The all new 2012 'What is Retro?' thread!

[NorthWay]

And using that reasoning, you're saying a game like Driver will never be retro, because it can always be resold with a few simple changes to make it HD (or whatever).

Yep. Was my opinion, and still is.

So Space Invaders and Pacman aren't retro as they'ver been updated on PS3, 360 and IOS etc fairly recently?

If they were made with intrinsicly resolution-independent tools, then yes. However, at least the originals were made from bitmaps with discrete animation steps.

Though, as I said, I begrudgingly see that you can make something new in a retro style and it would be suitable for RG. And me.

[HalcyonDaze00]

If someone asks me why I am playing such an old and outdated game, then I will consider that game to be retro.

most of the Wii stuff then?

[NorthWay]

Let me add to the confusion: This might also be a discussion about semantics.

How? Look at GTA III.
I don't think GTA III is retro. At all. I think it represents modern gaming at its peak.
I _do_ think GTA III is a classic, a fantastic game.

Retro. Classic. Your choice of word.
Do you consider them the same? I don't.

[crusto]

Vice City, I played this again just a few weeks ago. Did it feel retro? Absolutely. Is it a classic? Absolutely. Why? Although it was still a joy to play, it was very dated to look at and just felt a bit 'old'. To me that qualifies as retro. Yet Gradius V? No way. Looks as slick as it plays. As does Dark Chronicle. Its so hard to define really, its all down to individual taste. A bit pointless to discuss it really imo. But good fun none the less.

[GameOverYeah]

It could be argued that anything that brings the feeling of nostalgia is Retro. Which could mean anything could be considered Retro, even Modern Warfare 2 as things have moved on and for someone to go back to it now would bring back memories. Thats Retro gaming is it not? How a game makes you feel or what memories you have associated with it during a certain time in your life. I know this would drive people crazy with rage but its the truth.

Obviously Retro Gaming has developed into more than simple nostalgia now and there are different communities and different ways and reasons for enjoying retro games. But in the end it is just simple nostalgia. I personally consider Retro anything last gen onwards or what is not current gen.

At the end of the day, what does it matter what it means. The only real problem are the idiots whos whine and send letters into Retro Gamer magazine stating Retro is only what THEY played has a kid (usually 8 bit computers) and expect the magazine be written for them personally. I have a problem with that, because they are (attempting) to prevent people enjoying a hobby they appernetly share. At the end of the day, people should be trying to get people into it, especially younger people. Because what do you think is going to happen to your collections when all the true retro gamers die of old age. Probably joining E.T in a land fill somewhere I presume.

[crusto]

Mine will be getting buried with me and next door to me. And maybe in just one more plot.

[psj3809]

It could be argued that anything that brings the feeling of nostalgia is Retro. Which could mean anything could be considered Retro, even Modern Warfare 2 as things have moved on and for someone to go back to it now would bring back memories. Thats Retro gaming is it not? How a game makes you feel or what memories you have associated with it during a certain time in your life. I know this would drive people crazy with rage but its the truth.

I agree with this, i think there should be an 8 year window or so. I mean i've just started playing Grand Theft Auto 3 again, some people wont think thats retro but its 10 years old now. Bringing back great nostalgic memories, seeing different missions takes me back, or certain cars, areas of the city, all the memories come flooding back. Loving it

[jdanddiet]

not reading the whole thread but has Antiriad popped up yet with this "even playstation isn't retro"?

[Mootown]

Retro starts from yesterday.

[GarryG]

Retro starts from yesterday.

Wow, you go away for a while and people (mostly) get all sensible, civil, and start agreeing with each other...
What's this board coming to
Glad to see theirs still a loony or two around though


Personally I think there are two distinct sides to this, the hardware side and the software side.
For the software side I'm beginning to think of it less in terms of the programs age, and more in terms of game play style. Although I'm also thinking games for older platforms like the PS1 (ever the 3d ones) are becoming 'retro' not solely because of their age but because of the technology level (hardware and software) they were written for.
So yes, for hardware my idea of retro has now moved up from 16Bit to include at the very least the early 32Bit consoles.


Hardware wise I still say the DC isn't retro unless you also say the PS2 is retro though, as the same generation of hardware was used in both machines.

[Antiriad2097]

This is a tough question, the PS1/N64/Saturn generation is most certainly retro

Altogether now: Oh no they're not

For me, they mark the line where 'non-retro' starts. Though there are some retro games on those systems.

[mandelbrot78]

Personally I think there are two distinct sides to this, the hardware side and the software side.
For the software side I'm beginning to think of it less in terms of the programs age, and more in terms of game play style. Although I'm also thinking games for older platforms like the PS1 (ever the 3d ones) are becoming 'retro' not solely because of their age but because of the technology level (hardware and software) they were written for.
So yes, for hardware my idea of retro has now moved up from 16Bit to include at the very least the early 32Bit consoles.

I respectfully disagree with this. I think it's a matter of gameplay mechanics and dominant genres. Since the PS1 era we are pretty much playing the same games with better graphics and ameliorated gameplay. How is Tomb Raider, Quake, Super Mario 64 or Command & Conquer, retro? Modern games rely on the exact same formulas. These games are just old: Previous versions of the same software. I don't really miss playing Tomb Raider, since I can now play a far better version of that game (like the new Tomb Raider). It's exactly like not feeling nostalgic about using Photoshop 4, since I can now use a far better version of that software.

In order for something to be "Retro" it must feel and play differently than modern games. It must rely on a different gaming "philosophy", a different paradigm.

[thebear]

Re Playstation

Just an interesting idea, here's ttrhe top 10 movies of the year Playstations was released

Forrest Gump
The Lion King
True Lies
The Santa Clause
The Flintstones
Dumb & Dumber
Clear and Present Danger
Speed
The Mask
Pulp Fiction

The following tv shows ended that year
Knightmare
Jim'll Fix It
Desmonds
New Statesmen
Paul Daniels Magic Show
That's Life


and the top selling singles were -
Love Is All Around - Wet Wet Wet
Saturday Night - Whigfield
Stay Another Day - East 17



That all seems an AWFULLY long time ago to me, christ I'd only been out of college for a year or two, so I say PS1 is retro!

[Antiriad2097]

A list of relatively new movies, the end of retro telly and some crap music much the same as current charts (and old ones tbh).

Yep, that list pretty much confirms PS1 is the end of retro and the start of the new.

[Sel Feena]

But lots of long-running franchises have started off on the good old PS1, like Resi. And, applying mandelbrot's criteria for what qualifies as retro, that game at least passes. The antiquated control scheme, the relatively slower pace...