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The Oregon Trail: The Story of a Classic Computer Game

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The origin story of The Oregon Trail game dates to a long, long time ago when three teachers created this legendary game. Bill Heinemann, Don Rawitsch, and Paul Dillenberger in 1971 created this game to teach kids about the 19th-century pioneer. 

After this game was created, it got famous because of its interesting concept and easy-to-understand interface. Kids who grew up between in the ’70s and ’80s know how popular this iconic computer game is. 

Many people think that this game is long forgotten and dead. But that’s not true because it’s popular among young players even today. To keep the gaming audience intact, this game has seen quite a few revisions that have only made it better. 

If you like this game or want to know more about it, read on! 

Why Do People Love This Game?

Did you know that The Oregon Trail game online has been released on multiple platforms by multiple game makers who acquired the rights? But the main essence of this game hasn’t been adulterated. It remains the same, which is the prime reason behind its popularity. 

Below are three ways in which this game depicts the life of 19th-century travellers. 

Death

One of the main themes of The Oregon Trail is death. And dying in the game is kind of fun. Wondering why we are saying that? Because people of a party might suddenly fall ill and die.

Most of the time, the cause of death was a simple broken leg or drowning while crossing a river. But people in the game have also died due to cholera, measles, typhoid, exhaustion, dysentery, and snakebite. 

Besides people, the death of animals due to illness, mainly oxen, was quite common. If the members of a party want, they could even organise a funeral for the people who have died and then move ahead on the trail. 

Hunting

The next interesting aspect is hunting, which kept almost all the players hooked to the Oregon Trail game online free. For hunting, players would require pixelated guns that they can purchase at the beginning or during the game. 

During the game, you can get different hunting options. Also, you can hunt a variety of wild animals, which includes squirrels, deer, rabbits, elk, bison, and bears.

When this game was initially released, it didn’t have advanced graphics. Also, to kill an animal, players would have to type “POW,” “WHAM,” or “BANG.” Whether you make a successful hunt or not depends on how quickly you can type the letters. And if there was a spelling error, you might miss the target. 

After that, the game got updated, including a little man who could shoot in eight different directions at the fast-moving animals. And the most recent version made it possible for players to hunt using crosshairs, which could be controlled using a mouse. 

Players mostly targeted bison because they were the slowest moving animals, but they offered the most weight in the food. Next are the squirrels that moved fast but gave very small weight to the food. 

Now the thing is, even if a player killed a large animal, they could only carry 100 lbs in their wagon. It was done to give a real-like feel to the game players. 

Scoring 

The third interesting aspect of The Oregon Trail game original was the scoring. Players would get a score at the end of the game. The awarded score depends on a few factors like remaining possessions, survivors, cash, and the profession that players have selected at the beginning. 

Different professionals offered different points. For instance, the given points would double if you have selected a carpenter. And tripled if you have selected a farmer. But if you have selected a banker, you won’t get any bonus. 

Why Was the Oregon Trail Established Originally?

The original Oregon Trail was established due to the following: 

Mining 

Mining made the Oregon Trail famous because travellers moved south of Oregon during the California Gold Rush to make money. While moving, they followed the route once used in the Oregon Trail between 1848 and 1855. 

Fur Trading

Fur trading was another reason that led to the establishment of the Oregon Trail. Wondering how? During the 1940s, fur trading became the primary source of income for the people of Canada, the U.S., and the Pacific Western area. 

Why Was the Oregon Trail Difficult? 

While the game was fun, the real Oregon Trail was difficult. This difficulty came mainly due to three factors: pestilence, war and the harsh natural environment. 

Pioneers faced difficulty finding clean water, and many had to resort to drinking dirty water, resulting in dysentery and death. Water-borne diseases such as cholera and smallpox also affected the masses. The conditions were only worsened by the bad weather. 

In the final years of the trail’s use, conflicts between the pioneers and natives became common. This made moving westward using the Oregon Trail more challenging than ever before. 

Traversing the Oregon Trail was no easy feat – but the game makes it all fun and games for the sake of entertainment. 

Conclusion

The cartoonish and silly parts of the game, like death by dysentery, will seem funnier now that you understand the realities of the Oregon Trail and the story of how the game came to be.

Whether you’ve played it for hours on end before or have never played it, the Oregon Trail is a game you should experience at least once once on a modern computer. Play The Oregon Trail on your browser for free on Classic Reload!

image source: Classic Reload



7 Ways Playing Retro Games Can Improve Your Overall Well Being

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When it comes to relaxing and unwinding, video games make a great choice. Whether you like online competitive multiplayer games or meditative single-player experiences, there is a massive variety of options when it comes to choosing a video game to play. In this article, we’re going to look at 7 reasons why playing retro games, in particular, can help improve your overall well-being.

1. They improve hand-eye coordination

It’s well established that video games can help improve your hand-eye coordination. Intuitively, this makes sense, as gamers need to manipulate a controller with their hands while looking up at a screen. These improvements are not insignificant either – research has shown surgeons who play video games perform better at surgeries than surgeons who don’t!

You might think that modern, fast-paced competitive games like Call of Duty or Fortnite would be a good choice for this. Still, many online games require significant time (and sometimes financial) investments to remain competitive. Meanwhile, retro games such as Battletoads or Ghosts ‘n Goblins offer a hard-as-nails challenge that you can pick up and put down at your leisure

2. They provide a distraction

Though this psychological trick isn’t unique to video games, they are a great way to take your mind off real life. Video games are arguably one of the most fantastic forms of escapism, as they are interactive. Many video games put you in the role of the hero and give you great agency in how you wish to achieve your goals. Many games allow you to create your custom characters, allowing you to escape and immerse yourself even further in the world. We love going to back to Spider Solitaire Challenge for our quick distraction fix.

