Theme: “Reviving Old Video Games to New Mobile
Games”
This
day commemorates the 8th anniversary since the CUBIES Game was approved as a
Thesis Proposal during CBG 2006 or officially known as Games of the VIIth
Colympiad. This year’s theme focuses about some of the most popular video games
of all time that were eventually being ported into mobile games, which brings
forth nostalgia and fun.
Remember
the good old days of gaming, when there were only 5 pixels in the protagonist
and your imagination could turn them into a heroic figure of Schwarzenegger
proportions? When the enemies and the heroes were distinguished by colour and
you only needed one button on the joystick? Well times have changed and
technology has moved on. Pulling my old Commodore 64 or Atari out of the back
of the cupboard and setting them up often takes more time than the nostalgic
pang lasts. I’ve also noticed that some of my old disks are starting to age and
become corrupted. Enter the Internet.
The
wonderfully technologically gifted and giving Internet populace is out in force
in their attempts to preserve the older side of gaming. Remakes and Emulators
for almost any old machine can be found around the Internet. Emulators act as a
layer between old software and new hardware allowing modern PCs to run programs
that such hardware was never meant to see. Commodore 64, Amiga, NES, Master
System, Arcade Machines and more have all been emulated and the necessary
programs placed online for download, usually for free.
Emulation
is not a new idea. I had a hardware emulator for the VIC20 that plugged into
the back of my Commodore 64 and allowed the use of the older VIC20 cartridges
with the new hardware (I never actually owned a VIC20 or any programs for it
but that’s another issue). Emulator popularity has been fading in and out for
many years, only coming into many people’s attention with the release of
Bleem!, a Playstation emulator for PC that was released while the PSOne still
held a dominant share of the video game market. Bleemcast (a Playstation
emulator for the Sega Dreamcast) soon followed causing one of the more interesting
video game legal battles as Sony fought to have the emulator shut down.
However, the emulators have a strong following and very active user base.
Emulators
are easy to find and download. Simply search for the system you want and add
the word emulator to the end (e.g. “SNES Emulator”) and you’ll probably come up
with a lot of hits. Be slightly wary as some emulator sites will either be
false links or may contain pornographic ads. Setting the emulators up to run is
usually fairly straightforward and there’s a fair chance that you’ll be able to
find some documentation and help. Some of the newer systems require a BIOS
image to be installed with the emulator. This is to get around the legal issues
raised by Sony in the Bleem! legal battles by requiring you to be in possession
of a Playstation BIOS (and hence, presumably, a Playstation) in order to play
the games on your computer. Making a BIOS image to load into your computer will
most likely be beyond your technical expertise, but a quick check of your console’s
case will reveal the file you need to get and then it’s as simple as searching
the internet for a BIOS image that matches the BIOS you already own.
Of
interest are the PC emulators now available. Windows no longer has very good
support for older DOS-based games so there are a few emulators out there now to
emulate the DOS environment. DOSBox is probably the best known of the crop.
There are also game-specific emulators such as ScummVM or DOOM
Legacy that focus specifically on certain games and hence are able to
improve the experience for those particular titles.
Once
you have yourself an emulator you’ll need to get yourself some programs to run
with it. These programs are called ‘ROMs’ and are images of the original
storage device that the program came on (be it a cartridge, tape, floppy or
other). The process of creating a ROM is probably far too technical for the
vast majority of computer users so you’re probably going to have to find a
‘backup’ from somewhere to download. This is where the venture gets slightly
foggy. Basically the deal is that you can only have a program ROM if you own
the original program. So if you have boxes of old Amiga disks, NES cartridges,
or other old gaming programs stored away somewhere, you’re in luck, otherwise
you’re treading on legally shifty ground. While it can easily be argued that
the downloading of a 1987 computer game is of no real consequence to the
company that has in all likelihood closed down, copyright doesn’t actually
expire for 50 years and computer games just haven’t been around that long.
Online
‘emulation’ is a new area now being explored. The idea is that you simply play
the game in your browser through a Java applet or Flash application. These
might not always strictly be emulated programs but many remakes are feature
perfect with the originals. The graphics, sounds, and game play remain intact.
One excellent place to look for online games is Every Video Game. While the
site does not in fact contain ‘every video game’ it does have a very large list
of old games from the arcades, GameBoy, NES, and Master System all playable
through your browser. Many remakes can also be found at Shockwave’s site.
Some
of the old games have even been remade and updated for this modern world we now
live in. Try doing a search for remakes of a game title you particularly
enjoyed and you may be surprised at what you find. There are games that have
been updated to be 3D, such as some old favourites of mine: Pac man and
Barbarian and while these might not always be brilliant games or remakes in
their own right, the thought and effort put in often leads to an enjoyable
diversion. There are also more traditional versions of games that have just
updated the code as well as possibly the graphics so that they can still be
run.
