Page 47 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #2

okay. Not every game can be
CGM: I remember there was an at- a blockbuster. . .otherwise there would-
tachment that allowed SNES and n't be blockbusters anymore. <g>
Genesis owners to hook up a virtual
bat or golf clubs to their system. Can CGM: There were so many movies
we expect to see more of these attach- about video games from War Games to
ments? Is that the future of sports D.A.R.Y.L. to Cloak & Dagger. Which
games? was your favorite
“Put Frogger, Pac- movie that featured a www.icwhen.com
DT: The product for video game based
SNES was called Batter- Man, Centipede, or story? Don Thomas’s website,
Up by Sports Sciences. icwhen.com, is a huge depository
When you have kids and Zaxxon into my DT: I liked Cloak & of information regarding the his-
they tell you they want to Dagger, Tron, and
swing a $40 bat in the hands and I go War Games. More re- tory of videogames. The main
house, you might appreci- crazy.” cently, I liked The Net. feature of the site is an online
ate why such a product is book/timeline entitled The
destined to fail in the mass CGM: Unlike Myst or Chronological History of Video
market. Most parents will Riven, Square's Final Games and Computers. This
probably agree that a video game is an Fantasy VIII gives gamers the never compendium covers the roots of
inside toy and a baseball bat or golf before seen blend of cinematic story videogames and computers be-
club is an outside toy. telling and old fashioned game play. ginning before the 1800’s up to
Myst and Riven, although featuring modern day gaming.
CGM: What about strategy guides? great graphics, never gave gamers the If you cut your visit to I.C.
Video games depend heavily on strat- feeling they were really playing it. When after reading the timeline,
egy and tip guides. Do they really help Some would call them a glorified pic- you’d be selling yourself short.
enhance the enjoyment of a game or ture show. What are your thoughts on
do they take away from it with a trick Square's Final Fantasy VIII?
here and a pattern there? Other site features include:
DT: Hehe. I'm a classic gaming aficio-
DT: Strategy guides are only used by nado. I've seen the intro to FFVIII and • Late Breaking Videogaming
people who want to use them. I can thought it was awesome, but I'm not a Industry News
drive from my house to your house with fan of that type of game play. Put Frog-
or without a map. It's my choice. Obvi- ger, Pac-Man, Centipede, or Zaxxon • Entertaining as well as
ously, the more information I have, the into my hands and I go crazy. (Am I thought provoking articles
less challenging it is, but at some point dating myself? <g>) written by Don Thomas
I'm glad I got to your house if that was
my goal. I think the access to strate- CGM: Are there any video games with • Classified ads
gies allows gaming companies to make a Tinseltown tie-in that you enjoyed
software that is more challenging since playing?
they know that gamers can get at least • Virtual trading cards featur-
some help if they want it. DT: I don't have much time to play ing many classic games
games of late, but I favor the retro
CGM: Video games and big budget games when I can find the time. • Games and puzzles
movies go hand in hand, from yester-
day’s "E.T.," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," CGM: Don, Thank You very much for • DVD navigator
and even "Attack of the Killer Toma- taking the time to talk with us. I want to
toes" to today's "007," "Toy Story," and tell you how impressive your web site • Humor
"Star Wars." When will video game is. We know that finding data about the
publishers learn that a big movie does- computer and video game industry has
n't necessarily mean it'll turn into a big been a long, exasperating search and
video game? we're happy that you had the heart and
dedication to complete this enormous
DT: I suppose at the same time they task. To find everything in chronologi-
learn that big movie budgets don't al- cal order from decade to decade and
ways mean a box office hit. The fact is year to year (with the exact dates)
that when a big picture is planned, the really helps put everything into focus of
industries know there will be a window how our favorite industry has grown
of opportunity to capitalize on whatever over the years. We're looking forward
phenomenon it generates. This window to seeing the industry continue to grow
of opportunity establishes some and we wish you much success on
straight forward deadlines. For in- your website as it continues to grow.
stance, you can release the next new Thank you again, Don.
Tetris almost anytime you want, but a
new Waterworld game coming out in DT: Wow, thanks. It
1999 is a pretty stale concept. These sounds like I'm accom- CGM
deadlines can limit how much can be plishing something. <g>
done with a game and often keep it
from being outstanding. But that's
Classic Gamer Magazine Winter 2000 47