The “Atari Shock” or also known as ‘The Great Video Game Crash of 1983’ brought the American video gaming industry to a halt. With revenues that almost reached $3.2 billion dollars, it almost destroyed a lot of emerging game development companies during that time. Analysts feared that video game consoles were not viable in the long run. However, with the North American launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1985, it forever changed the gaming industry.
With unforgettable game titles like Super Mario Bros, Metal Gear Solid, the Mega Man series, Castlevania, The Legend of Zelda, Dragon Quest, and Final Fantasy, these games not only entertained people; they also influenced future video game designers and pop culture. It also opened doors to other console manufacturers like Sega with their 16-bit Mega Drive. During the late 80’s and early 90’s, people saw the dawn of portable gaming devices such as the Nintendo Game Boy, Sega Game Gear, and the Atari Lynx. With these advancements in technology, it gave rise to a whole new market: the on-the-go gamers.
Although we still enjoy our favorite classic or retro games on our beloved Sony PlayStation Portables (PSPs) and Nintendo DS, a new contender is entering the gaming arena: the smart devices. With mobile phones and tablets becoming smarter and more advanced, they are fast-becoming the platforms of choice. Companies like O2 have collaborated with manufacturers Sony, Apple, and Samsung to bring mobile gaming to the mass market. But, how can these smart devices help bring back the love for classic games?
Accessories Galore
According to an article published on Nintendolife.com: smartphones and tablets will be the “primary screen” for gamers by 2017. With traditional gaming consoles and handhelds slowly being eclipsed by these devices, manufacturers like Nintendo have decreased their sales forecast from 27% to 14% respectively. Since devices like the tablet are very accessible to all consumer segments, they are becoming the best gaming platforms. Take the iCade for example; it gives gamers a portable arcade cabinet. Classic arcade games like Centipede, Asteriods, Pac-Man, and Missile Command can now be played with your iCade, without inserting a coin. But if you want to relive your 8-bit glory days, try the iCade 8-Bitty – Retro Wireless Game Controller for iPhone/iPad/Android. It features a classic D-PAD and button layout similar to your old retro consoles. Using Bluetooth technology to connect wirelessly, it connects seamlessly with your Android and iOS devices. Now, you can never run out of lives while playing Contra: Evolution on your mobile device.
Powered-Up for Gaming
With popular game titles like Infinity Blade and XCOM®: Enemy Unknown dominating the mobile gaming charts, it clearly shows the power of your average smart device. Most smartphones and tablets are designed with powerful chips or processors to properly launch applications. These gadgets also boast of a 10-hour battery life, which is more than enough for playing games, watching videos, and some light reading. Most of these gadgets also adapted display technologies like a Retina Display and Super AMOLED (Active Matrix OLED) to give users the best visual experience possible. Aside from ultra-fast processors and crystal-clear displays, they have various connection options like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 4th Generation Internet connectivity. This is important, especially if they need to back-up their game’s data on their existing cloud storage services. Aside from cloud storage, gamers can also save data on other storage media like microSD cards. Losing data won’t be a nightmare, thanks to these storage options.
A Definite Blast from the Past
Thanks to technology, vintage game enthusiasts can now enjoy their favourite games on their mobile phones. Pacific Wings or 1941 Air Combat makes a comeback on the iOS platform. It’s basically the same thing and you control your plane with your finger. For gamers who want to visit the 16-bit era, check out Sonic the Hedgehog, and collect all the rings you’ll need to defeat Dr. Robotnik. For the Mega Man fans, check out the Mega Man X and battle every stage boss to come face-to-face with Sigma. For those who want to play the greatest RPG of all time, get Chrono Trigger and see why it was the most revolutionary game of its time. Now you can carry all of these classic games with you, any time.
With all the intense and graphic-heavy games coming out on the mobile gaming market, one may wonder why some are looking for older games. It’s because gamers want to recapture the experience of playing a game for the first time. They want to experience the joy of immersing into another world, knowing the contrast between it and reality. Also, most of these old games didn’t have save points; people really had to play them until the end, and that’s where they get their satisfaction. It was like mastering the hardest subject in class and showing everyone that they could do it.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nadia Hyeong usually writes about gadgets, apps and games. During her free time, she appreciates classic rock and art. Follow her on Twitter and Twitter.