Why Do People Still Play Old Games and Use Retro Consoles?

People who own multiple gaming consoles often do so for a reason. Issues such as backwards compatibility and exclusive titles are the main drivers. As such, it is rare for someone to purchase a new console and games without intending to use them. For instance, if someone has a PlayStation with a full library of games and then decides to purchase another console to play a specific game, they are unlikely to discard their old console and games. Depending on the circumstances, they might purchase the new console for a particular game and then finish it without finding any other titles of interest for that console, so they revert to playing the old one.

PC Gamers vs. Console Players

Other than console exclusives, PC gamers don't face the same issue. They can play games from 20 or 30 years ago on their computers. Most of the console games they own are essentially useless since they don't have the old consoles to play them on. While they could buy one, most of the games they already have on PC are available for cheap.

Continuing to Enjoy Old Games

Yeah, you can switch between all your different consoles every once in a while, just because they're old doesn't mean they're not fun.

Many people still play old games and use retro consoles. This year, I played original games on:

Just because a game doesn't have the newest graphics or hyper-realistic effects, it doesn't mean it's not a good game. A good game is a good game, just like a good movie or book. The graphics, special effects, or language don't change the fact that a good form of entertainment is enjoyable.

Anyone who says otherwise is simply being superficial in what they think is good.

My Nostalgic Journey with Gaming

I, an old coder, who started with an Atari VCS (known as the 2600), find it amusing to think of the Xbox 360 as an old console. Despite the increasing age of video game technology, there are still people who play old games and use retro consoles, and there's no reason to dismiss them.

Unfortunately, I don't own any consoles other than my PS4, which I purchased to replace the one that was stolen last December. Eventually, I will replace my Switch. In the meantime, I play games from older systems via emulators. As a Mac user, I use OpenEmu for most of the consoles I remember from my youth, as it supports a wide range of consoles. For arcade games, I use RetroArch, which is the latest version of MAME and doesn't suffer from flickering issues when running MAME ROMs.

In conclusion, the enjoyment of old games and retro consoles is not just a once-over concern. It’s a testament to the lasting appeal of classic games and the enduring emotional connection many people have with their gaming history. Whether playing on real hardware or through emulators, the spirit of gaming continues to thrive.