Why the interest in retro games?

[jsteinhauer]

I can understand from a collector perspective, and a little bit for nostalgia, but with all of the awesomeness in modern videogames, I don't see the attraction. My favorite game on the Atari 2600 was Raiders of the Lost Ark, but man, that game was really lame, and I could never play it now. If I was forced to kill time playing games and I had to choose between that and any of my PS3 games, I'd never fire up a 2600.

[Batman1980]

To some of us, it's not just about graphics, it's also about memories and gameplay. That's why I play the old FFs from time to time and want to play the old NES games I used to love, too.

[jsteinhauer]

Originally Posted by Wolverine1980

To some of us, it's not just about graphics, it's also about memories and gameplay. That's why I play the old FFs from time to time and want to play the old NES games I used to love, too.

Graphics aside, you can't help technology, but gameplay? One button and a joystick?

So it's nostalgia, yes? I guess I just don't have that for videogames. I have it for places I've been, but when I go back, it's always changed for the worse. I'm over that. I also have it for some TV shows and movies. For instance, I own the Gilligan's Island set on DVD, and still watch them. It was one of my favorites as a kid. My sister loved the Flintstones, who I did not care about.


If I were to wax nostalgic for retro games, it would be PC text adventures. Zork, Infidel, Hitchhiker's Guide, etc. No graphics. Everything in the head.

[Moviefan2k4]

Well, in my honest opinion, while modern games may definitely look and sound better, some of the earlier games were catalysts for what younger gamers take for granted today.

For example, prior to the original "Zelda" title (which hit Japan in 1986), few games featured a non-linear style of play. That may not seem like a big deal now, but 24 years ago it was nearly unheard of. Players were often restricted to progressing in a very literal "one stage at a time" manner, and that was it. Arcade classics like "Space Invaders" and "Galaga", not to mention "Pac-Man", are prime examples of this.

Also, most games' soundtracks, prior to the '80s, were limited to small "beeping" or "whistling" sounds. By contrast, the first "Super Mario Bros." featured 3 different themes (for overworld, dungeon, and ocean levels), plus the notorious "death sound" when players took too much damage, or the timer ran out. "SMB1" also introduced the conventions of "stackable" power-ups (like the Mushroom and Fire Flower), and warp zones (most of which were found via different pipes).

Overall, games in the '80s and early '90s were far more imaginative, because they didn't have fancy images or sounds to "fall back" on. Generally speaking, as games became more visually compelling, their inventiveness started dropping overall. There's still many great games out there, but some of them almost feel like "clones" of each other.

[jsteinhauer]

Originally Posted by Moviefan2k4

Overall, games in the '80s and early '90s were far more imaginative, because they didn't have fancy images or sounds to "fall back" on. Generally speaking, as games became more visually compelling, their inventiveness started dropping overall. There's still many great games out there, but some of them almost feel like "clones" of each other.

What works gets copied, and what doesn't, does not. It's the same in movies, TV, books, games, fashion, or any other pop culture.

Pong predates even text adventures, and it is indeed a landmark, but who really wants to play that today? When something is new, everything is novel. The first silent movies were novel, the first talkies were novel, the first television shows were novel. Shelley's Frankenstein is considered Sci-Fi. Everything to follow is a rehash of what is popular, hopefully with a twist that makes it interesting.

Your statements above just make you "getting older". Nothings wrong with that. We all are, if we are lucky. We all tend to think things were better in the "old days."

[Propellarhead9]

For me its just something for me to kind of mindlessly do when I'm bored. And to go back and play stuff I never got a chance to growing up.

[J6P]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

Graphics aside, you can't help technology, but gameplay? One button and a joystick?

I think great gameplay endures. I'll stack up all of the modern "party" games against 4-player Super Bomberman any day of the week. You have a room full of drunks to occupy? Super Bomberman still gets them screaming, laughing and, eventually, throwing punches, just like it did back in '93. That's a game that hasn't lost a step.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

Pong predates even text adventures, and it is indeed a landmark, but who really wants to play that today?

I still have people want to play Pong when they see I have one. A lot of the interest comes from people who are younger than the console itself. When I have people over my arcade games get more play than my PS3 does. And you can't really call it nostalgia from people who were two or three when these cabinets were in the arcades. For me it all comes down to gameplay. I really can't see myself playing Call Of Duty 20 years from now, but if my Asteroids cabinet will still fire up I'll be playing.

[Musashi]

If an old game was fun back then, its still fun today.

I'm replaying Shining the Holy Ark (1997) right now for its story connection to Shining Force 3, which I'm going to play immediately after.

[Dexter Morgan]

I just love to take myself back to the good old days of my childhood, and relive memories from playing the older systems. There are certain games where I can remember exactly what I was up to at the time that they were released, and I love being able to reminisce like that.

[Drew664]

Myself as well as my brothers all enjoy retro gaming. For us though, it's mostly on the SNES with some NES titles mixed in. Even some PS1, PS2 games make the cut (are they even retro yet?). I enjoy playing good games regardless of when they came out. Speaking of which, Diablo 2 for the PC, released almost 10 years ago, is still producing content, and a new ladder season will actually be started again today. Poor graphics? Yes. Great game play? Yes!

solid game play + nostalgia = awesomeness

It's too bad you can't enjoy going backwards.

