Sega's Social and Cultural Influence...

The stepping-stones built by the early generations of consoles and games have paved the way for the huge steel bridges formed by the mainstream, high-tech hardware present today. The humble beginnings of the industry are however, still as alive today as they ever were, and have been sustained even through the tremendous technological progression to follow.
One of the most obvious impacts that the early days of gaming has had culturally is it's adaption into and influence upon the contemporary art world. With digital art slowly gaining more recognition within the art-world (and about time), 'retro' gaming influences in institutions seems almost like a tribute to the areas early days, like a salmon returning to the place of it's birth to lay it's eggs.


















Both of the above images were produced by Beige, a four-person computer programming art collective. The images come from a line of works that were created by hacking old NES cartridges, tinkering with the code to create abstract shapes that bob and weave to a soundtrack, converting the platform itself into a blank canvas. Now, before you stop me, i realize that this particular work is based mainly around Nintendo cartridges, but i feel it an adequate example of the influence the earlier generations of gaming has had on modern culture. Biege is also based in America where Nintendo have become more dominant than Sega culturally, due to their success in this region over the decades.




The above image, done by Brandon Bird, is titled 'Nobody Wants To Play Sega With Harrison Ford', and was originally an oil painting done for the annual art exhibition 'I Am 8-bit'. The painting depicts the forgotten classic console, conquered by the NES in America, in the arms of the forgotten, classic American actor. Showing the dominance that Nintendo had in the American market, it is also a testament to the impact both of the consoles, and even the contest itself had on modern culture. A larger example of this lies with the 'I Am 8-bit' exhibition itself. The event hosts over 100 artists that reinterpret video-game legends through mediums both digital and traditional, and has being growing with success since it's launch.
Tokyo convention 'Famicase' celebrated another kind of contemporary, gaming-based art; the cartridges. The convention invited a selection of artists to create cartridge art for imaginary games.


Artifacts such as these are playing on ingrained elements of childhood, which then become ingrained in culture over time. Video games as a whole have grown in popularity at an alarming rate and are now a firm part of popular culture. Characters such as 'Sonic' become extremely popular figureheads and major selling points for companies, crossing mediums into literature and film.


Another funny example of how Sega has had an impact upon culture, predominantly youth culture. MC's Nick and Steve, the boys singing recorded this after winning a competition to create a rap detailing why they love Sega.
Numerous fan-sites and dedicated blogs litter the web, paying homage to a digital age before the internet. Despite the variety of sites available, it is also quite obvious that the age-old competition between Sega and Nintendo has lasted until the present day, and shows no threat of dying out any time soon. The reason being that the moment these two gaming giants released the hardware in question, the names of their companies transgressed and became identities. These identities are adopted with the purchase of each console, as well as a developed loyalty that seems to serve to 'protect' that identity. This advocacy seems more than just brand loyalty, especially considering Sega's modern day position regarding hardware, but a defense of something essentially deeper. The defense of ones memories and a day long gone.