The Great Retro Debate

So, are we calling it retro now or what?

Okay so...I'm not dead. Yay for living!! I've just been so wrapped up in my life lately that I didn't have much time to blog. 2016 turned out to be an eventful year for me. I feel rejuvenated and ready to write again.

This post is to highlight the great retro debate. You know, that awkward conversation where we gamers try and decide amongst ourselves which consoles are considered retro and which are not. If done correctly, it can spur some seriously good debate. If done incorrectly, well, it can turn into the equivalent of hitting someone with a red/blue shell or dropping an UNO draw four card on them. Simply, it can be a source of tension. Warning: this will be a LONG post.

For most people, some systems and concepts are easily defined as retro. For example, a lot of people consider the original Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom retro. I mean, the NES made its initial appearance way back in 1983. That's nearly 34 years ago and coincidentally, it's even older than I am. It uses an 8-bit processor, cartridges, and many of the accessories simply look dated. They do hold up very well, though. That's a testament to their durability and overall feel, in my humble opinion. The NES is a part of the third generation of video games which is also known as the 8-bit era.

To put that into clearer perspective, there were two generations that preceded and overlapped the 8-bit era. The first generation of video game consoles began in 1972 with the Magnavox Odyssey. That generation lasted until 1980 and was followed by the second generation which overlapped the first beginning in 1976 with the Fairchild Channel F and Radofin Electronics' 1292 Advanced Programmable Video System and lasted until the discontinuation of the Atari 2600 on January 1, 1992 . The third generation began in 1983 and marked the end of the North American video game crash. The end of the third generation video games came as 8-bit consoles became obsolete in graphics and processing power compared to 16-bit consoles. It came to an official end in 2003. Still a bit confused since the generations overlapped? No problem.

There are quite a number of distinguishing characteristics of the first generation that include:

• Discrete transistor based digital game logic
• Games were native components of consoles instead of external or removable media 
• Entire game playfield occupied only one screen
• Players and objects consisted of basic lines, dots, or blocks
• Color graphics were basic
• Either single channel or no audio
• Lacked features of second gen consoles like microprocessor logic, ROM cartridges, flip screen playfields, sprite based and multi-color graphics

Think Pong

Okay, now for the second generation:

• Microprocessor game logic
• AI simulation of computer based opponents which allowed for single player gaming
• ROM cartridges that stored games and allowed any number of different games to be played on one console
• Game playfields were able to span multiple flip screen areas
• Blocky and simplistic looking sprites with a screen resolution of around 160 x 192 pixels
• Basic color graphics which were generally between 2-color (1 bit) and 16-color (4 bit)
• Up to three channel audio
• Lacked features of third gen consoles like scrolling tile based playfields

Pac-Man on the Atari 2600

And that brings us back around to the third generation in which my beloved NES resides:

• D-pad game controllers
• Screen modes with resolutions up to 256 x 240 or 320 x 200
• 25-32 colors on screen from a palette of 53-256 colors
• Tile based playfields with smooth multi-directional hardware scrolling
• Advanced hardware scrolling that included multi-directional, diagonal, and line scrolling
• 64-100 sprites on screen, each with 4-16 colors and 8 x 8 to 16 x 16 pixel sizes
• Up to five channel (primarily square wave) mono PSG audio

Die, Goomba! Super Mario Bros. 

Alright, so I just gave you guys a lot of information to work with. Let's let that digest for a moment.

So knowing what we know about those particular generations, can we comfortably call those consoles and games retro? Maybe, but it depends on who you ask. Like I stated earlier, the third generation of video game consoles ended in 2003. If we want to be technical and include all consoles released during that time, it would take us up to the GameCube, Playstation 2 and Xbox even though those consoles would be a part of the sixth generation or the 128-bit era.

Gets murky right there, huh? Remember, the generations tend to overlap.

So how can we determine what's retro and what's not? Do you base it on overall age or processing power? Or do you simply base it on what just looks retro? Do you create subcategories like retro vs classic vs vintage, etc.?