3. They provide a sense of community

Online games, in particular, took off in a big way in the past year, thanks to global lockdowns that restricted social gatherings for many. Plenty of popular modern games, such as Animal Crossing, Fortnite, and Pokémon Go, have built-in social elements that help players feel connected. However, there are just as many communities built around retro games. Many of these communities have been running for years. Every popular retro game has a forum or Facebook page with a thriving, active community where you can engage with your fellow players in the online world.

Nowadays, it’s even possible to play many retro games online, such as spider solitaire online. These websites may or may not sync up to online leaderboards or other communities to allow you to play these traditionally single-player games competitively against others in a low-stress environment at your leisure.

Retro games to combat pandemic anxiety 2

4. They challenge us to try harder

Video games often provide a challenge to the player in the form of hurdles that they must overcome. These challenges can come in the form of puzzles that must be solved, daily events that need to be completed sequentially, or challenges requiring the player to master the game’s intricacies. Like Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts or Ninja Gaiden, some games even embrace this and build their game around being intentionally tricky. These challenges teach players to persist and reward endurance, valuable skills for video games and public life.

5. They help improve our vision

It might come as a surprise to some gamers who were warned that they would end up with square vision if they stared at the TV for too long. Playing video games can help improve vision for people with visual impairments! Studies have shown that people with cataracts showed improvements in their vision after playing certain video games that require quick reflexes. It’s believed that these games require an extreme amount of attention from players because they are fast-paced and require players to identify threats quickly.

6. They provide pain relief

Believe it or not, video games have been shown to provide pain relief, not in the form of a distraction or escapism, but as a mild form of literal pain relief. Playing video games can cause the brain to release endorphins, the feel-good chemicals that provide pain relief and make us feel happy. It is the same effect as what happens when people exercise. It is described as the “runner’s high.”

7. They keep your brain sharp

Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training for the Nintendo DS made a case for puzzle games helping people keep their brains active – particularly the elderly and people at risk of dementia and memory loss. However, you can choose from plenty of retro puzzle games. They all meet the same essential criteria for keeping your brain sharp. These games provide challenges in the form of memory tests, mathematical puzzles, and logic challenges. There is scientific evidence backing the premise that playing these types of games regularly helps prevent a decline in mental acuity.

Conclusion

There is a growing body of evidence that playing games can positively impact our overall well-being. It is far from being the time-waster many people once viewed. Retro games, in particular, provide a sweet spot of ease of use, fun, and challenge without being overbearing or requiring too significant a time investment to reap the rewards.



AtGames’ 10 Things You Didn’t Know About the History of Arcade Games

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AtGames Legends Ultimate

Who doesn’t like a bit of trivia? Right, if you put your hand up, you can excuse yourself right now! For those hanging around, check out some cool trivia submitted to us by the folks at AtGames Gaming!

Anyone born in the 90s or earlier probably remembers – or has at least seen – an arcade machine. These cabinets, often built from wood with a CRT screen, joystick and buttons, were coin-operated machines usually created to play a single game. Pinball machines were the first to introduce the concept in the 1930s, whereas classic arcades with video games started making their presence known in the early 70s.

The late 70s and early 80s were the huge breakthrough, with classics like Space Invaders, Missile Command and Pac Man making arcades a hot commodity in fast-food restaurants, as well as college dorms. While the 80s started introducing home consoles in a big way – Atari 2600 and the Nintendo Entertainment System being two of the major players – arcades started to slowly decline in popularity as console games provided an easier way to enjoy arcade-style action at home. By the mid-90s, arcades were mostly a special interest niche, and, today there is a huge surge in retro-nostalgia where avid gamers can get systems that not only play their beloved arcade memories perfectly, like the AtGames Legends Gamer Pro – but a real, full size, multi-game arcade cabinet of their own, like the AtGames Legends Ultimate, with 300 games built in and the possibility to easily add more!

Here are ten, little known facts and trivia, about some classic arcade games:

1. Missile Command was among the first group of major arcade hits in the US. It even got its own mod-kits, created by students who were fans from MIT.

2. Pong (1972) was the first successful arcade game brought into American homes through Atari’s Home Pong console, released through Sears in 1975.

3. While the AtGames Legends Ultimate is an arcade machine with more than 300 different games built-in, the original arcade machines and home Pong consoles only played one type of game at a time. The first home video game system to accept interchangeable cartridges was co-created by pioneering African-American engineer Jerry Lawson in 1976. The system was originally called the Fairchild Video Entertainment System (VES), and later the Fairchild Channel F (short for “Fun”). It was, however, soon eclipsed after the third ever programmable video game console, the Atari Video Computer System (VCS, or 2600), was released less than a year later.

4. The inventor of Tetris, Alexey Pajitnov, didn’t get any money from his game until about 10 years after its initial release. He was a Soviet computer scientist and the USSR took all the money he would have gotten.

5. Centipede was one of the first games to become popular with female players. This may be because of the fact that Dona Bailey – who was involved in its development – was one of Atari’s few, female employees at the time.

6. 64th Street – A Detective Story (1991) was a popular beat’em-up in the arcades, published by Jaleco. This two-player revenge story built on the classic beat’em-up legacy from the 80’s like Double Dragon (1987).

7. Asteroids displaced Space Invaders in popularity in the United States and became Atari’s best-selling arcade game of all time, with over 70,000 units sold.

