Spring+2009+Links

=__Spring 2009 Links__=

 This page contains the various links posted during the Spring 2009 Semester.

__**3/19/09 **__

Controversy!!!

 Many things have brought about a lot of different controversy throughout the history of video games. We have already discussed Exidy's Death Race, and the initial controversy surrounding it, but there are many others that continue on to this present day.

 In light of today's discussion on controversy in video games, I am posting various links and videos that discuss the matter further.

 First, here are a couple of sites discussing the history of controversy in video games. One is the Wikipedia entry for controversial gaming, and the other is a section of the popular gaming site "GameSpot" which discusses game onroversy through the ages. The GameSpot site includes some info about the horribly offensive "Custer's Revenge" for the Atari 2600 (and if I am offended by a game, you know it has to be bad):

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 Next, did you know that there was a game called "Death Race" for the NES? It's true! This game had very little to do with Exidy's original Death Race, but it still involved killing pedestrians. It was not an official NES game (meaning Nintendo did not license the game and it was thus illegally made), but it existed nonetheless.

 This link discusses the Death Race NES game. The discussion on the page is fairly weak and poorly written, actually, but it does make some interesting points comparing this game to the Grand Theft Auto series. Plus, it includes many screenshots:

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 Last, here are some videos about different video game controversies.

 The first is a clip from a 1982 episode of "Entertainment Tonight," discussing the rise of video games. Look for an appearance by the infamous Ronnie Lamm, who sparked some of the intial debate over how games "warp the minds of children" (which, of course, is mostly nonsense):

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 The second clip is a longer one, outlining some of the key points in the history of game controversy. Be aware that there is a LOT of sexual content, as many controversial games arise out of use of sex and violence (and, in many cases, both at the same time). You can also see some video of the infamous "Custer's Revenge" for the Atari 2600:

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<span style="color: #2a4a8d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> The last clip focuses entirely on Night Trap, the Sega CD game that featured poorly acted video segments of sorority girls being chased by "invaders" who "kidnapped" or killed them. This game caused actual congressional hearings about the content of video games and helped leading to the ESRB (Electronics Software Ratings Board), which attempts to regulate the sale of "adult" video games to minors:

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<span style="color: #2a4a8d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Enjoy!

<span style="color: #2a4a8d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__**<span style="color: #2a4a8d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">2/16/08 **__

<span style="color: #2a4a8d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Increase your Game-Design skills!

<span style="color: #2a4a8d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> The two links that follow contain various things to do or avoid when creating games. The "No Twinkie Database" is a list of common problems in games that should force anyone to say: "Bad game designer; no twinkie!" Thus, you both simultaneously scold the bad game designer, and deny him or her a pastry (and, as we all know, the lack of a spongecake dessert is the real punishment).

<span style="color: #2a4a8d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> The second link is to "The 400 Project," which is a work-in-progress site about game design. The link goes directly to a list of 112 rules regarding game design.

<span style="color: #2a4a8d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Though both of these links deal predominantly with video-game design, many of the principles can be applied to any game design (including the designs being developed for this class). These links are meant to supplement (and in many areas exceed) the [|Game Design PDF] file of game design rules, which was shown and discussed in class.

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<span style="color: #2a4a8d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">__**<span style="color: #2a4a8d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">1/09/08 **__

<span style="color: #2a4a8d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Try these games to get your Brain in shape!

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<span style="color: #2a4a8d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Here is a great link that sums up the history of computers from a TV commercial point of view! While article itself is very interesting, be sure to click on the ad link in the body of the article to view the actual ads.

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<span style="color: #2a4a8d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> This one is about Spacewar, the very first video-game. The site includes both a history, and an online-recreation of the game itself. Click the appropriate links in the site itself to access the history and the game.

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<span style="color: #2a4a8d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Below is another site, outlining the history of Spacewar, including more images and info than the previous link.

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<span style="color: #2a4a8d; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> This site visually outlines the history of the arcade games. It is an interesting site and worth taking a look at.

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