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How arcades changed video game history

A line of arcade machines glisten at the Sega Arcade in Akihabara, Tokyo.

(Photo/ Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gvarep/10085131083/ )

Today, video games make up a billion-dollar industry. The intricate, virtual universes that video games create are mind-blowing with lifelike graphics. Video games involve complex systems that require massive teams from around the world to create, but the convenient home-based consoles that we know and love today were not always what video games were all about.

Although microphones and chatrooms have made gaming systems more communicative, video games were even more social in the 1970s with arcades. Arcades are gaming centers filled with coin-operated arcade machines. Arcades appealed to the younger generation of the 70s, presenting themselves as a hangout spot for quarter-packed kids and teens to play an array of games while enjoying the company of their friends.

The rise of the arcade came about because of the game Pong in the summer of 1972. Pong  is based on the physical game of ping pong; a small blip on the screen gets bounced between two thick lines that serve as paddles. This game was developed by Nolan Bushnell, the founder of Atari.

By today's video game standards, Pong seems beyond simplistic, almost crude, but it was so popular when it first came out that it literally broke arcade machines as it became clogged with quarters.

Pong was the first of many games to make a breakthrough in the arcade world. After Pong, in the late 70s up to the early 80s, came games that still reign superior today like Space Invaders (1978), Pac-Man (1980) and Donkey Kong (1981). Other games began to include concepts that remain popular in modern video games such as action-adventure and shooting components.

However, the era of the arcade was short lived. 1983 can be viewed as the “War on Gaming,” where many, even public officials, began to criticize video games and cause panic over the seemingly negative effects that they had on children. Today these effects have been proven false, but this information was enough to make the $100 billion gaming revenue of the 70s fall to $100 million by 1985.

Further combined with a lack of innovation and the growing popularity of home-based consoles, the golden age of the arcade came to an end.

Despite its tragic death, even in the age of virtual reality, people continue to enjoy arcade games and view them as a way to continue to connect with the humble origins of video games.

Furthermore, arcade machines are viewed as legendary systems in the history of video games. The arcade taught society that innovation is essential in the video game industry to keep up with an incessantly changing society. It also provided that the joy of video games comes from its social aspect, and the sense of community that it develops as people of all backgrounds play them.

Sources: https://www.wired.com/2014/05/arcade-history/ 

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This is the reality of virtual reality

A user wears the PlayStation VR around his head.

(Photo/ Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/156549365@N04/26704300799/ )

Virtual reality (VR) systems use computer technology to portray a simulated environment. Unlike traditional gaming consoles, VR systems place users inside the experience, allowing them to interact with three-dimensional gaming universes. These systems attempt to simulate multiple senses, such as sight, touch, taste and smell, to create a hyper-realistic virtual experience that genuinely makes users feel like they are in the fictional universe.

In terms of gaming, the use of VR technology is most commonly used with the head-mounted display (HMD) system. The HMD systems are large glasses-like devices that users wear around their heads. This system ensures that no matter where players look, the monitor stays in front of their eyes.

Beginning in 2016, Facebook’s Oculus Rift took the world by storm as one of the first modern VR HMD systems. Other leaders of the VR HMD systems include the HTC Vive and the PlayStation VR (PSVR). The three systems are all fairly similar in terms of their advanced graphics and models.

All these systems require the use of a supporting system to work. The PSVR requires that the user has a PlayStation 4, and the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift require an advanced gaming computer powerful enough to run their respective systems.

For most video games, the HMD VR systems also involve the use of handheld controllers. These impressive controllers function very similarly to traditional gaming-console controllers, intended to be held naturally in a player’s hands and operated through motion controls and joysticks.  

So how do VR gaming systems change the way we think about contemporary gaming?  VR systems provide a more immersive gaming experience. 

Humans are visual beings, and the advanced display technology of VR systems is what makes it so unique and different from traditional console gaming systems. The virtual environments seen in console-based games are displayed onto screens, whereas VR systems superimpose computer-generated images over a user’s view of the real world. ��

There is also an enhanced level of interaction. The use of controllers with VR systems allow players to freely control and modify the game environment.

