Forbes: Arcade games make a comeback

Though it doesn't touch on the current state of arcade development, Forbes has taken a look at the growing popularity of retro arcade games and the current trend of personal cabinet purchases by arcade fans...

Tech We Love: Arcade games make a comeback

When David Ellis was in high school, he, like millions of other teenagers, became mesmerized by videogames. That was back in the 1980s, however, when the most popular place to play a videogame was in an arcade.

These days, Ellis, who is today a game designer for North Carolina-based Vicious Cycle Software, is at the forefront of a very retro trend: installing those grand old game playing consoles at home. He bought his first game console, Star Trek: Strategic Operations Simulator, in 1997. Since then, Ellis has snapped up more than a dozen and has even written a book, The Official Price Guide To Classic Video Games. "I like the older games because they are so much more creative than what is in the arcades now. Today, everything is a fighting or shooting or driving game," he says.

Home entertainment today is squarely focused on the kinds of high-definition graphics offered up by systems such as the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. The graphics and speed of those machines can't be matched by the arcade games of 30 years ago. But many people miss the thrill of arcade games--of getting swallowed up by the monstrous machines and immersed in the abstract graphics.

[Discuss on Forums]

Donkey Kong Scaffolding

Q: How do you go about promoting general awareness and marketability of a classic game museum in 1 easy step?

A: Create a replica of Donkey Kong's construction site stage off the side of a building using its scaffolding as its basis.

For all the sticky note pixel art advertising and Space Invaders graffiti, I believe that this piece of marketing (which I found over at Hobby Blog via UrbanRetro and Adverbox) may very well be the best I've seen for attempting to drive up support for a cause.


For more information on the Classic Game Museum in Berlin, their current mission statements, and partnership opportunities (they are attempting to try to reopen a new permanent exhibit), check out their home on the web here.

First Gameplay Footage of Atari Classics Evolved

It's only fitting that we are getting the first footage of Atari Classics Evolved this month. 30 years ago, the Atari 2600 went into production, and with it changed the face of the gaming industry forever. Though a lot of the arcade ports on the system were relatively poor and didn't hold a candle to their arcade originals, the lineage that Atari created with both their innovative vision as well as instant classics can't be denied.

The Atari Classics Evolved collection is a series of retro "remakes" for the PSP that features both the original arcade releases as well as a newly "remastered" version that plunges games like Centipede and Asteroids into a new decade. Unfortunately, I'm afraid that the games probably don't have enough to attract the attention of the First Person Shooter generation, but for anyone who grew up with the games and remembers just how exciting each new arcade release was, the Atari Classics Evolved release serves up just the right amount of "new" and "nostalgia".

My thanks goes out to Neo-Arcadia for pointing out the videos that showed up on IGN relatively silently this past weekend. IGN is currently planning a series of videos that showcase the different games featured on the collection. The first set of videos are embedded below, however you are free to check out the article that accompanies it over on IGN.com.







For more information about the 2600's 30th anniversary, head over to Retro Thing where a great (but brief) article has been posted outlining the history of the console - including how it almost never came to be.

Library of Congress begins funding Game Preservation Project

GameSetWatch posted an interesting story today that outlined a new plan by the Library of Congress to fund a game preservation project. According to the press release, the first series of grants have been handed out to several different institutions and organizations to begin exploring and developing ways to preserve different forms of interactive media in a digital format. The full press release is below for those interested.

In an age where there are numerous arcade games that are meeting their ends at the hands of abuse and neglect, it is inspiring to think that due to the work of select organizations these games will continue to live on. MAME may be an area of dispute among arcade aficionados, but it can't be argued that the original intention of the emulator was done with the best of considerations in mind.

I'm glad to see that the federal government has taken the first steps in legitimizing and preserving video game history.

