why is the retro forum so dead?

[Oh Danny Boy]

I myself am guilty of neglecting the retro section of this forum, mainly because there are few topics i feel like participating in.

However the only consoles i play are considered retro. i live in a world free of updates, samey consoles, FPS and HDTV's. I loved videogames because they plucked me from reality and dropped me into a world where fat italian plumbers eat mushrooms and rescue princesses, where the worlds are surreal and colourful. I want to see little fat guys fire rainbows at spiders, i want to hear jingly repetitive music, and i want my punk inline skating vandalist to face direct mility actions for his crimes. I don't want dark worlds, real life places and physics, i can get that when i walk out of the front door. I want another place, and thats why i love retro

So come on surely i'm not alone lets get the retro forums buzzing again

[Davros sock drawer]

I go through phases. Around Xmas and into the new year, all I was playing were retro games. Now I'm nuts deep into Fallout: New Vegas.

I'll always love Retro, but I only dip into it now and again.

[SMD]

I'm the same, right now I'm ploughing through a large backlog of PS3 and Xbox 360 games but eventually I'll jump back to PS2 or Gamecube games just to play something a bit...purer? I guess.

[Ketchup]

It's like this on most websites, even stuff like retro gamer is slow. Post more topics and more people will reply. Simples.

[Inky]

I think it's that mainly in Retro we tend to focus on a couple of games at a time and talk extensively about them, rather than having a whole bunch of topics on the go. Sometimes that particular game is something a bit more limited in appeal so the threads are quieter.

Also, some of it has to come down to the fact that a lot of us are old enough to have 'talked out' a lot of games, or at least are happy to wait a long while before revisiting them in discussion.

[ThePixelbarks]

Well, it's not like we've got anything new to talk about here.

[Qazimod]

Hey, if you want to wax lyrical about retro stuff, I'm sure a lot of people would be interested in listening and joining in. My most notable recent dabblings have involved getting to grips with C64 emulators on the PSP and trying to play old shooters on MAME. I think that Super SF4 has distracted me lately, but I love older games in much the same way I love today's games (after all, a game's content never changes over time; it's just our perception of what we enjoy from games that shifts... )

[Vimster]

Yes the Retro folder has always been quiet, but lately it's been more quiet than usual for some reason.

Posters do try to get topics going, there have been 'let's all play' sort of topics, general discussions about flashcarts or emulators.

I feel it's because unlike in Discussion there's no on-going talk of up-coming games, or everyone playing a game on release. Plus as has been said some games here are pretty niche, or have been talked about lots in the past. "Zelda on the SNES, that was a great game wasn't it?" wouldn't really cut it today.

Some people are into retro games, others might like to have a quick go on a game they used to like years ago, and some sort of stop following new stuff and stay where they are, ie I'm sure there are people on here who just gave up trying to keep up and still only play PS2 games.

Every now and again someone will reignite some old topic like what's the best Amstrad CPC arcade conversion. Some hate this but others like the opportunity to get back into that.

[Oh Danny Boy]

Yes the Retro folder has always been quiet, but lately it's been more quiet than usual for some reason.

Posters do try to get topics going, there have been 'let's all play' sort of topics, general discussions about flashcarts or emulators.

I feel it's because unlike in Discussion there's no on-going talk of up-coming games, or everyone playing a game on release. Plus as has been said some games here are pretty niche, or have been talked about lots in the past. "Zelda on the SNES, that was a great game wasn't it?" wouldn't really cut it today.

Some people are into retro games, others might like to have a quick go on a game they used to like years ago, and some sort of stop following new stuff and stay where they are, ie I'm sure there are people on here who just gave up trying to keep up and still only play PS2 games.

Every now and again someone will reignite some old topic like what's the best Amstrad CPC arcade conversion. Some hate this but others like the opportunity to get back into that.

i have stopped with current gaming for many reasons; a) they don't cater for the 90's arcade generation like myself anymore b) they are too reliant upon rechnmologies i don't want to adopt c) they are priced out of my range d) consoles have lost thier unique identities, i don't even know what is the difference between the two main competitors anymore d) game retail has also become less exciting, videogame shops just don't manage to pull me off the street these days e) i love simple games, i do like the odd explosion rampage but find it unsatisfying after a while.

Personally videogames changed for me once SEGA became a 3rd party developer, and i haven't been pulled into any videogame systems since. Apart from the jap PS2 which is a treasure cove of the quick simple colourful arcadey games that attracted me to videogames in the first place.

[Dandy_Sephy]

i have stopped with current gaming for many reasons; a) they don't cater for the 90's arcade generation like myself anymore *snip*

Apart from the jap PS2 which is a treasure cove of the quick simple colourful arcadey games that attracted me to videogames in the first place.

