Gaming
Mind Gaming
The games that changed pop culture
Jogi Neufeld is the originator and operator of SUBOTRON, a hub that helps start discussions on digital games. Read about his inspirations and his favourite games that changed pop culture.
In the “arcademy”, a series of lectures on the theory of digital games est. 2005, international and local key players of game studies discuss topics from the fields of science, art, pedagogy and social policies to enhance the critical debate on recent social developments.
Since 2011, SUBOTRON has been organizing “pro games”, a series of lectures, panels and workshops on the professional practice of game development. The series pursues the objective of linking business, science, and the community, promoting their development and public perception, and consequently supporting the establishment of the Austrian gaming scene.
At PLAY AUSTRIA, the first fair of the Austrian game scene, more than 60 exhibitors showed their games, prototypes, activities and offerings to more than 3000 visitors in 2017.
Jogi collaborates with local and global cultural institutions and thinks like there is no box. Here is his list of games that affected pop culture:
Lunar Lander (DEC, 1973)
Becoming someone else and trying things without risk is the USP of digital games. It allows you to discover worlds without having to travel to another one. An astronaut landing a spaceship on the moon was the best thing money couldn’t buy.
PONG (Atari, 1975)
This was the first console to bring arcade fun to your home. The blueprint of a game: two lines and a dot. The oldest form of competition: one vs one – transferred to the digital world. This was the kick-start for the leading medium of the 21st Century.
Auto Race (Mattel, 1977)
The first electronic game you could play without getting caught by mom because you were hiding under your blanket. It was handheld, wherever you were. It came out 12 years before the Game Boy, and 30 years before the mobile game console of your choice – the smartphone.
Space Invaders (Taito, 1978)
The second oldest form of competition: you against the world! It was developed to unite the earth during the Cold War by creating enemies from outer space. It was also the first shoot-em-up game and first game with a high score. A supposed coin shortage in Japan is one of many myths surrounding the release of this game in 1978.
Pac-Man (Namco, 1980)
The first real pop star of gaming culture; permanently eating, always haunted. It was neither a sports game nor a shooter. It was a game for a neglected target group: women. The result: Ms. Pac-Man. Pac-Man was caught in a maze except when leaving it for a very short amount of time. So far, no one has found out what’s happening behind the maze. Munch ahead!
Battlezone (Atari, 1980)
Welcome to Virtual Reality! Okay, you look into a periscope on some green vector pseudo-3D graphics. But it’s you who shoots at those tanks and UFOs, and they shoot back right into your eyes. You’re the first person in this desert at night! For the first time you’re in the game.
Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo, 1985)
An Italian working man who used to rescue a princess from a King Kong is now jumping and running for endless side-scrolling adventures. A role model for young and old gamers ever since, including growing moustaches and still rescuing the princess, of course!
Tetris (various, 1984/1989)
A Russian invention conquering the world via a Game Boy. It was the next simple, effective and addictive trick after PONG to make single- or multiplayers dream of architecture. Endless variations couldn’t compete with the original, as usual.
About Red Bull Mind Gamers
Each month Red Bull Mind Gamers invites players and curious minds around the world to take on a new themed challenge designed to help test and improve the player’s mental skills in one of six core competencies: memory, creativity, musicality, strategy, visual acuity and logic.
This month is all about Pac-Man, Space Invaders and your favourite computer games. You will discover how gaming infiltrated popular culture; learn some fun gaming facts in our interactive quiz, and be tested on your own gaming knowledge for the chance to win a box of retro goodies hand-picked by our challenge partner - Jogi Neufeld at Subotron. To participate in the gaming and pop culture quiz of Red Bull Mind Gamers, click here.
