Are people oblivious to the fact that we exist?

[Jrecee]

This is the main forum I partake in, but I do browse other forums and sites with comments. When reading through sites like joystiq or ign it seems like when the topic has anything to do with classic games the readers/commenters can't comprehend or just don't think that people actually still own older consoles and consistantly play them. I figured due to all the classic compilations and downloadable retro games that people would realize people are out there who still play them. . . they don't. For example, I recently saw a guy say something like "the last time I played that game was on the genesis" as some sort of time frame, like the fact that he played it on the genesis somehow automatically meant 1992.

I would chalk it up to simply being older than the average poster on these sites, but even when I was younger I played older games. My first system was the genesis but I played nes, atari, and old computer games with friends all the time, games that were out years before I was even born.

[Replica]

Retro gaming is sort of a new concept. Video games have traditionally been tied to new technology. Whenever that current technology gets surpassed, traditionally, the games became forgotten.

I think we're getting to a point now where there's enough history in gaming to actually have a proper retro market. People are starting to see a bigger picture and that video games aren't just technological demos of the newest stuff on the market. It would be easy of us to dismiss those on the outside as morons, and you'd be half right. But gaming has only been around for about 30 years (I draw the line at the 2600 created in 1977). That's not even a full generation of people. With a lack of formal history and overcoming the initial stereotype of video games being trends and technological demos, it's not surprising to see the somewhat "slow" development of "retro" gaming.

Another annoying "birthing pain" is people either think you play old stuff or new stuff. I do both. There also isn't any marketing for old games because no one is actively publishing them anymore (aside from compilations).

[sevin0seven]

that reminds me. i went to one of my local thrift store and i told one of the employees there that i wanted to see the hidden genesis cart on the mix bundle tray on the shelves. he was like "YOU HAVE A SEGA GENESIS! I use to have one when I was a kid." he said. every time i get one of those reactions, i feel happy inside somehow.

[bladerunner]

I guess I feel retro gaming has been around for awhile. I have always held on to my old systems and up until recently, I could only play the old games on the original consoles. By recent, I mean the last 7-8 years (yes, I am getting old). I always felt the need to bust out the ol' NES or 2600. But you are right, this is an industry driven by technology and innovation. Most gamers want the newest thing. But with the rise of so many games on the Virtual Console, retro styled games like 3D Dot Game Heroes, I think retro is coming back.

Anyway, in many mainstream gaming sites, I do think some people are oblivious to retro gamers like us. But with the prices on old games being jacked up, not just online, but in brick and mortar stores I frequent, their is certainly an impact being made, and retailers are seeing it. Give it time, and companies and gaming news sources will begin to better understand those of us who still prefer Sonic 3 + S&K the way it was meant to be played, like this:

[Ripley]

That sounds like my mother. "How do you play those old games after playing the like... PS2?"
I dunno, I've always been partial to old favorites and I don't think new consoles/games can ever replace them in my heart.

Not that I don't play new games or hate them all - there's plenty of room for both IMO.

[Replica]

I just can't take the onslaught of "army man" games as I call them. Call of Duty / Bad Company and so on. But every generation of console had their trends. 8-bit had a lot of platformers, 16-bit had even more platformers and tons of bad fighting games. 32-bit era had really crappy looking polygon games that probably shouldn't have been polygon.

And so on.

The retro price gouge is very disheartening. It really takes the fun out of collecting. I hope this recent retro trend dies off a bit. I'm tired of seeing emo kids with NES controller belt buckles that profess to be "old school."

[Octopod]

Retro gaming has been around for a while. People were trading games in the mid 90's at least.

[Jrecee]

I just can't take the onslaught of "army man" games as I call them. Call of Duty / Bad Company and so on. But every generation of console had their trends. 8-bit had a lot of platformers, 16-bit had even more platformers and tons of bad fighting games. 32-bit era had really crappy looking polygon games that probably shouldn't have been polygon.

And so on.

The retro price gouge is very disheartening. It really takes the fun out of collecting. I hope this recent retro trend dies off a bit. I'm tired of seeing emo kids with NES controller belt buckles that profess to be "old school."

Yeah but thanks to enough of those kids buying this stuff to make a market for it, I can purchase products like this:

http://www.80stees.com/products/Sonic-H ... -Shirt.asp

[Ripley]

The retro price gouge is very disheartening. It really takes the fun out of collecting. I hope this recent retro trend dies off a bit. I'm tired of seeing emo kids with NES controller belt buckles that profess to be "old school."

That really brings my piss to a boil. I've been like, oh cool, you play the NES? You ever played so-and-so game?
And they just stare at me like I'm crazy or suddenly grew a second head.

Why is is edgy and cool to like old games

[weasels]

That really brings my piss to a boil. I've been like, oh cool, you play the NES? You ever played so-and-so game?
And they just stare at me like I'm crazy or suddenly grew a second head.

Why is is edgy and cool to like old games

hey think of it this way, at least we aren't the posers.
that must mean we are the edgiest out of them all! so take that emo kids( 'kicks one in the face')!