Boogie Wingsimage: Boogie Wings (1992) by Data East

8. Data East’s Boogie Wings – known as The Great Ragtime Show in Japan – was pretty obscure when originally released as an arcade game in 1992. Over time the beautiful shoot’em-up has become a fan-favourite and dark horse classic, often praised and well-talked about in retro-gaming communities for its originality and variety in gameplay.

9. Joe and Mac: Caveman Ninja was such a popular platformer in the arcades that it was later converted to no less than eight different console and computer formats, the latest one being the Nintendo Switch. Not bad for a 30+ year old gaming classic!

10. One of the games revered by arcade-buffs is Zoo Keeper, TAITO’s 1982 classic and one of the first of three arcade games ever released for the American market by the company. The              player needs to contain escaping animals from the zoo that have captured the protagonist Zeke’s girlfriend, Zelda (Ed: say what?!)!. This is done by running around the compound, planning your moves. But did you know the game was originally named King Crab?

Well there you have it peeps. What did you think? Some stuff is pretty well known, but there were a couple of things in the list that we weren’t aware of, so we’ve learned something new today!

A Practical Guide to Create the Ideal Gaming Room

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By: Cassandra Rosas (Originally posted on Porch.com)

Gaming is a great way to have some fun, relax, and work on your eye-hand coordination. Whether you’re new to gaming or consider yourself a seasoned pro, it’s important to have the right setup if you plan to game for hours at a time. From the right chair to the right tech and equipment, there are certain things you’ll need if you want to have the ultimate gaming room at home. Read on for some great tips and suggestions that will help you design a gaming room you’ll never want to leave.

Take care of your back with the right gaming chair

If you’re a gamer, you’re going to need a comfortable, supportive chair with the right features. Here are a few things to look for when choosing the right gaming chair.

Back support. The proper back support is the most important component in a gaming chair since it keeps your spine aligned and your body in the right position. Look for chairs that include lumbar support and an adjustable design so you can change the angle of the back as needed. With the right back support, you’ll feel more comfortable, energetic, and able to prevent pain or injury while sitting for long periods.

Directional armrests. Adjustable armrests give you more control over how your arms and hands are positioned. Look for a chair that features directional armrests that you can move up, down, forward, and backward for optimum support.

Ergonomic. An ergonomic gaming chair provides you with the full-body support you need to stay comfortable. Ergonomic chairs should include features like a headrest, lumbar back support, and an adjustable height to help you sit in the proper position while playing. Your chair should provide you with a combination of support, comfort, and improved posture all in one.

Adjustable cushions. Gaming chairs with adjustable cushions make it easier for you to feel comfortable while you play. Most chairs that have adjustable cushions feature a lumbar “pillow” attached to the back as well as seat, back, and headrest cushions that you can move to fit your body in the best way.

Fabrics. Don’t forget to pick the right fabric or upholstery for your new chair. Mesh is great for warmer environments since it’s breathable and cool. Fabric or leather is a great option if you live in a colder place and need your chair to help keep you warm.

Make Everything RGB

In the gaming world, RGB refers to red, green, and blue. Let RGB inspire your lighting and colour schemes. Here are some tips and killer gaming accessories to help you design an awesome RGB gaming room.

PC cabinet. Choose or design a PC cabinet that lets you change the lighting and design and that will make every internal component light up. This cabinet should include easy access to connect RGB-compatible components and accessories like gaming keyboards, headsets, and more.

Walls. Brighten up your gaming room with some awesome RGB lighting or décor. You can find RGB LED lighting strips, light bars, and even wall decals and artwork that will add a bold, modern touch to the room featuring the classic RGB motif.

Chair. There are lots of futuristic gaming chairs that include integrated RGB lighting. These chairs should be comfortable, but they should also have the right lighting around the back, seat, and headrest to create the look you want.

Floor. Make the entire floor RGB with lighted tiles for a bold effect. If you prefer to use lighting only around the edge of the room, try a rope light or LED light strips featuring the RGB colour scheme.

Toy and accessories. Enhance your game room even further by designing an amazing background with accessories or by adding some awesome toys to the space. Wall-mounted hexagonal light panels add a cool effect, or you can fill a wall shelf with all of your favourite characters and gaming-themed collectibles.

Choose the Right Webcam

A lot of interactive games require webcam connectivity so you can interact with other players, so it’s important to choose one that has the best quality and picture. Before you shop, learn the differences between 4K, 1080, and 720 resolution levels.

Webcams offer different resolutions, which refers to the measure of pixels within an image. A 4k webcam is also known as Quad HD, because it offers four times the resolution of 720 pixels. These cameras are extremely high in quality, but they’re also at the higher end of the price spectrum. A 1080 webcam is full HD and is a great mid-grade choice due to its high-definition resolution, and it often comes at a reasonable price. A 720p webcam is another standard that’s still used by many gamers today. Although it doesn’t offer the best resolution, the 720 webcam is still a good choice for streaming if you need something affordable that works well.

Picking Out a Headset

Seasoned gamers use a gaming headset for a more immersive experience. A gaming headrest is also helpful if you want high-quality sound for talking or listening while you play using both of your hands.

Wireless vs traditional. A wireless headset makes it easier to move around the room or perform other tasks without having to take the headset off. A traditional headset attaches to your PC with a wire, which means you’ll need to remove it when you move away from your console. Most wireless headsets are rechargeable and include a docking station so they can charge up quickly. Traditional headsets don’t have a separate power source, since they rely on a direct connection with your gaming console or computer.

Look for compatibility. Certain types of gaming headsets may only be compatible with specific consoles. Check the headset’s packaging, or go online to ensure that it will work with your specific console or computer.

