Steven
07-17-2015, 08:03 PM
Hey guys, I think odds are, if you're reading this you're into retro games, whether it's NES, SNES, Genesis, PS1, Saturn or whatever. Have you noticed in Youtube videos, game reviews, game websites or just gaming message boards like this one, there tends to be certain universal themes and common phrases we hear and read over and over again? I'll start us off with a short list and feel free to add your own.
Hell, I know I use many of these sayings myself, so this thread is definitely meant to be fun and nothing "damning" or anything. It's just what I've noticed about us retro gamers over the years... and I wonder who else has noticed these things...
Note: When I say "everyone" below, it's meant to mean "a lot of people" not everyone per se
MOST COMMON THEMES
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-Halloween special
I find almost every retro gamer (particularly the bigger ones on Youtube for example) always does some kind of Halloween special. Christmas is less common but Halloween is THE BIG ONE. Seems like retro gamers are very nostalgic about their Halloween memories/seasons
-Top list(s)
And everyone prefaces their top list by saying "Please note, this is just my opinion and you likely won't agree with all my choices. That's what makes it fun though!" LOL. Like, guaranteed. Another common one is "Note, these are my favorites to play, not what I necessarily deem to be the BEST games."
-Nostalgic memories
Duh. Some people are more into sharing this than others, though. This includes everything from the old arcade scene, the 16-bit war, renting games, trading games with neighborhood friends, playground gaming discussion, Toys R Us gaming slips, video game magazines, etc.
-Collection
Another duh. After a while, every retro gamer likes to show off their collection in some form. On message boards people post pictures and gloat/share their joy. On Youtube you get game room walkthroughs, lol.
MOST COMMONLY USED PHRASES
----------------
-"Still to this day" or "even to this day." I always chuckle when I see/read/hear this, as it's used a lot. Hell, I use it a lot!
-"This isn't just the best game in the series (or insert genre name here) but the best game on the [insert system here], period." I also hear "OF ALL TIME" er, all the time, and with a great deal of emphasis, lol.
-"In my opinion" or "For me" or "To me" or "I feel / believe." These are nice quantifiers to let everyone know it's only that person's humble opinion. It goes without saying it's your opinion but still, people say it all the time
-"Back in the day" or "Growing up" or "Back in [insert year here, usually a year that predates 1995 or so]." Another staple phrase for retro gamers to set the scene before their nostalgic ramble/waxing. Oh, another classic is "The Golden Age of Gaming."
I know there are a ton more, but these are just some that come to mind. I'll let the rest of you guys contribute and chip in. Again, this is a light-hearted topic. Hell, I know I use much of this lingo and to be honest, no matter how many times they're used, it never gets old for me. It's just part of the retro gaming lexicon that I've grown used to over the years. It's sort of become "our language," so to speak.
Feel free to add in your own themes or phrases!
Hell, I know I use many of these sayings myself, so this thread is definitely meant to be fun and nothing "damning" or anything. It's just what I've noticed about us retro gamers over the years... and I wonder who else has noticed these things...
Note: When I say "everyone" below, it's meant to mean "a lot of people" not everyone per se
MOST COMMON THEMES
---------------
-Halloween special
I find almost every retro gamer (particularly the bigger ones on Youtube for example) always does some kind of Halloween special. Christmas is less common but Halloween is THE BIG ONE. Seems like retro gamers are very nostalgic about their Halloween memories/seasons
-Top list(s)
And everyone prefaces their top list by saying "Please note, this is just my opinion and you likely won't agree with all my choices. That's what makes it fun though!" LOL. Like, guaranteed. Another common one is "Note, these are my favorites to play, not what I necessarily deem to be the BEST games."
-Nostalgic memories
Duh. Some people are more into sharing this than others, though. This includes everything from the old arcade scene, the 16-bit war, renting games, trading games with neighborhood friends, playground gaming discussion, Toys R Us gaming slips, video game magazines, etc.
-Collection
Another duh. After a while, every retro gamer likes to show off their collection in some form. On message boards people post pictures and gloat/share their joy. On Youtube you get game room walkthroughs, lol.
MOST COMMONLY USED PHRASES
----------------
-"Still to this day" or "even to this day." I always chuckle when I see/read/hear this, as it's used a lot. Hell, I use it a lot!
-"This isn't just the best game in the series (or insert genre name here) but the best game on the [insert system here], period." I also hear "OF ALL TIME" er, all the time, and with a great deal of emphasis, lol.
-"In my opinion" or "For me" or "To me" or "I feel / believe." These are nice quantifiers to let everyone know it's only that person's humble opinion. It goes without saying it's your opinion but still, people say it all the time
-"Back in the day" or "Growing up" or "Back in [insert year here, usually a year that predates 1995 or so]." Another staple phrase for retro gamers to set the scene before their nostalgic ramble/waxing. Oh, another classic is "The Golden Age of Gaming."
I know there are a ton more, but these are just some that come to mind. I'll let the rest of you guys contribute and chip in. Again, this is a light-hearted topic. Hell, I know I use much of this lingo and to be honest, no matter how many times they're used, it never gets old for me. It's just part of the retro gaming lexicon that I've grown used to over the years. It's sort of become "our language," so to speak.
Feel free to add in your own themes or phrases!