Digital Preservation Program Makes Awards to Preserve American Creative Works

Preserving Creative America Initiative to Engage Private Sector Creators of Films, Sound Recordings, Photographs, Cartoons and Video Games in Digital Formats

The Library of Congress, through its National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (NDIIPP), today announced eight partnerships as part of its new Preserving Creative America initiative to address the long-term preservation of creative content in digital form. These partners will target preservation issues across a broad range of creative works, including digital photographs, cartoons, motion pictures, sound recordings and even video games. The work will be conducted by a combination of industry trade associations, private sector companies and nonprofits, as well as cultural heritage institutions.

Several of the projects will involve developing standardized approaches to content formats and metadata (the information that makes electronic content discoverable by search engines), which are expected to increase greatly the chances that the digital content of today will survive to become America’s cultural patrimony tomorrow. Although many of the creative content industries have begun to look seriously at what will be needed to sustain digital content over time, the $2.15 million being awarded to the Preserving Creative America projects will provide added impetus for collaborations within and across industries, as well as with libraries and archives.

"America’s creativity is unrivaled in the world, and it is among our most important exports," said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. "The Library is pleased to be able to bring together creators of such diverse content for the sake of saving our nation’s heritage, which is increasingly being created only in digital formats."

Preserving Creative America is the most recent initiative of the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program (www.digitalpreservation.gov), authorized by Congress in December 2000. The authorizing legislation specifies that the Library should enlist the private sector to help address the long-term preservation of digital content. A cornerstone of NDIIPP has been the establishment of a broad network of partners committed to the continuing stewardship of digital content of value to Congress and the nation. With the new awards, the NDIIPP network grows to more than 90 partners, including other government agencies, educational institutions, research laboratories and organizations, both in the United States and abroad. Previous NDIIPP projects have involved primarily educational and cultural heritage institutions.

"The Library of Congress is delighted to welcome private sector participants to our growing network of NDIIPP partners," said Associate Librarian for Strategic Initiatives Laura E. Campbell, who is leading NDIIPP for the Library of Congress. "We were very encouraged by the willingness of the content industries to work with us. Collaborations such as these are essential if we are collectively going to be able to ensure that valuable cultural content survives for the benefit of future generations."

The list of the different organizations involved in the project as well as their area of interest can be found with the original release here.

Blazing Lazers Confirmed for a VC Release on Monday

There's no denying the amount of PC Engine love that the Nintendo Wii is receiving on the Virtual Console. This Monday, May 21st, the Compile developed "super-shmup", Blazing Lazers will be available for digital download on Nintendo's game service. Originally release in 1989, Blazing Lazers is widely regarded as one of the best shooters available on the PC Engine. The game features 9 levels and 4 main weapons (with a full assortment of secondary items for pick up as well including shields, options, and side missiles).

Hudson already has posted it's official VC PCE page for the game. You can find it here.

Konami Classic Tunes Available Soon Via ITunes.

I'm a huge fan of the classic arcade music that Konami produced during the mid-80's. The Gradius and Contra themes are forever stuck with me. I can pretty much hum the whole songs without missing a beat. Fortunately for people like me who suffer from game music nostalgia, Konami has recently announced a deal with Sony BMG to provide Konami's library of music to major online retailers such as Itunes and Rhapsody.

Though there are currently remixed versions of the songs already available on Itunes for download via Konami Defense System and Konami Kukeiha Club, this will be the first time that the original music from Konami's games will be available online. To read the story at Next-Gen.biz, follow the link below.

Get Contra Tunes on your Ipod

Centipede and Millipede Swarm on XBLA

I'm not quite sure how they expect us to play these games without a track ball, but Centipede and Millipede are both now available on the Xbox Live Arcade for 400 points. To be honest, I'm rather disappointed so far from what I've played from the two titles. Not only is the movement speed abysmally slow compared to the arcade originals, but the remixed modes bring absolutely nothing new and seem to actually ruin a bit of the general aesthetics of the original games.

