"I, Videogame" ep. 2

Responses to questions for part 2 of "I, Videogame".

1) What kind of company was Nintendo before it made videogame and videogame consoles?
Toy maker.

2) What videogame system did it sell before it made its FAMICOM (known in USA as Nintendo Entertainment System)
Magnavox Odyssey.

3) Shigeru Miyamoto was not a programmer - what skill set did he bring to the industry?
Artist and storyteller.

4) How did the limits of the technology affect the way Mario could be shown?
The characters had to be small to fit on the screen.  Mario's defining features were actually brought about because of the limits of graphics.  The mustache was there because they couldn't render a mouth.  A hat covered his head to hide hair.  The big nose was an easily identified feature.  The red jumpsuit also helped to make Mario stand out.

5) Why did US retailers think there was no future in home videogame consoles at the time just prior to the NES release in the USA?
The companies, due to the recent crash of the video game industry, moved into other ventures.

6) What was assumed to the be the 'next big thing' by electronics manufacturers?
Personal computers.

7) What did Legend of Zelda bring to gaming that was new?
Role playing elements, a soundtrack, and classic story elements combined with video game action made Legend of Zelda an enormous hit.

8) How did the conservative values of the 1980s (Reagan & Thatcher etc) affect the culture of videogames?
In the 80's, video game entertainment wasn't associated with family life.  The older generation was looking for video games as relief from the Cold War.  They sought computers for work, not play.

9) How were the PC games published by Mystery House like King's Quest different from console games?
Sierra Online's games were much more focused on story and exploration over action.

10) How did Sega's 16 big Megadrive system change home console gaming?
The higher level of processing power pushed the level of game quality and revitalized the industry.

11) How did "Leisure Suit Larry" differ from most genre based games of the period?
It was the first game to be based on real life and addressed issues people experienced and thought about.

12) How is this aspect reflected in many games of today?
The game market now caters to more mature audiences.  Players can sympathize with the protagonists of video games because the settings are more realistic.

13) What is 'motion capture'
The process in which markers are placed on people to record their movements.

14) What is the 'uncanny valley'?
A human's response to a representation of humans.  Emotional response to the characters of video games.