I personally use the rule of 20 (my rule). If it's been at least 20 years since the initial release, I'm going to call it retro. That's probably oversimplifying things, but I'm comfortable with it. Again, that's my preference and not a hard rule. Let's face it; the year 2020 will mark 30 years since 1990. Now if THAT doesn't make your head spin, I don't know what will. So yes, I call the first Playstation retro. I've run into people who are willing to consider the N64 retro but not the Playstation. Two sides of the same coin if you ask me.

And yet even with my own rule, I tend to still sub-categorize things. That's the beauty of this particular debate. You could break it down any number of ways and no one way would technically be wrong. Even though I presented a lot of hard facts, it still boils down to personal preference.

Since I've been gone for awhile, I had to come back with a bang. I hope this post gets the gears turning and sparks some debate either here, Twitter, or within your circle of friends. Let me know what you think.

Game on, my friends.

Q&A Session with Myself

Black Gamer Girl, could you answer a few questions, please?

Maybe one day I'll be lucky enough that someone will care enough to ask me questions.  Since I'm not there yet, I figured I would ask and answer my own questions.  It'll be a nice change of pace from my usual posts, and it'll give you guys a little insight into what makes me tick.  Oh, and I can be a little crazy.  Let's roll.

So, Black Gamer Girl, could you tell us a little about yourself?

Sure.  Well, I was born in...

Um, let's not go that far back.  How about you tell us about how you became a gamer?

Oh, my bad.  Okay, that's easy.  I was fortunate enough to be born into a family that already had gamers in it.  I've been surrounded by games my entire life.  So the condensed answer to telling your intial question is that I'm a Black woman who was fortunate enough to be raised around other gamers.  I just feel like it's right for me.

Is that so?

Indeed.  Some of my earliest memories involve playing video games.  I mean, I remember being in the crib and reading for the first time, but I also remember playing Atari.  I remember that as clearly as just about anything else.

Now we're getting somewhere (laughs). Could you describe that time?

Sure.  I remember some of my cousins had an Atari.  I didn't yet know the exact details of the console, but I knew it was an Atari from their conversations.  I remember they had a crate full of cartridges.  I used to love sitting on the floor and watching them play.

Did they ever let you play?

Sometimes.  I mostly just sat and watched them play.  On the rare occasion, they would let me play Pac-Man.  At that time, it was good enough.  I mean, there was no better feeling than controlling something on the television.  I didn't really know what I was doing, but I knew that I loved doing it.

How old were you at that time?

Maybe about four.  Yeah, I think about four.

Okay.  So when would you say that you started to game for yourself and not just because someone let you press a button?

Umm, maybe the following year when I was five.  That sounds about right.

Five years old.  So that would have been 19...

Yup.  That year.

Alright.  What do you remember about your fifth year?

Well, I've told this story before.

I don't believe I've heard it.

Really?

Yeah, really.  I mean, you're nobody important.

Wow...I mean, that's true.  But you didn't need to say it like that.

I don't sugarcoat anything.

That's obvious.  Well, I played Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt.

Two Nintendo classics.  

Indeed.  Nintendo and Super Nintendo made up the bulk of my childhood.  To this day, I still have a dislike for the dog from Duck Hunt.  I would put the Zapper up to the TV and well, zap him (laughs).

Any favorites from that era?

Besides Super Mario Bros, I have a few.  I loved the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games, Mega Man, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat.  Oh, and I can't forget Super Mario World.  So many hours spent playing that.  I'm leaving out a lot, but I've played so many games in my lifetime.  I remember my mom would let me rent a game every Friday evening.

Did you only play consoles?

Nah, I played whatever was available.  I also played lots of coin-ops and pinball, too.  My grandma used to babysit me.  Whenever she would go to the laundromat, I would spend quarters on the coin-ops there.

Care to name a few?

I spent many quarters on Mrs. Pac-Man and Galaga.  I'd be rich if I had saved all of those quarters.  I also loved to play House of the Dead.  I think my favorite pinball machine of all time is The Addams Family.  I remember going to this arcade called Planet Xtreme every weekend in high school.  Again, if I had saved those quarters...

You might be richer financially, but you wouldn't have those great gamer memories!

(Laughing) That's true!  I wouldn't trade those memories for anything.

