From classic old school to contemporary gaming–that’s the wild, nostalgic, industry evolving ride that Imaginary Forces created to open the 2015 SXSW Gaming Awards this past weekend in Austin, Texas. Attendees were taken through a journey ranging from retro pixels and 8-bit audio to today’s complex adventures and winding storylines.
Imaginary Forces paired iconic audio references with vintage pixelated graphics from notable yesteryear games, abstract but evocative of the titles and genres they were referencing. To create an authentic analog look, the animations that the Imaginary Forces team created were played on a range of vintage monitors–an old b&w portable television, a standard definition TV and a modern day HD monitor–and shot practically with a Canon 7D.
“It was challenging to choose the games that we would highlight since everyone has had such a different experience growing up playing games. We wanted to cast a wide net, while not excluding any major titles or moments,” noted Jeremy Cox, creative director at Imaginary Forces.