The Perfect Gaming Desk

Aside from your chair, webcam, and headset, you’ll want to be sure you have the right desk for your needs. Here are a few pointers to help you find the perfect desk for your gaming enjoyment.

Tall or long. Just like other furniture, you’ll want to make sure your gaming desk will fit nicely in the room. Decide whether you’ll need a desk that’s tall or long, depending on your console type and your game-playing habits. A tall desk offers more vertical storage, while a wider desk will give you more elbow room and space for a larger keyboard or mousepad. Measure the space for the desk before you invest to be sure it’ll fit.

Cabinets. Consider a desk that has built-in cabinets so you can store games, accessories, and other items neatly and protect them from dust.

Shape. Your gaming desk can be a traditional rectangular shape, or you can try an L-shaped desk for more surface area and a better fit in your room. Look at the variety of desk shapes available, and consider the available space you have in your gaming room before deciding which shape will work for you.

Console space. Make sure that your desk has plenty of room for your console while leaving enough extra space for your keyboard, mouse, and anything else you’ll need. Some desks include a separate compartment underneath, where you can store your console to free up the top surface for your monitor and other accessories.

Materials. Gaming desks come in a huge range of materials, including metal, glass, and wood. Make sure your new desk is sturdy, looks great, and is able to hold up to lots of rigorous gaming. Consider things like how it looks, how it feels (texture-wise), and how easy it is to keep clean.

Images supplied by: Porch.com

What Every Good Gaming Computer Needs

Of course, no setup for a gamer is complete without the right gaming computer, so check out these features to help you build your gaming PC.

Mouse. A gaming mouse has a faster reaction time than a standard mouse. Look for a gaming mouse with the right DPI (dots per inch) level, depending on whether you use fast or “normal” hand movements. Your mouse should be comfortable, with a good grip to keep your hand and wrist stable. A mouse with a trackball is a popular choice among avid gamers, thanks to its flexibility and ease of use.

Mousepad. Make sure your mousepad includes soft and comfortable wrist support to prevent pain or carpal tunnel syndrome. Try a gaming mousepad with a low-friction surface so you can enjoy fast reaction times without the mouse “catching” on the surface.

Keyboard. Find a keyboard made of durable ABS plastic so it holds up over time and won’t get scratched. Backlighting comes standard on most gaming keyboards, which also feature a variety of colors and patterns to make playing more interactive. A one-hand keyboard allows you to type with one hand while keeping your other hand free for mouse work.

GPU. The GPU, or graphics card, is extremely important when building your gaming computer. Make sure the GPU is fast and uses the latest technology to ensure you’re getting the best graphic quality possible. Compare brands, capabilities, and features like RAM and how well it will work with your webcam, software, and monitor.

Storage. Standard storage is HDD, or a hard drive, while SSD is a solid-state drive. If you’re looking for speed and reliability, SSD is a much better choice, although it’s also more expensive. An HDD drive is less costly, but it may not have the speed or capacity you need if you’re a hardcore gamer.

CPU – AMD vs Intel: The CPU is your computer’s brain, so it’s vital to choose a fast, responsive processor. AMD CPUs are powerful and feature excellent integrated graphics, which is ideal for 3D gaming. Intel works best for videos and streaming movies, although the brand does offer many options that give you the raw power you need for fast gaming. Choose Intel if you have the cash, but opt for AMD if you’re on a tight budget or just starting out.

Buy or build? If you’re experienced in building computers, you can build your own gaming system and customize it however you choose. If you don’t have computer-building experience, or you’re a beginner, you might be better off buying something already designed for gaming. Compare your options side by side, and think about what’s most important to you, like cost, graphics, processing speed, and looks, and go from there.

If you love to game, designing the ultimate gaming room in your own home makes the entire experience even better. With the right furniture, computer, accessories, and high-tech environment, your home gaming room will be your new favourite place to chill.

 

 

Solitaire Hacks You May Have Never Heard Of

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Solitaire – also known as Patience – is one of the most famous and most addictive computer games in the world. Did you know it was installed as a free game on Microsoft computers as a smart way to get people to engage with the new technology of a mouse? It’s the perfect way of getting someone used to dragging and dropping objects around a screen.

Today, there are many versions of the card game, such as Spider Solitaire and Freecell, but they all have one thing in common – it can be frustratingly difficult to win. If you would like to improve your performance, read on for some little known and hacks and strategies. Luck is the main thing that determines whether you will win or lose, but targeted strategies will undoubtedly enable you to get the best out of a game.

Basic strategies

If you had just one trick to winning at Patience, here it is: Turn over as many face downs as possible.

Preferably choose a left column (where there are fewer cards), and concentrate your efforts on it. You will hopefully free up a slot, allowing you to put down a card from another column and turn over an additional one. This is particularly appropriate if a King is immediately available to occupy the slot.

Likewise, try to clear in priority the right columns which contain the most hidden cards. Indeed, it is usually on this side that the cards that block the card game are found.

Finally, while this advice goes without saying, quickly play your Aces, 2s and 3s.

An essential strategy for the card game is to give the cards lying down priority over the deck of cards. Here is an example:

Let’s say you have a red five on the pile and a red five in one of the lower rows. If it is now possible to add one of the cards to a black 6, then you should take the 5 from the bottom row.

The cards from the rows always have priority over the pile so you can create space to layout more kings.

Work the cards from right to left, so try to clear the larger piles first. If you have managed to free a row again, you do not immediately place the next best king in this free row.

Do not try to occupy empty rows again immediately but leave them blank until you really need them; this allows you to stay mobile.

For those initiated into this card game, you can draw the cards three by three.

