Utterly saddened by the lack of Takuma Sakazaki, aka. Mr. Karate, for fighting game dads and the motha-funkin' King of All Cosmos not being voted the the Greatest Dad of All Time.
@Knoxximus ver. 5.66: Still a great find. I'm glad you tipped the site off. Everyone knows about Ralph Baer, Nolan Bushnell, and other pioneers. No reason he should be remain unknown. He's consoles' Bill Finger.
You guys really need to start saying that all this crap about "downloads are future" and CDs are "on the cups of extinction." I only read this on Kotaku.
You guys seem to have some downloads obsession but hard format delivery like CDs will NEVER die. There's too many people who prefer to have a hard copy of something that they can safely put on a shelf, rather than paying over 60 dollars for a download of a game that they cant see or touch, and cant really physically protect. If the console or HD crashes, so would their whole collection.
@CrimsonChin85: Optical discs (CDs, DVDs, even blu-ray) will all go the way of the dinosaur eventually; especially in an increasingly 'greener' world. Doing away with the mass production of plastics is a good thing. With innovations such as the PSPGo and larger catalogues of digital downloads becoming available to the masses; be it games, movies, or music the demand for physical media will wane - in fact, it's already begun - ever heard of a little thing called iTunes? Netflix perhaps? Playstation Store?
Just like cassettes, be it audio tapes or VHS; cartridges, or vinyl, or even gramaphone before that... everything has its time. CD/DVDs are not exempt. It's called progress.
Incidentally, new games continue to be developed for the Fairchild Channel F - the homebrew scene for it (as with the Atari 2600) is still very much alive and well.
To demonstrate how truly rare a black pioneer in the industry is, I thought (despite now obvious age issues) the guy on the right was being referred to. Also because Lawson looks way too photogenic for a dusty old nerd. He puts the rest to shame.
@EnigmaNemesis: Seconded. And seconded again. Dunno where you guys are from, but here in the land of the free, we're not allowed to say squat that's out of line with the current 'political correctness' trend. Calling somebody black is offensive over here.
Can't we just focus on what's important? Namely, the qualities and accomplishments of the person?
@EnigmaNemesis: well theres also a positive side in mentioning hes black. you cant deny that when youre a child, its positive reinforcement to see someone that looks like you doing well in a field you want to be in. my heroes as a kid were yu suzuki and yuji naka. in middle school, i knew all about the marty bromleys, david rosens, ralph baers, and nolan bushnells, and it would have been cool to have known about this man as well.
@wox42: uh.. i dont know what part of the country you live in. im from the south, and nobody in my family or friends have ever said anything about being offended if someone has called them black.
race is a touchy thing here, and it makes sense why.. we still have living relatives that remember what they were doing when they heard the news that mlk jr had been assassinated. my grand parents still tell me of not being allowed to eat in certain places because of their skin color.. with living history of an era like that.. it couldnt be any other way.
@shouryuuken: I don't think it's actually many "african-americans" that gets upset by being called black. It's more of the liberal media that is so hell-bent on not being racist that they created a system where they get overprotective of the thing they simply wanted to avoid insulting.
And don't get me wrong, I love liberal media, it's just when they do things like that I think they should stop and think of what they are actually doing.
It should be okay to use the skincolor to describe a person, just as long as it's only used as a physical trait and not a personal trait.
@EnigmaNemesis: I'm so glad we got rid of those damn hippies... Now, we have the good sense to never refer to a black person without using the standard "African-American [insert name or occupation]" model.
Also, what's up with "Jerry Lawson"? How are White people supposed to tell African-Americans apart without seeing them, if they don't wear proper names like Trejean, Daeshanda or Norrece?
(And now I'm going to post this without a disclaimer. I'm crazy that way.)
i was thinkin about that though as i typed it, i think that black people arent bothered by it so much as the people being afraid of not being "pc" by calling us black. its like, ive had more straight people get mad at me for saying faggot than gay people.
