Video Game Industry Embraces Retro Classics

Newhouse News ^ | 8/14/04 | Laura DeMarco

[Senator Pardek]

My favorite was Missile Command.

For those of you who don't know, the point of the game was to defend U.S. cities from attack by utilizing a pseudo-SDI system. I know it was the 80's - but in retrospect it was quite chilling because one was always destined to lose...

[Miss Marple]

THANK YOU!! Tetris it is!!

[luvbach1]

Let's hear it for Frogger!

[Professional Engineer]

I used to have Tetris on my HP48.

[RadioAstronomer]

My son and I were a great team! My husband thought we were nuts, because we would stay up till all hours trying to get to the next level.

So did I. I must have been "nuts" too as well. :-) The games I liked the best on the N-64 were Banjo Kazooie, Zelda Orcarena of Time, and Zelda Majora's Mask. :-)

[RadioAstronomer]

I have an HP48 as well but my only calculator game was Lunar Lander on my old Hp-65. :-)

[luvbach1]

Depending on the game, some of those old 2600 carts can be worth major bucks.

What about carts to work on Atari 800s (don't think they work on anything else, but don't know)? I have Miner 2049r, Pac Man, Space Invaders, Missile Command, others, all working, as does computer (1982 vintage).

[farfromhome]

I have thought this for a while. The old games seemed to have a lot more originality. Because computers now have the power to make realistic images, most games have settled into one of a few limited genres.

[supercat]

The local spot where I sing Karaoke has a Galaxian machine I probably spend $1-$2/week or so on.

And someday maybe I'll get back to working some more on the 2600 game I started to write (it produces a display--no easy feat on the 2600--but I don't have the 'action' in yet).

[RadioAstronomer]

I am not sure. I do know old computers are becoming major collector peices. I would hang on to it. I have about 9 pre 1980 computers myself.

[qam1]

Whooooops! ZORK/Adventure rates up there with my top ones as well. :-)

Oh yeah who can forget Zork I-III. I even like the first non-text based Zork game because your character looked like Rush Limbaugh

The other great games for the early PC's were the King's Quest games and Archon (I'm surprised they never tried to bring this one back).

[July 4th]

Yes - the Gamecube is a pretty family-friendly platform. Most of the games for it are non-violent.

About this article, I can completely relate to the resurgence of the old systems. I grew up with NES, and I can only bring myself to play the new systems for about a half an hour at a time. Video games were for zoning out and getting hypnotized by the TV. Most games today are far too complicated to do that anymore!

[supercat]

Anyone remember Killer Bees on the Odyssey²? I don't think I've ever seen anything else like it. Really cool game.

[RadioAstronomer]

I have all three Zorks and Archon II with my C-64. I never did aquire a mainframe (LOL) but I was able to download Adventure for my PC. My oldest computer is a Vintage Minivac 6020 from 1962. My second oldest is a vintage PDP-8 with real core memory.

[RadioAstronomer]

I even like the first non-text based Zork game because your character looked like Rush Limbaugh

Hehehe! I never saw that one. I did see some of the early ones like "Blade of Blackpool".

[RadioAstronomer]

Anyone remember Killer Bees on the Odyssey²? I don't think I've ever seen anything else like it. Really cool game.

Cool! I never saw that one, but will keep my eyes out for it now! Thanks! :-)

[Fifth Business]

Happy news! Zork I, II, and III (Infocom) are public domain now.

download here

[RadioAstronomer]

WOW thanks. :-)

[Fifth Business]

You're welcome!

[Sofa King]

You must have never played Diablo II :)

That game is pure crack.