The PROBLEM With Retro Gaming In 2023

As someone deeply entwined with the retro gaming scene, I can’t help but notice the conversations sparking up in every corner of our community. It’s a discussion that’s been on my mind for quite some time, and a recent incident really brought it into sharp focus.

We tend to fixate on certain topics like the cost of vintage games, foreseeing a bubble burst that will never come. The truth is, these prices are bound to stabilize over time, influenced by the simple economics of supply and demand.

It’s natural to be taken aback by the climbing value tags on titles that weren’t that rare to begin with, sometimes creating barriers for fresh enthusiasts. Yet, collecting these pieces of gaming history is more than acquiring physical items; it’s part of the thrill, the chase that comes with this hobby. However, I’m convinced that the core issue in retro gaming isn’t the price tags or even the grading controversies that have come under scrutiny.

Key Takeaways

• Rising prices of retro games are a result of supply and demand dynamics.
• The thrill of collecting is a significant part of the retro gaming experience.
• The true concern lies beyond financial aspects, within the community’s attitudes.

The Overlooked Issue in Classic Game Collecting

Within the vibrant community of classic video game enthusiasts, a substantial issue exists that’s not often openly discussed. I’ve noticed an alarming trend that hit me particularly hard when an event caught my eye recently.

This matter isn’t just about other major concerns that frequently get airtime, like the rising costs of retro games. Yes, the value of these cartridges often reach a high and tend to stay there due to supply and demand, which is understandable. For instance, looking at my own game shelves, I see an array of titles whose worth has skyrocketed, some multiplying in value over just one year, often regardless of their rarity.

But let’s talk specifics. It’s not so much the heightened prices or finding deals on NES and N64 cartridges for nostalgia’s sake that represent the core challenge. Rather, it’s the shift in perception within our community that seems to overshadow the joy of collecting and playing these games.

Certainly, the advent of grading companies like Wata has complicated the scene. They have taken on a role to assess the condition of games, including opened packages and common cartridges, assigning often questionable ratings. Many of us question the integrity and impact of such a commercialised system on honest collecting. It has encouraged some collectors to perceive any item in their possession as excessively valuable, making the market unpredictable and, quite honestly, a bit wild.

Yet, I don’t consider either prices or grading the main problem. What truly underlies the difficulty are behaviours that may deter new and younger enthusiasts from enjoying retro gaming. A striking example: In a Facebook group dedicated to retro gaming, a parent shared a photo of his children playing classic video games. Instead of celebrating this image of the next generation valuing vintage games, the first reactions focused on the ‘incorrectness’ of them using a clone console or not playing on a CRT monitor. Those comments reflected an elitist gatekeeping perspective that can alienate others and detract from the inclusivity and shared passion that should be at the heart of our community.

In my view, what matters is not the gear through which we experience these classics but the experiences themselves. Whether it’s on a clone console that supports multiple systems or even via emulation, what’s important is the appreciation and enjoyment of the games. Replacing undue criticism with encouragement, especially towards the younger players experiencing retro games, could redefine our community for the better.

Retro Games’ Value: Secondary to the Greater Challenge

I’ve noticed a significant misconception regarding the value of classic video games – one that often sparks intense debate. However, the true issue at hand isn’t cost. Sure, the market for retro games has seen considerable inflation, with prices soaring to levels that make some titles feel prohibitively expensive.

It’s astonishing to see how the value of certain games in my collection has multiplied within just a year. Although these figures might seem exorbitant, it’s simply a reflection of what people are prepared to pay, and isn’t a pronounced problem within our community.

When it comes to retro game collecting, prices will stabilise after reaching a peak, simply because there are collectors ready to pay top dollar for desired titles. This state of affairs results from nothing more complex than supply meeting demand. And, while someone uninformed might overpay, that’s just part of the sales dynamic.

What’s frustrating is when games are sent for subjective grading by companies whose main interest lies in profit. These organisations have graded non-rare items at astonishingly high values, distorting the perception of what a game is worth. Few things undermine the authenticity of a score as much as grading reproduction and bootleg cartridges – a practice employed by some of these companies.

But even this isn’t the core issue plaguing retro gaming. What’s disheartening is witnessing the gatekeeping by certain enthusiasts. Moments that should be celebrated, like children enjoying the classics on whichever console suits their needs, are met with criticism. It’s disconcerting to see people focus on the peripherals rather than what truly matters – the joy and nostalgia these games evoke.

In essence, our community’s issue isn’t founded upon prices or grading systems, but rather within an attitude that undermines the inclusive and welcoming spirit of retro gaming. Let’s not lose sight of why we fell in love with these games in the first place – not for the prestige or the display, but for the memories and experiences they gift us.

Understanding Supply and Demand in Retro Gaming

In recent conversations about the retro gaming community, I’ve noticed that the cost of vintage games has become a point of contention. Many speculate that prices will dramatically drop, but from my perspective, this isn’t the reality.

