It’s a given that everything ages. While some things, like gym socks or pizza, become disgusting as they age, fine wines and rare paintings improve in value and desirability. While video games seem to improve with each passing year, these improvements are mainly graphics-based. The evolution from 8-bit games to the gorgeous, realistically rendered games of today are clear evidence of this. Despite improvements in graphics and game speed, there is a certain place in many a gamers heart for older games. Here are five reasons why we will always look on them fondly:
5) The Arcade Experience
During the so-called “Golden Age of Arcade“, there were 13,000 arcades in North America. This period, which lasted roughly from 1979 to the mid 80’s was a period of unprecedented growth and imagination for the video game industry. Arcade game cabinets and attract sequences served to lure quarters out of the pockets of eager gamers. Sure, the graphics don’t compare to the games of today, but dim lights, electronic beeps, and smoke-filled arcades had an ambiance that was magic to many a teenager. The arcade experience is undoubtedly much of the allure behind classic game compilations that are available today for consoles and PCs.
4) The Birth of Iconic Characters
Pac-Man, Mario, and M. Bison are all widely known game characters that enjoy popularity today. However, they likely never would have achieved their present day acclaim if their initial games were lousy. It comes as no surprise that a game like Donkey Kong, which sold over 132,000 arcade machines, would turn Mario into the gaming mega-icon he is today. While the modern games featuring famous video game stars are fun, there is just something unforgettable about the games that catapulted them to prominence.
3) Physical Media
We talked with The Old School Game Vault about this subject and they explained that be it an arcade cabinet, a cartridge, a floppy disc, or a DVD, having a physical item always created an excitement which a download doesn’t possess. They said, “While game systems and computers are quickly making physical media a thing of the past, it can’t replace the connection that owning something tangible elicits. There was something akin to intoxication which would occur when browsing a game store. There was the flashy box art, actual paper manuals, and the game itself.” Seeing and handling these games and their accompanying gear is in part why old games sell for such high prices on sites like eBay.
2) Fewer “M” Ratings
Most of the early arcade and home video games were child friendly. Sure, there was the occasional Mortal Kombat andChillers, but there were loads of non-violent platformers, racing games, and adventure games. As speech was a somewhat difficult quality to program, there was almost no swearing in early games. While there was a great deal of outcry about how video games were ruining children, they were nowhere near as “adult” as the present day.
1) Sheer Nostalgia
For many, the early days of video games represented a simpler time. There were no smartphones, no WiFi, and no reality shows. The vast majority of communication was done either in person or by a phone call instead of texting or email. Video games of old represented a form of entertainment previously unknown. The gamer could interact visually, audibly, and tactually with a degree of immersion not possible before. Older games shaped many a child’s imagination, gave them an engaging release, and will always be remembered fondly.
