Retro-Gaming
Retro-gaming is a term with soft definitions. In my opinion, people who
are interested in retro-gaming know what they like and love reading, watching and
reviewing games with roots longer than last week.
There is no doubt that these games can be fun. These games are quick to get
into and rely on reflexes and pattern recognition to succeed.
It is amazing what developers could do with such heavy restrictions.
There are many websites, forums,
magazines, Facebook pages, auction sites, and archives that collate and analyse
this large body of work. This sort of discussion falls into groups such as
historical, heritage, and recollections.
Helen Stuckey has written a wonder thesis on
Remembering Australian videogames of the 1980s,
what museums can learn from retro gamer communities about the curation of game history.
Beyond the historical perspective, retro-games are also a source
for inspiration and refreshing onto newer platforms. I have
put together some pages on interesting games that keep this in mind.
Some of these games are readily available on current gaming platforms and
some are even recent developments by passionate programmers.
They reflect what I like and find inspiration from. Please enjoy.
Gaming Machines
Step into the world of retro gaming machines, where vintage games meet modern convenience.
These machines are sometimes a treasure trove of classic gaming adventures, often packing anywhere from a handful to thousands of games.
Imagine reliving the era of street arcades, right in your own living room.
These consoles, often compact and user-friendly, offer a gateway to the past, where pixels ruled and gameplay was king.
From the simplistic charm of early 8-bit adventures to the more sophisticated 16-bit sagas,
these machines cater to all kinds of retro enthusiasts.
Retrogaming Adventure Gaming
My retrogaming log overflows with high action, graphically intense, action games. These games are quick to get into and fast paced. Often it is a matter of switching off the brain and relying on rote reflexes alone. These are the headline actions. These are the blockbuster games. Never forget that adventure games are out there. Ask a gamer what the first gaming hits were. Gamers are likely to respond with the ever awesome Space Invaders, Asteroids or Defender. Adventure was distributed on mainframe computers before Arcades became a thing.
There has always been a devoted following to adventure games. The adventure crowd may not be as dense as shoot'em ups. Adventure game players are still around. Few modern blog posts discuss the merits of the latest text-based adventure game. The adventure crowd is living in a different world. Literally.
Adventure games have a reputation for mixing fantasy worlds with brain-twisting puzzles. The gamer usually finds themself at the center of the story. The world can be medieval fantasy, Cthulhu scientific horror, or set in space. All adventurers need a quest. The adventure game immerses you in that quest.
Adventure games are a battle of wits. The gamer may be battling a rabid orc in game. In reality, the gamer is battling their wits against the programmer's cunning. Adventure game writers are a devious bunch. Puzzles and riddles are their domain. The clues to winning are there. We need to search the clues to escape the next trap.
There is an amazing feeling in conquering an adventure game. You have won. You have bettered the program. That feeling is a rush. Maybe you have forgotten that feeling. Look out for your next quest as the adventure bug may bite again.
