Gaming Blog

consoles

Consoles Of Old

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Gaming consoles have really come a long way since video games were first invented, don’t you think? I am relatively young but I still remember playing with some of the ancient consoles that kids of today would not recognize. That is why I was very much amused when I read the series of articles over at Games Radar which detailed the consoles of the different decades, starting from the 70s. Of particular interest to me were the consoles of the 80s. (Yeah, I think I just gave away my age range. Oh, well.)

This I remember oh so well:

Console: Game & Watch – Japan
Manufacturer: Nintendo
Discontinued: 1991
These LCD electronic games came in different models – all of which have resembled an iteration of the Game Boy or DS at one point. The Game & Watch pioneered left-handed directional control with the d-pad, seen on every console and handheld in the modern age.

I never had my own Game & Watch but my schoolmates who were fortunate enough to have on were of a sharing nature so we all got our turn.

And how about this?

Console: Atari 5200 Super System
Manufacturer: Atari
Discontinued: 1984
Created as a powerful successor to the 2600, the 5200 competed with the Intellivision and ColecoVision once it hit the market. Unfortunately, Atari spent more attention on the oversaturated (and far more popular) 2600 rather than their new console. Also, Atari underestimated the value of backwards compatibility – at least until they released an adapter the following year. Generally considered a failure, the newer controller also featured a pause button which has since been seen everywhere in the world of gaming.

Ahh, this one we were fortunate enough to have. Of course, with so many kids in the (extended) family, we had a heck of a time trying to get our gaming urges satisfied.

Photo courtesy of www.brianapps.net

Video Game Consoles: To Buy Or Not To Buy?

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I just could not resist this. I might be biting off more than I can chew but after reading the entry titled “Would You Buy Your Kid a Video Game Console!?!” I knew I had to write my own thoughts. Here is what the blogger had to say:

I remember one time our neighbors were over and the topic of video games came up. They were unsure if they were going to treat their kids with a computer box of pointlessness. I immediately said “Don’t ever buy them or let them get a video game console”. WHY? Because after 14 years of playing video games I have learned NOTHING except for how to be a better video game player. If I could go back and erase any type of video game console from my life I honestly believe that I would become a smarter and more active person.

First it made me think. I have been playing video games for longer as this guy – on the PC and consoles combined. What have I learned? Faster and better reflexes? Interacting with other people? Strategy? Even simple math. Persistence perhaps.

I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I have learned NOTHING. Then again, he does have a point about being a more active person. I suppose it all boils down to how parents monitor and control the use of the video game consoles and computers. Just like anything else, moderation is the key.

How about you, would you buy your kids a video game console?

Kids And Their Consoles

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Talk about people having nothing better to do! A group of researchers released a report regarding how game console branding affected the psychological responses of children. For boys, they compared the effects of Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation. For girls, they compared the effects of Barbie and Bratz dolls.

The results of their study showed that the Xbox affected the little boys more strongly in that they felt more empowered and self-confident. On the other hand, after viewing the Xbox system, the same boys also became more distrustful as compared to the boys who viewed the PlayStation. It was not disclosed if there was a difference between the Xbox, Xbox360, PlayStation 1, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3.

The conclusion? Psychology plays a key role in branding and marketing. I was wondering, though. How would you translate these findings in the real world? Would boys who use the Xbox be really more confident in their daily activities? Would they also be really more distrustful of those around them? Another thing, I wonder what their findings would have been if they had the little girls play with the different consoles rather than the dolls? Last, I wonder how parents would react to these findings?

Oh by the way, these little boys and girls may not be little after all. The research group didn’t give any details as to their age group as well as to the number of subjects they carried out the study on.

This gives me an idea. Why don’t we try a little experiment on our own? Try playing with the Xbox and the PlayStation and see how they affect us?