Difficult Gamer Friends...

[Gooseberrysoda]

I have a few friends who believe that any game system below what wikipedia says is "6th and 7th gen" is crap. I can't convince them that there do exist good games. I try to pop in a cart while they're over, and they walk out of the room. How do I make them realize that retro can be good as well as current consoles?

[invincibleservant]

Get new friends, stat?

Just kidding - there are some things that your friends may never understand. For instance, none of my friends even feign interest when I boot up the Saturn or the Jaguar around them. Just be comforted in the fact that you're part of an awesome community of weirdos on the interblogoweb.

[Dakinggamer87]

It can be tough with gamers who have only played the current generation of video game consoles to accept and appreciate classic titles from previous generations.. I'm just lucky all my friends started with classics from consoles like Atari 2600/NES going forward.. I wish ya luck I'm sure there have to be some titles they would be interested in...

[Reverend]

What are their arguments? If it's along the lines of, "It's crap." then I think they can very easily be changed if you get them to at least try it.

Maybe they only like 3D games? If that's the case, introduce them to stuff like the N64 Zeldas, Star Fox, or Golden Eye.

If they like games on handhelds then see if they have anything that is similar to games on the older consoles. Gameboy and DS games can easily be considered gateways to retro gaming.

Either way, if you can't get them to watch, play, or even tolerate the classics, then you have no hope.

[Jrecee]

For your 3rd grade friends I will give a 3rd grade term.

Your friends are gaywads.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

I get ridiculed for my love of retro as well, and have found that simply paying the game and ignoring whatever your friends say is a good tactic.

For example: I love Comix Zone, but all my friends thought it sucked because it was 'too hard' and they couldn't make it to the end of the first level. I spent a few minutes and playing through the game with a friend in the room and they all of the sudden got interested in it when they saw me playing as I didn't just waste my powerups and extra health needlessly. Now they'll give it and a few others a shot when they're over, as loog as I make the gameplay look good.

Remember the best advice is to make a game look flashier or better than it is by playing it well and other people will see it and want to play it. American public opinion usually favors style over substance so you need to use that to your advantage and make a deep and fun game seem as if it's shallow an entertaining to the masses.

[Scooter]

If they aren't interested they aren't interested. You can't FORCE them to like what you like. If they were good friends and reasonable human beings they might take a few minutes to try to see what the games are all about since their friend likes them so much. In the end, people like what they like and you can't change that. Some people just aren't able to see past their own preconceptions to experience things they actually might enjoy if they just tried it. Their loss.

[JordanPlayer]

This is why I'm glad my friends are the same age as me and grew up on these old school classics. Most recently me and a friend went through some old NES games, beat TMNT II hehe. Another one of my friends used to come over and we'd play 2 player on NES/Genesis/SNES/MAME emulators. I find challenging someone's gaming skill will usually coerce them to try and play a game. If they think they are a good gamer at modern games challenge them to a retro game that you used to be able to beat as a kid... see how they do

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I'm 15 so I'm used to that stuff. You just have to show them something so cool they will swallow their words, such as Comix Zone. Its impossible to not want to play that game. Ask your friends what kinds of games they like, and show them the best one you can find on a retro console. As has been said, if they have a GBA or DS then those are great portals to retro gaming, most of the games are from a gameplay standpoint retro on both those systems (especially GBA). Sometimes friends are too stubborn, however, so tie there hands behind there back with a NES controller and make them play through all the MegaMan games without dying. If they don't like retro games, they should at least respect them.

[Reverend]

I find challenging someone's gaming skill will usually coerce them to try and play a game. If they think they are a good gamer at modern games challenge them to a retro game that you used to be able to beat as a kid... see how they do

This aughta do it.