@wox42: America isn't a racism free land, lets not pretend it is. Nowhere is. Saying someone is black is not offensive in the least, it's simply fact. I am white; Eddie Murphy is black. Tom Hanks is white; Will Smith is black. Are you seriously trying to say that 'in the last of the free' making this distinction is racist? That doesn't sound too free to me.
As @Diverse-Nerd said; the trick is to acknowledge the difference and then not let if affect how you treat other human beings. Ignoring the difference is almost as bad as straight up racism itself. Acknowledging the fact this man achieved these things, in a time when it would have been very difficult for a black man, means accepting the past and the extreme difficulties black people faced in the not so distant past because of persecution from white people - and it's repercussions are still felt today. That doesn't take away from this man, it makes what he did even more amazing; he broke down barriers and surprisingly for the time - yes surprisingly - became known for what he could do, not what his skin colour was.
Why do you think people make such a song and dance about Obama being black? Because even as little as 10 years ago a black president wouldn't have been possible. Social acceptance of ethnic diversity has come a long way since the past and that deserves to be recognised for the benefit of black AND white. If you ignore it, and pretend it doesn't exist then you run the risk of it happening again.
Let's be realistic here. In this time period, if you met an electronics engineer, you would just automatically assume he's white without any other information. This was a time period where there weren't even that many Asian or Indian engineers in the States. This wasn't "racism" on the part of the audience; it was simply an acknowledgment of the grim racial situation at the time. For God's sake, blacks had just gotten the right to *vote*. You can't use the moral calculus of 2009 to calculate the reactions of people in the 1970's.
I'm conflicted. I don't want to be labeled an Internet racist (oh noes!) but this man created cartridges. How many people were actually sad to see cartridges go? Granted, it was better than hardwiring algorithms and controlling it with a switch. Still, cartridges, ugh.
How many people were actually sad to see cartridges go? Granted, it was better than hardwiring algorithms and controlling it with a switch. Still, cartridges, ugh.
I understand what you are saying. And I know most were not saddened to see them go.
But it wasn't the fact he created something that could not be future proof, it was the fact he invented the swappable game media, so we have a console that can play interchangeable games... and not have to buy a damn Pong box for every new game to come out.
@ShadowOdin finally got a copy of Suikoden III. Is upset wit...: In college, we are actually taught that 'Black' is the correct term as opposed to African-American, just as 'White' is the correct term rather than Anglo-Saxon. They don't assume a persons heritage, birth place, residence, etc.
It reminds me of an exchange with Jefferson Twilight on Venture Brothers.
"Yeah, and I'm a Blackula Hunter."
"Shouldn't that be 'African-American' Dracula Hunter?"
"No, because I hunt Blackulas in London. There aren't African-America Draculas in London!"
@thenino85: Cartridges have their uses. No loading times, can take some fucking punishment - I personally think cartridges are ideal for handheld systems.
Of course, having the games on an internal hard-drive is even better assuming you get to keep the games, but that is a rant for another topic.
@the7k: Yeah I've heard of people being so PC they've referred to ALL blacks as "african-american" even when they're not american and given the shitty quality and obvious bias of american news-channels, I am not surprised.
I think wox42 was agreeing that it is over the top with "political correctness" and not supporting it.
And yes, some think it is out of line to say "black". Those same nuts are also no different than PETA, Greenpeace, and every other hypocritical brigade.
@shouryuuken: The argument over using the term "black" reminded me of two incidents. One was in a sociology class in college (201: Social Problems), and the teacher was the epitome of PC-ness (he was an avowed socialist, which put me at loggerheads with him quite often). A woman, maybe in her early 20s was a classmate, and the teacher inquired of her as to the correct way to address her (apparently her name wasn't good enough) in a way so as not to offend her. She replied "I'm Black".
