2016

Alison Gazzard – Between Pixels And Play: The Role of the Photograph in Videogame Nostalgias

“Between Pixels And Play: The Role of the Photograph in Videogame Nostalgias” by  Alison Gazzard.

Photography & Culture Volume 9—Issue 2 July 2016 pp. 151–162 DOI: 10.1080/17514517.2016.1203589, © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17514517.2016.1203589?journalCode=rfpc20

Abstract

The histories of videogames are so often contained with nostalgia for the screen, for the arcade, console, computer or game box design, and for the experience of playing itself. Various amateur photographs now archived on Flickr allow us to remember beyond the stereotypical, albeit iconic, imagery of Pac–Man and Space Invaders. The essence of play becomes captured in the photograph as a “collective memory” and “reflective nostalgia” for the places, times and actions inherent in the histories of the early 1970s and 1980s videogame era. It is through debating the so-often implied “reconstructed nostalgias” offered by videogame companies to consumers in their remakes of classic game titles that this paper explores “reflective nostalgia” of videogames by examining the role of photographs taken during the act of playing these games. In doing so it reframes 1980s videogame nostalgias beyond the “mediated space” of the screen, and moves instead towards the “play space” as another way of keeping these histories alive.

COLL.EO, Boring Postcards From Italy

Boring Postcards From Italy by COLL.EO (2016)

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To create Boring Postcards from Italy, COLL.EO has collected more than one hundred of the most boring images from Forza Horizon 2. The result is a book that, in sharp contrast to the title, fascinates and surprises. Boring Postcards from Italy redefines the relationship between reality and simulation with “postcards” that are “boring” both in content and composition. The project is an appropriation and homage to Martins Parr’s seminal Boring Postcards series: a commentary on videogame architecture, tourism and simulation, photography and representation. It is, above all, a provocation.

source: https://concrete-press.com/boring-postcards-from-italy/

1979 Revolution

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They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but what about a videogame? The first episode of 1979 Revolution, a game that places you in the middle of the Iranian hostage crisis, speaks to just how important visibility can be when corruption and misinformation run rampant. You play as Reza, a photographer tasked with capturing the chaos of the regime change and subsequent protests. In this context, a picture becomes as dangerous as a stray bullet, rendering you a big target. A well-researched passion project from creator Navid Khonsari, 1979 takes you back to this important moment in history with a Telltale-style branching narrative. The consequences of your actions are palpable, your choices affecting the families and the splintered factions forming around you. Pushing both the medium and player to new heights, 1979‘s first episode can not only educate an unaware American audience, but also help us see our own role in the turmoil (source: Killscreen)

 

see also: https://killscreen.com/articles/1979-revolutions-to-explore-the-black-friday-massacre-this-april/

find the game here: http://inkstories.com/1979RevolutionGame/

Reef Shot

Reef Shot is an underwater adventure game that takes the player on an unusual voyage to the Pacific and gives him an opportunity to explore the world of marine life and discover sunken Mayan ruins and the end of the world prophecy.
The player starts a photo-diving expedition along the coast of Robinson Crusoe Island, which becomes a mysterious underwater adventure. The game combines a navigation system in 3D space and mechanics of taking photos in realistic underwater scenery. It offers an engaging experience based on various tasks and ocean environment, supported by high quality soundtrack.

source: http://www.reefshot.com/

Reef Shot features 3 types of camera:

Basic

The simplest camera to help you learn taking photos. Doesn’t require focusing or centering but can’t take perfect pictures. Good for shooting quick photos at the beginning of your underwater adventure.

Autofocus

A more advanced camera introduced later in the game that allows you to take better photos but requires more skill and patience. Focuses automatically, but takes a moment to do so. The right tool for a pro photographer.

Manual focus

The most difficult to handle, but also the most rewarding camera that requires you to focus photos yourself. The good news is that it allows you to take perfect underwater photos and pass the most difficult tasks.

photos can also be saved on the PC hard disk and shared with friends outside of the game.