Alright, so you started to come into your own as a gamer during the Nintendo/Super Nintendo years.  How did you know that you had a love for games?  I mean, what was the trigger?

I don't know if there was a trigger.  I just became accustomed to renting a different game every weekend from the local video store.  I loved playing those Tiger Electronics handheld games.  I played the Game & Watch from Nintendo.  When I received a Game Boy on Christmas, it was on.  I don't know, really.  I've just always been drawn to playing video games.

Fair enough.  So let's fast forward to today.  Are there any games that you're currently playing and loving?

My favorite game out currently is Fallout 4, but sometimes I get the urge to play some older games. I still play games like GTA IV, Fallout 3, and Left 4 Dead 2.  There is no reason to give up on the older stuff just because new games keep being released.

I totally agree with that.  Besides, those older games are like a part of our DNA.  They help to make us who we are.

They really do.

Okay.  So, where do you see yourself in the next five to ten years?  Still an avid gamer?

Most definitely.  I don't think I'll ever stop buying and playing video games.  I mean, I still watch cartoons.  I watch the old and the new stuff.  I don't see why I wouldn't keep buying and playing video games.  I want to expand and meet other gamers.  Start going to Comic-Con and if I'm lucky, E3 one of these days.

Do you hope that you'll find a partner who loves cartoons and games, as well?

I can only hope.

I hope you do find him.  Now for a few random questions.

Cool, shoot.

Favorite movie?  Food?  Sports?  Music?

Um, I have too many favorite movies.  It's tough to pick just one, so I'll just name two off the top of my head.  Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Pulp Fiction.  As for food, I guess pepperoni pizza and mac and cheese.  I'm a fan of Philadelphia sports teams.  I like a little of bit of everything with music.

Well, I think that'll wrap up this interview.  Anything else that you would like to say?

Yes, actually.  Game on, my friends.

Okay...alright.  Thanks for this interview, Black Gamer Girl.  It's been rather...interesting.

I appreciate you taking the time to interview me.  I look forward to our next meeting.

I really don't, but you're welcome.  I enjoyed it in a strange way.

Yeah!  Game on, my friend!

(Rolls eyes and sighs) Yeah!  Game on, indeed.

This Gamer's Life

We keep spending most our lives living in the gamer's paradise.

(Toad has nothing to do with this post.  This pic is just so cute.  They're so happy about that star.)

I am a gamer.  If you've been reading my posts thus far, you already know that.  I'm certain that even if you didn't read them, you could deduce that from the name of my blog.  It's what I do.  Even still, I sometimes feel like a unicorn.  People either want to believe in my existence or try so hard to deny it.

For instance, my mother wonders why I love video games so much.  I've just always been drawn to them, but I can't convey that in a way that she'll ever understand.  In her mind, I should find some other way to be productive with my life.  Trust that I am and I play in my spare time, but she considers it a childish activity.  Or even worse, a BOY activity.  

Pffft.  Later for that nonsense. (I lied about Toad, and I'm going to use him to demonstrate emotion.)

A good chunk of my life revolves around acquiring and playing games, and there's nothing shameful about that.  If that's the worst habit in the world, I'll gladly accept it.  I'm tired of explaining why I play video games, so I actively befriend others who are into the culture.  I'm living in a gamer's paradise.

What do I mean by a gamer's paradise?  Simple.  In my life up to this point, playing video games is simply my greatest joy.  I don't have kids, so I dote on my games.  I love meeting with like minded individuals and sharing our mutual love for video games.  I love being a part of this culture.  It's special.

And don't think I'm only a pseudo gamer to impress anybody.  Please!  I couldn't care any less than I already don't about what people think about my habit.  Either accept that we're probably going to game when you come to visit me, or you can catch a turnip to the face.  Real talk (in my gangster voice). 

Seriously though, there is no age limit for this.  There are no racial or gender boundaries for this.  That's the beauty of it all.  We can all connect and share this common interest.  We are gamers.  For better or for worse, we're connected.  We don't grow out of it; we simply evolve with it.  I'm amazed when I think about how far we've come from the North American video game crash of 1983.  

Here's a fun graphic detailing and projecting global video game sales in 2014 and 2019.  Research!

