Retro Trend Among PC Gamers?

I am currently 20, and I've grown up with games such as System Shock, Freespace 2, Homeworld, Baldur's Gate, Mechwarrior, Falcon 4.0, and so on. It seems to me that now PC gamers are starting to "rediscover" all of these classics, behaviour I hadn't noticed when the games listed above where new. I came to question myself about this after noticing in the past months a rather steep rise in threads asking about old games or any possible sequels to '90s classics.

Now, my question to you is whether this "trend" is new, or if PC gamers have always acted this way towards older games but I wasn't really paying attention. And if this is a new trend, or at least the scale at which this is happening has increased dramatically, what do you believe to be the cause?

It's not a NEW trend, it's a constant trend.

Folk go back and forth, all the time!

I've been playing and replaying PC games for nearly quarter of a century (since my college days - damn I feel old) and I'd say nostalgia's a powerful thing. I just get urges to replay some of the old classics now and then. I also try to encourage new PC gamers to expand their horizons beyond the pretty pixels of modern games and try out some of the games of yesteryear. Some people these days just don't know what they missed out on.

Great games should never be allowed to die, just like classic movies deserve multiple viewings.

I would say that I've been revisiting some older games recently simply because some of the newer games aren't as satisfying as they should be. When some of those new games start hitting the shelves later this year, I'll probably be too busy trying those out.

Not a trend at all. Think about this. Ultima Online an MMORPG thats been up for like 10 years.. say that with me 10 YEARS. Is still up and running. Quake 1 is still up and running with hundreds of servers. Starcraft, warcraft, Soldier of Fortune, Baldurs Gate etc etc etc Still up and running.

My point being, since PC gaming can make communities and mods because of the internet. Not much of it has truly died off. As compared to console gaming, where you could only play with people at your house long ago before Xbox live, and PS's whatever they have. But I bet if somone made a LEGIT program, or hardware package that let you say 'Play super techmo Bowl with other people online back then' I think people would still be playing Super Techmo Bowl, Gold eye, etc. (I mean back when they were semi-new, Im sure now you can via emulators n such but now there is no following really)

to put it shortly-

No I don't think its a new trend at all. Over the years several games have been released that graphics aside have incredibly fun gameplay. I still enjoy old NES games thru emulation. Im even beating KOTOR2 a second go, and to be honest im suprised how different its going this go round.

there's plenty of good older games out there to play but they sure aren't the same as the new ones

the technology keeps advancing and im all about it!

I think this is something that has always happened on the PC....

Mods can make even old games enjoyable.

+ a lot of PC games....especially the older ones, have a layer of complexity well beyond what is seen on consoles.

Many people, on these boards for example, may seem to be bringing up our old favorites because there really hasn't been a "must see" game that's come out in some time - since Oblivion I guess you could say. I've played other fantastic games since then (notably Neverwinter Nights 2 and Dreamfall:TLJ, both of which I loved) but they really didn't get all that much attention, it seems.

Just my opinion, of course, but whenever we come across a dry spell I play through some of my old favorite adventure games. I may just have to replay all four Broken Sword games while I wait for the NWN2 expansion ;) sounds about right.

I am 20, but I did not start gaming until 2002, when I was 15. Once I really got into PC gaming, I decided that I owed it to myself to try as many of the classics as I could. Since then I have tried out a lot of older games-- Half-Life, StarCraft, Quake, Duke Nukem 3D. The greatest thing about old games is that you can usually buy used copies of them online for less than $10.

The main thing I have noticed about classic games, though, is that they generally do have some features that were probably very innovative at the time, but most of them don't stand up to more recent games in their genre because games are constantly improving. Some 'classic' games do have a very special feel to them, but others just seem like crap versions of more recent games. I think it is definitely worth playing them for the historical aspect, though. Also, older gamers probably enjoy the nostalgia of going back and playing some of their favorite games sometimes.

...Also, older gamers probably enjoy the nostalgia of going back and playing some of their favorite games sometimes.

PCgamerX

Amen to that! It's amazing how vividly I can still recall some obscure puzzle solution from an ancient King's Quest or Space Quest game from what seems like a different world ago compared to games these days. Yet, I don't know where I put my car keys a couple hours ago ;)

[QUOTE="PCgamerX"]

...Also, older gamers probably enjoy the nostalgia of going back and playing some of their favorite games sometimes.

AlphaHumana

Amen to that! It's amazing how vividly I can still recall some obscure puzzle solution from an ancient King's Quest or Space Quest game from what seems like a different world ago compared to games these days. Yet, I don't know where I put my car keys a couple hours ago ;)

^ Ditto! XD

All the great point&click Adventure Game Classics from LucasArts + Sierra...I hope they will make a BIG comeback one day!!!

This trend is not new to me. The other day ago I was bored and found my self playing Need for Speed Porche Unleashed. I've loved almost all the NFS games but I Porche Unleashed was my fav and I couldn't help going back. Dating myself even more I also busted out my copy of Castle of the Winds.

Just yesterday I pulled out my copy of AoE 2 and the expansion and had some LAN battles with my brother. Still fun, even now.el_carl

Age of Empires 2 is so much more fun then AoE3. IMHO

Not new mate. I only stopped playing Diablo2 about 12 months ago. I played the first one, something like, 10 years ago. If LOKI doesn't give me my D2 fix (TitanQuest sure didn't)I will probaly go back to it, even though I have clocked it coutless times.

How about Chess and Mah-jong games? they are the oldest games ever. Chess, as we know it, has been around since the 15th century, and Mah-jong since 500BC!, now THATS retro!

[QUOTE="AlphaHumana"][QUOTE="PCgamerX"]

...Also, older gamers probably enjoy the nostalgia of going back and playing some of their favorite games sometimes.

ananda81

Amen to that! It's amazing how vividly I can still recall some obscure puzzle solution from an ancient King's Quest or Space Quest game from what seems like a different world ago compared to games these days. Yet, I don't know where I put my car keys a couple hours ago ;)

^ Ditto! XD

All the great point&click Adventure Game Classics from LucasArts + Sierra...I hope they will make a BIG comeback one day!!!

I so agree, I really hope we see a return to them in a big way. Definitely the good ole days! The genre that was once filled with so many memorable gems now brings us Runaway 2 (the latest "new" point and click I've played.) I mean, it was mildly enjoyable, but I'm not going to remember that game in 5 years - the game is only a few months old and I already forget the main character's name! And I still remember "hiden goseke" is the password to the brigand's base in Quest for Glory 1 haha!

edit: typo

Nothing new nor not a trend.

It's akin to putting a Rolling Stones or Velvet Underground CD on or watching a 60's to 70's movie. People replay and relive older classics in a number of entertainment fora.

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