Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection has had a problematic start, receiving a “mixed” reception on Steam and mostly negative reviews on its PlayStation 5 version. This title, which aims to pay homage to the iconic video game series, has disappointed many players due to severe input latency issues and other technical glitches. According to tests conducted, the PS5 version has 108 milliseconds of latency, significantly higher than on other platforms like Switch 2 (73 ms), Xbox Series X (51 ms), and PC (22 ms). A game unworthy of Digital Eclipse Users have highlighted a series […]
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection has had a problematic start, receiving a “mixed” reception on Steam and mostly negative reviews on its PlayStation 5 version. This title, which aims to pay homage to the iconic video game series, has disappointed many players due to severe input latency issues and other technical glitches. According to tests conducted, the PS5 version has 108 milliseconds of latency, significantly higher than on other platforms like Switch 2 (73 ms), Xbox Series X (51 ms), and PC (22 ms).
An improper game from Digital Eclipse
Users have highlighted a number of issues, including audio problems, a high price, game errors, and deficiencies in the rollback netcode, a system that should improve the online experience. Another critical point is the absence of lobbies to play online with friends, a feature that is expected to be added in future updates.
Despite the negative reviews, Digital Eclipse has released a hotfix that improves some of the existing issues, including the audio quality in online play. Players, however, continue to express their dissatisfaction; a highlighted comment describes it as a “complete failure,” reflecting the frustration felt by many fans of the series.
On the other hand, Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection includes a documentary about the series, which could attract fans of video game culture, despite the criticism. The inclusion of narrative content promises to provide enriching context about the legacy of Mortal Kombat, even though the return in terms of gameplay and performance still leaves much to be desired.
Since its release in 1995, Mortal Kombat 3 was considered a good title within the fighting genre, but it failed to capture the spirit that had made the saga famous. The removal of iconic characters like Raiden and Johnny Cage, along with the introduction of new fighters considered clichéd, left many fans disappointed. Acknowledging its shortcomings, Midway released Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 just six months later, bringing back emblematic characters like Scorpion and adding a wealth of secrets and content that was well received by players. A very peculiar version of Mortal Kombat 3 An aspect less […]
Since its release in 1995, Mortal Kombat 3 was considered a good title within the fighting genre, but it failed to capture the spirit that had made the saga famous. The removal of iconic characters like Raiden and Johnny Cage, along with the introduction of new fighters considered clichéd, left many fans disappointed. Acknowledging its shortcomings, Midway released Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 just six months later, bringing back iconic characters like Scorpion and adding a wealth of secrets and content that was well received by players.
A very peculiar version of Mortal Kombat 3
A lesser-known aspect of this story is the Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 WaveNet version, which incorporated online gaming technology through a dedicated system called WaveNet. This technology, although advanced for its time, was only used in a limited number of arcades in Chicago and San Francisco, allowing approximately 500 people to experience what could be considered the precursor to modern online gaming. This version was thought to be lost in the history of video games, but it is mentioned that Midway preserved its existence as the saga evolved towards new technological directions.
Recently, Digital Eclipse, known for restoring and revitalizing classics of the fighting genre, announced that it plans to revive Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 WaveNet, in addition to enabling online gameplay with modern adjustments. This initiative not only seeks to honor the legacy of the game but also to adapt it to the current reality, where online gaming is essential in the competition of fighting video games.
Despite the fact that some players prefer the experience of original arcade machines, the evolution of the digital realm suggests that the arrival of restored versions, including the WaveNet system, can add a new level of accessibility and competitiveness to the beloved Mortal Kombat saga.
The announcement of the early closure of Anthem in 2026 has sparked an intense debate within the video game industry, reigniting the Stop Killing Games initiative. This MMORPG, which was launched in 2019 and received largely negative feedback, will extinguish after seven years of existence, leaving players without the possibility of accessing its content once the server is shut down. A failure that they knew was going to happen Mark Darrah, former executive producer of Anthem, has expressed his discontent regarding this situation. During a recent interview with YouTuber MrMattyPlays, Darrah […]
The announcement of the early closure of Anthem in 2026 has sparked intense debate within the video game industry, reigniting the Stop Killing Games initiative. This MMORPG, which was launched in 2019 and received largely negative feedback, will be extinguished after seven years of existence, leaving players without the possibility of accessing its content once the server is shut down.
A failure they knew was going to happen
Mark Darrah, former executive producer of Anthem, has expressed his discontent regarding this situation. During a recent interview with YouTuber MrMattyPlays, Darrah explained that the game could have been designed differently, allowing for its continuity even after the developers closed support. However, he indicated that this would be complicated given the current structures of multiplayer game design.