I hope to continue to nurture and feed the need to game.  I don't want to live in a world where I can't shoot enemies, drive on the sidewalk, fast travel, battle dragons, fly, create weapons from junk, transform, or take bullets to the face and heal myself like it's nothing  And the fact that I can do it time and time again?  Paradise.

So to my fellow gamers out there, I got nothin' but love for ya.  We're a unique bunch.  In our world, we can be as serious or goofy as we want to be.  We can be competitive with one another, or we can work together.  Our common enemy is the tedium of everyday life that we escape when we power on our consoles and PCs.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

Oh, and I am proud to admit that my current obsession is Fallout 4.  I love that game!  Feel free to check out my previous blog post.  I started a short story that's inspired by Fallout.  I hope you guys are enjoying the new releases, as well.

Game on, my friends.

The Evolution of a Gamer

Do you remember your first time?

Do you remember the first time you wrapped your hand around that stick and pressed that button?  What about when you got your moves just right and hit that target?  Remember how your temperature would rise while you concentrated on satisfying your urges?  Do you remember that excitement you felt and the late nights you spent?  Do you remember?

I know that sounded a bit out there, but get your minds out of the gutter.  I'm talking about playing video games.  I remember sitting cross legged on the floor watching my older cousins play Pac-Man on the Atari.  I remember when they asked if I wanted to try and the excitement my little four year old self felt while controlling Pac-Man.  And when he ate the power pellets?  Oh man, it was like heaven.

But at that time, it wasn't serious for me.  I was curious and I had fun, but it didn't define me.  I wasn't yet a gamer.

A few years rolled by, and I received a Nintendo for a gift.  Ah, now here we go.  I began my 8-bit adventures and things got a little more serious.  Like many budding gamers at the time, I cut my teeth on Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt.

I took mushrooms, picked flaming flowers, bumped coins out of bricks, stomped on creatures, pulled down flags, and saved the princess.  And I happily did it time after time.  Super Mario Bros. was my first obsession.  When I wanted a change, I could be seen shooting ducks or being taunted by a large dog I came to hate.  Oh yeah, I shot at him with the NES Zapper more than a few times.

Ugh

I remember one of my cousins even had a Power Pad.  We used it to play World Class Track Meet.  We were gaming and burning calories before the Wii or the Kinect.  Yeah, yeah.

As time went on, I began to amass a nice collection of NES games.  I fondly remember anxiously awaiting Fridays because my mom would let me rent a game every weekend.  My weekends were spent trying to save April with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, punch out Mike Tyson, and help Darkwing Duck keep St. Canard safe.  A little gamer was beginning to grow.

A couple of years passed, and I received a Super Nintendo from a cousin.  I stepped into the realm of 16-bit gaming, and my love for gaming grew deeper.  It was on the SNES that I teamed up with Mario and Yoshi to defeat Bowser again, and I threw the first of many Hadoukens with Ryu on Street Fighter II.

The gamer in me continued to grow.  It was during this era that I truly began to enjoy gaming as a social activity, and my competitive edge began to show.  I wanted to prove my dominance over my cousins and friends in everything from Mortal Kombat to NBA Jam.

I started to read various gaming magazines like Nintendo Power and longed for a Game Genie.  I accumulated various codes and strategies.  I had to feed the need.

Oh, the hours we spent huddled around my little TV punching the YXBA buttons and bumpers in any number of combinations.  There were times when my mom had to make us stop in order to eat.  Gamer life, man.  It is what it is.

Fast forward a few years, and I was introduced to the Nintendo 64.  Imagine the excitement on my face the first time I loaded up Super Mario 64 and discovered I could tug and pull Mario's face on the title screen.  The time I spent on Super Mario 64, GoldenEye 007, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Donkey Kong 64, and Cruis'n USA will forever be priceless to me.

I was beginning to view gaming as a less of a hobby and more of a lifestyle.  It wasn't simply something to do anymore; it was becoming my life.

I remember opening presents one faithful Christmas morning, and I became the proud owner of a brand new Playstation.  Yeah!!!  Am I the only one who remembers spending hours playing demo discs on Playstation?  Classic times.

