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If I were to listen to The Beatles or watch Casablanca on the TV, would I be Retrolistening or Retrowatching? Why then is it that when I play Street fighter 2 or Contra 3 that I am Retrogaming? Is it that sampling classic games is in a different league to sampling classic music or films? So many questions, and now for some answers. Maybe.
The difference between music, TV and games is in the fact that there are clearly definable differences between the eras. The evolution of the home computer system has led us from 8-bit graphics up to 128-bit graphics. This has lead to markedly different appearances of the classic games between the eras. The original Mario Bros. Game on the NES is dramatically different to that of Mario Sunshine on the Gamecube.
Recently the Retrogaming scene has seen an explosion of interest. Neo Geo classics like Metal slug can only be bought if you have a spare £1000 in your wallet. And the more high-profile Saturn titles, like Panzer Dragoon, Nights and Radiant Silvergun will set you back about £100. The market is becoming lucrative and ruthless, as collectors go about trying to track down and buy the high profile, must-have games.
But what is it that really attracts these sorts of prices? Is it the rarity? Bragging rights? Gameplay? Well in actual fact it’s a mixture of both. The games that go for big bucks are the classics, the games that have truly shone out, and revolutionised or even invented a genre. However less and less are these games being bought by hardcore gamers, and more by rich types looking for an exclusive hobby. This is a sad fact, seeing as most of these people have never really had an interest in games anyway.
Conversely however it could be a blessing in disguise, acting as a lure to get a more secluded audience into the modern gaming scene.
The Neo Geo collecting scene was relatively small until its realised rarity and exclusivity made it a prime target for the rich. However not all collectors are rich, some are normal people who are making real sacrifices to keep their hobby alive, sometimes stooping as low as being on noodle diets to conserve funds.
You may be clutching your copy of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and wondering why it isn’t worth that much money. The game was revolutionary, and is heralded the world over as the best game ever made, yet it is only worth around £12. The simple answer is rarity. There are too many carts on the market to inspire any real collectivity.
Usually the most collective games were the real sellers for the poorest performing systems. The virtual Boy, Neo Geo and Sega Saturn were all relative failures. The virtual boy induced headaches, the Neo Geo was FAR too expensive and the Saturn just couldn’t beat the Playstation’s popularity. Its like a mint condition Boba Fett figure from the original Star Wars merchandising. It depends on being overlooked.
However you would think that the Retrogaming scene would be for the thrifty, and not for the rich. Emulators for these machines are readily available on the Internet, a few minutes and you have the software to run a fully functional NES, SNES or Saturn on your home computer. Yet it doesn’t affect the market prices.
And this is for one simple reason. Materialism. We like to be able to touch the packaging, read the instruction manual, and physically push the power button. Have you ever tried to play Street Fighter 2 on a PC? It’s terrible; the controls just don’t FEEL right. Without a SNES pad clamped between your hands the experience just feels hollow.
And so we finish on the reason why Retrogaming is such a popular “pastime”, the joy of reliving early gaming memories is perhaps the most attractive and rewarding experience you can get from a game, particularly if they make you think about something in a different light. Could you now still throw 100 lemmings off a cliff to their doom? Maybe so, but its best not to.
The difference between music, TV and games is in the fact that there are clearly definable differences between the eras. The evolution of the home computer system has led us from 8-bit graphics up to 128-bit graphics. This has lead to markedly different appearances of the classic games between the eras. The original Mario Bros. Game on the NES is dramatically different to that of Mario Sunshine on the Gamecube.
Recently the Retrogaming scene has seen an explosion of interest. Neo Geo classics like Metal slug can only be bought if you have a spare £1000 in your wallet. And the more high-profile Saturn titles, like Panzer Dragoon, Nights and Radiant Silvergun will set you back about £100. The market is becoming lucrative and ruthless, as collectors go about trying to track down and buy the high profile, must-have games.
But what is it that really attracts these sorts of prices? Is it the rarity? Bragging rights? Gameplay? Well in actual fact it’s a mixture of both. The games that go for big bucks are the classics, the games that have truly shone out, and revolutionised or even invented a genre. However less and less are these games being bought by hardcore gamers, and more by rich types looking for an exclusive hobby. This is a sad fact, seeing as most of these people have never really had an interest in games anyway.
Conversely however it could be a blessing in disguise, acting as a lure to get a more secluded audience into the modern gaming scene.
The Neo Geo collecting scene was relatively small until its realised rarity and exclusivity made it a prime target for the rich. However not all collectors are rich, some are normal people who are making real sacrifices to keep their hobby alive, sometimes stooping as low as being on noodle diets to conserve funds.
You may be clutching your copy of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and wondering why it isn’t worth that much money. The game was revolutionary, and is heralded the world over as the best game ever made, yet it is only worth around £12. The simple answer is rarity. There are too many carts on the market to inspire any real collectivity.
Usually the most collective games were the real sellers for the poorest performing systems. The virtual Boy, Neo Geo and Sega Saturn were all relative failures. The virtual boy induced headaches, the Neo Geo was FAR too expensive and the Saturn just couldn’t beat the Playstation’s popularity. Its like a mint condition Boba Fett figure from the original Star Wars merchandising. It depends on being overlooked.