From my understanding the point of a remix mode is to improve the original game, not make it worst. But somehow, that's exactly what has happened here. Maybe I'm just a bit spoiled since I have a self built Centipede/Millipede cabinet that allows me to play the original arcade game (with trackball) any time I want, but unless you are a glutton for punishment and enjoy your games being played in a pool of molasses, I would probably avoid this one...

But it does give me an excuse to post up another random 80's commercials that is deeply disturbing and must have been done by the same guys who did the Dig Dug commercial I posted earlier. I present to you Atari Centipede Ad "Club Centipede", as posted by ShinRasputin over on Gametrailers.

Red Warrior Needs Food Badly!

There are good ways and bad ways to do a retro release on next generation consoles. Sony's upcoming Playstation Network title, Gauntlet II, definitely falls in the former category, providing the great multiplayer Gauntlet arcade game with online functionality, leaderboards, and win tracking.

The game is set to be priced at $4.99 and will be released May 3rd for the PS3. All 100+ levels from the original game will be available, forcing you to wade knee deep in enemies as one of 4 characters (Warrior, Valkyrie, Elf, Wizard). Sony's Station site has some additional details about the game including several screen shots. I know I can't personally wait until I hear about just how badly I need food...



Source via Kotaku.

Nintendo Newsletter Updates

I'm probably late to the party here, but Nintendo's latest e-mail newsletter revealed an interesting addition to the official Virtual Console site. Now available at http://wii.nintendo.com/virtualconsole.jsp, Nintendo has posted videos of all of the games currently released for the US Virtual Console. These are just straight gameplay videos used to show just a little nugget of the game you would be purchasing, but it is a great tool to use to determine which titles are worth your Virtual Console points. Each entry also contains general information about the game such as compatible controllers, original system, release dates, genre, cost, publisher, and a basic marketing blurb to encourage you to purchase the title.

JAKKS Extends the NAMCO TV Games Deal

From Next-Gen.biz, JAKKS Pacific announced today an extension to their contract with Bandai Namco that allows them to continue to produce special TV game products based on arcade titles. My only experience with the line is with the Ms. Pac-Man plug and play game which I received as a gift not too long ago. Outside of the unfortunate lack of an AC Adaptor (which I'm told is sold seperately), the game played well. It may not be arcade perfect, but it was a cheap way to relive classic arcade memories. Plus, my wife loves it.


For more information about the line, please go to TVGames.com.

They don't make commercials like they used to...

There are certain rules about marketing that any basic advertising course will tell you to follow when talking about how to sell a product. I didn't think it was possible, but I believe I have found a video (posted by ShinRasputin on GameTrailers) that has broken every last one of them, and perhaps a few that didn't even exist before this commercial was released.

Let me have ShinRasputin explain in his own words (which are what he used to describe the videos posting on GameTrailers):

Wow, I can't believe I found this: an old ad for the arcade classic Dig Dug...FOR THE MOVIES! Oh man oh man is this exciting. What a crazy ad, too: we have government officials, scientists, and various couples in love all reacting to the danger that is Dig Dug. Why are all these creatures underground? Are they a threat? What will we do to stop them? Well, we go to the arcades and play Dig Dug! What a brilliant idea!

And who convinces us to do so? Why, it's a song and dance troupe, encouraging us to "do the Dig Dug!" It's the dance craze of 1982! C'mon everyone, let's do the Dig Dug!

Oh yeah, I swear I saw Harrison Ford as the man in the car, and heard Don Pardo (legendary radio and TV announcer) on the radio. Or maybe I'm just seeing and/or hearing things.

Yes... It's that bad.

In fact, I'm willing to wager it's probably even more horrible than you are imagining. Play the video, I dare you, and try to get the damn song out of your head. It's impossible.

Is this the worst commercial ever made, or is there something more nefarious behind its catchy tunes and great dance number? This is evil genius 80's territory here, and I can only imagine what sort of messages are being beamed into my head after watching it.



(I personally want to shake the hand of the marketing genius who got this commercial approved... I'm flabbergasted at just how great this video is.)