Rather, classic game prices reach a certain high and tend to stabilise around that mark. It’s quite straightforward, really: when someone puts a premium on a coveted item, the price sticks if there are buyers at that level. It could be due to a genuine desire for the item or perhaps a lack of knowledge regarding its true value, but it’s the way our market functions.

Looking at my own collection, I see games whose values have soared beyond expectations. Even titles not considered rare have fetched top dollar due to high demand. To some, the steep prices may be daunting, yet this hunt for treasures is an integral part of the retro gaming hobby for many, including myself.

I recall a time when I would actively seek out games to expand my collection, which now amounts to a substantial assortment including consoles and unique finds. I’ll admit, I’ve considered streamlining my collection, questioning the necessity of retaining such an extensive array of games.

That said, I want to clarify that the pricing isn’t the chief predicament within our community, no matter how fervently some might argue. Nor do I believe that the advent of video game grading companies, despite stirring significant controversy, represents our main challenge.

Granted, these entities have shifted perspectives within the collecting scene, leading some to assign exorbitant valuations based on questionable grading metrics – an approach I find quite perplexing and honestly, disagreeable.

Beyond commerce and the transformation it’s brought, I recently witnessed something unsettling that truly underpinned a significant issue for me. A member of a Facebook group shared a praiseworthy post depicting his young boys enjoying retro games. However, rather than commending this moment, some chose to criticise – pointing out the use of a third-party system and HD TV rather than the ‘authentic’ setup of original consoles and CRTs.

This gatekeeping, I believe, is a real hindrance. Playing classic games should be accessible and enjoyable, not confined to impractical standards. Whether on original hardware or through convenient modern solutions, what matters is the joy these games bring, especially to a new generation of enthusiasts.

Thoughts on Game Collecting

My Stance on Retro Gaming’s Challenges

I’ve been pondering the retro gaming community’s issues quite a bit. There’s been an event recently that made me think, “Yes, this is the crux of it”. It’s not the inflated prices of retro games or the market speculation—it’s something else entirely.

Prices Aren’t the Culprit

With prices, it’s essentially just supply and demand at play. Retro games hit a certain value and tend to hover around it, as that’s the maximum people are willing to risk. It implies that the days of stumbling upon cheap classic Nintendo or Nintendo 64 cartridges are over. Harsh as it may seem, it’s the reality, and not necessarily the core problem of the retro scene.

My shelves are lined with games that have soared in price over the years, some of which aren’t even rare, just sought-after. While daunting for newcomers, it adds an exciting element to the hunt.

Personal Inventory Reflection

I occasionally wrestle with the question of whether I want this vast collection occupying my space. There’s a chance I might slim down the collection, but as it stands, I possess a treasure trove of games and consoles, some exceedingly rare.

A Critical View of Video Game Grading

Conversely, video game grading, particularly by companies like Wata, creates a distorted perception within the community. A game’s worth becomes tied to a numerical grade that lacks context or clear definition. It’s led to the market being convinced they are sitting on goldmines for even the most common of games. In reality, it’s a questionable business driven by profit, not passion for the hobby. These graders value games, sealed or not, with a numerical score that often means little to the true value of the game.

Encounter with Community Gatekeeping

A definitive moment for me was witnessing harsh criticism levelled at a father who proudly shared a photo of his sons playing retro games. The two top comments disparagingly focused on the use of a clone console and an HD TV instead of the original gear and CRT.

This gatekeeping attitude misses the point completely. The father was teaching his children to appreciate classic games, which is commendable. The setup used doesn’t detract from the joy and educational value of the experience. To harp on about using specific equipment is to entirely miss the health of the community and the purpose of sharing these classics with the next generation.

Analysing Retro Game Valuation and The Wata Debate

In recent times, the valuation of retro games has seen a dramatic rise. While some may predict a market collapse that brings values back down, my experience tells me this isn’t likely to happen.

The asking prices for these nostalgic titles have reached a plateau, reflecting their peak desirability. It’s becoming increasingly uncommon to stumble upon those affordable cartridges from yesteryears, as demand dictates price.

And of course, these tags can skyrocket for sought-after, albeit not necessarily rare, games, which can be quite daunting to retro gaming enthusiasts. It’s a complex balance of preserving a collection and recognising when it might be time to scale back on the physical space it occupies.

On another front, a significant shift occurred within the community with the advent of Wata and the game grading system. Initially, casual sellers inflated their game’s worth without much basis.

However, when Wata entered the scene, the mindset within the knowledgeable collector community also started to change dramatically.

Suddenly, every game was seen as a potential goldmine, given the right grade. Yet, the system used by Wata has raised several concerns, from grading reproduction titles to altering the former standards that favoured sealed games.