Xbox360 is where the arcade action is on the current console generation. The Jp 360 is pretty much a replacement for the jp ps2 if you factor in XBLA. Half the games I play on 360 are arcade games

[Vimster]

Xbox360 is where the arcade action is on the current console generation. The Jp 360 is pretty much a replacement for the jp ps2 if you factor in XBLA. Half the games I play on 360 are arcade games

Aye, check out the Indie Games section for the nearest thing you'll get to the old £1.99 Mastertronic days. Lots of dross but some right belters. It's not quite the same, it never will be but it's good to know there's that little spark there.

[Soulstar]

I was thinking the same thing recently about the lack of new topics posted here lately. I fit right into that category of falling out of the new games loop and feel there is still yet much to discover on the ps2 or the snes.

I like seeing topics posted on games which can often influence what a viewer on here will play next. Seeing these topics can remind you of something you had forgotten about but either wished to replay the same journey another time, or play a game for the first time that you planned to yo through once but forgot to ever come back to.

I still check this place everyday.

[masterhand]

retro tends to get interest in phases towards the end of a console generation where people are bored and want to look at something different until the next machine comes along. A lot of the retro fans have been here for a long time and have had most of the conversations before or have already found out about machines they may have missed out on. A retro topic posted in gaming often gets a lot of responses until it's moved to the retro folder where it dies as many posters don't come here.

[Unofficial Who]

I think also we've been spoilt of late. FOr those of us who love the old school games there's now new old school games. I've finally gotten my hands on Retro Game Challenge on the DS and I'm loving it. Just spent half an hour playing Cosmic Gate in free play mode, took me back to the old days of playing Eagle Empire on the old C64.

[trickytree]

I can't be doing with the 'new old school' games though, there's already plenty enough old school games already without needing imitations. I also don't agree that retro only gets played when new games run out, I barely play any new games any more (and therefore don't spend too much time here now).

As to why this folder's dead, it's probably because it's just a sub-folder of a mainstream games forum, where retro isn't the main focus. Proper retro forums such as Retro Gamer's or Sega-16 are still alive and well.

[Treble]

It's a shame the OP doesn't buy modern consoles to experience the wealth of retro-styled games that are around these days. Hell, even an old PC and a Steam account will net you billions of great titles.

The problem with that, of course, is that the best are discussed in Discussion, so Super Meat Boy, Minecraft et al (which are huge forum faves and retro as all hell) could almost live in here don't. Ditto just about every DS game ever released. I'm 3/4s of the way through Phoenix Wright, and they don't get any more retro than that.

I agree though that we're in an era where the retro scene is all about replicating 8-Bit games - not slick shooters, racers and fighters from the 90s - and even then they tend to be a narrow range of genres (for instance, I despair when I see yet another 'Tower Defense' game, as I think they're crap and a waste of time and effort, and if I see another neon-styled twin-stick shooter I think I'll scream).

What we really need are some good, cheap (or free) dev tools out there that will replicate 16-bit stuff easily, so we see more games featuring faked 3D/sprite scaling (Buggy Boy's just been discussed in another thread. That'd be ace) or, conversely, looking as polished and gorgeous in 2D as something like Gunstar Heroes. I think iOS has just got an Amiga emulator hasn't it? But, then again, any conversation about Lotus Challenge or Shadow of the Beast will end up in the Apple games thread in Discussion. So that's another bugger, isn't it?

[Dandy_Sephy]

I think iOS has just got an Amiga emulator hasn't it? But, then again, any conversation about Lotus Challenge or Shadow of the Beast will end up in the Apple games thread in Discussion. So that's another bugger, isn't it?

It also has an official Pc Engine/Turbografx emulator. No one even took any notice about it when I posted about it the main games thread, it might actually get more attention here, so I don't think we can't have dedicated topics for retro emulators or ports on other devices. In fact, a dedicated topic for retro or retro styled gaming on non traditional devices seems like a good idea to me

Personally I have phases with retro, in the same way I do with newer gaming, but I think it's a cop out to say people aren't interested. You don't even have to be in a retro mood to enjoy talking about retro gaming, and if anything a good thread or post will make you want to go play something retro, be it a specific game or a console.

edit:I'm currently writing a general topic for retro goodies on current devices

[SeanR]

if I EVER get to go booting this year...

[Camel]

I think this has been answered pretty comprehensively. I used to be a massive retro whore, still own tons of retro games, but retro sensibilities are prevalent in so many quality games these days, I don't have time to play actual retro stuff in between playing all the good modern stuff. Great isn't it?

[Oh Danny Boy]

It's a shame the OP doesn't buy modern consoles to experience the wealth of retro-styled games that are around these days. Hell, even an old PC and a Steam account will net you billions of great titles.

