So without rejecting the theme I am trying to formulate here I want to continue with gaming for people over 50.  In doing so I don’t want to reject the classics. This blog post discusses a few classic games and will mix in some topics we have been discussing in the class I am currently taking at the University of Michigan this semester.  One of the topics will be the ability to manipulate these games through their controllers as related to interactivity. I know, you already know about the controllers…joystick, buttons, a trackball or even a gun so my point is not to bore you with the basics but to mix in the classic argument of interaction and maybe a little about challenge and the objectives of each game discussed.

Pong, (Ms.)Pac-Man, Defender, and Frogger… some of the mindless classics played by millions of kids, and adults, around the world with nothing more than a joystick and maybe a single button for the purpose of jumping or some other linear action.  These games appealed to people of my age, and hell, why shouldn’t they have. They were fresh off the block. Nothing out there was ever like them before. People who are now around the age of 50 were the target audience for these games then. The idea behind the simplicity was in that a frog should only do a few basic movements in order to cross the road and they wanted to keep these games simple.  The question comes back to would a game like this be considered challenging given that the actual objectives were so mundane?

The interaction for these new “students” of video gaming was in the give and take.  I gave these games a quarter and they took my three lives, which pissed me off enough to put in another quarter to continue to get better at these games.  The interaction of these early games and gamers was mostly in the attitude that, myself and so many others retained, I was going to beat “you”. You have to think about the fact that we were the children of those who fought in WWII or Korea.  We weren’t hard, but we were raised harder than the kids today but not as tough as those who raised us. We retained part of the “you mess with me and I’ll kill ya” gene which was just enough to make us come back for more and more “punishment” from these inanimate objects.

We weren’t an entirely different breed than the kids growing up today, we were just limited on our challenges back then.  Doing 10 pull-ups, climbing the gym class rope up twenty feet, and beaning another child in the head with a rubber Dodgeball were the best we had then.  Although I LOVED the Dodgeball challenge, mostly because I was fortunate enough to be good at it, I still wanted more challenges in life though. Kids now have such an extensive amount of challenges that I would have never fathomed what was to explode from a square “ball” bouncing back and forth across a black background to which would be deflected by a vertical “racket”.  In the beginning the extremely limited interactivity of games has blow up to something much more now.

In review of any of the original games objectives, one can see that they couldn’t have been more simple.  That wasn’t the crux of the idea behind these early games. They were supposed to be easy. The idea was to draw in the masses with an easy concept and keep their attention with the challenge of completing these simple objectives with the hope of completing the game, if there was even a completion to them (and in many cases I don’t believe there actually was one).  If there was, then the completion would be the ultimate goal of the game. I can’t tell you how many quarters I spent on these games. I would run home from school, go out on my paper route, deliver my papers and then collect money from “just enough” customers to make sure my papers were paid for, then I would head right up to the arcade with the rest of the money.

For any younger readers, you have to understand these games were “out there” and there wasn’t anything like them that we had ever seen.  Playing them was cutting edge. Relate it to the over 200 VR games that PS4 has out now. It was as exciting as that “new” technology is. (VR tech has actually been out for many years but is just now catching on…kind of like 3D movies, been there for years, never quite made it, but they keep coming back).  The interaction with these games was, obviously through the controls laid out in front of us, but it was also psychological in that we wanted, dare I say needed, to beat these machines.

These games were simple, challenging, and they had obvious objectives to a final goal.  For us “old timers” these were the epitome of the computer age. Overall, with the classic games, I don’t believe there was very much in the way of physical connection to the games.  At least not like the gaming industry is creating for us now with technology like VR and the full immersion VR that is soon to come from companies like Virtuix Omni who will, hopefully, work with PS to integrate their tech to the games PS has.  This is the new wave of the future which I hope catches on in a big way because after experiencing it first hand…it is incredible and needs to become the next big thing.

I used to have a small game library for the PC.  Only a few dozen games. Games like Ages of Empires, Red Alert 2, Leisure Suit Larry, Quake II, and Tomb Raider, but nothing compared to the game Descent or Descent 2.  Recently I ventured off to the University of Michigan campus to see their video gaming archive facility. I found Descent in their archives and I played it, fell back in love with it, and decided that I wanted to get this game back.  Now the part that comes into play is this. I used to…past tense…have these games but recently (two months ago) I decided that was never going to acquire a Windows based machine again in my life so I pitched them all in the trash.

