Home Computers and Game Phenomenon

• Home computers


  Personal computers designed for everyday use by individuals and families in their homes. They come in various forms, such as desktops, laptops, tablets, and all-in-one systems. Home computers are versatile devices, allowing users to perform a wide range of tasks, including browsing the internet, creating and editing documents, playing games, streaming media, video calling, and more.
• Home computers


  • They were popular gaming platforms before the rise of dedicated gaming consoles
• Well-known home computers for gaming

  • Commodore 64 (1982)
  • Atari 2600 (1977)
  • Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) (1985)
  • Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1982)
  • Apple II (1977)
• Game phenomenon


  A game that captures the public's imagination, garners widespread popularity, and significantly influences popular culture
• What contributes to a game becoming a phenomenon

  • Engaging and innovative gameplay
  • Accessibility and appeal
  • Social interaction and community
  • Marketing and hype
  • Cultural impact
  • Long-lasting appeal
• Space Invaders was one of the earliest and most influential arcade games globally
• How Space Invaders is played

  1. The aliens begin as five rows of eleven that move left and right as a group, shifting downward each time they reach a screen edge

  2. The goal is to eliminate all the aliens by shooting them

  3. The laser cannon is partially protected by stationary defense bunkers which are gradually destroyed

  4. As aliens are defeated, their movement and the music both speed up

  5. Defeating all the aliens brings another wave which starts lower, a loop which can continue endlessly

  6. A special "mystery ship" will occasionally move across the top of the screen and award bonus points if destroyed
• Pac-Man quickly gained international fame and became one of the most recognizable and beloved video game characters of all time
• Pac-Man


  Players control the yellow character Pac-Man as he navigates a maze, eating dots while avoiding four colored ghosts. The objective is to consume all the dots on the screen without being caught by the ghosts.
• Tetris was initially developed in the Soviet Union before being licensed for international distribution
• Tetris


  A puzzle game where players must manipulate falling blocks, called tetrominos, to fit them together in complete horizontal lines without gaps. As lines are cleared, they disappear, and the game continues with more tetrominos falling.
• Resident Evil is a pioneering video game series that has left a significant impact on the survival horror genre and popular culture
• Resident Evil


  Set in a world where a mysterious virus has caused the dead to reanimate as zombies and other monstrous creatures. Players assume the roles of various characters, primarily members of the elite S.T.A.R.S. (Special Tactics and Rescue Service) team, as they navigate through haunting environments, solve puzzles, and fight off these horrifying creatures.
• Final Fantasy is a legendary and influential role-playing video game series created by Hironobu Sakaguchi and developed by Square Enix (formerly Square)
• Resident Evil


  Survival horror video game series that has left a significant impact on the genre and popular culture
• Resident Evil

  • Created by Shinji Mikami and developed by Capcom
  • First game released in 1996 for PlayStation
  • Set in a world where a mysterious virus has caused the dead to reanimate as zombies and other monstrous creatures
  • Players assume roles of characters, primarily S.T.A.R.S. team members, navigating haunting environments, solving puzzles, and fighting off creatures
• Resident Evil


  Introduced key elements that defined the survival horror genre, such as limited resources, inventory management, and tense, atmospheric gameplay
• Resident Evil's success led to numerous sequels, spin-offs, and adaptations across various platforms, including movies, television shows, and merchandise
• Resident Evil's influence can be seen in numerous other survival horror games, as well as the broader gaming landscape
• Resident Evil has been recognized for its groundbreaking storytelling, memorable characters, and innovative gameplay mechanics
• Final Fantasy

  Legendary and influential role-playing video game series created by Hironobu Sakaguchi and developed by Square Enix (formerly Square)
• First Final Fantasy game was released in 1987 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
• Final Fantasy games

  • Immersive worlds, captivating stories, and diverse casts of characters
  • Typically feature unique setting, storyline, and gameplay mechanics, while retaining core elements like turn-based battles, magical spells, and emphasis on character development and relationships
• Final Fantasy games have spanned multiple platforms, including consoles, computers, and mobile devices, and have also been adapted into various forms of media, such as movies, anime, and merchandise
• Final Fantasy games

  • Central conflict often focuses on a group of characters battling an evil, and sometimes ancient, antagonist that dominates the game's world
  • Stories frequently involve a sovereign state in rebellion, with the protagonists taking part in the rebellion
  • Heroes are often destined to defeat the evil, and occasionally gather as a direct result of the antagonist's malicious actions
• Final Fantasy games

  • Existence of two villains; the main villain is not always who it appears to be, as the primary antagonist may be subservient to another character or entity
  • The main antagonist introduced at the beginning of the game is not always the final enemy, and the characters must continue their quest beyond what appears to be the final fight
• Final Fantasy games

  • Stories frequently emphasize the internal struggles, passions, and tragedies of the characters, and the main plot often recedes into the background as the focus shifts to their personal lives
  • Explore relationships between characters, ranging from love to rivalry
• Final Fantasy games


  • Recurring situations that drive the plot include amnesia, a hero corrupted by an evil force, mistaken identity, and self-sacrifice
  • Magical orbs and crystals are recurring in-game items that are frequently connected to the themes of the games' plots
  • Crystals often play a central role in the creation of the world, and most of the Final Fantasy games link crystals and orbs to the planet's life force, with control over these crystals driving the main conflict
  • The classical elements are also a recurring theme in the series related to the heroes, villains, and items
• Pokemon


  Popular media franchise created by Satoshi Tajiri in Japan, primarily consisting of video games, animated television shows, movies, trading card games, and other merchandise
• Pokemon


  • Revolves around the concept of capturing and training various species of creatures called Pokémon, which can then be used to battle other trainers
  • Pokémon universe is filled with a vast array of creatures, each with unique abilities, appearances, and personalities, categorized into 18 different types
  • Goal of trainers is to assemble a team of Pokémon, develop strong bonds with them, and participate in battles to become the very best
• The Pokemon franchise began with the release of the first Pokémon video games, "Pokémon Red" and "Pokémon Green" (later released as "Pokémon Blue" outside of Japan) in 1996 for the Game Boy
• Numerous sequels, spin-offs, and remakes have been released across various platforms, including the latest main series games, "Pokémon Sword" and "Pokémon Shield" for the Nintendo Switch
• The Pokémon anime series, which first aired in 1997, follows the adventures of various protagonists, such as Ash Ketchum (known as Satoshi in the original Japanese version), who embark on journeys to become the greatest Pokémon Master
• Pokemon games


  • Consistent aspect is the choice of one of three different Pokémon at the start of the player's adventures, often labeled "starter Pokémon"
  • Players can choose a Pokémon type — Grass-type, Fire-type, or Water-type Pokémon indigenous to that region
  • Rival will always choose the type that has a type advantage over the player's chosen Pokémon as their starter Pokémon (excluding Sun and Moon and Sword and Shield)
• In Pokémon Yellow, the player is given a Pikachu, an Electric-type mouse Pokémon, as the starter, and the three starter Pokémon from Red and Blue can be obtained during the quest by a single player
• In Pokémon Black and White, there are two rivals; one picks the Pokémon with a type advantage over the player's chosen Pokémon, while the other chooses the Pokémon with the type disadvantage
• In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, another Trainer chooses the Pokémon with a type disadvantage to the player's chosen Pokémon, but never battles the player; instead, this character battles alongside the player as a tag partner in certain situations
• In Pokémon X and Y, there are four rivals, with two receiving the starter Pokémon in an arrangement like Pokémon Black and White, and the other two having completely different Pokémon
• Red and Green

  1996