Why do we still play retro games?

[AmericanMuffin]

Last night I was thinking, why do we still play all these retro games? I understand collecting, but why play with all these new games out there? So I came up with a theory, and let's just look at a game that has been very popular lately. You've most likely heard of it: Minecraft. Now if you don't know what Minecraft is, it's a game where all you do is craft survive, and build. Sounds simple right? One word in that sentence is my theory: Simple. I think simple gameplay elements make games a lot better. Let's look at a few other simple games: Super Meat Boy, Terraria, Cave Story, and Desktop Dungeons. So I think we don't like these games just because, we have to have a reason, we just want simple games, because face it, more simple = more addictive. Now we can't have too simple of course, but simple enough to be a good game. So what do you guys think of my theory? Post any other reasons why you think we still play Retro Games.

[AppleQueso]

Why do people still watch old movies when there's so many new movies out there?
Why do people still read old books when there's so many new books out there?
Why do people still listen to old music when there's so much new music out there?

etc etc etc etc etc etc etc

It's all the same reason. Age is no reason to dismiss anything.

[AmericanMuffin]

Why do people still watch old movies when there's so many new movies out there?
Why do people still read old books when there's so many new books out there?
Why do people still listen to old music when there's so much new music out there?

etc etc etc etc etc etc etc

It's all the same reason. Age is no reason to dismiss anything.

Video games are different. They're a lot more interactive.

[swiftzx]

Because they are fun and inexpensive.

[AmericanMuffin]

Because they are fun and inexpensive.

That is true, but my theory is why they are fun, which is why we play them. I want to know your reasons behind why they're fun! Good answer though.

[D.D.D.]

Why do people still watch old movies when there's so many new movies out there?
Why do people still read old books when there's so many new books out there?
Why do people still listen to old music when there's so much new music out there?

etc etc etc etc etc etc etc

It's all the same reason. Age is no reason to dismiss anything.

Unless it's something that was good for it's time but has aged really poorly. There are somethings that are better left to the rosy-tinted times.

[J T]

Minecraft is a new game, not a retro one (except perhaps in graphics), and you need a huge-ass wiki to learn how to play it, so I wouldn't say it's simple either. This thread doesn't make sense.

[noiseredux]

Now if you don't know what Minecraft is,

this part made me LOL.

[AmericanMuffin]

Minecraft is a new game, not a retro one (except perhaps in graphics), and you need a huge-ass wiki to learn how to play it, so I wouldn't say it's simple either. This thread doesn't make sense.

I mentioned Minecraft to show that simple games today are succesful

[irixith]

Minecraft is a new game, not a retro one (except perhaps in graphics), and you need a huge-ass wiki to learn how to play it, so I wouldn't say it's simple either. This thread doesn't make sense.

He was using new games that have simple mechanics as an example to demonstrate why we might still play retro games. (Making the assumption that retro games are simpler than their modern counterparts.) Games like Minecraft and Terraria are very easy to pick up and play, and that simplicity is part of the key in attracting new users. While the crafting may get more advanced as the game progresses, the simplicity of the actions never changes.

I'm not posting to either agree nor disagree, but I didn't think what he was saying was terribly complicated to understand.