The problem with that, of course, is that the best are discussed in Discussion, so Super Meat Boy, Minecraft et al (which are huge forum faves and retro as all hell) could almost live in here don't. Ditto just about every DS game ever released. I'm 3/4s of the way through Phoenix Wright, and they don't get any more retro than that.

I agree though that we're in an era where the retro scene is all about replicating 8-Bit games - not slick shooters, racers and fighters from the 90s - and even then they tend to be a narrow range of genres (for instance, I despair when I see yet another 'Tower Defense' game, as I think they're crap and a waste of time and effort, and if I see another neon-styled twin-stick shooter I think I'll scream).

What we really need are some good, cheap (or free) dev tools out there that will replicate 16-bit stuff easily, so we see more games featuring faked 3D/sprite scaling (Buggy Boy's just been discussed in another thread. That'd be ace) or, conversely, looking as polished and gorgeous in 2D as something like Gunstar Heroes. I think iOS has just got an Amiga emulator hasn't it? But, then again, any conversation about Lotus Challenge or Shadow of the Beast will end up in the Apple games thread in Discussion. So that's another bugger, isn't it?

good post

i can't do the modern videogame systems due to budget and the fact that this generation has created a cut off point from the last for me. Investing in a 360 also means i must invest in a HDTV which due to space means i would have to pack away my CRT. The options are go with new platforms at a huge expense and pack away all the retro or just don't bother at all. There is just so much more quality on the ps2, DC, megadrive, saturn etc and so much i have yet to experience on those platforms that the former is just not an attractive option. Lectures finish this week and i'm looking forward to firing up the ol' megadrive for the first time in months.

To be fair i don't dismiss modern games altogether. I play on my bro's 360 now and again and the likes of Oblivion and Fable are the kind of games i always dreamed i would one day be playing when i was a kid. Great games. This is why i'm looking forward to the PSP2, it will be my chance to experience the current gen without the need of a new expensive TV or the sacrifice of retro.

[Camel]

You don't *have* to have an HD set for a 360.

[masterhand]

You don't *have* to have an HD set for a 360.

Even with RGB scart most modern games look like arse on a CRT. I had CRT for 2 years before upgrading the TV.

[Camel]

Even with RGB scart most modern games look like arse on a CRT. I had CRT for 2 years before upgrading the TV.

360 on a CRT is fine. I have a second 360 hooked up to a decent Sony CRT and I can't see how it looks 'arse' at all. It doesn't look HD, obviously, but it looks far from 'arse'.

If it means not packing away his older consoles, I can't see any problem with running a 360 on a CRT at all. Except for those stupid cases where devs have decided to put text in a font only good for ants.

[masterhand]

It's the difference between VHS and DVD.

[Camel]

It's the difference between VHS and DVD.

No, it's almost literally the difference between DVD and Blu-Ray.

He's already running older consoles on a CRT. 360 on a CRT will be fine. Drama queen.

[Dandy_Sephy]

If he's playing retro or retro styled stuff then yes. For newer games it will vary massively depending on the game.

[Camel]

Well I've had no problems playing a 360 on a CRT aside from the aforementioned tiny text issue. It's not like it's worse than playing an Xbox on a CRT.

[Nick R]

If he's playing retro or retro styled stuff then yes. For newer games it will vary massively depending on the game.

Yes, I play my 360 on a 4:3 CRT and it's quite variable how good they look in SD (and whether the fonts are at all legible).

Some games look fine, simply the logical next step up from the original Xbox: things like Halo 3/Reach*, Ninja Gaiden 2, Batman AA. Also, of course, retro XBLA games look fine.

Generally, games with "cleaner" or more cartoony art styles work well in SD, whereas things like the Cryis 2 demo and Gears of War have so much detail that they're not at all suited to low-res and you have to strain your eyes to make anything out.

* ("haha halo only looks good on a crt cos it's not true hd lol!")

[masterhand]

No, it's almost literally the difference between DVD and Blu-Ray.

He's already running older consoles on a CRT. 360 on a CRT will be fine. Drama queen.

Right let me get this straight, your dismissing my opinion based on the differences between a HD format and and SD one and your the one that only has a SD TV. You can keep telling yourself it's OK in SD just because you can't afford to upgrade even when HD TV's are so cheap now compared to their CRT counterparts back in the day.

[GViper]

Right let me get this straight, your dismissing my opinion based on the differences between a HD format and and SD one and your the one that only has a SD TV. You can keep telling yourself it's OK in SD just because you can't afford to upgrade even when HD TV's are so cheap now compared to their CRT counterparts back in the day.

But the bit you bolded isn't wrong...

and it is fine on a CRT TV. Cheap maybe, but sometimes it's a £200 hit some can't afford. Don't be an insensitive prick.