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

[Gunstar Green]

In a way I never stopped playing old games because my Genesis stayed hooked up from the day I got it, but I never really considered myself really into older games until discovering emulation in the late 90's.

Of course I went back and rediscovered all of the games I loved before but it also gave me the ability to discover new games and check out consoles I wasn't very familiar with.

When I first started collecting games it was out of nostalgia. I wanted to get all of the games I used to rent and then the games I had discovered via emulation. Then I continued branching out from there into whole new consoles and other uncharted territories. I searched out new games in genres I loved which yielded new favorites.

I like the style and I like the type of gameplay older games offer and I like both new and old games depending on what I feel like playing. It's great that the medium can be so wide and encompassing. There's something for everybody.

To be honest I understand why a lot of modern gamers snub their noses at retro. A lot of these games are acquired tastes, and while a good game is a good game no matter how old it is sometimes people's tastes change. It's probably silly for someone to not give a game a chance simply because it's old, but they might be doing so because on the whole they just don't like how older games look and feel. There's nothing wrong with that. People don't have to like what you like. There are plenty of others who do.

[graffix_13]

I consider myself a 'gamer', first and foremost. To me, there really is no difference in the fun factor for a game that came out in 1989 as opposed to a game that came out in 2013. Hell, my favorite game of all time is Ninja Gaiden for NES. Does that game measure up to the standards of today? No, probably not. But I've always been a gameplay and story gamer.

I will say that a lot of my 'retro' gaming is due to nostalgia. There is no question that plays a part in why a lot of us still like playing these games. But it also gives me an opportunity to play some older games that I missed way back when.

There are a TON of video games. If you limit yourself to a certain era or time period, you're really preventing yourself to being exposed to some really good games.

[fastbilly1]

Well Pulsar, Talkies did kill alot of silent actors careers

[SpoonyBard]

It's probably just because I surround myself with people who have similar interests, but most of the people I know are just as into retro stuff as new stuff. Most don't collect, but they're always open to playing a game regardless of its age.

When I printed up some art for UGC's, the guys at Office Max thought it was awesome, and were quick to tell me that they have most of the games I was printing up art for on their emulators. When I explained that I had the originals, they didn't seem to understand why that mattered. But to each their own.

Shopping up here is extremely slim pickings, but plenty of neat stuff pops up here and there.


As far as playing retro goes, i'd say a good portion of it for me is nostalgia - especially with the NES. Also just because a lot of those old games are unique or had features that are pretty much gone from modern games. For example, I grew up with turn-based RPG's (like most of you, i'm sure) yet that's pretty much gone in current games.

And of course, it's nice to pick up a old game and just play for 15 minutes now and again instead of sitting through 15 minutes of loading and cutscenes waiting to play something new.

[SamuraiMegas]

That is what my co-worker said. I explained why people play old games, nostalgia as we revisit our childhoods, gaming collectors, enjoying a simpler time, etc.

I'm 14. I grew up on oxbox and PS2. I have no reason to get these old games, I just enjoy them. You don't have to have a reason to play games- old or new.

[muhanad]

For me, I'm probably one of the younger people on this forum (16), but I still have lots of nostalgia from the N64 and Gameboy days. Played those a lot with my siblings and cousins, especially Mario Party on N64! So much fun with 4 players!

The thing I hate so much is when people say "Why would you want to play that? The graphics are so bad!"

SMH. People don't understand that good graphics don't make a game good

[RyaNtheSlayA]

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

This is my stance on it.

I certainly don't play retro games nearly as much as I used to and even then I never played as many as a lot of the people here. If a game looks interesting though I'm more than happy to play it. I don't care if it was released in 1985 or 2013.

I've moved past the whole collecting bit, so yes, I'm one of those people that would rather just boot up an emulator on my PC and use my USB Saturn controller. I don't think that makes my enjoyment of older games any less legitimate though, and going forward, that's going to be more and more practical has more retro games become lost and/or destroyed, or held on to by the increasing number of collectors. Although, I totally understand the appeal of original hardware, box art, all that fun stuff (and the smell of a 20 year old Genesis game... so good).

I don't really bother myself with the people that use age as a dismissal. Usually I find they game for social reasons more than because they like to game. I have a few friends that actually are like this and there really isn't anything wrong with it (the argument is still stupid though). It's just not the same reason we play games. Most of us here are enthusiasts that like to examine the mechanics, evolution, and historical influence of games. It's the same reason why not every single person wants to be a movie critic and watch anything if they don't happen to see it with friends in the theater.

[Nintendork666]

People who play old games are weirdos. Playing games from the future is where it's at.

* boots up PS7 *

[Valkyrie-Favor]

I don't think "old graphics" is quite the same as "bad graphics," is it?

[muhanad]

I don't think "old graphics" is quite the same as "bad graphics," is it?

EXACTLY! Its just a different style, a different type of game.