For older games, How far back can you go before you consider it outdated?

[JaguarVision]

Even on a site like this you'd be surprised at how many individuals can't go back further than NES or Genesis for games. I've seen many people who grew up with Colecos and Ataris no longer able to go back and play the old classics in 2018. Sure, they will play a few games here and there but they wouldn't go back to the libraries overall. One unique thing about the game industry is that older games can't really be enhanced to fit in with modern titles, unlike Movies. Usually a developer has to remake/reconfigure parts or the whole game in order to try and modernize it. So you can't take say, Adventure and enhance it so it's the same game, but it looks closer to a modern title. That's not possible with games, but very possible with movies. So i do understand why the Primitive graphics of older machines would be a turn-off for some. Especially over time.

 

So how far back CAN you go?

 

Myself, I can go back to the Atari Age no problem. There are some consoles in that time frame that I think have aged badly such as the APF or the Channel F, but I generally play a lot of games across consoles from that period: Vectrex, Atari's, Coleco, Mattel, Bally, and so on.

 

I actually find it harder to go back to the NES/7800/SMS era to be honest. Yeah, that's newer than the Atari Age so it doesn't apply, but one reason why i can go back to those Atari era consoles is because they have very colorful and clean designs for the most part. The NES/7800/SMS age feels like the 2D versions of the PSX/SAT/N64/3DO era to me. They felt like they were trying to figure out how to make detailed sprites but really couldn't so you get really eye-bleeding ugly games with highly pixelated details and weird color choices. I find games like Gravitar, Adventure, Pitfall II, and the like much easier on the eyes.

Another thing that makes it easy for me to go back to the Atari era of consoles is that generally, the sprites LOOK like they animate at much higher frame-rates than the late 80's consoles do. If you look at Robotron, Berserk, Impossible Mission, Pit Fall(good versions of it), and others, they look like they animate much faster in comparison while the late 80's consoles sprites feel like they move much slower. It's something I always found odd. The late 80's consoles all feel like they animate much slower, even when they use the same amount of sprites for the animations. It's not with all games, but I generally notice it more often than not.

Edited September 12, 2018 by JaguarVision

[JBerel]

I go back as far as Jungles of Natheria.

 

[Cynicaster]

Asteroids is about as far back as I go. Space Invaders is too far; it's an extremely important game, but to me it's very dull to play today.

For me, the sweet spot is 1981 - 1983 or so. Lots of outstanding arcade games, and lots of great 2600 titles as well.

[Skippy B. Coyote]

https://youtu.be/oxKCPjcvbys

 

 

That matter aside, it is good question. Personally, as long as the gameplay is fun I can appreciate it regardless of the graphics or lack thereof. Miniature Golf on the 2600 is still a blast to play with a friend and I can have fun playing those old Tomy electromechanical handheld games like Blip and Digital Derby too. I just like playing games in general.

Edited September 12, 2018 by Jin

[AMenard]

My cutoff point is banging two stones together for the fun of it... :-)

[mbd30]

My personal favorite era is the mid 80s through the early 90s. But I could go as far back as the VCS.

[JaguarVision]

 

Asteroids is about as far back as I go. Space Invaders is too far; it's an extremely important game, but to me it's very dull to play today.

 

For me, the sweet spot is 1981 - 1983 or so. Lots of outstanding arcade games, and lots of great 2600 titles as well.

 

 

 

I actually think Space Invaders would have aged better if it was Vector/Outlined.

 

Some guys did a hack on the 2600 showing what that would look like somewhat:

 

I know it doesn't solve the outdated gameplay but it does help with the flat dull colors of the original imo.

[youxia]

[BassGuitari]

Really putting JayBird to work lately, aren't we?

[VectorGamer]

Even on a site like this you'd be surprised at how many individuals can't go back further than NES or Genesis for games.

 

It's fucking ATARIAge

[mbd30]

 

It's fucking ATARIAge

 

Maybe some Atari fans love the Jaguar but can't go back any further.

[PlaysWithWolves]

Somebody is in desperate need of attention.

[JBerel]

[NE146]

It's probably different for some of us who are old enough.. This is a nostalgic videogame group, and so for many of the things we experienced, the nostalgia exists because it was a powerful experience seeing these things when they were new.

 

For example I fully remember the wonder and amazement I had seeing a friggin electromechanical game like Shark (as seen in Jaws). And I also remember being amazed at a cocktail PONG clone as the first time I saw a videogame. So our perspective is that while we know it's old, we totally remember when it was new, high-tech, and amazing. The perspective would be different for a person who's first videogame experience was the NES where by then all the b&w stuff was already old-hat.

[derFunkenstein]

I can go back as far as NE146's avatar

[Jess Ragan]

You can go as far back, and as far forth, and as far back, and as far forth...

[jaybird3rd]

@JaguarVision: You have been asked repeatedly to stop creating these threads. Locking this one now.