A Return to 8-Bit

The release of Megaman 9, an 8-bit sequel in one of the biggest franchises of all time, came and went this week. As a game, it isn't much; as a statement (both artistically and in the sense that more games should be like it), it says more than any press release or journalistic article ever could-

Games should be simple.

Sure, it's not much to look at. It's only that nostalgia factor that makes the graphics attractive. The point of the game is to show us that games could be fun, even without the realism and over-the-top violence in todays industry. They could be challenging without the human to human interaction that many games today depend on. Competition wasn't fighting to see who was the best; no, it was racing against time to see who could finish the game in the least amount of time. Whatever happened to this golden age in gaming?

The answer, as it always seems to be, is technological advancements. Games have begun to do things because they can, but most of what's in the games of today is smoke and mirrors.

Yes, there's a certain aesthetic to today's games that we couldn't have had years ago; we feel like we could actually be there. But gaming was created to take us away from the worries and struggles of the real world. It's as if people have forgotten the fundamentals of what gaming is today.

So, if you had to choose, what would you have? The games today with the great multiplayer and amazing graphics or the games of yesteryear that were made for us to have fun with the game? I'd really like to see some opinions, so post about it in the comments section.

Nintendo; Abandoning the Hardcore Gamer, or Biding Their Time?

It started 14 years ago with my first console- the NES. Back then, there was no separation between the gamer and the pick-up-and-player. No, Mario was Mario, Megaman was Megaman. Shooters like Halo weren't even a thought (blood in games? Ha!). Fighters were what the gamers would play, though even a first-timer could win at least a game against a seasoned vet. But, as time would have it, technology and greed took over.

Companies began to fight for dominance as the graphics grew better and the controllers more responsive. Games began involving more precision, more skill. By the time the Playstation and my beloved N64 rolled around, there became a defining line between the good gamers and the bad.

I'm not here to tell you a history of gaming. No, I'm here to give you my views on gaming today. From the overrated money printers to the lost gems left unplayed, I'll tell it all. Are you a Soul Caliber Fan? How about Brawl or Halo? The Conduit? Nobody's left out here. My first post follows-

Nintendo used to be the mecca of all things gaming. Be honest with yourselves- without them, there is no Metal Gear. There's no Call of Duty. But in recent years, my hope for them has dropped. I've owned every one of their consoles since the original release (minus the virtual boy and some versions of the gameboy), and it seems that while the quality of their games is increasing, the quantity of these games does nothing but drop. I can name three games for the Wii, released in 2008, that I would still consider playing to this day (Brawl, No More Heroes, Mario Kart Wii).

I'll admit, I used to be a complete fanboy. In fact, I was until just recently. But I've had a small change of heart, one that I wish I hadn't had. This idea has been planted into my head by not only my friends, but the community of gamers that I associate myself with; maybe, just maybe, Nintendo has become a company hungry for money. Maybe they saw that hardcore games weren't for them, after the bad fortune the Gamecube endured (I loved me some purple lunchbox, but I was one in few).

If you'll recall, when Nintendo first announced the Wii they said they would be using the "Blue Ocean" strategy. What this means is that there will be something for everyone. While this is true today, I can't help but feel I'm stuck in the Gulf of Mexico while my casual counterparts get the whole Atlantic to swim in.

Nintendo, at it's core, is a developer's company. That's why it's survived to this day. Sony, though they make some amazing games, jumped in because they were mad about a broken deal with the big "N". Microsoft, the other player, decided to try it's hand when the time was right. It seems that we're in the middle of a sea of change.

Nintendo still has time to reconcile with me. Just next month they're holding a press conference, hopefully to announce a slew of games that I'll add to my wishlist. Until then, I'll get ready to buy Fable II and start a Halo doubles team when I get my 360 monday...