MoMA MIA! We made it!

Who would of thought that videogames would ever become part of a famous museum?  And not just any museum.  Fourteen classic games have made their way up to the well renowned and celebrated Museum of Modern Art – the MoMa – in New York City!  I don’t know about you, but I think it’s pretty fucking cool.  It takes great artistry to develop a successful videogame and MoMA’s senior curator Paola Antonelli believes it’s time for people appreciate videogame art.  Now available for your viewing pleasure at the MoMA’s Applied Design exhibition, the Philip Johnson Galleries features titles like Pac-Man, Tetris, and The Sims. However, Antonelli’s decision has not been welcomed with open arms by many.  There was even an article titled, “Sorry MoMA, video games are not art.”  But to all those I have one thing to say: go fuck yourselves.

“Our criteria, therefore, emphasize not only the visual quality and aesthetic experience of each game, but also the many other aspects—from the elegance of the code to the design of the player’s behavior—that pertain to interaction design.” – Paola Antonelli

The way Antonelli has dissected videogame art is outstanding.  Antonelli’s has specific criteria to which video games are being scrutinized.  Not only taking into consideration the obvious like a game’s aesthetics, but also the aspects of spatial evolution, intervals of emotional gratification, and futuristic behavioral expectations of the players are considered.  She’s not randomly handpicking games or adding displays of the most famouse videogames.  Her vision inspires to learn about videogames whether you’re immerse in the gaming culture or not.  Her incorporation of art of videogame design to the MoMA gives the world the opportunity of a lifetime to admire and gain understanding of video games – which involve more than “just being a pretty picture” and “pushing buttons.”

Apart from displaying printouts frames of the videogames that make the cut, Antonelli and her team are also working on obtaining each of the displayed games’ softwares in case the technology becomes obsolete and no longer available.  This is obviously a well thought out project and it’s being taken seriously.  So I’m not really going to waste my time reading about article that are basically shitting on Antonelli’s modern view of what art is allowed to be.  Especially when it’s not, by not means, discrediting or demeaning other mediums of art.  So to those who are having a fit, take a chill pill and appreciate what video game software has bring to the table.  The same way you enjoy some art styles over others, you can do the same with video game design without discrediting it.  At least give it a try before judging.

I just added visiting MoMA to my bucket list.  Especially when it’s rumored that Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros., Chrono Trigger, and the infamous celphone game Snake will be added to the exhibition.  What are your thoughts?  See you around!

 

Enter password: O U Y A

There’s a war coming…  And I anticipate bloodshed!  If you haven’t been filled in, there’s a new wave of game consoles that (apparently)  promise to shake the pillars where the classic Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft gods stand.  And one of these newcomers goes by the name OUYA.

OUYA is an Android-based console in which you’ll be able to play Android-based games on your T.V.  I know, nothing that exciting (or at least it wasn’t for me).  HOWEVER, it does not stop there.  Apart from the Android app games, OUYA will be able to play PC-like games through OnLive streaming service .  Not only the console will have a nice selection regarding PC gaming, but OUYA has also partnered with titan companies like Namco Bandai and Square Enix.  And many of you will find this exciting: Final Fantasy III will be one of the games available for the OUYA – which indeed got me fucking excited.  If the previous reasons haven’t sparked up at least your curiosity, how about if I told you this console is only $99.00?  Yes, you read correctly.  That itself makes the console, in my opinion, appealing enough.  Especially when you compare it to the “normative” $300+ for videogame consoles on the market.  You still will have to spend a rumored $49.99 for the controller, but the combined prices of console-controller is still minuscule in my book.

OUYA hits retailers during the summer time and I cannot say I’m not excited.  Though there are various issues that cross my mind.  One of the main concerns is the intense highlighting of OUYA’s ability to use Android apps.  It makes it seem like OUYA’s only good quality is the ability to plug the apps in your Android mobile device onto the television screen.  I’m going to make a huge guess here and say that the general public does not research as much as I do when it comes to these types of things.  With that, I don’t see many people wanting to pay roughly $200 if their understanding is they’re just going to be able to play WWF (the extremely addicting Words With Friends) and some bootleg version of Bejewled on their television screens.  Yes, OUYA argues that the Android market and mobile gaming app usage has increased dramatically in these times.  Which is true.  BUT I believe most people play these “app games” on mobiles, tablets, and such mobile technology because they can take the games with them anywhere – not having to wait until they get home to play.

What do you think?  Will this new movement prove to be the next generation in gaming?  Or will the classic console trio prevail?

P.S. – Here’s a nice little video about OUYA.  See you around!

 

Press Start

Hello!  And welcome to what’s probably going to be one of the best videogame reviews blog in the history of the Universe!  …  Or at least I like to think so – and several other people that I know agree with the latter statement.  First things first: Lou-Cyo is a hardcore gamer that sadly cannot sit down and play all day err’ day like he would like due to this thing called life.  HOWEVER, that hasn’t stop my love and passion for these amazing virtual universes – especially when I’ve been a player my whole life.  Even while in the womb, I was exposed to videogames – my Mom would sit for hours and satisfy her Tetris addiction.  So whenever she goes on her rant accusing me of suffering from a videogame addiction, – which I own up to- I blame it all on her.  I am guilty of spending countless hours of my life in front of a television with a controller, its respective console, and food.  Lots of it.  I grew up alongside the gaming world and surrounded myself with wonderful people who understood how beautiful the gaming world can be.  That and because I needed friends.  I was that “uncool,” nerdy kid who played Pokémon Blue Version (Squirtle FTW) by himself…

Now that you know a tad about me, you’re probably wondering “What the fuck does that have to do with reviews?”  Fair question and simple answer: I want readers to get at least a gist of exposure to gaming.  I want to let my readers know I am not a poser trying to seem cool by posting articles and copy/paste shit.  My posts will have substance with factual information and relatable topics up for discussion.  I WANT people to feel informed and with the chance to express their opinions.  This blog is more than just me rating about videogames (which, trust me, yes I will rate the shit out of the ones I get to play).  It’s also about upcoming new videogame technology; revisiting classic games and consoles; ranting about underrated games; fans’ reactions…  You name it!  Bottom line: I want my reads to be fun and enjoyable.

I believe that’s all I have for now.  Oh!  Please be patient with me and my blog’s decor.  I am still debating on how I want it to look like.  And my computer is undergoing some repairs, so that makes it even harder to work on the blog’s display; however, I’m thanking whatever divine entity out there for cool, already developed layout codes.  See you around!