Issue #3; Call for Content

(FYI: This blog continues to jump to the top of the blogs each day because Im editing it with names of writers as they come in and request topics for issue #3...)

Ive got a few people working some articles for issue #3, but I want to get out a "call for content", this is a "copy/paste" of my topics word document for issue #3. ;; if you would like to sign up for anything, send me an e-mail (editor@2old2play.com). ;; I can also send the document as an attachment if this blog text just looks like utter crap.

The first set of topics are break downs of historical time periods, Im looking for people to cover each period, and as the periods get older (heading to 2006) I break it up to multiple writers because the world started getting pretty busy in the industry.

Ok, hope the pasting of my doc goes well here....

History of Video Games: 1970-1979 [trupundit]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_games

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_age_of_arcade_games

Recommended for: Someone that loves to dig up history or took part in it. ;;

Focus Points:

Describe to the reader the first generation of home console system known as the Magnavox “Odyssey”, the second generation Odyssey 2, Video Computer System (VCS) [later called Atari 2600].

Mention the birth of Activision in 1979 when a few disgruntled Atari programmers went off to make their own 3rd party crew. ;;

Research a few games for this time period including PONG and any personal experiences you might have had during this time period. ;; The “Golden Age” of arcade games begins in 1979-80.

History of Video Games: 1980-1989 [FadeIntoBlack]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_games

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellivision

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_crash_of_1983

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_Entertainment_System

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_game_consoles_%28second_generation%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Genesis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_Master_System

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_age_of_arcade_games

Recommended for: Someone that loves to dig up history or took part in it.

Focus Points:

This age saw the introduction of Colecovision (1982), arcade ports of Space Invaders (Atari 2600), and Donkey Kong (Colecovision). Intellivision gets nation wide exposure in 1980 and sells for $299.00 to home gamers.
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Golden Age of Arcade games starting in 1979/1980 and ends in the mid 1990’s. ;; Might want to make mention of this (but the actual age will be covered in the Archived Editorial: Golden Age of Arcade games).
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In 1983 the video game market crashes just after toys stores are flooded with cartridge games. ;; This ends the second generation of console systems (do some research into second generation and mention it as well), and begins the rise of NES into the third generation (“8-bit era”) of gaming. ;; To battle against NES comes the Sega Master System.
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The second generation console game details are in Wikipedia.org for photo’s and all the good stuff to jog your memory.
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Lastly, may want to mention the Sega Genesis making it to North America in 1989 (known as the Sega Mega Drive in other countries, but couldn’t get the rights to that name in North America). ;; This is the start of the fourth generation of console games.

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History of Video Games: 1990-1995 [Drinkslinger]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_video_games

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Nintendo_Entertainment_System

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Recommended for: Someone that loves to dig up history or took part in it.

“With the increasing computing power and decreasing cost of processors like Intel 386, 486, and Motorola 68000, the 1990s saw the rise of 3D graphics, as well as "multimedia" capabilities through sound cards and CD-ROMs.” - wikipedia

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Focus Points (in order of interest):

This era brought many great game companies out of the woodwork, Apogee (3d realms), Epic Megagames, ID Software, LucasFilms, Maxis, and others. ;; Describe to the reader some of the company’s big hits and explain why they may have paved the path for future gaming. ;; Wolfenstein 3d (ID software/Apogee), Doom (ID Software), Sim City (maxis), and some games that continue to thrive such as Blizzard’s Warcraft: Orcs & Humans (1994), and Command & Conquer (1995). ;;

May also mention to the readers (or a ‘reminder’ to those of the time) how games were shipped on both 5 ¼” and 3.5” floppies (in the same box) as people slowly moved to the newer high density smaller footprint 3.5” floppy. ;;

The 1990’s also brought the concept of shareware to the table and many games were released on BBS’s as shareware and even some in store fronts on the desk. ;;

The Super NES debut August 13th 1991, against the Sega Genesis which made its official debut in 1989 (but still is relevant talk in this document when pertaining to SNES). ;; This launches the official fourth generation (“16-bit era”) battle between Genesis and SNES

In 1993 Myst was released and up until The Sims was the best selling game of all time.

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History of Video Games: 1996-1999 [currently no writers]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_computer_and_video_games

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64

Recommended for: Someone that loves to dig up history or took part in it.

“In 1996, 3dfx released the Voodoo chipset, leading to the first affordable 3D accelerator cards for personal computers. These devoted 3D rendering daughter cards performed most of computation required for rendering higher-resolution, more-detailed three-dimensional graphics, allowing for more-detailed graphics than would be possible if the CPU were required to handle both game logic and graphical tasks.” – wikipedia

Focus Points (in order of interesting topics):

This is a good topic of discussion for this segment of history about 3d hardware and gaming. ;; Quake arrives to take advantage of the 3dfx technology and OpenGL. ;; Quake also takes the first-person-shooter onto the Internet and brings around the influx in community gaming.

