design that keep me involved for long.

i guess the more it seems like real life, the less immersed i become

― bc, Wednesday, 10 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Trigger Happy contains a proof that Zelda is the best game in the world ever, and therefore korrekt. Mr Poole is also a nice man.

― Alan T, Wednesday, 10 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

bc, we ARE in agreement then. yay. You've repeated exactly my view on these things.

Also, I was going to add a "g" on the end of your name there as I've resolved to do that with everyone ever on this board. However, bcg does not have nice connotations, so you escape. Sarahg and Rickyg however have it coming. regardless

― Alan T, Wednesday, 10 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

And me?

― DG, Wednesday, 10 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

DGG, absolutely.

― Alan T, Wednesday, 10 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

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