The other incident happened at work, where we had just begun implementing the then new "Code Adam" system. We had a lost child (thankfully was found quickly), and I had described him by his clothes, his gender and his race. I had a superior come to me and tell me that I shouldn't indicate race because someone may get offended. I didn't stop from using it, for the simple reason that the safety of a child to me is far more important than some anal twit complaining about my description of skin color.
BE: Have you played any video games since the 1970s? Have you kept up with video games?
JL: I don't play video games that often; I really don't. First of all, most of the games that are out now - I'm appalled by them. They're all scenario games considered with shooting somebody and killing somebody. To me, a game should be something like a skill you should develop - if you play this game, you walk away with something of value. That's what a game is to me.
If I was to say intelligence was a weight and say, "Let's take intelligence, weigh it in pounds, and say it's a hundred pounds." The way we measure intelligence today is if I have a hundred pounds of intelligence and I get from you 99 pounds, you're considered bright, right? My feeling is what "bright" is or what "genius" is - if I give you a hundred pounds of intelligence, you give me back 120. That means you take what you've taken and gone beyond that. You've learned other things, correlated the pieces, and put it together and added something to it. That's genius.
And what's wrong many times today is that we don't have any basis for teaching that correctly. See, we're taking away from children's imaginations. Video games today - they don't even want to see anything unless the graphics are completely high-toned, right? It used to be, "Oh, well that looks like a car." Well, looks like one, you know? No, they want to see a car, they want to see wheel spinners on it, and all the detail - infinite detail.
06/21/09
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King of all Cosmos and Big Boss 4LYFE.
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Why are you acting like he was in cryostasis since he developed the cart? I'm sure he understands newer technology.
06/21/09
06/21/09
You guys seem to have some downloads obsession but hard format delivery like CDs will NEVER die. There's too many people who prefer to have a hard copy of something that they can safely put on a shelf, rather than paying over 60 dollars for a download of a game that they cant see or touch, and cant really physically protect. If the console or HD crashes, so would their whole collection.
So anyway, stop spreading the bullshit message.
06/21/09
Just like cassettes, be it audio tapes or VHS; cartridges, or vinyl, or even gramaphone before that... everything has its time. CD/DVDs are not exempt. It's called progress.
06/21/09
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And that is how it SHOULD be in life. But this world is so hell bent on introducing the race before the creed as if it is some sort of title.
The man truly is a pioneer, and I would love to hear what he has to say about current state of affairs in gaming, etc.
06/21/09
Can't we just focus on what's important? Namely, the qualities and accomplishments of the person?
06/21/09
06/21/09
Well said my man!
06/21/09
@wox42: uh.. i dont know what part of the country you live in. im from the south, and nobody in my family or friends have ever said anything about being offended if someone has called them black.
race is a touchy thing here, and it makes sense why.. we still have living relatives that remember what they were doing when they heard the news that mlk jr had been assassinated. my grand parents still tell me of not being allowed to eat in certain places because of their skin color.. with living history of an era like that.. it couldnt be any other way.
06/21/09
06/21/09
And don't get me wrong, I love liberal media, it's just when they do things like that I think they should stop and think of what they are actually doing.
It should be okay to use the skincolor to describe a person, just as long as it's only used as a physical trait and not a personal trait.
06/21/09
Also, what's up with "Jerry Lawson"? How are White people supposed to tell African-Americans apart without seeing them, if they don't wear proper names like Trejean, Daeshanda or Norrece?
(And now I'm going to post this without a disclaimer. I'm crazy that way.)
06/21/09
i was thinkin about that though as i typed it, i think that black people arent bothered by it so much as the people being afraid of not being "pc" by calling us black. its like, ive had more straight people get mad at me for saying faggot than gay people.
06/21/09
06/21/09
As @Diverse-Nerd said; the trick is to acknowledge the difference and then not let if affect how you treat other human beings. Ignoring the difference is almost as bad as straight up racism itself. Acknowledging the fact this man achieved these things, in a time when it would have been very difficult for a black man, means accepting the past and the extreme difficulties black people faced in the not so distant past because of persecution from white people - and it's repercussions are still felt today. That doesn't take away from this man, it makes what he did even more amazing; he broke down barriers and surprisingly for the time - yes surprisingly - became known for what he could do, not what his skin colour was.