Well, because I have so much expendable cash on hand (can you sense the sarcasm?) I went out to look for these games online to buy or download.  Long story short I wasn’t able to find them but I did come across Descent III which I didn’t know was out there. Being that I am a Mac person I looked up the emulator that the University of Michigan uses to see if there was a Mac version and “by golly” there is.

So, in bringing more to this blog regarding the past I uncovered a mess of information.  There is a site out there dedicated to Descent 3, oddly enough it is just http://www.descent3.com/.  How crazy is that?  There is a link on their website to what I will consider to be Blackbeard’s Treasure Chest.  This site allows for the downloading of older games. I haven’t checked it all out yet but just the thought is fantastic.  I believe that I can purchase (unfortunately) anything I want from this site. The site is https://www.gog.com/ – Good Old Games.  It is a library of gaming wealth.

So, for today’s Blog, I will be reviewing a little about the levels and perspective of Descent 3 (1999 Interplay – Parallax Software).  The perspective of this game is a three-point perspective. It allows for full 360 degree play. That perspective has remained the same throughout the entire Descent series.  The tri-axial movement of the ship was cutting edge in 1996 when the game first came out. I remember having to upgrade my computer just to run this game. It still looks good even now.  For one of, if not the, first first person shooter games I ever played I still think this game is incredible.

The Bot that helps out portrays an omniscient viewpoint of the entire world and helps guide the Imperial Defender throughout the story.  For this game there are 15 missions (levels) that must be passed. If you find the right items along the way there are several secret levels that can be uncovered to play as well.  Personally I would classify this as a standard action-adventure game. The levels are introduced individually and successively. Each level must be passed in order to move on to the next level.  The game runs a storyline and each level is introduced by the computer explaining the objectives and what threats are apparent on the mission.

Arguably I would venture to say this is one of the most viable games of all time.  It introduces the storyline to gaming, there is continual action throughout, and it is really fun to play.  This is a good game for us older people because it is “simple” in that there is just the basic theory “seek & destroy”.  I find that games with this simple theory behind them are much more fun for me at the age I am now. It was a blast when I was in my 20’s and 30’s but now I have the nostalgia of the play as well as not having to submerge myself into a game that requires continual play.  No offense to games like Fortnite but I just don’t have that kind of time as most people my age don’t.

I have included some links below.  One of the links is for a video that shows the transition from level to level to show what I was explaining above.

http://www.descent3.com/ (Official website)

https://www.gog.com/ Good old games (download center)

https://www.old-games.com/ – another download center for old games

Ok, so as quiet as it’s kept, there is a video gaming center on the campus at the University of Michigan. I am not going to publicly announce what the building is because I want to respect what they have amassed within their walls and I want to be able to go back and use that room again, so hush is the word. Although it is a public facility and anyone can use it, it’s just not for everyone. The largest reason behind the fact that this place isn’t made public knowledge is because if it were the items contained within this facility would, more than likely, not be in as good of condition as they are and everything appeared to be in really good condition.

When I walked in I immediately noticed some vintage consoles and then all of the games began coming into focus. Not hundreds…thousands of games. Now, of course, not every PC game was in the archives…that wouldn’t be possible, but there were so many there that I had and remembered. Some of my most favorite were the Descent series (original and II), Dragons Lair, Time Commando, Tomb Raider, and several Star Wars games. Personally, being in the over 50 crowd I enjoyed the games made for PC more. I think it is mostly because I was able to adjust the controls, use a joystick or mouse, and make the keyboard perform to my aspirations.

The emulator being used appeared to be called DOS Box 0.73 and it made me wish to God that I had kept all of my former PC games, which I did up until last year (yeah, I’m still kicking myself in the butt for that one). Especially Descent and Descent II. Those games were “the bomb” back when Windows 95 was “king”. Now although I was enamored with the PC games there were ALL of the other options. They had stand up game cabinets, Nintendo, X-Box, and, of course, PS4 with the virtual reality controls. (Insert Angle sounds here).

I played Doom on the PS4 system and IT WAS AWESOME!!! So, in keeping with the theme of my blog I have to make some comments on their system. The controls were pretty confusing. I only say that because there is a definite learning curve within this game using the VR headset and controls. The immersion into the game itself was pretty good. I enjoyed the view point; although, the VR headset was a little blurry at times. Now, in their defense, I didn’t take the time to see if there were any adjustments on the set. I just wanted to play. A problem I saw was in the tethering. There is a hard line attached to the headset but the game requires you to look around. 360 degrees, meaning that if you are in full FPS mode you may not be thinking about the cable that is slowly wrapping around your legs. We have wireless technology, I say, why not use it? Don’t get me wrong, I am SERIOUSLY considering buying into the PS4 now just because of this little 30 minutes of my life (which I consider quite well spent).