However you would think that the Retrogaming scene would be for the thrifty, and not for the rich. Emulators for these machines are readily available on the Internet, a few minutes and you have the software to run a fully functional NES, SNES or Saturn on your home computer. Yet it doesn’t affect the market prices.
And this is for one simple reason. Materialism. We like to be able to touch the packaging, read the instruction manual, and physically push the power button. Have you ever tried to play Street Fighter 2 on a PC? It’s terrible; the controls just don’t FEEL right. Without a SNES pad clamped between your hands the experience just feels hollow.
And so we finish on the reason why Retrogaming is such a popular “pastime”, the joy of reliving early gaming memories is perhaps the most attractive and rewarding experience you can get from a game, particularly if they make you think about something in a different light. Could you now still throw 100 lemmings off a cliff to their doom? Maybe so, but its best not to.
Still, what with all the rubbish mags out there, the only ones I read are C&VG (because I've been reading it for years), Edge and NGC. Anything else is just not cricket.
Does anyone remember "Yob's mailbag" in C&VG eons ago? It used to feature in the early 90's and involved a smartass cussing EVERYONE who wrote into it. For me, that was one of the best reading experiences ever. I used to go straight to that section whenever I read C&vG. Perhaps we should organise a petition to bring back Yob's Mailbag?
Does anyone remember "Yob's mailbag" in C&VG eons ago? It used to feature in the early 90's and involved a smartass cussing EVERYONE who wrote into it. For me, that was one of the best reading experiences ever. I used to go straight to that section whenever I read C&vG. Perhaps we should organise a petition to bring back Yob's Mailbag?
VenomByte wrote:
> Is there ANYONE on this damn forum who didn't read Edge's 'RETRO' this
> month?
>
> :D
I read it in WH Smith, i think it costs too much.
> Is there ANYONE on this damn forum who didn't read Edge's 'RETRO' this
> month?
>
> :D
I read it in WH Smith, i think it costs too much.
Whitestripes wrote:
> Retrogaming is great, esspeccialy beating you senseless at Kirby's
> Dreamcourse. :D
>
>
>
>
> Oh, and your post is rubbish ;)
Good to see you still like to lend an encouraging word.
:¬D
> Retrogaming is great, esspeccialy beating you senseless at Kirby's
> Dreamcourse. :D
>
>
>
>
> Oh, and your post is rubbish ;)
Good to see you still like to lend an encouraging word.
:¬D
Edgy wrote:
>
> I don't like Edge magazine - too overly critical. So I don't read it -
> unless someone gives it to me for free...
I concur
It's like a whole magazine written by a hybrid of Insane Bartender and Belldandy.
>
> I don't like Edge magazine - too overly critical. So I don't read it -
> unless someone gives it to me for free...
I concur
It's like a whole magazine written by a hybrid of Insane Bartender and Belldandy.
Whitestripes wrote:
> VenomByte wrote:
> Is there ANYONE on this damn forum who didn't read Edge's 'RETRO'
> this
> month?
>
>
> *raises hand*
Raises glass (what, I'm aloud to drink aren't I?)
I don't like Edge magazine - too overly critical. So I don't read it - unless someone gives it to me for free...
> VenomByte wrote:
> Is there ANYONE on this damn forum who didn't read Edge's 'RETRO'
> this
> month?
>
>
> *raises hand*
Raises glass (what, I'm aloud to drink aren't I?)
I don't like Edge magazine - too overly critical. So I don't read it - unless someone gives it to me for free...
VenomByte wrote:
> Is there ANYONE on this damn forum who didn't read Edge's 'RETRO' this
> month?
*raises hand*
> Is there ANYONE on this damn forum who didn't read Edge's 'RETRO' this
> month?
*raises hand*
Is there ANYONE on this damn forum who didn't read Edge's 'RETRO' this month?
:D
:D
Retrogaming is great, esspeccialy beating you senseless at Kirby's Dreamcourse. :D
Oh, and your post is rubbish ;)
Oh, and your post is rubbish ;)
If I were to listen to The Beatles or watch Casablanca on the TV, would I be Retrolistening or Retrowatching? Why then is it that when I play Street fighter 2 or Contra 3 that I am Retrogaming? Is it that sampling classic games is in a different league to sampling classic music or films? So many questions, and now for some answers. Maybe.
The difference between music, TV and games is in the fact that there are clearly definable differences between the eras. The evolution of the home computer system has led us from 8-bit graphics up to 128-bit graphics. This has lead to markedly different appearances of the classic games between the eras. The original Mario Bros. Game on the NES is dramatically different to that of Mario Sunshine on the Gamecube.
Recently the Retrogaming scene has seen an explosion of interest. Neo Geo classics like Metal slug can only be bought if you have a spare £1000 in your wallet. And the more high-profile Saturn titles, like Panzer Dragoon, Nights and Radiant Silvergun will set you back about £100. The market is becoming lucrative and ruthless, as collectors go about trying to track down and buy the high profile, must-have games.