Darrah made an analogy with toxic waste management, suggesting that, just as society has decided not to allow chemical companies to pollute ecosystems, it should also consider the costs associated with preserving video games. “It’s a cost we must be willing to bear,” he said. As an example, he mentioned Destiny’s peer-to-peer hosting system as a possible solution to keep games operational after their creators withdraw support.
The disappearance of games like Anthem and The Crew not only affects players who have invested time and money, but it is also a blow to developers who see their efforts and creativity vanish. Darrah suggested that, with some compromises in terms of quality and player experience, it would be possible to avoid the definitive closure of these titles, raising questions about the future and sustainability of games in the industry.
The minigame The Demon’s Hand from League of Legends has returned, allowing players to enjoy it indefinitely through the community wiki site. This return is part of a broader effort that allows the inclusion of animated comics and minigames on the wiki, thus facilitating continuous access to these contents that were previously limited to the game client. According to Spideraxe, a well-known contributor to the wiki, this update will allow players to experience various projects at any time. Riot and preservation do not exactly go hand in hand The Demon’s Hand, which was originally launched as part of […]
The minigame The Demon’s Hand from League of Legends has returned, allowing players to enjoy it indefinitely through the community wiki site. This return is part of a broader effort that allows the inclusion of animated comics and minigames on the wiki, thus facilitating continuous access to these contents that were previously limited to the game client. According to Spideraxe, a well-known contributor to the wiki, this update will allow players to experience various projects at any time.
Riot and preservation do not exactly go hand in hand
The Demon’s Hand, which was originally released as part of a character update earlier this year, adds to other content like Jinx Fixes Everything. Additionally, more recent projects, such as the Battle of Koeshin event, are also on the way to be added to the site. However, the inclusion of older titles, such as Cho’gath Eats the World, is in doubt. The technology with which those minigames were developed may complicate their recovery, as Spideraxe pointed out regarding the need for additional work for their preservation.
Despite the challenges, there is optimism surrounding this project. Brian Cearns, director of content strategy at Riot, has expressed support for the preservation of minigames on the wiki, suggesting that they could receive the necessary assistance to function properly in the new environment. Although the transition may prove somewhat unstable and “memory-intensive,” there is a possibility that more minigames from the past will return to digital life.
However, there is still uncertainty about how far back this preservation initiative will go. Conservative fans of titles like Cho’gath Eats the World, released as an April Fools’ joke in 2013, hope that someday, those iconic games may be found again among the content accessible to the community.
Xbox has presented its new generative artificial intelligence project, called Muse, which has the potential to transform the way classic video games are preserved. According to the company, Muse is a model capable of generating visuals of games and control actions, which opens the door to optimizing old titles to make them accessible on different devices. “Nowadays, countless classic games linked to obsolete hardware are no longer playable by most people,” said Xbox in its announcement. Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, emphasized that the preservation of video games is a topic of […]
Xbox has presented its new generative artificial intelligence project, called Muse, which has the potential to transform the way classic video games are preserved. According to the company, Muse is a model capable of generating visuals of games and control actions, which opens the door to optimizing old titles to make them accessible on different devices. “Nowadays, countless classic games linked to obsolete hardware are no longer playable by most people,” Xbox stated in its announcement.
Phil Spencer, director of Xbox,highlighted that the preservation of video games is a topic of great interest for the company.Spencer suggests that Muse could learn about old games and make them portable to modern platforms without the need for the original engine to run on the original hardware. However, the community of video game historians is skeptical about Muse’s ability to achieve true preservation. Frank Cifaldi, founder of the Video Game History Foundation, compares the proposal to a simple photocopy of a work of art, expressing his concern about the meaning of “preservation”.
It’s not that easy to preserve games
In addition to skepticism, the preservation process faces significant legal challenges. Publishers fear that preserved games will be used for recreational purposes, which has led the U.S. Copyright Office to reject a major effort for video game preservation in 2024. Although the technology behind Muse is in its early stages, experts are divided on its future potential. One day Muse may be able to perfectly replicate iconic titles, but for now, its viability remains a topic of debate.
Playing old PC games is a hassle. Compatibility issues are sometimes impossible to avoid, and the mess of patches, tweaks, and emulations they require isn’t worth the effort. That’s why every preservation effort is welcome. The video game hobby is as fragile as any other and can be lost if we don’t take care of it. And that’s why GOG, an acronym for the store Good Old Games, has decided to demonstrate once again that they are the best video game store. Preserving video games today so you can always play them, GOG has announced their […]
Playing old PC games is a hassle. Compatibility issues are sometimes impossible to avoid, and the mess of patches, tweaks, and emulations they require is not worth the effort. That’s why every preservation effort is welcome. The video game hobby is as fragile as any other and can be lost if we don’t take care of it. And that’s why GOG, acronym for the Good Old Games store, has decided to demonstrate, once again, that they are the best video game store.