Prior to playing Descent or Doom I encountered two young students who were actually playing the game Candyland. I wish I had taken a picture of them but I have some of the audio on my phone from our conversation. This is relevant to me because I am in a class at the University of Michigan currently where we read an essay where an individual (Richard Rouse III) stated that this game wasn’t a game at all because it had a predisposition based on the cards and that all outcomes were predestined and this made it “not a game”. So, I am not even exaggerating right now as I, apparently, was in the right place at the right time. As I said, I asked them if I could “interview” them briefly.

I asked why they chose to play that specific game. The young lady stated that she hadn’t played it since she was six and the young man said that he had never played it. Before I approached them I heard their banter, and they were having a lot of fun and laughing about the game. After I approached them and was in conversation with them another student (from an entirely different University – I know because I also interviewed him as well later on) began telling me the origin of the game and how a nurse created it because the kids in her “program” needed something to do. In full disclosure it was Eleanor Abbott, who was a victim of polio that invented the game as a pastime for children who were recuperating from the same disease in the 1940’s.

Now I could probably write for hours about how great this place is but I figured I would just post a few pictures of the archive. As I mentioned there are tons of games in the archive. I will definitely be visiting this place again. Hopefully, after my daughter grows up a little more I will be able to take her here to experience some of the classics.

Ok so for most of us over 50 people we don’t have the time to get out there and play video games. Not to mention that some of us may not even know where to go to play them. Outside of Dave and Busters there aren’t a whole plethora of places to go to play but this past Friday my wife and I went to Lucky Strike in Novi and experienced the Star Wars Battle Pod for the first time. I know this game has been out for almost four years now but this was the first time I have ever seen or experienced it.

The Pod itself was just amazing to look at even from the outside. The interior was even more impressive with its 180 degree curved display. This machine has a retail cost of $35,000.00 out the door and is available for purchase by ANY individual with delivery and set up options. The total weight of the game is just under half a ton (845 lbs.). The interior is set up for a single individual with seating for one through a privacy door on the left hand side (shown in the picture above). There is enough room for a single observer who might be able to video some of the play for you. If you would like to purchase one feel free to contact Bandai.

BANDAI NAMCO AMUSEMENT AMERICA INC (U.S.)
starwarsbattlepod@bandainamco-am.com
+1-847-264-5610

The game has multiple scenarios of different adventures thus different ships that one would evidently fly, but without getting into too much of the game itself I wanted to discuss the controls of the game. They are lacking in my opinion.

Apparently Bandai wanted to keep this as simple as they possibly could. There are no pitch or yaw controls and as you can see in the picture above this is just a simple 1980’s style forward/reverse joystick on the left and aim and fire joystick on the right. The controllers are supposed to make one feel like they are in control of the game they are playing; however, this game is pre-designated. There is a set pattern for where the ship will fly, what ships you are allowed to go after, and how the story will play out. I tried to steer the ship but the game wasn’t having it I began losing interest. Don’t get me wrong, the experience of the game is wonderful but if I am flying a ship I would prefer to be allowed to venture where I want and pick my own battles.

The purpose of the joysticks are to allow for interaction and control over the game but when the game has it’s own agenda the controls don’t quite appear that important. The look, feel, variety of scenes and design of the game are wonderful, but I feel it could have used a little more. I mean for $35k a little rumble in the seat or controllers would have been nice, but alas that wasn’t an option. It is a good game to play, again don’t get me wrong…I will probably go back and spend more money on it. I just feel they could have stepped it up a little more. We have so many options out there in 2019 and I think that there are many Gamers who would appreciate alternate options to make the game more immersible. They could allow for “simple” game play for the novice or, given more controlling features like additional flight controls, weapon controls, start up options, flight check features, operative fuel gauges and other gauges for effect, or maybe even a “Siriesque” Droid that one might give commands to against a display that might show certain damage of the vessel as the fight plays out.

Overall I would rate this game as a 7 (out of 10) and only losing three points for the controls and lack of some type of rumble pack. The game is great otherwise and, as mentioned, I will be back to play it again.

I added this video to give an idea of game play. Trust me, this video doesn’t do this Pod any justice because it doesn’t capture the full screen at all. Note that the volume is pretty quiet in there though.