251–260 of 268 posts
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What did they use then if not computers?
Consoles and arcade game machines, to name two. Yes, they're arguably computers at heart, but they're not what are generally understood to be computers in the same way PCs are.
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What did they use then if not computers?
Have a look at the PONG original circuit diagram which uses discrete logic. It's hard to call that a computer. http://atarihq.com/danb/Pong.shtml http://hackaday.com/2012/12/22/fabricating-hardware-from-the...
Either way, even if electronic games existed that didn't use computers, computers clearly took that role being more versatile.
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Consoles and arcade game machines, to name two. Yes, they're arguably computers at heart, but they're not what are generally understood to be computers in the same way PCs are.
Those are still computers. Form factor doesn't change that.
If this explanation doesn't satisfy you, that's fine. Having lived through that period of time, that's my recollection.
Edit to add: I remember getting an early console at a garage sale. I think it was likely a Magnavox Odyssey 200 or 400[0]. I also remember friends with early Atari and Intellivision[1] consoles long before home PCs were common. These were called video games, TV games or by their brand names, as I recall.
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Am 43. Grew up playing games. Not planning on stopping any time soon. Went through the 'I should be doing something better with my time' phase briefly, about ten years ago. Realized it was anxiety driven, not rational. Having fun is an intrinsic part of being human, and cannot be skipped without genuine mental health consequences.
I've sort of been fighting with this myself - a few years ago I started working full time and spending more time with friends. When I get downtime it's pretty much just turned in to playing games or watching TV - I barely have time when I feel motivated enough to start learning something new anymore. I taught myself almost everything I know about programming in downtime during my teenage and college years, but that s…
>I guess I'm just sort of disappointed that all my most motivated times seem to have sunk into other activities and now I don't get them to learn on my own. I don't know what to do about it.
What you do is realize that you need to cut back on some of the other activities, even if the are what you are 'supposed' to be doing, and give yourself the time and space you need.
This may mean spending less time with friends. That is OK. Everyone needs alone time to some degree. I personally need a lot of it, and I love my family and friends. Getting my alone time is what allows me to be at my best for when I am with them, and there is nothing wrong with that.
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Those are still computers. Form factor doesn't change that.
They weren't called computers or computer games. I understood your initial comment as asking why PC games are sometimes called (improperly in your opinion) video games. If I've misunderstood your intention, please correct me. If this explanation doesn't satisfy you, that's fine. Having lived through that period of time, that's my recollection. Edit to add: I remember getting an early console at a garage sale. I think…
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They weren't called computers or computer games. I understood your initial comment as asking why PC games are sometimes called (improperly in your opinion) video games. If I've misunderstood your intention, please correct me. If this explanation doesn't satisfy you, that's fine. Having lived through that period of time, that's my recollection. Edit to add: I remember getting an early console at a garage sale. I think…
I'm talking about all computer games, so not PC only. I understand where the term "video game" comes from, I was just saying I prefer "computer game", as highlighting that computing plays a role in it, and not limiting it to visual aspects only.
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They weren't called computers or computer games. I understood your initial comment as asking why PC games are sometimes called (improperly in your opinion) video games. If I've misunderstood your intention, please correct me. If this explanation doesn't satisfy you, that's fine. Having lived through that period of time, that's my recollection. Edit to add: I remember getting an early console at a garage sale. I think…
I'm talking about all computer games, so not PC only. I understand where the term "video game" comes from, I was just saying I prefer "computer game", as highlighting that computing plays a role in it, and not limiting it to visual aspects only.
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I get anxious when I've played video games for too long instead of honing a skill or working. I get anxious when I've been working or cramming info into my head for too long. It balances out. Besides, it's important to allow yourself rest periods between bouts of learning to allow your brain to consolidate the new information and subconsciously draw inferences and review detail. Otherwise you reach a point when you'v…
I also tend to play games that involve exploration of worlds I will never experience in my own life, mastery of skills that require cognitive precision and dexterity, or philosophical rumination. I find these experiences to be a positive addition to my world and my understanding of people around me. Care to share some of your favorites? I'd be curious to check them out.
For skill games, try Nidhog[1].
For a good recent psychologically engaging game, try Firewatch[2].
A spattering of other favorites: Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past, the Jak and Daxter series, Antichamber, Dishonored, Skullgirls, all of the 2D Mario titles, Final Fantasy Tactics, Smash Bros, Minesweeper, Dwarf Fortress, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
[0] http://www.2600online.com/adventure.html [1] http://store.steampowered.com/app/94400/ [2] http://store.steampowered.com/app/383870/
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I'd argue this isn't unique to esports - Formula One has a similar thing happening - the teams develop new technology to make cars get round the track faster, and then the organisation decides if they fit within the rules. The rules change over time. DOTA2 does this better than most - most strategies are accepted as a part of the game - in fact, a lot of things core to play now began life as those kind of exploits (p…
> I'd argue this isn't unique to esports - Formula One has a similar thing happening - the teams develop new technology to make cars get round the track faster, and then the organisation decides if they fit within the rules. The rules change over time. The big difference is that the advances in F1 car design and even driving is that they can have some relevance in the outside world, in totally unrelated fields to rac…
I was more talking about how I don't think that (shifting rules as strategies develop) is a dealbreaker when it comes to audience enjoyment or player investment.
> What did the game offer that the rest of the world could not? To begin with, games make sense, unlike life: As with all sports, digital or analog, there are ground rules that determine success (rules that, unlike those in society, are clear to all). The purpose of a game, within it, unlike in society, is directly recognized and never discounted. I think this is really the underappreciated factor in why people prefe…
I recently wrote the guide for teamplay with the US Forces army of Company of Heroes 2. USF is widely considered underpowered in team games, because those games often devolve into tank slugfests, and USF lacks heavy tanks. Players who are considered "good" at USF in team games generally play "worse Soviets" --- that is, their playstyle (mass artillery) would be better executed by a different army.
I quixotically refused to accept this, and played a ton of games as USF, trying to find a style that played to their strengths and was viable in large team games. It was my top idea in mind for a while, to use pg's concept---the thing I thought about in the shower.
Eventually I came up with a style that emphasized flanking, range, kiting, and prioritized taking and using ground. The most important thing was that it was non-gimmicky---that is, it is not an easily counterable one-track pony. I wrote a guide detailing it and the underlying concepts over the course of a couple days, then posted it to the subreddit.
I compare this to a React app I recently wrote for a client. We had to work with a kludgy financial API, we had to compromise on certain features to be ready in time for a stakeholder inspection, and some bits of the code are not so great.
It's strange, but I almost wish I lived in a universe where I could put the CoH 2 guide on my resume, and not the client work. It's a better product, it represents (relatively) pioneering intellectual work, and I can take full credit for all of it with clear conscience.
Of course, no one will make any money off of it; it will not feed any hungry mouths, and an overweening preference for solo projects can signify difficulty working with others. But: the experience of working on it was great, and I can look back and say, "I did a good job, at a hard thing, that conventional wisdom believed was impossible."