People don't really play old games because they are old.

[BogusMeatFactory]

The old games I play are played for a reason, they are amazing games. Games like the Super Mario franchise is timeless. You can pick it up and enjoy it no matter what your age and why? Because the mechanics, the imagery, refined to perfection.

I think that there are a lot of old games that really stand the test of time. Games I may have missed out that do something different or unique from the competition. Retro is a genre now, like the most recent MegaMan games have shown, like RetroCity Rampage, like the various 8-bit style RPG games that have come out lately.

There is style in retro that, when it was new, was a necessity. That style is attractive to me. I enjoy the games, be they 8-bit or FMV. If the games are good or have a quality unique to them that stands out, I will be there to play it.

[Retrodude]

Aside from some of the other reasons mentioned (nostalgia, trying stuff you missed before, etc), the reason I keep going back to older games is the difficulty, plain and simple. As impressed as I am with Arkham Asylum, it really hasn't been much of a challenge thus far. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I actually prefer games that are on the easier side, but sometimes I just feel like giving myself a workout and games like Ninja Gaiden or Dracula X are perfect for that.

[fastbilly1]

I play them because it is something I enjoy. The art style of late 80s early 90s pc games is just beautiful to me, same with NES games. I could go into detail about why I enjoy them, but I am sure you will all have the same thoughts.

As for my local retrogaming community... lets just say I live in a farming town. And while there may be some, the local "gaming" store has had the exact same selection of NES games for sale for the last year.

[BoneSnapDeez]

As for my local retrogaming community... lets just say I live in a farming town. And while there may be some, the local "gaming" store has had the exact same selection of NES games for sale for the last year.

I hear ya on this (and I literally live on a farm).

My local retro store recently got a stash of Master System games (a couple hundred dollars worth). In a big city I'd be tempted to scoop them all up before someone else could, but around here I can casually pick through them because no one else is buying them (the clerk told me that a few folks have asked about the "white Genesis games" though).

I'm into retro games because I like retro games. The graphics, the music, the gameplay, the hardware, everything.

[AppleQueso]

I like retro games because I like games. The age of the game is irrelevant.

[Luke]

In response to the question of "why do people play old games?": because they're some of the best darned games ever made.

Unfortunately I don't own a crystal ball, but I'd wager a hefty sum that one hundred years from now people will still be playing Mrs.Pac Man. Call of Duty Black Ops? Doubtful.

[CRTGAMER]

When people do play games or at least in my local area, nobody plays older games because the simple fact that they are old. And if they do play retro games, they only stick to the usual such as genesis era Sonic and Super Mario Bros. 3 mostly.

How is retro gaming in your local place? Do people know what they have or they just don't care?

Its their loss and your gain. I think anyone who ignores a game or movie simply because they are Retro game or a black and white movie are really missing out. Its funny that a lot of the newer games that are downloaded have revived the gameplay of the past.

I came into this Thread ready to head explode thinking that old people are not playing old games. Maybe a title fix in the OP? I'll go stand over my front lawn now.

[J T]

I play old games because I like games, though there are certainly differences between old and new. In general, I think old games focused more on being games and I like that about them. New games focus more on cinematic storytelling, and I like that about them. I always play a game, old or new, based on what I'm in the mood to be playing.

[Xeogred]

I play old games because I like games, though there are certainly differences between old and new. In general, I think old games focused more on being games and I like that about them. New games focus more on cinematic storytelling, and I like that about them. I always play a game, old or new, based on what I'm in the mood to be playing.

Count me in for the former there. I wish games like Dark Souls weren't so far in between thesedays, like we were saying recently in the new thread. It knows and feels like it's a game first, before anything else, and it's up to you to do experience and do everything the way you want. Subtlety can be awesome.

It does get a little subjective in the end since the styles are so different from most games today, to sidescrollers and what was the norm back then. But yeah.

I'll always be in the camp that's about games both old and new, and everywhere. But I definitely prefer the minimalistic approach in the long run.

Also there's an aesthetic about sprites that just can't be beat.

[Bikeage]

One of the saddest comments I have ever overheard was an exchange between two young female employee's of Hollywood Video in the late 90's.

"Naw I ain't gonna watch that, never wanna see no black and white movie, that's too old...."

And today many of my friends and family who enjoyed the 8 and 16 bit eras as much as myself refuse to entertain the notion of playing those games of yesteryear "because their old..."

Sure, they may get a kick out of playing Super Mario Bros. for a few minutes ("Dude, you still have a Nintendo?!?") but suggesting playing through a beat 'em up or co-op a fighting game to the end, even games re-released on modern consoles with extra bells and whistles, gets the same indifferent reaction of "Ehhhhh, maybe let's stick with Madden/CoD/Halo..."

I just don't understand how some people come to associate aged media as lacking in value.