I feel I’m probably repeating some of what’s already mentioned here, yet at the same time it’s nice to see that there are others who share the same thoughts and feelings as me.
For me the golden era of gaming was around 1988 – 1999, but specifically the 16bit era with the Super Nintendo/Sega Mega Drive.
Just seeing Super Mario World for the first time, and how it looked when compared to the NES Super Mario games was phenomenal and I was instantly sold (yet we didn’t purchase a SNES till 1994). All any teenage boy wanted for Christmas in 1992 was a SNES with Street Fighter II. I immersed myself in the likes of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Secret of Mana, Shadowrun and was still being wowed at what the console was dishing out with games such as Donkey Kong Country, Killer Instinct and Street Fighter Alpha 2.
Also, just the general hype generated over games such as Street Fighter II, Sonic 2 and the controversy over Mortal Kombat (also that Mortal Monday advert).
We didn’t have the internet, but it was slowly emerging, so most of us got our information from gaming magazines. This was our source for cheats and guides (if you wanted to show off the latest moves in the arcade then you need to be clued up).
The arcade scene was also key. Being at the arcade and having a crowd of people watching you as were playing the likes of Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat 3 and Killer Instinct - this just doesn't happen anymore. Also, playing Konami’s four player Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Simpsons at the arcades.
Gamesmaster and Bad Influence were on TV (at one point, they were both broadcast on the same day – I find it amazing that despite the popularity of gaming there are currently no programmes dedicated to it on terrestrial TV). I recall reading how series 2 of Gamesmaster was at one point pulling in 3 million viewers.
For a programme broadcast on CITV, Bad Influence was the first show in the UK to reveal the then Ultra 64, and everyone’s jaws dropped when they saw Super Mario 64 for the first time. The internet has lessened that level of excitement.
I can remember the long wait for the Nintendo 64 to be released, but feeling excited at the kind of games I would be able to play on it. A lot of hours were spent playing four player Goldeneye and Mario Kart 64 with my siblings. Managing to get a hold of the last copy of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time the day after it was released meant that I was able to play it over Christmas in 1998.
Also, stuff that just symbolises the time:
The “Nintendo Killed My Son” headline in The Sun.
People being drawn to the kid that brought a Game Boy into school.
Getting all the stickers for the Nintendo Official Sticker Album and all the Sega Super Play Panini cards.
Reading Digitiser on Teletext (and not really getting the humour till later).
While I don’t have as much time for games these days, there is very little that gets me excited. The last game I was constantly thinking about even when I wasn’t playing it was Bayonetta, and that was over five years ago. I don’t see anything on the next generation consoles that I’m desperate to play. I think I would be more inclined to purchase a PC Engine than a PS4 or Xbox One.
For me the golden era of gaming was around 1988 – 1999, but specifically the 16bit era with the Super Nintendo/Sega Mega Drive.
Just seeing Super Mario World for the first time, and how it looked when compared to the NES Super Mario games was phenomenal and I was instantly sold (yet we didn’t purchase a SNES till 1994). All any teenage boy wanted for Christmas in 1992 was a SNES with Street Fighter II. I immersed myself in the likes of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Secret of Mana, Shadowrun and was still being wowed at what the console was dishing out with games such as Donkey Kong Country, Killer Instinct and Street Fighter Alpha 2.
Also, just the general hype generated over games such as Street Fighter II, Sonic 2 and the controversy over Mortal Kombat (also that Mortal Monday advert).
We didn’t have the internet, but it was slowly emerging, so most of us got our information from gaming magazines. This was our source for cheats and guides (if you wanted to show off the latest moves in the arcade then you need to be clued up).
The arcade scene was also key. Being at the arcade and having a crowd of people watching you as were playing the likes of Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat 3 and Killer Instinct - this just doesn't happen anymore. Also, playing Konami’s four player Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Simpsons at the arcades.
Gamesmaster and Bad Influence were on TV (at one point, they were both broadcast on the same day – I find it amazing that despite the popularity of gaming there are currently no programmes dedicated to it on terrestrial TV). I recall reading how series 2 of Gamesmaster was at one point pulling in 3 million viewers.
For a programme broadcast on CITV, Bad Influence was the first show in the UK to reveal the then Ultra 64, and everyone’s jaws dropped when they saw Super Mario 64 for the first time. The internet has lessened that level of excitement.
I can remember the long wait for the Nintendo 64 to be released, but feeling excited at the kind of games I would be able to play on it. A lot of hours were spent playing four player Goldeneye and Mario Kart 64 with my siblings. Managing to get a hold of the last copy of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time the day after it was released meant that I was able to play it over Christmas in 1998.
Also, stuff that just symbolises the time:
The “Nintendo Killed My Son” headline in The Sun.
People being drawn to the kid that brought a Game Boy into school.
Getting all the stickers for the Nintendo Official Sticker Album and all the Sega Super Play Panini cards.
Reading Digitiser on Teletext (and not really getting the humour till later).
While I don’t have as much time for games these days, there is very little that gets me excited. The last game I was constantly thinking about even when I wasn’t playing it was Bayonetta, and that was over five years ago. I don’t see anything on the next generation consoles that I’m desperate to play. I think I would be more inclined to purchase a PC Engine than a PS4 or Xbox One.
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