Preserve video games today so you can play them forever
GOG has announced its Preservation Program. With this program, they aim to maintain the compatibility of games with modern and future systems, ensuring that the games function correctly. They will even resolve historical issues that some of these games suffer from, achieving their ideal form.
With almost a hundred video games as part of the program, their idea is to ensure that the games that shaped us can continue to be compatible with our computers. For this, GOG is not only making the games compatible with modern systems and providing dedicated technical support, but they also sell them without DRM. That is, you can download the games and share them with whomever you want to play them, without any kind of problem. Ensuring that those games are yours, forever, unlike what happens with other stores like Steam.
Another interesting aspect of this Preservation Program is how they have created a standard to identify which games are part of this program. With a label indicating which of them have this support, it is easy to know which games are compatible and will have support in the future. Additionally, being a list that GOG intends to continue expanding in the future, it is an initiative that can only be celebrated.
GOG Galaxy is a one-stop hub for you to play games, as well as stay in contact with your friends from various gaming platforms. Games from Steam, UPlay, Origin, Epic Games Store, and other digital distribution platforms can easily be organized here into one single collection, regardless if they're PC or console games. This lightweight game utility also allows you to view your friend’s online status, activity feed, and see their stats.
Despite video games being the largest legal industry in the world, it seems that the companies that create them have no interest in their preservation.
The video game industry generates more revenue than the film and music industries combined. For that reason alone, one would expect the industry to care about its own history. To want to keep its legacy accessible and well-preserved as much as possible. However, the reality is exactly the opposite. This was once again demonstrated in a recent talk about video game preservation.
Steve Englund, an intellectual property lawyer, was asked if it would be possible for libraries to digitally preserve copies of video games. His response was that members of the ESA, the trade association for the video game industry in the United States, would not allow such a thing. And even if they did allow it, that would be insufficient progress. Proper preservation of video game history should include much more than just collecting the video games themselves. Even if it were done physically.
The reason for this strong refusal is because, in fact, in the past the ESA has opposed any form of video game preservation. When the Library of Congress of the United States wanted to create a working corpus for the preservation of the medium, the ESA stated that it was an unnecessary effort, since developers were already doing a great job on that front.
The reality is that, according to the Video Game History Foundation, 87% of American video games prior to 2010 are impossible to legally acquire today. Many of these games are in danger of being lost, or have already been lost. Similarly, many games have not been able to be reissued because their source code has been lost or misplaced. This demonstrates that the statements made by the ESA are short-sighted, if not outright deceptive.
If the ESA, the largest trade organization in the video game industry, is completely blind to preservation, that puts us on the verge of losing decades of medium history. Something that seems inevitable considering they have no interest in video games, other than as an object to continue being the world’s highest-grossing legal industry.
This website allows you to see the beautiful boxes of old PC games, allowing you to enjoy a time when video games were something more.
Although it may be hard to believe for those who haven’t experienced it, there was a time when PC video games came in huge boxes. Very well taken care of, with manuals, maps, and all kinds of extras, buying a game was a truly sensory experience. In fact, the gaming experience would begin even before getting home. Just by seeing that enormous box and everything it contained and promised inside, our imagination would soar as far as possible.
Now these boxes are practically non-existent. The industry is driven by profits and cutting back on packaging, distribution, and industrial design was a way to make more money from each copy sold. That’s why they are now little more than objects of nostalgia and collectibles. Fortunately, a man has decided to make them accessible.
The Big Box Collection website is literally what its name indicates. A visual collection of video game boxes created by Benjamin Wimmer, which allows us to appreciate how those carefully crafted releases were. All of this without leaving out a single detail.
Because Big Box Collection’s main interest is that as much care has been taken in the presentation as was initially put into these boxes. With impeccable aesthetics, 3D models that we can rotate as we please, and images of the contents of the box itself, Big Box Collection is currently the best source of information on the packaging of old PC games. With over 700 games currently cataloged, it is a fascinating archaeological work that shows us a world that today seems inconceivable, but that in the 90s and 00s was the norm.
This makes Big Box Collection not only a nostalgic pleasure, but also a necessary source of preservation. These boxes will become increasingly difficult to find in an acceptable condition, and thus it is possible to have a record of them. Something that, as we always say, is important for the video game industry to start taking much more seriously.
