Video Game History
Ongoing coverage on Video Game History.
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An Iconic Piece Of Gaming Artwork Just Fetched A Princely Sum At Auction
An iconic piece of Donkey Kong artwork, which served as the first visual representation of the game and Mario, sold for nearly $330,000 at auction. The illustration, created by Leslie Carbaga to sell arcade cabinets, was part of a collection of Nintendo memorabilia from former advertising director Donna Darbous. This sale highlights the growing recognition of the historical and monetary value of gaming artifacts.
Ocarina of Time Remake: Why the Wait Is Unbearable — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
The article argues for a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, highlighting its groundbreaking innovations in 3D gaming and enduring themes. While acknowledging the Nintendo 3DS version, it suggests the original's age necessitates a modern update to address control issues, framerate, and potential cut content, while preserving its core charm for new and returning players.
Dawn of War 4 clearly loves the Warhammer 40K strategy games that came before, but it misses that they loved to reinvent themselves
Dawn of War 4, developed by King Art Games, is a competent but unexciting Real-Time Strategy game that feels dated due to its reverence for the original 2004 title. While it offers unit customization and improved visuals, it struggles with managing large armies and making meaningful tactical choices, a weakness inherited from its predecessor. The Adeptus Mechanicus campaign shows more promise with tactical unit specialization, but ultimately succumbs to the same 'bolter-blob' strategy that plagues the Ork campaign.
SGJ Podcast #521 – If You Could Go Back and Change Something in Gaming, What Would it Be
The SGJ Podcast episode 521 features hosts Spaz, Julie, and Jacob discussing hypothetical changes they would make to video game history. Despite technical difficulties, the conversation explored fun hypotheticals about improving past gaming experiences, with a particular lament for MicroProse.
Toy Story 3 and Retro Roundup interview: dev on origins, lack of N64/Dreamcast versions, including A Bug’s Life, more
Digital Eclipse editorial director Chris Kohler discusses the upcoming Nintendo Switch releases of Toy Story 3: Complete Edition and Toy Story: Retro Roundup. The interview covers the inclusion of A Bug's Life, the decision to omit N64 and Dreamcast versions, and the technical improvements made to the games, including 4K resolution and 60 FPS support for Toy Story 3.
The History of Vision in Marvel Video Games
This article explores the historical representation of vision and artificial intelligence within Marvel video games. It examines how characters and themes related to sight and AI have been depicted across various Marvel titles throughout the years.
One of the summer's most talked-about Lego sets just got its first major discount
The Lego Donkey Kong Arcade set, which recreates the classic arcade game, has received its first major discount, dropping to £119.99 at Amazon during their Big Deal Days sale. This interactive set, featuring playable barrel-rolling mechanics, is a faithful nod to the original game where Donkey Kong and Mario first appeared.
GTA 6's $400 collectible spoon is actually a reference to another, far more expensive GTA spoon from 18 years ago
The $399.99 Grand Theft Auto VI Collector's Box includes a Vice City-emblazoned spoon, which is a reference to a similar, gold-plated spoon produced for Grand Theft Auto V: The Ballad of Gay Tony in 2008. That original promotional spoon is now a rare collector's item, fetching thousands of dollars, suggesting the new spoon could also become valuable over time.
Uncharted 4 was "a very different" game under Amy Hennig, says former Naughty Dog artist
Former Naughty Dog artist Matt Radford shared insights into Amy Hennig's original vision for Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, describing it as significantly different from the final product, with Sam Drake initially conceived as an antagonist. While acknowledging the talent behind both visions, Radford expressed a desire to see Hennig lead her own game projects again.
Fall 2007 Was the Greatest Stretch in Gaming – and Definitely Xbox – History
The fall of 2007 is argued to be the greatest stretch in video game history, with strong cases for it being the best season for Xbox, PC, and specifically November. This period is presented as indisputably brilliant.
Top 20 best-selling GameCube games of all time in the U.S. revealed
New sales data from Circana's Mat Piscatella reveals the top 20 best-selling GameCube games in the U.S., coinciding with the console's 25th anniversary. Nintendo titles dominate the list, with Super Smash Bros. Melee leading, followed by Super Mario Sunshine and Mario Kart: Double Dash. Sonic Adventure 2: Battle is the highest-ranking third-party title at number eight.
The Games That Changed How We Play
This article celebrates National Video Games Day by highlighting games that have significantly impacted gameplay and the industry. It covers titles like Pong, PAC-MAN, Super Mario Bros, DOOM, and Minecraft, detailing their innovations in genres, mechanics, and player interaction.
GTA Has Come A Long LONG Way Since 1997
This article reflects on the significant evolution of the Grand Theft Auto series since its inception in 1997. It highlights the series' journey through various iterations and technological advancements, underscoring its lasting impact on the video game landscape.
Three PS1 Legends Hit Their 30th Birthday in 2026
In 2026, several iconic PlayStation 1 games will celebrate their 30th anniversaries, including Crash Bandicoot, Tomb Raider, and Resident Evil. These titles, launched in 1996, were instrumental in establishing the PlayStation's legacy and introduced characters and franchises that remain popular today. While some original games show their age, their impact on the industry and their respective series is undeniable.
"I think one of the reasons GTA was so well received was the amount of detail," reflects an original dev: "No one ever said no, or that something couldn't be done"
This article delves into the development history of the Grand Theft Auto series, focusing on the early contributions of DMA Design and key figures like Paul Farley and Mike Dailly. It highlights the evolution of the open-world concept, level design challenges, and the creative freedom that defined the franchise's early entries, from the original Grand Theft Auto to Grand Theft Auto 3 and beyond.
Epic Mickey Brought An Icon Back To Disney, And Warren Specter Doesn’t Want You To Forget
Veteran game developer Warren Specter is retiring from the industry and wants to ensure the team behind Epic Mickey receives credit for reintroducing Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to Disney. Specter highlighted that Epic Mickey was the first Disney project to feature both Mickey and Oswald together, and its sequel gave Oswald a voice for the first time. He expressed frustration that the game's contributions to the character's revival are being overlooked, especially with a new Oswald miniseries on Disney+.
Epic Mickey creator Warren Spector is 'a little bitter' that his studio isn't getting props for sparking Oswald the Lucky Rabbit's big comeback
Epic Mickey creator Warren Spector expressed frustration that his studio, Junction Point, is not receiving adequate credit for revitalizing Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Spector highlighted the significant role Oswald played in the Epic Mickey games, including giving the character a voice for the first time and introducing his paramour, Ortensia. He feels the games that reintroduced the character to the public consciousness are being overlooked ahead of an upcoming Oswald the Lucky Rabbit miniseries.
The companies that made gaming what it is today: Ére Informatique and it’s ‘French Touch’
This article traces the history of early French video game companies, focusing on Ére Informatique and the 'French Touch' movement. It highlights how companies like Ére, Infogrames, and Loriciels, despite their short lifespans, significantly influenced the European gaming landscape with unique and often experimental titles like Captain Blood and Macadam Bumper.
Sonic: Running at Full Speed, even in the Dark
The article reflects on the challenges of being a fan of the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, contrasting the successful Sega Genesis era with subsequent periods. It suggests that while the early days were bright, the franchise has faced difficulties.
25 Years of Mafia Video Games: An Oral History
This oral history celebrates 25 years of the Mafia video game franchise, featuring interviews with developers from Illusion Softworks and Hangar 13. The article delves into the legacy and evolution of the series over the past quarter-century.