For some time now, the web has been panicking, we hear about retro-gaming, retro consoles, and even new retro consoles. We'll find out w...
We'll find out what it is, why people love it, and how publishers benefit from it.
What does “retro” mean?
Retro, what is it? With current trends, one is entitled to wonder.
It is quite simply a question of bringing up to date an object, a concept, a game, or any other subject which has been fashionable in the past and which arouses a certain nostalgia for users.
The retro can touch on many subjects. Earlier we mentioned video games, a real fashion phenomenon these days, but it also concerns fashion, cars, music, and often the fields of creation and digital support.
Why does it work?
Nowadays, what we will call Retro Gaming is taking an increasingly important place in the world of video games, known as “Gamers”. From the simple reissue to the reboot, passing through the remakes, the publishers do not stop.
But why would people buy a game that has had its day or whose plot they already know? Nostalgia.
Who has not known a striking game in his youth? Pong, Pacman, Crash Bandicoot, Metal Gear Solid, and many more… So many games have had, in one way or another, an influence on our current vision of video games and which have defined, over time. time, the quality criteria of our games today. This is how they became references.
These references, the publishers have understood, can be exploited in many ways, whether by releasing yet another sequel, by applying a graphic overhaul, or by allowing them to be replayed on our current platforms. And that, it pleases, precisely thanks to this famous nostalgia.
What is done or not done?
The actions of video game publishers have a strong tendency to panic the community of players, who are often demanding and very critical. As a result, publishers may or may not afford certain things, and that's where the difficulty lies. Sell an improved product, why not; sell a copy of an existing product, beware! But where is the limit? This is a debate that rages all the time on forums and social networks. Some are fine with adding content, others think it would change the nature of the game. There are, of course, copyright laws about this.
What is selling?
Then comes the big question: what is selling? The answer is simple, everything sells. The old consoles are resurfacing, recently with the Super Nintendo Classic, earlier with the SEGA Megadrive Classic, or soon with the Ataribox. The games don't cut it: for a few years now, we have been witnessing many returns to the old arcade gameplays, reminiscent of the most classic platformers, such as could be found on the arcade terminals at the local bar. . Even phones are getting into it, with the iconic Nokia 3310. In short, anything goes!
List of retro gaming consoles
Super Nintendo Classic
Super Nintendo Classic Mini
SEGA Mini Console Megadrive HD
SEGA Megadrive Classic Game
SEGA Mega Drive Ultimate Portable
Atari Flashback 8
Atari Flashback 7
Atari Flashback Portable
Recalbox
We are going to talk here about emulation with Recalbox. When we talk about emulation, we are talking about launching a game on a medium that is not it's own.
This is what Recalbox offers us via the Raspberry pi 3.
To do so, we will need:
a Raspberry Pi 3,
a power supply for the Raspberry Pi 3,
a keyboard, to install Recalbox,
a micro SD card of at least 16 GB,
it is advisable to also bring a joystick,
and finally, this is not mandatory, but you can provide a box for the Raspberry Pi 3.
What Makes a Good Reboot?
If a publisher wants to re-adapt a product, he must of course respect certain rules to be successful:
The minimum: fix what was already wrong before. Of course, no one will buy a product that they know is full of malfunctions.
Update the characters: the game should not be a pale copy of the original. For that, easy, it is necessary to modernize the characters.
Do not count ONLY on nostalgia: yes, to be successful, it is not enough to rely on the old audience, you must also create a new one.
Be patient: do not release a reboot of a product a year after its release, users would feel cheated.
In the end, is it good or not?
Your turn to judge! Some would say yes, others no. But we must keep in mind that all this is only a hobby, the goal being to have fun. The nostalgic will be satisfied, while the others will have fun on the latest Call Of Duty, Battlefield, or Star Wars Battlefront, and who knows, maybe they will change their minds when the game reboot is announced. marked their childhood!
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