Finally, VR systems heavily boost game content. First-person shooter games, action-adventure games and simulations are enhanced and more interactive with VR technology. The habitual role of a protagonist has more value as players genuinely take a step in their shoes.

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The blurring of the line between video games and cinema

The evolution of video game technology has transformed video games from very simplistic works with 8-bit, crude graphics to hyper-realistic, three-dimensional worlds filled with intricate characters and stories. The attention to detail in modern video games is mesmerizing, to the point where shadows and lighting are a central part of the video game creating process.

In the midst of creating these gaming universes that begin to reflect real life, video games also begin to mirror movies. Some would even say that video games are like interactive movies.  The line between video games and cinema is becoming blurred as video games become more complex in their story-telling.

Video games share their own multifaceted stories and have all the elements of a plot, just as movies do. Many modern video games even cast actual actors in their creation; not just as voice actors, but as actual actors who do stunts and create the movement behind their characters. To craft believable stories that sell and intrigue players, video game developers are tasked with casting the right actors that further their stories.

The technology that makes this possible is quite amazing. To digitize an actor’s performance, video game developing companies fly actors out to their studios, where they then put on skintight bodysuits with spherical, motion-capture markers on it, as well as a head cap with more markers, a face camera and a microphone. Multiple motion-capture cameras surround the studio, capturing the precise movements of the markers. This process serves as a three-dimensional graph of the final execution of the video game.  

Examples of this technology in action include the use of Grey’s Anatomy actor Jessie Williams in Quantic Dream’s video game Detroit: Become Human, and Ellen Page’s acting in another game by Quantic Dreams, Beyond: Two Souls.

This very well shows that video games are no longer simple works with direct tasks and missions, but complex stories that have twists and emotions that make players cry, laugh, and celebrate.

Jessie Williams’s character, Markus, stares down an enemy during a mission before taking action in Detroit: Become Human. 

(Photo/ Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pressakey/34471310113/ )

Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZBsWCJhkyk , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71m1hnIImNo

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Representation and diversity matter in video games

A group’s representation in the media is just as important as their existence in the real world. Representation in the media creates societal acceptance for certain groups as media consumers learn to appreciate and accept differences. Media representation is the key to what many minority groups seek with their advocacy--normalcy.

Being accurately represented in the media brings a sense of normalcy that doesn’t make your identity just a political statement or a stereotype, but rather seen as an actual, normal human being.

Entertainment media seems to be the most progressive when it comes to promoting equality through representation. So, when people think of media representation, their minds often go to increased diversity in television shows and movies, but what about video games?

As diversity has increased in television shows and movies, it has also increased in video games. Here is a short list of video games from major game franchises that did representation right, presenting women and minorities as what they truly are—people.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (2017)

(Photo/Jacquelyne Germain) 

A PlayStation 4 controller and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy sit on top of my PS4. On the cover of the game are the two protagonists, Nadine Ross (left) and Chloe Frazer (right)

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy is an action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog and Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4. It is an expansion to Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, and the first Uncharted game to not feature protagonist Nathan Drake. Chloe Frazer and Nadine Ross are returning characters from previous Uncharted games that featured Drake as the protagonist.

The story of the two women in the game represents the perfect enemies-to-friends narrative as they venture across India to retrieve an ancient artifact as they battle time, nature, and a ruthless warmonger who also seeks the treasure. Chloe and Nadine build a bond as they seek the treasure and connect over their shared mission and struggles as women in the male-dominated treasure hunting industry where they’re often seen as weak.

Naughty Dog does an amazing job of portraying these women as independent characters apart from Nathan Drake. The two women have their own unique personalities and fighting styles that make for an amazing game that is different from those pioneered by Drake, while also harvesting the amazing aspects that keeps fans coming back to Uncharted, such as the beautiful sceneries, mind-boggling puzzles, and stealth missions.

The Last of Us: Left Behind (2013)

Ellie (left) and her best friend Riley Abel (right) take a silly picture in a photo booth in the abandoned mall moments before their tragic downfall.