So if
you’re feeling nostalgic or just can’t get the hang of these new-fangled games
that require you to push fifty buttons in a precise configuration just to jump,
you may like to check out the emulation and remake scene. It’s surprisingly
entertaining to go back in time to when games were simple yet fun.
Some
of the following video games being ported into popular mobile games are as
follows:
Tetris
Tetris
is widely known as the most popular computer puzzle game of all time. It was
invented by Alexey Pazhitnov in 1985, while he was working for the Dorodnicyn
Computing Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, during the days
of the Soviet Union. It became the most popular video game ever created,
selling more than 60 million copies worldwide.
But
one thing never changes in all of the Tetris at any console, the main blocks.
Seven randomly rendered tetrominoes (sometimes called "tetrads" in older
versions) - shapes composed of four blocks each - fall down the playing field.
The seven rendered tetrominoes in Tetris are referred to as I, T,
O, L, J, S, and Z. All are capable of single
and double clears. I, L, and J are able to clear triples.
Only the I tetromino has the capacity to clear four lines
simultaneously, and this clear is referred to as a "tetris”.
The
objective of the game is to manipulate these tetrominoes with the aim of
creating a horizontal line of blocks without gaps. When such a line is created,
it disappears, and the blocks above fall. As the game progresses, the
tetrominoes fall faster, and the game ends when the stack of Tetrominoes
reaches the top of the playing field and no new tetrominoes are able to enter.
As
popular as Tetris is with consumers, it might be even more so with developers.
Since the game is a sure hit, there is little risk involved in porting Tetris
to a new platform. That is why in almost every console, there is a Tetris game
each varying from one to the other along with new features. It has appeared on
just about every console ever made, so it is hardly surprising to see it appear
on mobile developed by Blue Lava Wireless entitled as “Tetris Marathon”. Its
familiar gameplay made it an obvious choice for the mobile market.
This
version of the game is wholly competent. Its best feature is a shadow that
dynamically indicates to the player as to where a piece will land. Although
there have been many other Tetris games that have used this shadowing idea, it
is a very necessary inclusion for the small mobile screen.
Pac-Man
Pac-Man is universally considered classic of the medium,
virtually synonymous with video games, and an icon of 1980’s popular
culture. This non-violent game appealed to both boys and girls. The game was
developed primarily by Namco’s employee Toru Iwatani. After receiving
inspiration from a pizza with one slice missing, game designer Iwatani spent
approximately seventeen months on a game that revolved around eating. Iwatani's
efforts to appeal to a wider audience eventually lead him to add in elements of
a maze.
Pac-Man
is one of the few games to have been consistently re-released for over two
decades. In the 1980s, it was released for the Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari
8-Bit Computers (400/800/etc.), Intellivision and Commodore 64, and the
Nintendo Entertainment System from 1987 to 1990. In the handheld world, it was
released on the Game Boy and Sega Game Gear in 1991, Neo-Geo Pocket Color and Pac-Man: Special Color Edition for
the Game Boy Color in 1999, and Pac-Man
Collection for the Game Boy Advance in 2001. However, it has been most
widely distributed in Namco's long-running Namco Museum series, starting on the
PlayStation in 1996 and continuing to this day on every major console as well
as the PSP and Game Boy Advance with the 50th Anniversary Collection in 2005.
In
2001, this old classic game is resurrected in mobile phone which was developed
by Namco. By clicking the * button in the mobile phone, the player can either
on or off the sound of the game. Just like the original version, the objective
of the player is to help Pac-Man avoid the monsters and rid the screen of dots.
When Pac-man eats an energizer, the monsters are rendered harmless and turn
dark blue. Now it is Pac-Man's turn to eat them and earn points.
This
mobile port is a good representation of the arcade classic for cell phones.
Pac-Man mobile's failure is merely in the sound department, which does not
render the beloved sound effects quite the same way as the original. Otherwise,
all the best aspects of the game are solidly translated to this very portable
format.
Arkanoid
Arkanoid
is an arcade game developed by Taito in 1986. The player controls a small pad,
known as the "vaus" space vessel, which prevents a ball from falling
from the playing field, attempting to bounce it against a number of bricks. The
ball striking a brick causes the brick to disappear. When all the bricks are
gone, the player goes to the next level, where another pattern of bricks
appear. There are a number of variations (bricks that have to be hit multiple
times, flying enemy ships, and other features) and power-up capsules to enhance
the vaus (expand the player’s vaus, multiply the number of balls, equip a laser
cannon, break directly to the next level), but the main gameplay remains the
same.