The early 1990’s brought us MUD’s (multi-user-dungeons) and as Quake and other games hit the Internet so do RPG’s with the true MMORPG that are less text and more graphics: Ultima Online and Everquest.

Nintendo finally gets the Nintendo 64 out the door in 1996 along with Super Mario 64.

Counter Strike hits the scene in 1999 as well as Unreal Tournament’s first release.

RTS Games of this genre include Age of Empires, Blizzards Warcraft and StarCraft series and turn based games such as Heroes of Might and Magic.

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History of Video Games: 2000-2003 [multi-focused topic, many writers]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_computer_and_video_games

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sims

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultima_Online

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Focus #1 - The Sims and Myst, PS2 release, and MMORPG’s [currently no writers]

The Sims is released and takes control as the Best Selling Computer Game of All time defeating Myst’s old reign. ;; The game was published by Maxis and distributed by EA games. “First released on February 4, 2000, the base game has sold more than 6.3 million copies, and the franchise has sold over 58 million units, making it the best-selling PC game in history.” –Wikipedia

Sony Playstation 2 released. ;; Does the PS2 live up to its PS1 predecessor?

Electronic Artss Ultima Online video game has over 150,000 online users by the end of February. ;; Why did this MMO do so well and how did it become the foundation for today’s MMO style? ;; Has things really gotten better or are new MMO’s like World of Warcraft still following the same template as UO?

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Focus #2 - The Business Sector [currently no writers]

Much intellectual property changed hands in these years. ;; Some were the death of a company while others thrived under new ownership. ;; Here are some of the business changes in these years:

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2. By acquiring Hasbro Interactive, Inc., Infrogrames takes the rights to the Atari label. ;; In 2003 a subisidary of Infogrames renames itself “Atari.”
4. Microsoft acquires Bungie Software Products.
6. nVidia aquires 3dfx (and all the good voodoo stuff disappears?)
8. Looking Glass Studio goes out of business and with them goes Flight Unlimited II, Thief, System Shock 2, Ultima Underworld II, Car and Driver, Destruction Derby 64, and others.
10. Ubi Soft Entertainment acquires Red Storm Entertainment which gives them access to a little writer known as “Tom Clancy”
12. SNK dies and sells off its intellectual property but stamps itself in the history books with the Neo Geo.
14. Sega throws in the towel and discontinues hardware manufacturing of consoles and hand helds.
16. The 3DO finally announces bankruptcy. ;; What was the 3do, and why did it die?

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Focus #3 - The Major Games and Major Players [currently no writers]

Sony PS2, Microsoft Xbox, and Game cube are released. ;; November 15th, 2002 – Xbox Live is born. ;; The consoles publish a bunch of well remembered games:

Halo (2001), Final Fantasy X (2001), GTA 3 (2001), Super Smash Brothers Melee (2001), Metal Gear Solid 2 (2001), Super Mario Sunshine (2002), Metroid Prime (2002), The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (2002), Mario Kart: Double Dash (2003).

Computer games continue to lose ground to console video games with a US sales drop of 14% in 2003. ;; Discuss reasons for this occurrence and/or personal opinions.

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History of Video Games: 2004-2006 [multi-focused topic, many writers]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_DS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Portable

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Focus #1 - The Hand-Helds [currently no writers]

Nintendo releases the DS hand-held system in Japan just as Sony releases the PSP in Japan. ;; Nintendo pushes the DS to the United States in 2004, but the PSP doesn’t make it until 2005. ;; Did this affect sales figures and chances of success for Sony?

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Focus #2 - The Next-Gen consoles, and 360 delays [tait]

The Microsoft Xbox 360 makes an appearance near the end of the year, but the common folk cannot buy one. ;; Will this hurt Microsoft in the long run or will people forget about the pseudo launch once the rest of the console makers get their product out the door? ;; Will the PS3 suffer the same launch issues as the 360 or was the 360 really just troubled by manufacturing issues?

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Focus #3 - The future of gaming based on trends [currently no writers]

Is the PC going to push the next generation games with the new Physics Processor and other technical trends? ;; Is the PC the “launching grounds” for new technology and gamer interests so that the next-next-generation consoles can focus on a specific technology?

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What will occur in the market when all the generations battle it out for control? ;; Will the new contenders make Microsoft push its game to the next level or does it already control too much of the market with its 360?

