I Love Old Games
Today I was discussing with a friend our love of old games. She loves old PC games and I love old console games. But regardless of the system/device we play them on, we both agree that our love of old video games far out weighs our love of current ones. Not to say that we don’t like what’s current, but there is something more appealing to what was being played in the 80’s and early 90’s.
Some might say that we’re just looking back through rose-coloured glasses, but I disagree. I get far more pleasure playing old, or even older style games then I do out of most current ones. My favorite game on the DS is Retro Game Master. It’s a collection of 80’s style NES games and challenges the player with accomplishing specific tasks to unlock the next title. It’s based off a Japanese show called Game Center CX which is one of my favorites. What’s the show about? Well, you watch a guy play retro games to completion… usually. If I can’t play old games, I like to play indie titles that are made to be like old and retro. Classic arcade games also have a special place in my heart. If I had to pick a system to make a game for, it would be the GameBoy. I love the idea of having limits and having to work with in them. Today’s systems and titles have just about everything, but sometimes I think they lose the scope and focus that older games had.
Sometimes I feel like I was born too late. Too late to make these old games that I love, but at least born at the right time to play and enjoy them. I so wish I could have been a part of the teams that made those beautiful pixel games. Most people who I know don’t care to play old games anymore. They say they have a hard time going back to games gone by. I’m ready and willing to go there all the time! Do you like to play old games or do you find it hard to play them when newer things are out. Do you even still have your old consoles or games?
Play Asia
November 27th, 2012 at 11:52 pm
i think that our preferences for video games stems from what we originally started playing games on. the only reason i say that is because my favorite console is the N64, which is sort of an inbetween system nowadays. its to late to be considered retro, but its way to early to be new. but i do think that 80’s games have a certain charm to them. i think i enjoy them more than a lot of the games that are out now. but hey, i’m a 90’s kid so i’m weird(er).
November 28th, 2012 at 12:16 am
My brother-in-law has an Atari 2600 and a bunch of cartridges to go with it. I’m going to have to try and get him to break it out for an old school video game night.
November 28th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
I no longer have any of my old systems (pre PS2), nor do I have any of the old games. Most of the games and all of the systems were… lost… due to an unfortunate happening (not a result of my actions). I do, though, really love playing old games, and have several old games on my Wii. It would be foolish to deny that there is nostalgia flavoring my fondness of retro video games, but there are also legitimate reason for thinking that they better in some respects. Of course, I also miss the difficulty that many old games offered. I think you’re right, there is something to the idea that restricted developmental options breed creativity and focus (necessity is the mother of invention, after all). It’s a lot like what y’all do with pixel art–getting across complex details/emotions/whatnot with minimal tools.
November 30th, 2012 at 10:36 am
We just got a flashback 4, Atari with 76 built in games. less then $100 and sold out the first day. You should look for it, I bet it’s perfect for you. Sorry no Pacman… yet
December 8th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
I still have all my old stuff but I honestly spend most of my time playing the newer stuff. I’ll always love my old games, but I like the new stuff today and if there’s something I haven’t played, I’d rather play that.