End of Analogue: A History of Videogames

            1) Who invented the first computer game on the PDP1?

Steve Russell.

2) What was the name of the game?

Spacewar!

3) What was the name of Morton Helig's amusement device that let you smell, hear and see in 3D filmed experiences?

Sensorama.

4) What early 1970s movie does an arcade console machine of Spacewar! appear in?

Soylent Green (1973).

5) What was the name of the man who developed the first TV tennis game?

Al Alcorn.

6) Who was the man whose company Atari commercialized the idea of the arcade computer tennis game?

Nolan Bushnell.

7) What was the name of this version of the game?

Pong.

8) What are vector graphics?

Vector graphics are points, lines, and curves that create or even incorporate polygons to represent a best attempt at 3D computer images or graphics.

9) What types of games do vector graphics lend themselves to?

Simulation games war and flight sims.

10) When home computers were first made available, how did owners load games into them?

They did so via a memory cartridge which held the game information on it.

11) What is the name of the 1985 film in which a young Matthew Broderick starts 

 World War III with his home computer and modem?

WarGames.

12) From what sources did the designer of the Space Invaders aliens draw inspiration?

Tomohiro Nishikado had drew his inspiration from Anime and Manga, the distinctly Japanese style of cartoons/animation and comic books.

13) What is the name given to the contemporary subculture of 8 bit music made with gameboys and other 80s game technology?

Demoscene.

14) "Escape from Woomera" was a videogame which was used to draw attention to the plight of inmates at a remote detention center in desert town in what country?

Woomera, South Australia. 

Us vs. It: Rules

Us vs. It

Robot Programming:

• Action Points: 
• 3
• Abilities:
• Laser Eye
• Fist
• Move/Rotate
• Triggers
• Laser Eye (Damage: Variable)
• If a tank is in front of the robot, no more than three spaces away.
• NOTE: Damage dealt varies with distance. The damage done per block away from the robot is:
• 0, 3, 2, 2, 1, 1, 0
• Fist (Damage: 2)
• If a tank is in an adjacent square, then use the fist.
• NOTE: Fist only damages tanks that are in tiles directly adjacent to the robot, i.e. damage is dealt in a 'plus' shaped pattern.

• Action Programming:

1. Laser
2. Turn toward last attacker
3. If not facing last attacker, turn toward last attacker
4. Fist
5. Turn Left if space in front of and to the right of robot occupied
6. Turn Right if space in front of and to the left of robot occupied
7. Move Forward
8. Fist
9. Turn to face goal side
10. Move

The Legend of Zelda: The Seeds of Darkness Java-based Flash Online Game

1)    1) How would you describe the level of engagement compared to more action oriented games from the same period?

Well I have to say that this flash game is a good and faithful attempt of a Zelda flash game but it’s a simple colorful survival game.  With Link having to drag the vulnerable bomb around with him everywhere, he only has his sword and shield to protect him.  So if he’s hit enough times then he dies, but if the bomb is hit enough time then it’s an instant game over regardless.  But it does require strategy over simply slashing everything you see. Figuring out if you’re on the right path, what’s on that path and if it will lead you to your goal is the key to winning the game.

2) What role does setting and characterization play in the game?

The setting is a medieval fantasy world of Hyrule.  Swords, shields, and all manner of other weapons and items that were commonplace during the Middle Ages are prevalent here, even if some are magical.  Setting is essential element needed for a game but also is characterization.  In this game there are only two characters but they are common ones from the official Zelda series.  The first one is of course the player character, Link.  This circumstantial hero who has to explore Hyrule, find the evil plaguing it, rise to the occasion, and stop it.  The only other character in this game was, Tingle.  A very odd character being that he’s a middle-aged man who thinks he’s a forest fairy, dancing around and practicing calligraphy or drawing and writing out maps for travelers/adventurers like Link.  In this game, Tingle gives Link a single, magical ball/spherical shaped blue bomb that always follows Link wherever he goes.  But if Link dies, the bomb blows up or if the bomb takes too much damage it will show it’s stages before it detonates; either way it’s an instant game over.  The overall purpose of this bomb was to use it to blow up three seeds of darkness in the forest, apparently.

3) How do spells, pickups, and power-ups assist the game play?

Unfortunately I did not get a chance to play that far into the flash game to acquire any power-ups or spells.  I did however have to hunt for hearts after clearing an area of enemies by chopping up patches of grass or bushes.  Once that was done I had to repeat the process several times like I’ve done in the real Zelda games.  But it’s that looking for items and any other hidden items found usually hidden under rocks, bushes, patches of grass, and even in pottery.  Well since its set in a medieval fantasy world, you could always find something almost everywhere.  So the old phrase: ‘Leave no stone unturned’ really pays off.