• 29Jan 08

  Thoughts on "Retro Gaming"

  I've been hearing a lot of talk lately about "Retro Gaming." Just what is Retro Gaming anyway? I mean; does playing an old game you've never played before constitute Retro Gaming? Or does this only occur when you're actually re-living fond memories...Personally, I love old games, especially the classics. But it only has that magical 'retro/nostalgic' feeling when playing one of them takes me back to the old days.
  • Posted Jan 29, 2008 2:50 pm PT
  • Category: Games
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• 4Aug 07

  So Many Games...So Little Sense of Direction

  How my Rated Games list came to be

  As with most ambitious projects I undertake this one nearly spiraled out of control and soon had me thinking I'd gotten in way over my head. My original goal was to list and rate every game I've ever played...Now to fully appreciate the implications of such an endeavor you must first realize that I've been playing games since the original Atari 2600 debuted way back in the early eighties. I was very young, but I remember it (and so many of those old games) quite vividly. Since then I've owned and played (and rented) many games from many systems that have come along over the years and well, you get the picture. It didn't take long to realize this just wasn't going to be realistic, at least not if I wanted to keep my job and maintain my sanity. Btw, this realization occured something like 10 minutes into a list of NES games I'd started browsing through. A new approach was in order.

  The question now became less a matter of how I'd compile a complete list of every game ever played to 'How would I decide which games to include (or leave out of) the list?' Somehow I needed to establish a set of criteria. At the very least I wanted to be able to look at this list now and then and reminisce over the many fond memories spent in other worlds, saving the galaxy or rescuing a princess...or building a mighty army or solving puzzles that no mere mortal could possibly have solved had he not consulted the Walkthrough (C'mon you know you've done it too). Ok then, what's the critera going to be?

  Eventually, after much thought and a couple cups of strong coffee I came up with what I thought a respectable set of criteria for a worthy 'Comprehensive Games List.' Here's how it works. Better yet, here's how it doesn't work. Rather than putting together a list of every game ever played, or even a list of the funnest games I've ever played, I've opted instead for something more like 'the most memorable games I've ever played.' This way I figured I could achieve a more accurate (and well rounded) picture of the many video games throughout the years that have had the most impact on me, for better or for worse. Plus it wouldn't take nearly as long as my first idea, which (if I'm being honest) is largely what this change is about. I also felt it was important that I'd spent enough time with the game to have crafted a fairly objective opinion about it. Does this mean I've beaten or finished every game you see here? Not remotely. But I did at least play them long enough to know whether they were worthy enough to make a committment. Either that or until something else came along and stole my attention.

  I won't lie; this project has still taken a considerable amount of time. Why I've only just started reviewing some of the games after having compiled the core list and assigning the initial ratings. I've got quite a ways to go yet (and probably not all of them will get a full review). But I can say this has certainly turned out to be more fun than I'm sure the original idea would have been. And it's certainly been quite a nostalgia trip to remember some of these games, quite a few of which I'd totally forgotten about up until I began this a couple weeks ago. Video games are a lot of fun; it's why we play them right? But in my view they're more than just a momentary passtime, especially for we dedicated Gamer types. These small virtual worlds are a part of our lives, leaving us with memories fond or otherwise that can be just as enjoyable to look back upon as they were playing them in the first place. My hope is this list, if maintained well enough, will always be something I can look back on and remember the times I first discovered a new genre, or how I finally beat that one really tough game, or experienced that particular moment where your whole perception of what games can do is forever altered by something new & innovative. I have no doubt a list like this would be totally unique for each of us and I hope it may even inspire others to do the same. In the meantime, here's my personal list of 'Most Memorable Games.'

  • Posted Aug 4, 2007 8:46 am PT
  • Category: Games
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