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The Console Wars [writers per war]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Console_war

This topic may be split into multiple sub-topics for writers to take on pieces:

[1] Sega vs. Nintendo: The 3rd and 4th generation systems battle it out: Sega Master System vs. NES, and Sega Genesis vs. SNES. ;; Who, in your opinion, had the best console system and who had the best gaming and concepts? ;; Did any one system really beat the other in any market segments or demographics? [currently no writers]

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[2] Hand-Held Battle: Nintendo GameBoy vs. Sega GameGear. ;; The GameBoy lives on where the GameGear comes out the loser. ;; Why did Sega fail? [currently no writers]

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[3] 32-bit console wars: Sony Playstation enters the competition vs. Sega Saturn and Nintendo 64. ;; Where did the Saturn go wrong? ;; Sony shows its might by targeting men between 16 and early twenties. ;; Sega only put their console out in a select number of retailers while Sony tried to conquer the entire market. ;; Nintendo 64 arrives late to the game after Sony already establishes its roots in the fifth generation of game consoles. ;; Would Nintendo have dominated if it showed up on time without delays? [currently no writers]

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[4] Sixth generation battle with GameCube, Sega Dreamcast, Sony PlayStation2, and Microsoft entering with the Xbox. ;; Nintendo comes in last in the US for console systems right behind Microsoft but second in Japan which the Xbox could not find a nitch to dominate. ;; Sony holds strong as number one contender and Sega dies off. ;; What put Sega over the edge? ;; Nintendo profits from console regardless of position while Xbox bleeds financially but holds its head high?! Discuss. ;; Did any of the results of this contest change how consumers would think of the seventh generation of consoles? [currently no writers]

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[5] Hand-Held war of a new generation, Nintendo DS vs. Sony PSP. ;; Nintendo has 14.43 million units SOLD while the PSP holds 13 million units SHIPPED. ;; Thus Nintendo seems to have the lead in this market, and has a stable foundation with the GameBoy Advance holding 74.25 million units sold. ;; Predictions on how this will shake out given both systems are currently still building steam on the market? ;; Nintendo is known for kick ass hand-held systems regardless of the power-house core performance. ;; Discuss. [currently no writers]

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[6] Next-Generation war: Nintendo Revolution yet to be released, Sony Playstation 3 yet to be released, Microsoft Xbox 360 already in stores. ;; Will this trend be similar to the sixth generation (see bullet 4 above) battle with Microsoft releasing first rather then Sony to gain a foothold in the market? ;; If history tells us anything does this mean Microsoft will pull in first place, Sony coming in second, while Nintendo again comes in last yet is highly profitable? ;; Will Nintendo change its “kid” image while Xbox 360 tries to push the “kid” image with games such as Viva Pinata? [Drost]

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RPG’s past, present, and future [jonshado]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_console_role-playing_games

Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (AD&D) started as a table-top “paper dice” RPG system in 1982. ;; Continual gaming advances push it into the market on PC and consoles, and others utilize its concepts to build new breeds of RPG’s. ;; Notable participants in the RPG genre are: Dragon Quest (1986), Final Fantasy(1987), Phantasy Star (1987), AD&D Heroes of the Lance (1990), Crystalis (1990), AD&D Pool of Radiance (1991), Dungeon Master (1992), Soul Blazer (1992), Wizardry V (1992), etc.

Games of the past are foundations for the future?

How does a game like Pool of Radiance back in 1991 compare to Baldurs Gate from 1998? ;; Do you believe games like Elder Scrolls: Oblivion have used these games as a stepping stone to greater RPG’s?

What is an RPG?

Do you see The Legend of Zelda as a true RPG or did that not fit the mold when compared to Wizardry or Illusion of Gaia? ;; Zelda contains a few of the traits of a classic AD&D model with hobgoblins and other fantasy creatures and contains a fantasy concept but is it truly an RPG?

Food for thought:

How will we advance in the RPG genre? ;; More D&D: 3rd Edition clones for consoles and the PC? ;; What company and what game platform will contain the next RPG breakthrough? ;;

Will Final Fantasy ever die?

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Compare and Contrast: Past vs. Present [nogame22; multiple desired]

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Take a few hit games from the last two years and compare them to some games that date back to the 1970’s, 1980’s, and 1999’s.

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Some examples; can use multiple writers:

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;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; Ring King/Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out vs. Friday Night Fights [nogame22]

;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; Spy Hunter vs. Burnout Revenge

;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; Pool of Radiance vs. Oblivion

;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; Wolfenstein 3D vs. G.R.A.W

;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; Dr. Mario vs. Hexic

;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; The Legend of Zelda vs. Zelda: Wind Waker

;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; Super Mario vs. Mario Sunshine

;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; Friday the 13th(NES) vs. Condemned (xbox 360) [nogame22]

;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; DOOM vs. DOOM III

;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; Space Invaders vs. Geometry Wars

;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; ;; Tecmo Bowl vs. NFL 2k6

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History of Atari [edd9139]

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History of Nintendo [currently no writers]

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History of Sony PlayStation [edd9139]

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History and downfall of Sega [currently no writers]

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History of the Microsoft Xbox [writer: TANK]

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