Conley Hausle

Dr. Ouellette
ENGL 327W
10 October 2018
Response Two: Response to Classmate B
One part of Classmate B’s work I found particularly powerful was the discussion of
repackaging old videogames on new platforms, in a bid for nostalgia buys. This is a concept I am
definitely familiar with. For example, many of the Pokémon games have undergone this
phenomenon. Pokémon Firered and Pokémon Leafgreen were both remakes of the original
Pokémon games, Red and Green. This was followed by Pokémon Heart Gold and Pokémon
Soulsilver, remakes of Pokémon Gold and Silver respectively, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha
Sapphire, remakes of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire respectively, and Pokémon: Let’s Go,
Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee!, remakes of Pokémon Yellow. Many of these remakes are done in
a bid to get people on board with a new videogame system. Unlike the remakes mentioned
above, these games have no new content. They are merely uploaded into a computer file so than
anyone with a gaming system can play them, even if they lack the cartridge. Developers play on
the nostalgia of gamers. This is also seen when they repackage the exact game, as they do with
older games like Pokémon Yellow on the Nintendo website. Users buy these new versions of old
games for the sake of nostalgia. This is very much in line with Klein’s statement that, for some
generations, “identity is largely a prepackaged good (Klein, p. 63).” The people who buy these
games for the mere sake of nostalgia see these games as part of their identity, something they do
not wish to lose.
Another part of Classmate B’s essay I found very important was its discussion of how the
God of War games draw from the cultural text of Greek mythology. This is not surprising, as
Greek mythology is certainly one of the most widely recognized mythologies. Thus, it is easier
for the videogame developers to use them, as they do not have to introduce as much backstory.
This allows them to put more focus on the history of the main character, Kratos who, by
complete coincidence, shares a name with an actual figure of Greek mythology. The fact that he
is the hero is actually somewhat ironic, considering he kills the Greek Pantheon. According to
Goodman, Duke, and Sutherland “dating back to ancient Greece, the term "hero" was defined as
a superior man, embodiment of composite ideals. The gods imbued the hero with exceptional
human characteristics such as strength, power, and courage (Goodman, et al., pp. 374).” This
part made me want to read more, and it would definitely be an interesting topic to expand upon.
One wish I have is that Classmate B had expanded far more than she did upon her section
on subjectivity in videogame development, because it was a fascinating topic. Subjectivity and
originality are an interesting topic in video games where, as Classmate B puts it, “because all of
the genres and mechanics have already been established in some sense, if you have the finances
and the resources to produce it, do it because nothing is stopping the competitor from doing the
same thing (Classmate B, 2018).” As long as your product is different enough, you can sell it.
For example, look at how many farming simulation games there are. However, the fact remains,
this is something I think Classmate B could’ve written far more about, instead of including it as
almost a footnote at the end of the paper. She had some great thoughts on it, and I would’ve liked
to see more.
Conley Hausle
Dr. Ouellette
ENGL 327W
10 October 2018
References
Goodman, J. R., et al. "Olympic Athletes and Heroism in Advertising: Gendered Concepts of
Valor?" Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, vol. 79, no. 2, 2002, pp. 374-
393.
Klein, Naomi. "Alt. Everything: the youth market and the marketing of cool." No Logo,
Picador, 2002, pp. 63-86. Accessed 10 Oct. 2018.
Classmate B. “Reflection 2.” 2018.