Due to unforeseen circumstances, this episode was recorded on Monday, but despite the lateness, it’s full of rich news items, including some very disturbing trends in videogames, as well as a question by a listener that got mental juices flowing. This week’s Gaming Flashback is Professor Pac-Man.
The news items include:
- Headteachers in UK threaten to report parents who let their children play 18-rated games
- Star Citizen‘s Vanguard “concept” fighter costs a cool $250
- PC version of Dead or Alive 5 Last Round launches on Steam without key features
- Zelda delay could ruin Nintendo’s 2015
- New Jersey game store “swatting” takes an uglier turn
This week’s Question of the Week: “What do you think is the future of older games?”
The same company that brought us the NES Advantage has proven the Wii control scheme isn’t as bad as critics speculated. The beauty of adding the “waggle” technology is limiting your button count to a reasonable level without overwhelming gamers.
Sony took pieces of this concept in their PS3 controller and its ability to detect “tilt.” Xbox 360 stuck with the beefy controller with lots of buttons and analog sticks. Not just a D-Pad but two analog sticks and a ton of buttons to press, some pressure sensitive as well. What of our next-generation console? Maybe a few new buttons?
Excellent episode guys!
@UK threatens to report parents for kids playing 18 rated games: I think Paul got side tracked with other points because this story had nothing to do with Religious zealots, home schooling or bringing games to school.
I don’t know why kids wouldn’t be allowed to talk about the games in school, I certainly did when I was in elementary. I agree with Jonah on this if you know what your kids are playing and watching and not just using them as babysitters it’s fine. I know every game my daughter plays and tv show she watches, yes I let her play Skyrim which apparently has a 15 and an 18 rating from UK. I know that game and what is in it, I feel she can handle it
@Zelda and Nintendo: I would love if Nintendo would package a game with their system again. It’s been too long since they’ve done that.
@Swatting is a terrible thing that needs to stop, so yes try the kid as an adult, they need to learn that there are consequences for this type of behavior.
@QotW: I am so glad you guys enjoyed the question, and also glad that you mentioned Abandonware. I think that is going to be part of the solution there, if companies that no longer wish to hold on to the legal rights for games that aren’t earning them money than it can be given over to those that will upkeep a emulator for it, there are XP emulators for example which I think is another part to keeping some games around for the next generation to play.