[brettallica]

I guess this really comes down to "different strokes for different folks" more than anything else. Some people like cars and some people like trucks. No vehicle is right or better. Similarly, some people just enjoy pulling out the old games and playing them, be it for nostalgia or straight-up fun. I've got probably 50 games from the late 1980s through the the mid-1990s that I still consider to be "fun" — nostalgia and it-takes-me-back aside. I've got two of the three modern consoles, and I love those, but the old games are still tons of fun. If there wasn't a serious market for old games, you wouldn't see the Virtual Console for the Wii or all of those Namco Museum games that are out there.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

I can understand from a collector perspective, and a little bit for nostalgia, but with all of the awesomeness in modern videogames, I don't see the attraction. My favorite game on the Atari 2600 was Raiders of the Lost Ark, but man, that game was really lame, and I could never play it now. If I was forced to kill time playing games and I had to choose between that and any of my PS3 games, I'd never fire up a 2600.

That is about the only thing that is better about the new games is graphics! Probably 8 times out of 10 I would prefer to play older games over newer games. A couple reasons would be fun factor. Older games were much funner then some of these complicated games that are out now. Dont get me wrong I love some of the new games but I could easily play games like any of the Marios games, Zelda games, Metroid etc...over any of these new games. Those are the games I grew up on and they are simply awesome! Got Em!!

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Drew664

Myself as well as my brothers all enjoy retro gaming. For us though, it's mostly on the SNES with some NES titles mixed in. Even some PS1, PS2 games make the cut (are they even retro yet?). I enjoy playing good games regardless of when they came out. Speaking of which, Diablo 2 for the PC, released almost 10 years ago, is still producing content, and a new ladder season will actually be started again today. Poor graphics? Yes. Great game play? Yes!

solid game play + nostalgia = awesomeness

It's too bad you can't enjoy going backwards.

I think the NES is far superior to the SNES and has way more quality games! I am also a fan of the SNES as it has my fav Mario game! Why do u prefer it to the NES? Got Em!!

[jsteinhauer]

Originally Posted by Rob71

I still have people want to play Pong when they see I have one. A lot of the interest comes from people who are younger than the console itself. When I have people over my arcade games get more play than my PS3 does. And you can't really call it nostalgia from people who were two or three when these cabinets were in the arcades. For me it all comes down to gameplay. I really can't see myself playing Call Of Duty 20 years from now, but if my Asteroids cabinet will still fire up I'll be playing.

I will concede you that (pinball would be the same). But there's something different about arcade cabinet games that is more than just the game. Those of the right age might recollect playing while a friend or two leans over the shoulder waiting for a turn to try and beat your score. That's a social experience that is not duplicated with most console games. It's more similar to darts, table shuffleboard or billiards than modern videogaming, I think.

When I was very young, my father owned a saloon, a real dive, the kind with holes busted in the walls and doors (He's been a friend of Bill W. for decades now, though). On the rare occasions I would go there (usually early in the day when no one but the hardcores were around) it was most excellent to have the videogames switched to require no quarters. He had good burgers and homemade chili there, too.

[Rob71]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

I will concede you that (pinball would be the same). But there's something different about arcade cabinet games that is more than just the game. Those of the right age might recollect playing while a friend or two leans over the shoulder waiting for a turn to try and beat your score. That's a social experience that is not duplicated with most console games. It's more similar to darts, table shuffleboard or billiards than modern videogaming, I think.

When I was very young, my father owned a saloon, a real dive, the kind with holes busted in the walls and doors (He's been a friend of Bill W. for decades now, though). On the rare occasions I would go there (usually early in the day when no one but the hardcores were around) it was most excellent to have the videogames switched to require no quarters. He had good burgers and homemade chili there, too.

Some of my best memories are of playing arcades and pinball in a bowling alley arcade while my parents bowled. I loved the chilli dogs and the nachos and cheese with peppers. Plus the regulars would give me quarters to run and get them a beer while they played pool. Different times.

[Drew664]

Originally Posted by CZAR

I think the NES is far superior to the SNES and has way more quality games! I am also a fan of the SNES as it has my fav Mario game! Why do u prefer it to the NES? Got Em!!

My cousins had a NES, so when ever we visited there would always be Mario and TMNT there, however our family never got a home console until the SNES. I grew up on it essentially and prefer it's games over the regular NES. NES games maybe are too basic? I prefer SNES any day.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by Drew664

My cousins had a NES, so when ever we visited there would always be Mario and TMNT there, however our family never got a home console until the SNES. I grew up on it essentially and prefer it's games over the regular NES. NES games maybe are too basic? I prefer SNES any day.

Man thems fighting words. We may have to put up our top 10 to 15 games for each system and compare. I think I will win going away! Got Em!!

[Drew664]

Originally Posted by CZAR

Man thems fighting words. We may have to put up our top 10 to 15 games for each system and compare. I think I will win going away! Got Em!!

I dig...lol

1.) Super Metroid
2.) Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
3.) Secret of Mana
4.) Secret of Evermore
5.) TMNT: Turtles in Time
6.) Super Mario World
7.) Breath of Fire
8.) Final Fantasy VI
9.) King of Dragons
10.) Contra III
11.) Super Mario RPG
12.) Super Mario Kart
13.) Donkey Kong Country
14.) Civilization
15.) Sunset Riders

Definitely not an all inclusive list, as this could be easily stretched to 20 or more. Feels like I missed a big one in there too, haha. Hmmmm, gonna have to roll with it!

[SDon1969]

Originally Posted by jsteinhauer

My favorite game on the Atari 2600 was Raiders of the Lost Ark, but man, that game was really lame, and I could never play it now. If I was forced to kill time playing games and I had to choose between that and any of my PS3 games, I'd never fire up a 2600.

Parachuting into the cave under that tree branch was a major pain in the a$$!!