However, by simultaneously pressing the Ctrl + Alt + Shift keys on your keyboard while pressing the left mouse button on the card pile, you can deal the cards one by one. This is ideal when you have a card you are interested in but cannot use in the three cards turned over.

For Instant Win, press Alt, Shift, and ‘2’, although as this game is only played against yourself, there is little point in our opinion.

Advanced techniques

The 7s, 8s, 9s, and 10s are cards that are not easy to play: plan well the three or four moves which will follow once you have moved them. The main objective should remain to reveal hidden cards.

Do not rush if, by chance, you find yourself at the start of the game with Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5 of the same suit. Indeed, the higher cards will undoubtedly be invaluable to you in building up your columns (for example, with the 4 of another color, which is just waiting to be moved) and thus win your game.

The two most popular variations of classic Solitaire, also found on recent versions of Microsoft Windows, require even more skill.

In addition to the previous strategies, here are some tips specific to these game modes:

Hacks to increase your chances of winning at Spider:

Start your stacking with the strongest cards and, if possible, of the same suit.

Always keep at least one or two columns free to be able to proceed with exchanges more easily.

Tips for Freecell:

Clear a column at the start of the game if it contains an Ace, even better.

Do not add too many cards to a column with low height at the top, as it will only be more difficult to free it.

Avoid using all four empty boxes at the same time, at the risk of getting stuck shortly.

Finally, here are some hacks to help you win at Freecell, although these really come under the category of cheating!

  1. Hold down Ctrl, Shift and F10 while playing, then click Abort.
  2. Now move one card.

Hidden Freecell Game Modes

  1. Go to the “Game” menu and choose “Select Game”
  2. Here, you can choose from game mode 1 to 1,000,000. However, -1 and -2 will also work

Well there you have it folks, a few strategies, tips and tricks to help you play better and win at Solitaire, no matter the version. Be warned though, we are not responsible for loss of your productivity 😉

 

Infographic of the Most Popular Consoles and Games by US State

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Guest Post By: Evan S from JJGames

From the original Zelda games on the NES to GoldenEye 007 on the N64 and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on the PS2, we take a look at the consoles of choice for retro gamers across America.

You never forget the first time you completed Super Mario Bros. You also never forget the first time you held one of those iconic Playstation controllers or when the best way to troubleshoot a game was to blow in the cartridge.

Times have changed and new consoles have come and gone, but there’s still something to be said about those iconic gaming systems that we were raised on. Their games have a unique charm that no amount of fancy graphics can make up for, which is why we turn to emulators and why original NES games still in their boxes go for hundreds of dollars on eBay.

To celebrate the release of a new infographics, which digs into the favourite consoles by state and favourite games by states, we thought we’d jump on in and take a look at the data.

NOTE: The infographics are based on the number of units sold for each game/console on JJGames.com from 1999 to 2019. More than 2.5 million games sold.

[Click on each infographic to see a larger version]

 

Arcade1Up – Rampage Review

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Arcade1Up’s line of diminutive arcade cabinets turned a lot of heads online when they were first announced. After all, the chance to own officially-licensed arcade machines for a fraction of the price of a real cabinet, complete with authentic controls and games? It’s a no-brainer! So there was a lot of waiting to see which of these machines (if any) would reach our shores in Australia, and if so, what were they like?

So it was with great trepidation that I scoured the local ALDI stores to find one on the day of their release. I had heard that they were selling out fast, and it didn’t help that ALDI didn’t offer any convenient way to find out which stores had stock in, so I was eager to get out and about to my nearby stores.

The question I was asking myself on the trip was, which one of the two available would I choose? On the ALDI site they were advertising two versions of the Arcade1Up cabinet. One was advertised as containing Williams / Atari classics Rampage, Gauntlet, Joust and the greatest shmup of all time, Defender. The other had a placard boasting it had a roster of Capcom favourites: Street Fighter 2 Championship Edition, Final Fight, Ghouls ‘n Ghosts and Strider.

The good news is that a local store had plenty of both machines on hand to purchase. The not good news? The Capcom cabinet was purely for Street Fighter 2 games. To make things even more confusing, the American version of the Street Fighter 2 machine had all five variants of the legendary fighting game, but the Australian one had only three. That’s….oddly frustrating. My personal favourite Street Fighter 2 Turbo, was completely missing and for the life of me I can’t understand why.

Plenty of machines ready to play!

So, in the interests of game variation, I picked up the Williams / Atari (aka: Midway Classic Arcade) one. As much as I personally love Street Fighter 2, I knew the people who would be using the cabinet would get tired of it a lot quicker than I would, and the chance to introduce Defender to a new generation was too much to pass up. $500 later and I was driving out of the car park a happy man.

Ready to assemble!

Assembling the machine was surprisingly easy and straightforward. If you’ve ever assembled an IKEA book shelf you’ll be in familiar territory here. Frankly, I have to commend the designers here for making it such a painless process, as parts were clearly labelled and the included instructions made sense at every step. You’ll need a good Phillips-head screwdriver and about an hour or two of spare time to go from opening the box to having a small but perfectly formed arcade cabinet in your own home. It’s a good excuse to invite some friends around to help and share in the multiplayer fun afterwards.

Starting to take shape…

It’s when you start putting the machine together that you really get a sense of how small this thing is. Basically, everything is ​3⁄4 of regular size. The controllers are small, not too small, but small enough to be noticeable. The 17” monitor is small, but not enough to be a problem. The cabinet stands 1.2 metres tall, which…yeah, is an issue. Basically the cabinet is too tall to comfortably play while sitting on the ground, and too low to play at all while standing unless you’re under the age of ten. The raisers that Arcade1Up offer aren’t available at retail stores here in Australia, so you’ll need to figure out your own solution. The small size also means that it’s difficult to have more than two people comfortably crowd around the screen, especially if you’re sitting on chairs because of the height issue. It’s workable, but it’s an issue you need to keep in mind.