The introduction of numerical grading scales for open games has been criticised for lacking transparency, as it’s often unclear how the assigned grades translate to actual value.

Moreover, this system has fostered insider transactions that inflate game prices artificially. It seems the focus has shifted from the joy of collecting to the financial aspect, with Wata prioritising profit over passion.

This development has left me questioning the motives behind purchasing graded games at all, seeing the act as an unnecessary attribution of worth to what are, in essence, playable pieces of history.

But it’s not the inflated prices or grading practices that are the core issue in retro gaming; it’s an attitude within the community.

A recent incident within a Facebook group I’m part of highlighted a more concerning problem: gatekeeping.

A proud father shared a picture of his children enjoying classic games, and instead of commendation, the top comments criticised his choice of consoles and TVs for not being “authentic” enough.

It struck me that such pedantic attitudes are the true inhibitors to embracing retro gaming, not the format on which the games are played.

Kids should be encouraged to experience these classics, regardless of whether they’re playing on a clone console or a modern television. After all, gaming should be accessible and enjoyable, not an elitist pursuit.

A Significant Issue: Exclusivity in Classic Gaming Circles

The narrative that’s commonly spun around retro games is one of nostalgia and passion, but beneath the surface, there’s an undercurrent of exclusivity that often goes unaddressed. It’s high time we shed some light on this widespread concern.

Key Concerns:

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  Perceived Gatekeeping: There’s an unsettling tendency where a section of the community establishes what they deem the ‘acceptable’ way to enjoy retro games. Any deviation from these so-called norms is often met with unwarranted criticism.

  
  

• Hardware Elitism:

  • The Original Console Bias: Some purists advocate for using only the original game consoles, sidelining modern solutions that make classic games more accessible.
  • The CRT Stance: Affirming that the only authentic way to experience retro games is on a cathode-ray tube (CRT) television, despite advancements in display technology.

Personal Experience:

I recall a particularly vexing instance on social media where a fellow enthusiast shared a charming photo of their children delving into classic video games. The children were enjoying their time on a multi-system console attached to an HDTV.

However, rather than receiving commendation, the comments fixated on the ‘improper’ setup, resorting to criticism because it wasn’t played on the original hardware or a CRT screen. This is indicative of an exclusionary mindset that does more harm than good.

My Stance:

I believe that how one chooses to enjoy retro games should be about personal preference and not conformity to purist standards. So long as the essence of gaming – fun and appreciation for the medium – is intact, the particulars of the setup shouldn’t preclude participation or enjoyment.

• Grading and Collecting Controversy:
  • Inflation in Game Pricing: The concern over game value inflation is often overstated. In reality, the market has simply evolved with games reaching a stable value plateau.
  • Grading Services: Institutions like Wata, which grade game quality, have their shortcomings and can contribute to a speculative gaming market, but they don’t capture the core issue at hand.

Unhealthy Attitudes in Retro Gaming Communities

In recent exchanges within the retro gaming community, a critical issue has come to light that merits discussion. It’s a topic often overlooked, perhaps due to its sensitive nature, but it’s high time to address the counterproductive mindset that’s been festering among enthusiasts.

This isn’t about the rising costs of collectibles—the fact is, retro game cartridges and consoles have reached a price plateau reflective of their demand and rarity. Prices have soared, some items quadrupling in value seemingly overnight, making the pursuit of retro gaming a costly hobby.

While collecting can be a thrilling hunt, the financial barrier to entry is indeed daunting for newcomers.

However, it is not the financial aspect that poses the gravest challenge to the community. Another pressing concern involves the grading of retro games, a process that has arguably skewed the market.

The emergence of grading systems, while ostensibly providing a service, has at times been criticised for inconsistencies and for accommodating reproduction or counterfeit copies. The practice of grading every item, whether sealed or opened, has received mixed responses.

While some see this as a pedigree of authenticity, others question the true value these grades represent, feeling that the systems prioritise profit over passion for gaming history.

The crux of the matter, however, lies in a worrying trend towards elitism and toxic gatekeeping.

A personal encounter served as a stark reminder of this issue: A fellow gamer shared a photograph of his two children enjoying retro games, only to be met with disheartening comments that fixated on the supposed ‘wrong’ choice of using a clone console or a modern television instead of a cathode-ray tube (CRT) display.

These reactions overlook the essence of gaming—shared experiences and enjoyment—opting instead for a narrow view of how these games ‘should’ be played.

In my view, the focus should be inclusive and welcoming, celebrating that a new generation is connecting with classic games, irrespective of the medium used.

Such rigid criteria for ‘correct’ play not only alienate potential members of the community but risk overshadowing the intrinsic value and joy of retro gaming.

The ultimate goal is to foster a space where everyone can appreciate the classics, whether on original hardware or through modern amenities that make retro games more accessible.