Intro to Game Studies Blog
Blog Post 1: Internet Arcade
The game I played from the Internet Arcade is named Congo Bongo released by Sega. It is a game similar to Frogger and Donkey Kong in which you go through obstacles with timing precision to reach the end goal. However, in Congo Bongo the viewpoint is isometric instead. The game starts as you take on the role of a safari hunter who gets his tent set on fire as a practical joke by an ape. The ape runs away and is always standing at the end of every level, mocking you as you make your way there.
Congo Bongo gives you a starting point of three lives. When you deplete all your lives, you have to start again all the way from the first level. This game is very challenging and requires a lot of coordination with your jumps and timing. Playing an arcade game in an emulator takes out some of the fun elements that playing the game on the actual hardware has. I feel that the game is specifically designed for the type of hardware it was meant for. You miss out on the feel of the buttons as your hands wrap around a controller. Playing the game on an emulator takes out the ergonomic design and could make some games much harder than they are meant to be.