Almost there….

There are three microswitched sticks for three players, and two buttons (labelled Jump and Attack) that feel suitably responsive if not a teensy bit spongy. I have a hunch that the sticks won’t take the kind of pounding you can dish out in a real arcade, but I don’t really want to test it. On the controller deck is a big power switch and a switch for volume that goes between no sound, “loud enough to be clear for everyone who is playing” and “loud enough to let everyone else in the house know you’re playing”. It just feels nice to play with.

The back of the monitor houses the little box that runs the emulation software.

Anyway, enough about the hardware, let’s talk about the games! Arcade purists might scoff about how these systems use emulation, but honestly, for the price point this thing was never going to be 100% arcade accurate anyway (LCD screens can never replicate the feel of an old-fashioned CRT after all) and the emulation quality itself is legitimately good. However, the way the games play varies wildly.

No coins needed and always ready to play!

So, the cabinet is dedicated to Rampage, with all the original marquee and controller art to suit. That means that it’s a great Rampage machine and offers many hours of fun especially in multiplayer. It’s always a laugh when players end up hitting each other more than they’re hitting the buildings. So, Rampage is good.

Joust surprised me. I have always had a soft spot for the game since playing the Atari 2600 version back in the day, and for some reason I’m even more besotted with the arcade version. It looks the least interesting to play of the four games on offer but I have a hunch that it will be the one I return the most to. It’s a game that rewards skill and has a control system that will take a long time to master. So, thumbs up for Joust here.

Gauntlet is where things start to fall apart. The original was known for its four player action, but since the cabinet was designed with Rampage in mind it only has three controllers. So, at least you can play a three player session, right? Nope! For some unfathomable reason the version of Gauntlet on offer here is the two-player one. Frankly, that’s just absolutely stupid. Also, the game itself has not aged well at all and, since you can just give yourself infinite health with continued pressing of the start buttons, there’s absolutely no challenge on offer. I found myself just wandering aimlessly through the mazes not even bothering to fight any of the dungeon’s monsters. After fifteen minutes I gave this one a hard pass.

Finally we get to Defender. I love Defender. I mean I really, really love Defender. Eugene Jarvis and friends made what I think is one of the few “perfect” games. Legend tells of people who can survive more than five minutes of playing this exquisite classic, but I have yet to meet them. Yes, I am terrible at Defender but I still love it.

Defender plays like absolute garbage on this machine. I hate every second of it. The controls are so offensively broken that I feel like it wants me to grow a third or possible fourth hand to have access to all the buttons that are spread haphazardly across the entire surface of the control panel. You move up and down with the first stick, Thrust and Reverse with the player one buttons, smart bomb and hyperspace with the player two buttons, and fire with one of the third player buttons. It plays worse than it sounds. Your hands spend so much time moving across the panel there’s no way you can make the instinctive, split-second decisions needed to play Defender properly. This is one of the cases where I actually wouldn’t have minded if they used the control method found in some of the home console ports that eschewed the Thrust and Reverse buttons for left and right on the joystick. Even just thinking about playing Defender on this system makes me mad.

Uh…no thank you?

Also, and this one completely infuriates me for some reason, high scores don’t save at all! That’s a particularly egregious oversight that for me completely diminishes the arcade experience. Arcade games are all about high scores! What, I have to get a chalkboard to put next to the machine for people to write their scores down? Are we cavemen?

For $500 there were always going to be some compromises, but some of them just make my blood boil. I get the size. I get the build quality. But I really can’t get over how two of the games are basically broken and there were weird software shortcuts. If you’re a super fan of Rampage, or if you want to use this as a starting point for a modification project then absolutely you should get one. Otherwise…keep looking.

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Cameron Davis
Writer and artist of Rose: a comic about the world’s hungriest redhead and her love of food, friends, food, family, food and FOOD!

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5 Health Benefits of Video Games

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We all love video games and all of us know well enough about our parents dislike for these games. But did you know that video games are not all harmful but have various advantages? Have a look at these five health benefits of playing video games.

1. Reduce Stress And Improve Social Skills
Everyone experiences stress and anxiety at certain points in their lives. Video games help us cope with them, and nothing relieves stress quite like annihilating your enemies (in a game). There is plenty of evidence that proves how video games help in reducing levels of stress, and even rates of depression. The reason is that games keep your brain busy and occupied.

You are constantly slammed with real life stress and anxiety, so when you play something like Angry Birds, it can be quite therapeutic. All your attention is focused on how to find and kill those nasty pigs that are stealing your eggs. Games are also a great social outlet. So, if you are a bit socially awkward, you will get a chance to get some interaction with other fellow players. Online gaming enables multiple players to engage in a particular game simultaneously, and that often requires them all to work in a team. Even if there are no teams, there is constant communication between players – that results in the development of meaningful and casual relationships among the players. Players meet new friends and also strengthen their bonds with old friends.

2. Memory Boost
Many studies are showing how video games are good for memory. Recently, another study found that the hippocampus, the region that is associated with complex learning and memory in the brain, is altered by playing 3-D games. This improvement in memory was as high as 12% in some individuals. The reason why or how these games are helping memory is not clear, but this opens up many doors where people can be helped with their memory. Playing your favourite game requires both visual and audible memory. You do not have to read or listen to the instructions provided at the beginning of the game and have to remember them throughout the entire game. This helps in improving your memory, both short and long-term.

