Week 5 Research Popular Gaming Platforms by Decade

 

Collate Research [Powerpoint]

This week we are going to use the SDS task from last week as a starting point for collating research and information regarding the most popular gaming platforms from your group's given decade.

You should attempt to gather as many examples of gaming platforms of any type from your decade and begin to critically analyse them in preparation for your written report task later in this unit.

What is critical analysis?

In a nutshell you should try to provide a:

Description
Explanation
Effect

You should also always be aware of the 'W' Questions;

When ?
Who ?
Why ?
Where ?
Which ?
and hoW ?



You should also record both your evidence trail (back ups and drafts) as well as sources of information (references) I would suggest using Powerpoint or Word to do this in conjunction with your blog posts

PLAY TESTING

For the last part of todays session I want you to continue to experience the gameplay and feel of retro games from across the given decades.

Follow the links bellow and try some of them out. Blog your responses to them using a critical eye and full sentence annotation and comments.

http://www.commodore.ca/commodore-arcade/
http://www.classicdosgames.com/online.html
http://www.realclassicgames.com/
http://www.retrogamescollector.com/#sthash.jcM1TAfu.dpbs
http://snessy.com/

Pick out a few favourites and blog post the following

What decade is it from ?
When was it made ?
What company made it ?
What platform/s was it available on in its original form ?
What platform/s was it converted for if at all ?

SDS TASK

As your SDS Task for the coming week you should review and complete all your blog posts and related evidence documents (ppt, word, etc) ready for our course review week which starts next in next Mondays session.



Week 4 Graphics Graphics and More Graphics

GDC Video Game Graphics

More PowerPoint presentations from Jun yo

 

This is a presentation by Jason Rubin of Naughty Dog (creator of Crash Bandicoot) used in 2003 at a Games Industry trade expo which asks some interesting questions about the use of graphics and graphics rendering technologies in use at the time and considerers the impact and influence of graphical elements in video games.

Consider his points, discuss in your groups and attempt to answer these questions for yourselves

SDS TASK Week 4 -5

 

Consider the graphics in the ever popular minecraft ? How important are they to the gameplay and player experience ?

What other factors might be driving the success and popularity of this game title ?



Would you come to the same conclusion about a title such as FIFA 2013 or F1 2013


For next weeks session compose a list of the most popular Gaming 'Hardware' from your given decade. We can then compare and contrast between the groups in next weeks session

Post your thoughts and conclusions in your blogs ready for tutor review by next week

Week 3 The birth of the Micro Processor

The Micro Processor and its predecessor the Integrated Circuit are at the heart of every piece of digital technology we all now use in our everyday lives. Gaming Platforms are no exception to this and indeed it could even be argued that they have provided the driving force behind the proliferation and evolution of micro chip technology in general over the last 40 years

This documentary tells the story of the man chiefly responsible for the innovation and invention of the Integrated Circuit and subsequently the Microprocessor as well as a new open and creative business model which was subsequently adopted by silicone valley giants such as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

Watch the video and make your own individual notes which record key points and information which could prove useful going forward on this unit and allow you to take part in the classroom seminar sessions to follow.

His name was Robert Noyce and he started the company Intell:


http://youtu.be/-wO9Eu5I-hM

There are 6 parts to watch

Week 1 & 2 Introduction to Gaming Platforms

Week 1 & 2 Study materials will appear here