Since 1985, one name has stood high in video games, and endured longer than any of them: Mario. The plumber is so well known that even people who don’t know about video games know who he is!!! How is it that, a plumber, who hops on turtles for a living managed to survive the gaming evolution?…. it’s no exaggeration to say that Mario has had a substantial hand in shaping video games throughout the years, from the ‘80s to the present day….HAPPY MAR10 DAY!!!
When I was growing up, playing games was so much simpler than it is now. You would get the game, play it, and be content you beat it. In my first article, I discussed how the gaming industry uses microtransactions to bring in profits. However, this isn’t their only cash cow. The gaming industry has figured out another way to make themselves more profitable and now, they’re creating different versions of the same game….. (Credit to artist for this image)
Whenever I talk about video games to my friends I always find myself gravitating to Dragon Age; whether it’s comparing the plot, game mechanics, or how the in-game-lore caters to a diverse audience. Amazing and dynamic, Dragon Age has become the new standard for what I look for in games. With multiple-choice variations, you can even create detailed characters which resemble different diversities. Here, dark skinned characters have a chance to shine. Furthermore, Dragon Age doesn’t discriminate; even when it comes to multiple romance options catering to many different sexualities!
Overall, gaming has become lazy. Instead of putting in work, some gamers are taking the easy way out through microtransactions. Games were made to make you work towards a wide degree of goals; They made gamers look forward to the many accomplishments they could achieve by putting in the time and work. However, with microtransactions, game companies have proven that if a customer has ‘a lot’ of money, it makes things a lot simpler for the lazy player...and boring for others…
Ultimate is by far the best looking the Smash Bros. series has ever been, with characters popping thanks to the realistic yet still cartoony looking designs. I got the game when most people did, on release day, December 7th, 2018 and my friends and I wasted no time, and played the game practically all weekend. While we played, I came to appreciate just how great this game is...
Since buying a Nintendo Switch, I’ve played two more roguelike games: Has-Been Heroes and Into the Breach. Yet, for being games in the same genre, I had very different reactions to both these games. I’ve given it a lot of thought, and in playing these games, I believe I’ve realized something: there’s a right way and a wrong way to create roguelike video games.
Why Fortnite? Simple, it is one of the most popular games today. Its player base is about the same as Mexico’s population, and it has become the main target of the anti-video game lobby. Do I need to explain more? Epic Games, the creative team behind Fortnite, just announced this past August, that they set the record for the most usage in the history of gaming as well as being the impedance for nearly 200 divorces! It's friggin popular.
The Switch is the first console ever made to be both a home console, and a portable, handheld one. This gives the Switch a unique position – it’s not a high end console you can only play at home like the Playstation 4, or a portable system that has a tiny screen like the old original Nintendo 3DS. Instead, it’s a fusion of both.