(Photo/Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/planetfifa14/15448008708/ )

Naughty Dog and Sony once again highlight the importance of diversity in The Last of Us: Left Behind, a DLC to the BAFTA winning game The Last of Us. The DLC expands Ellie’s story and gives players background to her upbringing before connecting with her partner in crime, Joel. It portrays the heartwarming, yet tragic story of Ellie and her best friend, Riley Abel, as they survive in a post-apocalyptic world plagued my zombies who came about because of an infection.

The two friends live in relative peace in their rebel community, the Fireflies. Things take a dramatic turn when the two venture from their community on an adventure to an abandoned mall. The two have fun and exist as carefree pre-teens, an escape from their usual on-guard positions in their community where they must always be alert and focused on survival.

All is well until a group of zombies makes their way into the mall, chasing down the girls and infecting them. After escaping the zombies, the girls make a pact to ride out the remainder of their lives as humans together. The game ends here, but leaves a lot open to the imagination about what came next. All that is truly known is that is Ellie survives being infected and remains human, potentially being a cure for the whole outbreak.

What is also discovered is that Ellie is attracted to girls. She steals a kiss from Riley as they have fun at the mall, prior to their tragic downfall. In The Last of Us, Ellie’s sexuality is not the highlight of her story, but rather her father-daughterlike relationship with Joel and her witty personality. The story of Ellie’s sexuality is expanded in a trailer for the game’s upcoming sequel The Last of Us 2, where a now older Ellie is seen kissing another girl.

Ellie’s sexuality is not who she is, but rather a part of her that develops her story and makes her even more strong and complex in the midst of a hellish world.

 Spider-Man (2018)

Mary-Jane in Spider-Man uses her ID from the Daily Bugle to attain information to help the game’s protagonist, Peter Parker, better known as Spider-Man. 

(Photo/ Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davinaradit/30970161828/ )

Insomniac Games’ Spider-Man’s whole dynamic isn’t focused on diversity and representation, but their careful development of supporting characters Mary-Jane and Miles Morales within the game is worth highlighting.

Mary-Jane’s existence within the game isn’t solely as Peter Parker’s love interest or a damsel in distress, but rather a courageous, diligent journalist who is dedicated to seeking the truth and helping others. In the few side missions where players take a break as Spider-Man and play as Mary-Jane, they take a look at how Mary-Jane’s journalistic findings play a major role in bringing the game’s story together.

In terms of Miles Morales, the Afro-Latino teenager is a witty, intelligent, and loveable character known for his driven-attitude and stealth. There are also missions where players play as Miles, that develop his character and show his diverse skill set. In the end of the game, it also revealed that Miles has his own powers like Spider-Man, opening up a world of opportunity for Miles, potentially even his own video game in the future.

Insomniac presents Mary-Jane and Miles as more than supporting characters, but as a strong-willed duo that are also heroes.

Miles Morales grieves on a sidewalk, surrounded by the wreckage of an attack that killed his father.

(Photo: Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/145099730@N06/30847324387/in/photolist-PNVGrv-MAHGLv-2bhcL8u-25NApJq-25SrFtz-NZSAQt )

Sources: https://www.unchartedthegame.com/en-us/games/uncharted-the-lost-legacy/ , https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/marvels-spider-man-ps4/ , https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/the-last-of-us-left-behind-stand-alone-ps4/

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The rise of a gamer

(Photo/ Jacquelyne Germain)

Me playing Spider-Man on my PlayStation 4 (PS4). 

I chose the evolution of console-based video games as my blog topic because it is such a multifaceted topic that not only encapsulates the development of consoles and graphics, but also the development of characters, stories and relationships. Video games have been significant to me since I was about 7 years old, and as I have grown and developed as a person, so have video games.

To grow alongside gaming technology is amazing, and my experience with the evolution of video games is nothing compared to those who have experienced their development since the release of the Atari and other earlier video game consoles.

Nevertheless, I am still mesmerized by how much video games have developed in the 10 years that I have played them. At only 7 years old playing my uncle’s PlayStation 2 to now being 17 and owning my own PlayStation 4, I have seen a mass of complex development that inspires me to innovate and always improve as a person.

As I continue to flourish as an individual, I expect an even more rapid development of video games that make the gaming experience more interactive and involved. I truly cannot wait to see what the next 10 years of video games has in store.