I think it was with the Playstation that I began to evolve into a marathon gamer. I couldn't rest until I beat whatever I was playing.  I was hooked on Metal Gear Solid, Tomb Raider, and Resident Evil.  I was quite fond of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, as well.

My appetite only grew with the release of the Playstation 2.  I would go to Blockbuster every weekend to rent something different.  I was a full fledged gamer by then.  If it was out, I had probably played it.  I don't even know the number of hours I spent playing Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.  It was no longer a hobby.  Gaming had become a major component of my life.

I eventually moved on to the Xbox 360 and the Xbox One.  Gamers constantly evolve, but I sometimes go back to the old consoles.  That nostalgia will get you every time.

So, here I am today.  If I'm not playing something, I'm watching gaming videos through the YouTube app on my Xbox One.  So even when I'm not actively gaming, I'm still gaming.  I read my Game Informer magazine from GameStop.  I research upcoming game releases and anxiously mark my calendar for my favorites.

I evolved from blowing into cartridges to wiping discs.  I grew from having to write down pass keys, to using memory cards and sticks, to finally saving to the hard drive.  I witnessed games changing from simple side scrollers to near movie experiences with actual actors in them.

I am a full fledged gamer.  I'll never change.  I am what I am.

What about you guys?  Do you have fond memories of your first time?  Drop some comments and let's connect.

Game on, my friends.

A Black woman that plays video games? Yes!

Yes, we do exist.  I love video games.  I've always loved playing video games ever since I was a child.  I've owned and played everything from the Atari 2600 to the Xbox One (my current obsession).  

The funny thing is I'm always defending my love of video games.  I'm not the type that pretends to play to impress guys.  No, I want to kick their butts.  I'm super competitive.  I had a boyfriend in high school that didn't believe I played until I whipped his tail in NBA Street.  He later admitted that he was so salty that he practiced for a week just to beat me.  So cute but he never did.  

To this day, he still says he's never met another girl that was as into gaming and he gave up looking.  He awarded me the crown. To be fair, I do look for a guy who loves to game, too.  Nothing more relaxing than chilling at home and gaming the night away.  Gaming over clubs any day.

My mother asked why I like stuff that boys like.  I responded that it's no more absurd than a man that cooks and cleans.  

By the way, a man in the kitchen is very sexy but, I digress.  

I feel that Black women are under represented in gaming culture.  It's almost as if we're not interested in it.  That's just not true.  Some of the most hardcore gamers I know are Black women.  Some people think that if we're into it at all, we're only interested in games like The Sims.  A game that some people call a "girl" game.  I love The Sims and know guys that play it, but I play so many different games.  Although I must admit, The Sims can get deep if someone is a skilled Simmer.  My Sims usually end up doing better at life than I am.  Crazy.

I'm more of a Grand Theft Auto/Call of Duty type of girl, though.  Nothing more satisfying than mindlessly mowing down pedestrians while listening to R&B on the radio or blasting campers on my favorite maps.  Great stress relief, believe it or not  Oh, and don't put a good RPG in front of me.  I'll get lost for days.  

I guess my love of sitting in front of a television or monitor and playing games doesn't help my social life.  Yeah, that's true.  I'm not big on going out and being seen.  However, I tend to build my friendships around my love of games.  My buddies are all gamers, too.  So, it works out in the end.  Instead of calling or texting one another all day, we just hop into an Xbox Live party and chat.  Gaming IS social.

So, what's the point of my blog?  Well, I want to prove that Black women love games just like everyone else.  I want to prove that we do keep up with game releases and watch E3.  I know I'm currently waiting on Fallout 4 to release.  11-10-15 is marked on my calendar.  I want to prove that we play all consoles and games.  Yes, some of us are into anime and cosplay, too.   We come in different packages, but we all share that love of gaming and fantasy. 

In case you're wondering how I'm spending my Friday night, I'm watching gaming videos on YouTube.  I'm watching DashieGames, to be exact.  Yeah, I'm really doing that.  Heads up, Dashie curses a lot.  Just an FYI in case anyone wants to check him out.  

I'm hoping that some people out there can relate to me.  I just want to game in peace without feeling like a science project.  Can I live?  Here's hoping to change, anyway.  Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start.  Game on, my friends, game on.