3. Coordination
Video games help in impressive levels of coordination. In fact, they are so helpful that games are being used to help train surgeons to make their movements more precise and to help them perform tasks in minimal space. When a person, whether she/he is an adult or child, is playing a video game, the player is not only staring at the computer, but their brain is also working on other things in the background. Sure we are focused on the activities and actions on the screen, but we are also subconsciously noticing any out of the ordinary change. This ability to be attentive provides a lot of mental stimulation.

For someone to play successfully, he or she has to coordinate their audio, visual and physical movement. The link between motor skills and video games has been a well-known fact for some time. Fast-paced games, such as first-person shooters, can help boost motor skills and develop fast decision making. Action video games can capture the player’s attention for a lengthy period of the game because of the player’s need to achieve certain goals and objectives within the game.

4. Cognitive Health
We know how games help with memory, but they also help with the overall cognitive function as well. This means that when you are playing your favourite game for some time, you are becoming more focused, attentive, and perceptive while thinking in a critical way to make decisions. This is important as playing games may be a treatment option for people who are suffering from age-related cognitive diseases. When you play an action game, you will have to be very observant. The game will require you to move your joystick or keys while you are looking at the screen such as your energy levels, ammunition left, oncoming adversaries, available time and other factors vital to winning. So, the player can observe and react at the same time.

5. Develop Problem-Solving Skills
Video games have certain rules which we have to follow. The player has to think before making any decision or move to ensure that the rules are not broken. Several times, the players have to make split-second decisions that determine whether they will advance to the next level.

No doubt computer games are beneficial and fun, but they need to be played in moderation. Another critical factor is to pick the right game because not all of them provide the same relaxation and cognitive benefits. Small children, specifically, should not be exposed to violent games.

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Catalina Smith
Catalina is a young digital marketer by profession and is utterly obsessed with the growing technology. She has covered the gaming world online for over six years. She regularly posts at Dimble.

 

 

 

The Existential Horror of Sonic Adventure

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Since his debut in 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog had been more than a mascot for Sega. He was the lifeblood of the company, a saving grace that finally allowed the Mega Drive / Genesis to gain a foothold in a market utterly dominated by Nintendo. Next to their portly Italian plumber, Sonic was a revelation, a zippy speedster filled with rad 90’s ’tude.

Flashforward to 1998. Nintendo and Sony had entered the 3D space with spectacular results due to Super Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot, their dominance further cemented by the likes of Banjo-Kazooie and Spyro the Dragon. Thanks to these titles, a solid formula was emerging for 3D platformers. Create a vibrant world, pop a cutesy character into it, and give the player responsive controls with which to steer them.

While these genre defining works were being released, Sonic the Hedgehog was suspiciously absent in the 3D realm. He’d failed to make an appearance on the Sega Saturn, due to a dysfunctional development cycle that caused his 3D debut to be cancelled. In turn, the Saturn died a quick death on the market, which some attributed to the lack of a Sonic title on the system. With the imminent release of their 6th generation console, Sega were not going to make the same mistake.

Hell or high water, Sonic Adventure would be the flagship title for the Dreamcast at its Japanese release, even if that meant a mere 10-month development cycle. In a post-Mario 64 world, Sonic Team sought to create large adventure fields for Sonic to travel through between the more traditional action stages. There would be a greater emphasis on story, quests and exploration. The action stages themselves would be expansive and frantic, fully exploiting Sonic’s foray into the 3rd Dimension. This would be a Sonic game for the next generation, proving that both Sega and their blue mascot were here to stay.

That was the idea at least. In practice, it tells a very different story.

Walking through the adventure fields, the player is immediately hit with an eerie sense of isolation. They’re huge, sprawling areas for sure, but for the most part, utterly devoid of any landmarks or NPCs. It’s easy to lose sight of your objective or overlook the key needed to open the next progression point, so the player often wanders aimlessly through the dull, lifeless environments. For a game starring Sega’s famous speedster, you spend a lot of time trapped in areas, going around in circles. Metaphorically, someone’s put lead in Sonic’s boots.

It doesn’t help that the longer you stare at the adventure fields, the more unsavoury questions raise their head. Why is Sonic suddenly a giant blue hedgehog living amongst humans? Why are ancient Inca ruins a train ride away from an American metropolis? Why is there a ladder that leads down to a solitary wooden pier, seemingly daring the player to jump to their watery doom? Beneath the bright colours and cheery J-pop, there’s the ever-present sensation that Sonic doesn’t belong in this strange world.

When you finally unlock a new action stage you feel nothing short of relief, though it’s short-lived. Simply put, Sonic is way too fast to control in a 3D space, and the fixed camera angles often have a stroke trying to follow Sonic at top speed. These issues are exasperated by a multitude of glitches that cause Sonic to get trapped in tight spaces, or plummet through platforms to his death. This makes later levels like the Egg Carrier and the Mystic Temple an utterly tortuous ordeal.

image source: Nerdbacon

Sonic Adventure feels like a surreal nightmare from which its titular character is trying to escape, and that’s quite fitting. Mario 64 and Crash Bandicoot had proven that 3D platforming was the future, but for Sonic, it was his greatest existential threat; his iconic speed proving too much to handle in a 3D space. It makes sense then that Sonic doesn’t fit in this odd world of Inca ruins, garish casinos and lumpy looking humans, because in retrospect, he never should have abandoned his 2D origins.