Rapid technological innovations are changing the way people think and view video games, and as they continue to evolve, so does their positive societal influence. Video games actively encourage a sense of community and amusement as people play them.

The continued innovation of video games will continue to inspire me, and I hope to one day see a world where video games are easily accessible to all to experience their pleasure.

(Photo/ Jacquelyne Germain)

Me smiling with my PS4 controller.

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Humpty Dumpty, the camel, takes a lunch break after giving many carnival attendees rides. Provided by the company Silk Road Camels, Humpty Dumpty made an appearance at the Ocala Spring Carnival and gave attendees a chance to ride him for $8. Those who paid for the camel ride were walked around the carnival as they sat on his hump and were guided by one of his trainers. This attraction mostly appealed to children who were amazed to view such a large, exotic animal and excited to get the once in a lifetime opportunity to ride him.  (Photo/Jacquelyne Germain)

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Kim Sanders proudly sits at her carnival game where attendees can pay $5 for three chances to pop a balloon with darts to reveal a tag that notes the size of the prize that they will win. The higher up the balloon, the larger the prize. Participants could win small, medium, or large stuffed animals based on the balloon that they pop. Sanders has been working in the carnival industry for 35 years, and she said she enjoys seeing children’s animated reactions when they win a prize. (Photo/Jacquelyne Germain)

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The pony, Barbie, rests after a long day of socializing with children and giving them rides. Barbie, along with three other ponies, provided many children with joy as they were walked in a circle using a rotating contraption as children rode them. Franciszka Owens, the owner of the ponies, said “Pony riding is a glorified hobby,” and that she often looks for events to bring the ponies to because they are social animals who benefit from interacting with people. (Photo/Jacquelyne Germain)

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Reathea Felder stands at the center of her vendor booth, Teddy Bear Mobile, as two potential customers observe her stuffed animals. Felder’s company  specializes in creating stuffed animals that children can manually stuff with cotton using the blue machine, seen in the right of the photo. Children can customize the animals to their liking, and they have a variety of options ranging from rainbow teddy bears, to purple penguins, and striped unicorns. Children can express their imaginations as they customize their own stuffed animals. Felder said she is  dedicated to bringing happiness to children’s lives through these soft, plush toys. (Photo/Jacquelyne Germain)

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The sign for food vendor TJ Taylor’s food truck, Taylor’s Super Jumbo Funnel Cake, radiates in the carnival. Taylor’s food truck brings the unique, Amish delicacy of funnel cake to Ocala. TJ Taylor has been operating Taylor’s Super Jumbo Funnel Cake since 1982, and he said he enjoys the challenge of creating carnival foods and learning the history of how dishes from foreign countries have made their way to the center of American carnivals. (Photo/Jacquelyne Germain)

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Children and parents ride the carousel at the center of the carnival as Larry Singer, the conductor seen in the middle, operates the ride. Masses of children excitedly waited in line with their parents to get on this rotating ride. Singer had a smile on his face as he controlled the ride and saw all the happy children. “It would not be a carnival without a carousel,” said Singer. (Photo/Jacquelyne Germain)

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A multitude of carnival attendees enjoy all that the second annual Ocala Spring Carnival has to offer on March 16, 2019. The carnival was held from Thursday, March 14, 2019 to Sunday, March 17, 2019 at the Southeastern Livestock Pavillion on 2232 N.E. Jacksonville Road in Ocala, Fla. On Thursday and Friday, the carnival was open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. On Saturday, the event was open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sunday the carnival opened at 10 a.m. and closed at 8 p.m. The carnival offered a variety of thrilling rides, wondrous attractions, unique vendors and enthralling contests. Started by Ocala natives Lisa and Mike Yeater, Lisa and her husband began off as vendors, but they organized the first carnival last year, and it was a huge success. “We wanted to bring exciting events to the city that we love,” said Lisa Yeater as her and her husband’s reasoning behind organizing the carnival. The carnival presents itself as a gathering of friends and family who all come out to enjoy the collective carnival experience that incorporates the excitement and joy that comes from rides, games, music and delicious carnival food. (Photo/Jacquelyne Germain)