It seems a bit derisory to focus on nostalgia as the sole driving factor. After all, classic film and classic literature still have an audience, even though their origins have passed much further beyond living memory. Why should games be any different?
I think that the technical and artistic constraints under which pre-modern games were created have merit in their own right. It may be less popular once the wave of nostalgia passes, but I expect people will continue to create and play retro and retro-aesthetic games far into the future.
Anyway, I have my own theory, which is that gamers like good games. Quite unfortunately, the industry doesn’t really make those anymore, preferring to focus instead of monetization and live service shit. Fortunately, theres a deep catalog of high quality retro games, and it’s not particularly difficult to get them running on your PC or mobile device.
Also, nostalgia is a factor for gamers of a certain age.
And ability to hack around them. Look at FFEWin or TTDPatch projects. Those guys did amazing work. I myself hack around old games too, fixing bugs or adding little improvements.
around the millenium my brother bought a pc to do the paperwork for his new business. he asked me to choose/setup the pc. did that and added a zx spectrum emulator and a few of the games that he remembered from the 80s on my zx spectrum +2.
a month later he asked me to remove the emulator as his kids were ignoring their xbox and playstation to play jetpac. he couldn't get near it and when he did, he found himself playing jetpac. it's a terrible game. it's the same screen over and over again. a little faster, a little harder. but very very playable.
I think that the technical and artistic constraints under which pre-modern games were created have merit in their own right. It may be less popular once the wave of nostalgia passes, but I expect people will continue to create and play retro and retro-aesthetic games far into the future.
Anyway, I have my own theory, which is that gamers like good games. Quite unfortunately, the industry doesn’t really make those anymore, preferring to focus instead of monetization and live service shit. Fortunately, theres a deep catalog of high quality retro games, and it’s not particularly difficult to get them running on your PC or mobile device.
Also, nostalgia is a factor for gamers of a certain age.
1) If you play an old game it makes you unique
2) It's not a job (no side quests)
3) No IAP or DLC
And probably the most important 4 - most retro games are just fun in their simplicity, inventiveness and playability.
a month later he asked me to remove the emulator as his kids were ignoring their xbox and playstation to play jetpac. he couldn't get near it and when he did, he found himself playing jetpac. it's a terrible game. it's the same screen over and over again. a little faster, a little harder. but very very playable.