Why do you think people make such a song and dance about Obama being black? Because even as little as 10 years ago a black president wouldn't have been possible. Social acceptance of ethnic diversity has come a long way since the past and that deserves to be recognised for the benefit of black AND white. If you ignore it, and pretend it doesn't exist then you run the risk of it happening again.
06/21/09
I'm conflicted. I don't want to be labeled an Internet racist (oh noes!) but this man created cartridges. How many people were actually sad to see cartridges go? Granted, it was better than hardwiring algorithms and controlling it with a switch. Still, cartridges, ugh.
06/21/09
How many people were actually sad to see cartridges go? Granted, it was better than hardwiring algorithms and controlling it with a switch. Still, cartridges, ugh.
I understand what you are saying. And I know most were not saddened to see them go.
But it wasn't the fact he created something that could not be future proof, it was the fact he invented the swappable game media, so we have a console that can play interchangeable games... and not have to buy a damn Pong box for every new game to come out.
But all in all, I do get what you are saying.
06/21/09
It reminds me of an exchange with Jefferson Twilight on Venture Brothers.
"Yeah, and I'm a Blackula Hunter."
"Shouldn't that be 'African-American' Dracula Hunter?"
"No, because I hunt Blackulas in London. There aren't African-America Draculas in London!"
"Oh... well, I guess that makes sense..."
06/21/09
Besides, there's only so many shades of brown, and I for one can't keep them apart. [en.wikipedia.org]
Just think of the scenarios.
"Jenkins is that seal-brown fellow over there"
"You'd want to find the taupe-colored guy, he can help you"
06/21/09
Of course, having the games on an internal hard-drive is even better assuming you get to keep the games, but that is a rant for another topic.
06/21/09
06/21/09
I think wox42 was agreeing that it is over the top with "political correctness" and not supporting it.
And yes, some think it is out of line to say "black". Those same nuts are also no different than PETA, Greenpeace, and every other hypocritical brigade.
06/21/09
The other incident happened at work, where we had just begun implementing the then new "Code Adam" system. We had a lost child (thankfully was found quickly), and I had described him by his clothes, his gender and his race. I had a superior come to me and tell me that I shouldn't indicate race because someone may get offended. I didn't stop from using it, for the simple reason that the safety of a child to me is far more important than some anal twit complaining about my description of skin color.
06/22/09
So true.
It is so bad now, you cant even say their race without it being "offensive".
Man this world is going to snap one day, hardcore!
06/21/09
06/21/09
BE: Have you played any video games since the 1970s? Have you kept up with video games?
JL: I don't play video games that often; I really don't. First of all, most of the games that are out now - I'm appalled by them. They're all scenario games considered with shooting somebody and killing somebody. To me, a game should be something like a skill you should develop - if you play this game, you walk away with something of value. That's what a game is to me.
If I was to say intelligence was a weight and say, "Let's take intelligence, weigh it in pounds, and say it's a hundred pounds." The way we measure intelligence today is if I have a hundred pounds of intelligence and I get from you 99 pounds, you're considered bright, right? My feeling is what "bright" is or what "genius" is - if I give you a hundred pounds of intelligence, you give me back 120. That means you take what you've taken and gone beyond that. You've learned other things, correlated the pieces, and put it together and added something to it. That's genius.
And what's wrong many times today is that we don't have any basis for teaching that correctly. See, we're taking away from children's imaginations. Video games today - they don't even want to see anything unless the graphics are completely high-toned, right? It used to be, "Oh, well that looks like a car." Well, looks like one, you know? No, they want to see a car, they want to see wheel spinners on it, and all the detail - infinite detail.
06/21/09
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