But what is it that really attracts these sorts of prices? Is it the rarity? Bragging rights? Gameplay? Well in actual fact it’s a mixture of both. The games that go for big bucks are the classics, the games that have truly shone out, and revolutionised or even invented a genre. However less and less are these games being bought by hardcore gamers, and more by rich types looking for an exclusive hobby. This is a sad fact, seeing as most of these people have never really had an interest in games anyway.
Conversely however it could be a blessing in disguise, acting as a lure to get a more secluded audience into the modern gaming scene.
The Neo Geo collecting scene was relatively small until its realised rarity and exclusivity made it a prime target for the rich. However not all collectors are rich, some are normal people who are making real sacrifices to keep their hobby alive, sometimes stooping as low as being on noodle diets to conserve funds.
You may be clutching your copy of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and wondering why it isn’t worth that much money. The game was revolutionary, and is heralded the world over as the best game ever made, yet it is only worth around £12. The simple answer is rarity. There are too many carts on the market to inspire any real collectivity.
Usually the most collective games were the real sellers for the poorest performing systems. The virtual Boy, Neo Geo and Sega Saturn were all relative failures. The virtual boy induced headaches, the Neo Geo was FAR too expensive and the Saturn just couldn’t beat the Playstation’s popularity. Its like a mint condition Boba Fett figure from the original Star Wars merchandising. It depends on being overlooked.
However you would think that the Retrogaming scene would be for the thrifty, and not for the rich. Emulators for these machines are readily available on the Internet, a few minutes and you have the software to run a fully functional NES, SNES or Saturn on your home computer. Yet it doesn’t affect the market prices.
And this is for one simple reason. Materialism. We like to be able to touch the packaging, read the instruction manual, and physically push the power button. Have you ever tried to play Street Fighter 2 on a PC? It’s terrible; the controls just don’t FEEL right. Without a SNES pad clamped between your hands the experience just feels hollow.
And so we finish on the reason why Retrogaming is such a popular “pastime”, the joy of reliving early gaming memories is perhaps the most attractive and rewarding experience you can get from a game, particularly if they make you think about something in a different light. Could you now still throw 100 lemmings off a cliff to their doom? Maybe so, but its best not to.
The difference between music, TV and games is in the fact that there are clearly definable differences between the eras. The evolution of the home computer system has led us from 8-bit graphics up to 128-bit graphics. This has lead to markedly different appearances of the classic games between the eras. The original Mario Bros. Game on the NES is dramatically different to that of Mario Sunshine on the Gamecube.
Recently the Retrogaming scene has seen an explosion of interest. Neo Geo classics like Metal slug can only be bought if you have a spare £1000 in your wallet. And the more high-profile Saturn titles, like Panzer Dragoon, Nights and Radiant Silvergun will set you back about £100. The market is becoming lucrative and ruthless, as collectors go about trying to track down and buy the high profile, must-have games.
But what is it that really attracts these sorts of prices? Is it the rarity? Bragging rights? Gameplay? Well in actual fact it’s a mixture of both. The games that go for big bucks are the classics, the games that have truly shone out, and revolutionised or even invented a genre. However less and less are these games being bought by hardcore gamers, and more by rich types looking for an exclusive hobby. This is a sad fact, seeing as most of these people have never really had an interest in games anyway.
Conversely however it could be a blessing in disguise, acting as a lure to get a more secluded audience into the modern gaming scene.
The Neo Geo collecting scene was relatively small until its realised rarity and exclusivity made it a prime target for the rich. However not all collectors are rich, some are normal people who are making real sacrifices to keep their hobby alive, sometimes stooping as low as being on noodle diets to conserve funds.
You may be clutching your copy of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and wondering why it isn’t worth that much money. The game was revolutionary, and is heralded the world over as the best game ever made, yet it is only worth around £12. The simple answer is rarity. There are too many carts on the market to inspire any real collectivity.
Usually the most collective games were the real sellers for the poorest performing systems. The virtual Boy, Neo Geo and Sega Saturn were all relative failures. The virtual boy induced headaches, the Neo Geo was FAR too expensive and the Saturn just couldn’t beat the Playstation’s popularity. Its like a mint condition Boba Fett figure from the original Star Wars merchandising. It depends on being overlooked.
However you would think that the Retrogaming scene would be for the thrifty, and not for the rich. Emulators for these machines are readily available on the Internet, a few minutes and you have the software to run a fully functional NES, SNES or Saturn on your home computer. Yet it doesn’t affect the market prices.
And this is for one simple reason. Materialism. We like to be able to touch the packaging, read the instruction manual, and physically push the power button. Have you ever tried to play Street Fighter 2 on a PC? It’s terrible; the controls just don’t FEEL right. Without a SNES pad clamped between your hands the experience just feels hollow.
And so we finish on the reason why Retrogaming is such a popular “pastime”, the joy of reliving early gaming memories is perhaps the most attractive and rewarding experience you can get from a game, particularly if they make you think about something in a different light. Could you now still throw 100 lemmings off a cliff to their doom? Maybe so, but its best not to.