Oh wow, the cheesiness of this long-form 1990 Microsoft Excel commercial is absolutely dripping!
The cringe factor is off the charts too. It’s like a slow-moving train-wreck, you can’t keep your eyes off it!
source: Wall Street Oasis
History
The Disappearing Legacy: The Endangered Status of Classic Video Games
New study shows 87% of classic video games are critically endangered
The above headline should send shivers down our collective spine!!
In the ever-evolving world of technology and entertainment, video games hold a significant place. They have become a multi-billion dollar industry, captivating millions of players around the globe. However, a recent study conducted by the Video Game History Foundation in collaboration with the Software Preservation Network has shed light on a distressing reality: 87% of classic video games released are critically endangered. This revelation poses a serious threat to preserving the rich history and cultural significance of these digital artifacts.
Some spine-chilling classic video games facts:
- 87% of classic games are not in release, and are considered critically endangered
- Availability is low across every platform and time period tracked in the study
- Libraries and archives can digitally preserve, but not digitally share video games, and can provide on-premises access only
- Libraries and archives are allowed to digitally share other media types, such as books, film, and audio, and are not restricted to on-premises access
- The Entertainment Software Association, the video game industry’s lobbying group, has consistently fought against expanding video game preservation within libraries and archives
The Vanishing Act:
Imagine a world where to watch a beloved film, you had to scour secondhand shops for a worn VHS tape and maintain outdated equipment solely for the purpose of viewing it. To exacerbate matters, the only other option would be to journey to a specific location, such as ACMI in Melbourne, where you could access a digitised version of the film but only by physically being there. Unbelievable as it may sound, this is the reality video game enthusiasts face today. Despite the industry’s colossal worth of $180 billion, the games themselves, along with their storied past, are disappearing.
The Dire Lack of Access:
When it comes to accessing classic video games, the options are dishearteningly limited. One could embark on the arduous task of hunting down collectible games and maintaining obsolete hardware. Alternatively, individuals might find themselves traversing great distances to reach specialized libraries or archives, all in the hopes of playing these beloved relics. However, these options are far from ideal. And regrettably, for most people, classic video games remain beyond reach, reserved only for the most dedicated and passionate fans. It’s a rather grim state of affairs.
The PAXAus Classic Gaming area is great to play classic video games, but not everyone has a 486SX PC setup at home to play classic games like Doom II
The Role of Libraries and Archives:
One might argue that libraries and archives should play a crucial role in preserving and providing access to classic video games. Just as one can peruse classic novels, listen to timeless albums, and watch iconic movies, the same privilege should extend to gaming enthusiasts. However, archaic copyright laws act as a significant obstacle, impeding institutions from fulfilling their mandate.
The Battle for Preservation:
Preserving classic video games is not a trivial matter. These digital artifacts not only represent milestones in the gaming industry but also reflect the evolving nature of technology and the artistry of game design. As with any form of cultural preservation, it is essential to protect these historical treasures for future generations.
Ah, if only we all had an old-school Apple IIc computer at home
Potential Solutions:
Addressing this crisis requires a collaborative effort from various stakeholders. A crucial step would be to reassess copyright laws, allowing libraries and archives the flexibility to digitise and provide access to classic video games without fear of legal repercussions. Additionally, industry players, game developers, and publishers should actively support preservation initiatives by providing resources, funding, and legal permissions to ensure the survival of their own creations.
Conclusion:
The perilous state of classic video games is a matter of concern for gaming enthusiasts and cultural preservationists alike. With the majority of these games facing the risk of extinction, urgent action is required to safeguard their legacy. By advocating for copyright reforms and promoting collaboration between industry and preservation organizations, we can ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to explore, research, and appreciate the rich history of video games, just as we do with other forms of artistic expression.
Only through collective efforts can we prevent the disappearance of our digital heritage and ensure that classic video games remain accessible to all.
PS: For what its worth, we (in Australia) would love to see/support video games to be fully preserved by institutions/museums like ACMI (formerly Australian Centre for the Moving Image)
image source: if.com.au
story source: Video Game History Foundation
BBC Archive: Imagine Software – 1983
Cast your mind back to 1983, when Imagine Software were the pop stars of video games development!
Now this is a blast from the past! Imagine Software, the video games development superstars from Liverpool were going gangbusters when this video was aired on the BBC almost forty years ago on October 23, 1983. Who didn’t love Green Beret, Arkanoid: Revenge of Doh and Hyper Sports to name just a few.
We all know what followed – the high-profile demise of Imagine a year later in 1984 – but for now, let’s just cast our minds back 40 years and enjoy this vid!
source: BBC Archive
Donkey Kong Inducted Into The Amusement Industry Hall of Fame
Step right up, folks! Prepare for a thrilling trip back in time to witness the birth of a gaming legend!
Let’s enter Nintendo’s magical realm, where imagination reigns supreme, and discover the incredible tale of Donkey Kong’s rise to the Amusement Industry Hall of Fame!
In 1981, two genius minds at Nintendo, Shigeru Miyamoto and Gunpei Yokoi, unleashed a game that set the arcade world ablaze! Donkey Kong stormed the scene, selling like crazy and becoming an instant sensation!
