5 minute read
Our lineup of games for a New Year’s Day marathon
Betty wonders what is happening with Meg's old Bratz nightgown
The games we were ready to play all day Jan. 1, 2008
Madeline Vega
Subliminal Plant - Ultimate Alliance might be Luis’ favorite PS2 game. We leave this stack where they can see it and maybe decide to play.
Madeline Strum Photography
THE NEXT TETRIS
developed and published by Blue Planet Software Head to head challenges involve being the fi rst to fi ll strange gaps in only two rows. Playing against Betty, Madeline’s time was even more limited by Betty’s ability to stack shapes to the top quickly and end the round. What’s new about Next Tetris is that shape break apart or combine based how each piece is colored. They are not all solid colors in Next Tetris. —MV
DISNEY PIXAR CARS
developed and published by THQ Once we had the code to unlock everything—all the characters, all the skins, all the locations—this game became a lot more fun. Compared to the stunts that would follow in Infi nity, this story mode was simple and the racing straight forward. —MV
BRATZ: ROCK ANGELZ
developed Blitz Games, published by THQ
In 2005, Luis needed to beat the game as quickly as possible to get the group of friends to London for Megan. “It was very vapid. There was a Simon Cowel sort of guy who judged you.” I thought in both versions we owned The Bratz go on missions that become pages in their fashion magazine. Luis says he liked the one with magazine challenges more. Bratz: Forever Diamondz might have had the better options for makeup and clothing changes. —MV
CRAZY TAXI
developed Stephen Frost, published by Sega
It was kind of hard to be good at Crazy Taxi, but it was easy to have fun. You drive up and down hills around San Francisco, try to follow the cues for where your passenger wants to go, and maybe go underground and break all the rules if you’re Kal. —MV
THE INCREDIBLES
developed Heavy Iron Studios, published by THQ
Maybe the first of several Incredibles video games we have and kind of the least memorable to Madeline because it probably follows the movie plot closely. Lego and Infinity versions are harder because you have no idea what it is the developer wants you to do. Luis says this movie version of Incredibles was a good game. —MV
Showing off our marathon skills
Luis Vega
Disney Princess allowed for two players
DISNEY PRINCESS: ENCHANTED JOURNEY
developed Papaya Studio, published by Disney Interactive Long before Sofi a The First, Disney released a video game where a new girl befriends the princesses who existed in 2007. Multiple players can go on adventures and explore the princesses worlds. We spent our video game marathon beating this game. —MV
We have this stack of PS1 games because we still have the PS1. The PS5 won’t be that backward compatible, so... Luis’ first PlayStation had a chip that allowed him to copy games back when Blockbuster rented games
Madeline Strum Photography
Madeline played more Sega Genesis games than PS1, so this stack doesn’t really mean much to her. The only PS1 game she even remembers is XGames, which is not here. Luis swears Animaniacs is fun, but that and the Elmo discs never get used
Our old laundromat had Pac-Man and a racing game, but the boys never had quarters
Madeline Vega
Boom was going to make sure he had a view anyway
Madeline Vega
A LIMITED VIDEO GAME GLOSSARY button masher
Players who disregard specifi c combinations and press everything
third person
Gameplay view shows all characters from a distance
first person shooter
Gameplay is viewed from the character’s point of view so player’s feel more like they are actually in the fi ght
co-op
Multiple players cooperate to complete objectives, working together to win
side mission
Not your main objective but could lead to experience or bonus material
side scroller
Two dimensional design that moves left to right as the game advances
easter eggs
Undocumented objects or features within a game i.e. secret rooms or objects
grind
Performing repetitive simple tasks in order to proceed, gain XP or level up in the game
respawn
Regenerating after being killed in the game
Rest in peace Mr. Trebek
Madeline Strum Photography
YOU KNOW IT’S OLD
I don’t think my kids have ever seen Alex Trebek with a mustache. He shaved it off in 2001. He regrew it in 2014 and then fans voted for him to shave it off again.
WII SPORTS RESORT
developed and published by Nintendo We played a lot of bowling at other people’s houses, but archery and fl ying were Kal’s favorites when he picked up a copy from his cousins. It never became as competitive in Casa Vega as singing, though. —MV
Madeline Vega
Madeline Vega
Princess Peach as a Hot Wheel
Madeline Strum Photography
MARIO KART
developed and published by Nintendo
Of all the racing games, this was probably the best we owned. It was challenging and cute. The variety of characters and courses was awesome. —MV
We did get a mini Wii, but only ever had three or four games
Madeline Vega
REPLAYING OLD VIDEOGAMES
You remember when to jump, but the controller sticks Kal screaming like he’s on a rollercoaster while playing LBP Serpent’s Shrine is a new take Sonic is a tough sell when I’m terrible and they’re impatient I just want to show Betty how she can sit there for hours putting makeup on Bratz but you have to unlock stuff first
GUITAR HERO
developed and published by RedOctane
People claim the game prepared them to play guitar, but we rarely played it at Casa Vega despite having multiple versions. “It was fi ne,” Luis says. You pushed the button according to the pattern on the screen like Dance Dance Revolution and other games like that. —MV
Luis plays Guitar Hero with officemates from Wenner Media at an event in 2008.
In 2014, you could walk into Toys R Us and play games
Madeline Vega
DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION: DISNEY CHANNEL EDITION
developed by Keen Games, published by Disney Interactive
Back when you needed a mat because there was no sensor to put on the TV and the controllers couldn’t read a player’s motions. Up, up, left, right, switch just wasn’t that fun of a way to dance, so we didn’t really encourage Meg to take the game out too often. —MV
Dance Dance Revolution: Disney Channel Edition
Madeline Vega