At
round 33, the final stage, the player will take on the game's boss,
"Doh". Once a player reaches round 33, he must defeat “Doh” with his
remaining number of vauses in reserve. Otherwise, it will mean game over. In
other words, there are no continues on the final round.
Many
of the 8-bit computer ports (ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC 464, Commodore 64, MSX,
Atari 8-bit, and Apple II) were very popular in Europe in the 1980s. Console
ports on the NES and Game Boy were also popular and the game was also ported
for 16-bit computers Amiga, Atari ST, Apple IIGS and IBM PC. A port was
released for the TRS-80 Color Computer in 1989. A Super NES version called
“Arkanoid: Doh It Again” was released in 1997. The sequels “Arkanoid Returns”
and “Arkanoid Returns” were released in 2000 in Japan for the Sony PlayStation.
16-bit versions had identical graphics as the arcade game. Commodore 64
conversion of Arkanoid is known as the first game for the system to feature
music that used digitized samples, which was composed by Martin Galway.
Computer conversions were published by Imagine.
The
controls used by various conversions differ from machine to machine, and some
conversions allow for multiple control methods. The two basic control methods are
digital and analog. Digital controls (many joysticks and control pads, and
keyboards) are considered less desirable than analog controls (most mice,
trackballs, and paddles); while digital controls limit the player to
single-speed control, analog controls allow the player to move the Vaus at
nearly any desired speed across the screen.
In 2005, a newer mobile version of the game entitled
“Arkanoid: Doh It Again (Version 3)” was developed by both I-Play and Taito
which provides a greater enhancement over the original.
The first noticeably cool aspect in this version of Arkanoid is
the clear, detailed graphics. Everything from the level design to the color
scheme is straight from the arcade game. Even better, Arkanoid maintains this
level of graphical acuity while keeping up with the oft-frantic
pace of gameplay. This is quite crucial when trying to follow a small ball on a
portable game screen.
Another
aspect lies in gameplay variety, thanks to an array of now-familiar paddle
boosters. Special bricks release power-ups ranging from wider paddles to safety
nets. Power-up blending is also a treat, just think about the brick-busting
rampage the player can initiate after grabbing two paddle-widening icons in a
row.
Galaxian
Galaxian
is an arcade game released by Namco in 1979. It was the first major space
shooter to serve as a legitimate successor to Space Invaders. Furthermore, it
is also the predecessor to Galaga, which is perhaps the most successful space
shooter game of all time. In Galaxian, as in most games of the genre, the
player control a space ship that can move horizontally along the bottom of the
screen and fire vertically at attacking aliens. Galaxian holds a special place
in video game history because it is the first arcade game to use true RGB (Red
Green Blue) color throughout all its graphics.
In
2001, the first mobile version of the game that is playable with a single
player was developed by Namco. The game is basically the same as of the
original.
As
in the usual gameplay, swarm after swarm of alien armies attacked the player's
ship that moved left and right at the bottom of the screen. The ship could only
fire sparingly by default, but rearmed instantly when an enemy was hit. The player
would defeat one swarm, only to have it replaced by another more aggressive and
challenging army in the next screen.
Gradius
Gradius is a horizontally-scrolling
shooting game released by Konami in 1985 for video arcades. The arcade
version of Gradius was released
in North America and Europe as Nemesis. The game has the distinction of popularizing a weapon selection
bar called "Power meter", based upon collecting capsules to acquire
additional weapons. It is considered a highly influential game and has set the
foundation for many other horizontal shooters in the present and in the years
to come.
The
player controls the trans-dimensional spaceship Vic Viper, and must battle
waves of enemies through various different environments. The game was ported to
many systems, most notably the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Japanese
MSX computer.
When
gameplay begins,
the Vic Viper is relatively slow and has only a weak gun. This level of
capability is generally insufficient for engaging enemies, but the Vic Viper
can gain greater capabilities by collecting and using power-up items.
While
most arcade games utilize distinct power up-items that each correspond to a
specific effect on the player character, Gradius has a single power-up item.
The effect of this power-up item is to advance the currently selected item in a
power-up menu that appears at the bottom of the screen. When the desired
power-up is highlighted, the player can obtain it by pressing the power-up
button, returning the menu to its initial state in which no power-up is
highlighted.
Home
console and portable versions of Gradius spawned the now-legendary Konami Code,
considered by some to be one of the defining elements of Gradius. The code
(traditionally Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A; variants
also exist), when entered while the game is paused, grants the player most of
the available power ups. While this is essentially a cheat code, the player is
only allowed a limited number of uses, suggesting that this is meant only as a
limited adjustment of the difficulty. In most cases, the limit starts at one
use and an additional use is granted for each completed level.
In
2004, a mobile version of the game was developed by Konami. The game is exactly
the same as the 1985 arcade version.
Once again, HAPPY CUBIES DAY TO EVERYONE!!!