So, my fellow gamers and dreamers, let’s celebrate the timeless wonder of Donkey Kong. Let’s embrace the joy it has brought us and the endless possibilities it holds. It’s a testament to the power of imagination, proving that even a humble arcade game can withstand the test of time.
Donkey Kong’s legacy still lives on, and now forever enshrined in the Amusement Industry Hall of Fame. Congrats DK!
story source: RePlay Mag
The Definitive History of SEGA WORLD Sydney
Who knew that Sega OziSoft convinced Sega (Japan) to pump AU$80 million dollars into the world’s largest indoor theme park (at the time), SEGA WORLD Sydney in Darling Harbour! We still regret not visiting Sega World in Darling Harbour (Sydney) while it was still open. We’ll never get to cross that off our bucket-list.
This SL Films’ half hour documentary provides interesting insights into the history of the site, and an analysis into why it closed down, touching upon the local industry and local conditions.
If you are like us and never got to visit Sega World, this definitive history of the theme park/amusement centre is the next best thing!
source: SL Films
image source: SL Films
007 Bond, a Laser Watch, and Rolex
By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.
“From Russia with Love” is one of the best James Bond video games. Sean Connery made a rare return to the iconic character by contributing his voice to the EA Redwood Shores (now Visceral Games) game. The fact that EA Redwood Shores got Connery back to voice Bond seems miraculous now. Having him contribute to something new in the 007 medium was an incredible accomplishment on EA’s part.
The 2005, third-person shooter video game is as entertaining as the classic Bond film it’s based on. I liked how the game used elements from the later films, like the jet pack from “Thunderball,” and the Aston Martin DB5 that was introduced in “Goldfinger.” Entertainment Arts should have produced another Bond game with Connery’s younger likeness as Bond; however, they lost the rights to Activision in 2006.
I really enjoyed using the laser watch in the “From Russia with Love” game. You used the wristwatch to penetrate bulletproof glass and destroy control panels. The watch in the game looks like Bond’s Rolex Submariner 6538. During the great action of the game, it’s sort of difficult to see an up-close image of the classic wristwatch, but it looks like the iconic Submariner 6538 to me.
JAMES BOND’S ROLEX SUBMARINER 6538. Image source: everestbands
In the scene at the beginning of “Goldfinger,” when Connery, dressed in a white tuxedo, peers down at his Rolex Submariner, it may have been one of the most blatant product placements in a film. I’ve always wondered how many Rolex Submariners were sold due to that quick shot in “Goldfinger” when Connery steadily lights up the face of the wristwatch with his lighter.
I’m sure there were thousands of men who saw that watch in “Goldfinger” and went directly to a jeweler. I’m sure a Rolex was as expensive in 1964 as they are today, adjusted cost, of course. The Rolex Submariner 6538 has become such an iconic watch because of Bond. Almost sixty years after the release of “Goldfinger,” Rolex is still the ultimate luxury watch. There’s Tag Heuer and Richard Mille, but Rolex seems like a classic, just like James Bond.
The Forgotten 1970s Toys
Rhetty For History recently took a trip down nostalgia lane to bring us all the popular toys and games from the 1970s, noting that many had since been forgotten (well, not by us!).
The 1970s had a lot of toys for kids to choose from and some of those have remained popular to this day. Other toys weren’t so luck and some have been lost over time. In this video we will remember some of the 1970s forgotten toys!
We definitely remember games like The Hungry Hungry Hippos and Simon, but had definitely forgotten about The Bionic Woman board game, Lite Bright and Wooly Willy – did we even get any of these in Australia? Actually, there were quite a few games & toys from that era that induced nightmares too (not looking at you Jack-in-the-Box!).
Our fave toys from the 1970s were the Steve Austin action figure, the Kenner Star Wars action figures and pretty much every Matchbox car under the sun! We are probably forgetting some, but the ones we’ve mentioned are seared in our hippocampus.
story source: laughingsquid
Suzanne Ciani’s Unpublished Atari Ad Jingle In New Video!
It is great being in touch with your childhood heroes, like Atari’s Howard Scott Warshaw.
Howard recently posted on his Facebook account about a video featuring the unpublished Atari ad jingle by Suzanne Ciani in stunning 3D animation. In case you didn’t know, Suzanne was the amazing electronic music composer that created the iconic soundtrack for Bally’s Xenon pinball machine!
This reimagined video featuring Suzanne’s jingle was created by the amazing and talented Philippe Lafortune of Retro Gamers Hub & The Geek Connoisseur fame.
Revenge Of The Fifth – Happy Star Wars Day 2
Another day, another Star Wars Day celebration!
This time it is the Dark Side of the FORCE that celebrate on Cinco de Mayo with their Revenge Of The Fifth! As Darth Vader famously said (supposedly), “Attention Rebel Scum! The Fourth is not longer with You! Today is Revenge Of The Fifth!”
Forget May The 4th, today is Revenge of the Fifth & Happy Cinco De Mayo! 🎉
It’s that TIME of Year – May The 4th Be With You!
Happy Star Wars Day!
When this of year rolls around, you are bound to be seduced by licensed Star Wars products, like these Star Wars x Fossil watches celebrating the 40th anniversary of Return of the Jedi.
These watches are limited in number, so for anyone with a Rebel spirit that loves horology, grab one (or two) now!
May the 4th be with you!
image source: Fossil – Star Wars