Define Retro Gaming

[ste_167]

For me the latest console, Isee as 'retro' is the SNES, and that's right at the edge. I still think of the PS1 as new. I guess it was the 2D-->3D transition.

 

[rabbits with hats]

2 gens ago

 

[sparr]

I define retro as prior to the day that eye candy won out over gameplay, which I place as FF7 being released for the PSX (for high res cut scenes) instead of the N64 (for superior interactive 3D).

 

[ste_167]

I must admit I'm reduced to low-score or kids games on new consoles nowadays just to fulfill my pick-up-and-play retro instincts. I'd love to have the time to really get into one of these new games, they look great but I never get past the 2nd cutscene half of the time. I tried Morrowind tonight on the Xbox, but I just couldn't cope with it! Later came some odd bull fighting game on our fave handheld and I was fine on that well past my usual reset limits. I guess it's an attention span thing too...

 

[darkman]

I just saw on a news stand a copy of GAME tm which they had a listing of 100 great retro games and FF7 was listed. :huh: I have never looked at it as being retro.
I enjoy a lot of the 2D games of the past systems, nes, genesis, tg 16, neo geo, snes, etc. For me thats retro. I would include a lot of old arcade games in the list too, like Juno First and Stun Runner. Wish I could play Stun Runner on my GP2X.

 

[LordFu]

I consider any system no longer manufactured "retro".

 

[Javacat]

I'd consider the NES somewhat retro. I wouldn't class the SNES/Genesis/anything following them as retro though.

 

[Ravnos]

2 gens ago

That's actually a pretty good definition, I'd say. I'd include PSX/N64 in that now as we're on the cusp of a new generation, but for the most part I'd say it's pretty accurate.

 

[Shikaku]

I would find it funny on the day when we retro this retro handheld (meaning play it on emulators).

 

[WarmFluffyUK]

I think it's pretty difficult to be definitive about the term "Retro Gaming" as we all have our own feelings on the subject.

The dictionary definition is: Involving, relating to, or reminiscent of things past, so I guess it comes down to basic nostalgia. As for me if I think back about a system or game and go all googly eyed saying "Oh yeah I remember that!", then that's retro(ish).

The whole concept of retro in the gaming industry has a whole bunch of grey areas where things overlap. For instance: I would consider an "original" Playstation 1 console to be retro, but not really the games as I can still play them on my PS2, and some of the PS1 games still hold their own today!

Retro gaming has a whole ethos surrounding it. Generally if the system or game is cool, then it's in the bag, otherwise it gets ditched and is never heard of again as I can't see many people developing emulators for something that was truly cr*p.

To sum up: Retro gaming is any system we fondly remember but don't have permanently plugged in, or any game we fondly remember that requires an emulator to play it. But even that has grey areas :huh: .

 

[nickspoon]

#define RETRO_GAMING "Anything before the PSX/N64."

 

[skysnapper]

#define RETRO_GAMING "Anything before the PSX/N64."

Agree

 

[Wite_Noiz]

I'd consider the NES somewhat retro. I wouldn't class the SNES/Genesis/anything following them as retro though.

So what's real retro, then? EDSAC!? (that was the first computer to run a game, if you didn't know)

 

[WarmFluffyUK]

I'd consider the NES somewhat retro. I wouldn't class the SNES/Genesis/anything following them as retro though.

So what's real retro, then? EDSAC!? (that was the first computer to run a game, if you didn't know)

I dont think any of us had one plugged into the living room television though

 

[Javacat]

I'd consider the NES somewhat retro. I wouldn't class the SNES/Genesis/anything following them as retro though.

So what's real retro, then? EDSAC!? (that was the first computer to run a game, if you didn't know)

hmmm.. I suppose one could consider that 'retro'..

In terms of games consoles, I'd probably class first and second generation as retro; ie Magnavox Odyssey, Pong, Coleco Telstar, Fairchild Channel F, Atari 2600, Magnavox Odyssey², Intellivision, 5200, ColecoVision, Vectrex, SG-1000.

I wouldn't class SNES/Genesis as retro though, as I see those as pritty much perfect 2D games consoles. I'd class the NES as somewhat retro, as at the start it did have some pritty poor games, but towards the end some of the games were excellent (in terms of graphics).

In regards to computers, I'd consider the Acorn Electron and Commodore 64 retro, but not so much the Amiga 1000.


I think the way I class things as retro is pritty distorted, but I've just realised that everything I have classed as that were released before I was born (1985). Or maybe my opinion of old skool and retro is mixed up. Even I don't understand my logic sometimes

 

[CABBAGES]

i think it maybe depends in your age and what you grew up playing. I think playstation is sort of retro i mean its 12 years old or somethin ? when ps2 came out things like nes were classed as retro and that was only 13 years old (in the uk anyway)

 

[jmetal88]

I say the Jaguar and earlier is retro.

 

[Jarska333]

I consider retro to be a stupid word, used by people who don't understand, that I might actually play older games, because they are good, not because they are old...

Retro=cool because of it's age, and more and more, cool, because fashion-people or whatnot say it's cool... Blah.

 

[Javacat]

I consider retro to be a stupid word, used by people who don't understand, that I might actually play older games, because they are good, not because they are old...

Retro=cool because of it's age, and more and more, cool, because fashion-people or whatnot say it's cool... Blah.

Well you are like soooooooo uncool.


*Drives off in his new style mini, whilst listening to U2 on his iPod*




ps, I don't have a new mini, I hate U2 and the iPod sucks