The dissonance between Sonic and his game world are captured best in the unskippable cut-scenes. The dialogue and voice acting aren’t fit to lick the boots of the worst Saturday morning cartoon, but it’s the lip sync that’s truly abominable. Mouths pulsate and stretch in all directions, like a snake unhinging its jaw to eat an egg. Eyes enlarge and bulge. Nothing comes close to matching the dialogue spoken. In moments like these, the game feels like a horror-show, as Sega pushes these simple characters into dark areas they’re not equipped to handle.

In 2001, the Dreamcast was discontinued, and Sega exited the hardware business, surviving to this day as a third-party developer. For the first time, Sonic was not enough to save Sega from its financial woes.

Though Sonic Adventure continues to be remembered fondly, it’s patient zero for the problems that have plagued the franchise for the last 20 years. The dull adventure stages, the broken gameplay, the insipid storytelling – this is where it all began. In fact, it may be the first existential horror game in the platforming genre, in which a revered icon faces his complete obsolescence in a new era. The real antagonist of the game isn’t Dr. Robotnik or a cranky water god or even the horribly broken controls, but rather the steady march of technological progress. And that’s something not even Sonic could outrun.

Special thanks to Shannen Hogan for introducing me to the madness that is Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast.

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Jack O’Higgins
Jack is a freelance journalist based in Dublin. He covers music, film, comics and video games. If this article angered you, please complain to him on twitter at @jackohigginz, as he really needs to raise his social media profile.

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Review of Brutal Soulslike Switch Platformer: Salt and Sanctuary

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After dying for the umpteenth time in the Festering Banquet (one of the early areas), I came to the realisation that Salt and Sanctuary is not a game to be underestimated, it cannot be rushed through; every mistimed step, jump, slash, hack, stab or even healing can bring about an untimely demise and progress lost. I knew then that I needed to respect the game, its mechanics, its pacing and its world, only then did I truly discover the wonderful experience on offer by Salt and Sanctuary.

Originally released in 2016 on PS4, PC and the Vita, Salt and Sanctuary is a 2D adventure/platform game that tasks you with rescuing a kidnapped princess, however Super Mario this is most definitely not. The world setting here is grim, its foes monstrous and combat brutal. This is not your average platformer, but an amalgamation of retro side scrollers (Metroid, Ghouls ‘n Ghosts) and the modern classic action RPG Dark Souls series.

You begin by creating a character and picking a class, ranging from paladins to mages to hunters to thieves which slightly alters your starting skill point allocations and gear. Perhaps befitting the game title (or not), I couldn’t help but notice the particularly hilarious chef class, armed with naught but an iron pot and a chef’s hat and apron, ready to rid the world of nasty beasts and save the day. I went with the knight class in the end, it just felt safer with a sword and shield in hand.

It turns out, I needed the more appropriate battle apparatus too, as the gameplay in Salt and Sanctuary is absolutely ruthless. Understanding how and when to utilise block, parry and dodge as well as managing resources such as stamina is key to surviving; running out of it mid battle prevents you from performing further attacks or defensive actions, which leaves you open to enemy hits and usually results in a swift death. The combat here is precise and different weapons exhibit appropriate weight to their animation so timing your hits is critical, especially when facing multiple foes at once.

Defeating enemies grants you their essence, ‘salt’ and the amount you carry is lost upon death, with it only retrievable if you can defeat the monster that killed you initially, fail that and you lose it permanently. Salt can be spent at Sanctuaries spread across the game world, where you can summon certain NPCs such as blacksmiths, travel guides and shop vendors to assist you with your journey. The Sanctuaries are aligned to certain ‘creeds’ you pledge to which provide different bonuses. If this set up sounds familiar, that’s because this is effectively the same risk and rewards system implemented so well by the Dark Souls series with some minor differences. It works wonders here as well for Salt and Sanctuary; the player is encouraged to carefully analyse their situation and surroundings; should you venture forward for further progress but risk losing precious salt, or should you return to a sanctuary and spend your hard-earned salt but having to re-tread old grounds and face respawned foes? The decision can be a difficult one to make at times but that’s also what makes it feel so rewarding when the right one is made.

This is accentuated by the intimidating boss battles dotted around the world, you never truly know when you might stumble upon a boss fight, but it is typically accompanied by the feeling of regret of not spending your salt earlier. Despite the lack of warnings of upcoming bosses, I did find the pacing of the game to be spot on. The intricately designed game world is interconnected with branching pathways, hidden entrances and shortcuts that keep you on your toes at all times. And just as you start to feel confident and familiar with the layout of an area, a newly discovered path may lead to one of the many bosses, so you are never really in the comfort zone for long. You’re not always in the dark as to what is coming up though, as other players can leave ‘helpful’ messages in a bottle, providing hints to ambushes or hidden treasures, although their legitimacy is up to you to interpret; I know I’ve plunged to my death on many occasions when told to “jump, trust me!”.

Presented in a unique hand drawn style, Salt and Sanctuary is a gorgeous game to look at, although I did find it difficult to see certain details (such as trap switches), especially when playing in handheld mode due to the largely black, grey and brown colour palette and the intentional dimly lit world. Performance is largely stable and smooth at 60fps, which is essential in a game where every animation counts.

Salt and Sanctuary doesn’t try to hide from its Dark Souls influences, but it manages to transform what made them so great into its own identity (in 2D no less) that it doesn’t have to. It is a challenging game that rewards patience and perseverance and offers deep gameplay and an interesting world to explore for those who dare to venture forth.

Disclosure: Salt and Sanctuary [Nintendo Switch] was kindly provided by Strider PR for this review.
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House
House plays pretty much anything and everything but has almost time for nothing. A devout beat’em up fan, House enjoys a round of captain commando every now and then and can never forget spending hours in dark arcades playing warriors of fate after school. Oh yeah, his favourite console of all time is the original Famicom!