How to define the words "retro" and "classic&

[overengen]

I need your help to define these two words "retro" and "classic".

If someone says he/she likes to play retro games what kind of games is that person playing, what kind of consol is that person referring to?

Is a game or a consol defined retro or classic because of its age, popularity or simply because it is no longer in production?

Thank you for reading this message!

[digitalpress]

They're often used interchangeably, but I have very different ideas about both of them and use them quite differently myself.

Personally, I look at "retro gaming" as gaming on any system that is OLD. Now, by "old" I do leave it up to your personal judgement. If you're 15 years of age you may have a different opinion on what is "old" than a person 40 years of age. For me, personally, "retro gaming" is more or less anything that's 10 years old or oder, regardless of the quality of the game.

And I look at "classic gaming" as anything memorable, certainly not necessarily "old". This is what Digital Press has always been about.

Others will have different opinions. In fact, here's a column by Clint Dyer that appeared in Digital Press a long long time ago:

http://www.digitpress.com/archives/arc00036.htm

[Sylentwulf]

Either way, I would say at least 3 Generations back. So currently, the PS1 is one gen back, SNES/Genesis is 2 Gen. back, so to me, classic is anything before the SNES / Genesis. When the PS3 comes out, Genesis/SNES will move up to a "classic" system.

[dreamcaster]

Classic = from Atari to pre-NES (early 70's to 1984)

Retro = NES to Saturn (1985-1995)

Modern = PSX to today (1995-present)

I also believe there is a sub era in the 'modern age' from 2001 to today. I call it the 'crap' era.

[Sylentwulf]

Problem with that anology is that EVENTUALLY, Playstation IS going to be classic. Using a third generation rule keeps everything in perspective forever.

[RetroYoungen]

Here's how I see it:

Classic: 1972-1984 (Odyssey through NES)

Neo-Classic: 1985-1999 (Late NES through Dreamcast)

Modern: Current generation of consoles

[Anthony1]

One thing I can say is that if you are playing games on the Sega Dreamcast, then you aren't playing a classic system or a retro system. It's just too recent of a system for that.


The Nintendo 64 is also probably too recent to be considered Retro or Classic.


But I would actually put the first Playstation in the Retro category. I know that they still make games for that system, but what year did it first come out?

I think that anything that was released more than 7 years ago should be considered Retro.

So we are in June of 2003, so that would mean that any system released before June of 1996 would be considered Retro.


Here is how I categorize it:


I think anything that came out before the Turbo Grafx 16 and Genesis were released should be considered, "Classic Systems".

Then from the Turbo to the Playstation 1, would be considered Retro.


The Nintendo 64 is kinda in no-man's land right now. It's almost Retro, but not quite.

The Dreamcast is just too new and recent to go into the Retro category.


I think that when both the PS3 and the XBOX 2 are released, then the Turbo Grafx, SNES and Gensis, will all slide into the Classic category.

However, the Sega CD and 32X will remain in the Retro Category.





OF COURSE ALL OF THIS IS JUST MY OWN PERSONAL OPINON, WHICH IS LIKELY VERY INCORRECT AND FLAWED.

[overengen]

Classic = from Atari to pre-NES (early 70's to 1984)

Retro = NES to Saturn (1985-1995)

Modern = PSX to today (1995-present)

I also believe there is a sub era in the 'modern age' from 2001 to today. I call it the 'crap' era.

Sound interesting, would you mind trying to define "crap" a bit deeper?

[Arqueologia_Digital]

Classic = from Atari to pre-NES (early 70's to 1984)

Retro = NES to Saturn (1985-1995)

Modern = PSX to today (1995-present)

I also believe there is a sub era in the 'modern age' from 2001 to today. I call it the 'crap' era.

Sound interesting, would you mind trying to define "crap" a bit deeper?

I don´t like this...because it isn´t necessary to be old to be classic...

[ubersaurus]

I've always basically been in the same view of mind as Joe on this one-retro gaming is systems that came out about 10 years ago. Classic gaming is just notable stuff, old or new. I don't think anyone here could honestly say that Smash Bros Melee is not classic, unless they really just don't like the game.

[Drexel923]

I think anything that is at least 2 generations back from the present is considered "retro". I agree with ubersaurus' definition of "classic"...and I definitely agree that SSBM is indeed classic

[hydr0x]

Either way, I would say at least 3 Generations back. So currently, the PS1 is one gen back, SNES/Genesis is 2 Gen. back, so to me, classic is anything before the SNES / Genesis. When the PS3 comes out, Genesis/SNES will move up to a "classic" system.

uh?? for me ps1 is two gen back, n64 is one, there really is a huge difference between the two system, and you can't say well, it's same gen just because the n64 was the only console in it's generation.

and snes not being classic, mhhh come on, this console is 13 years old!!!

[NE146]

I agree with most of what everyone said here. So to me, "Retro" applies to most any old videogame, wheras "Classics" are the best of their time. So:

Retro:
Space Chaser


Classic:
Donkey Kong


Or.. Retro and Classic (to me) :P
.. a game of Portman!

[overengen]

They're often used interchangeably, but I have very different ideas about both of them and use them quite differently myself.

Personally, I look at "retro gaming" as gaming on any system that is OLD. Now, by "old" I do leave it up to your personal judgement. If you're 15 years of age you may have a different opinion on what is "old" than a person 40 years of age. For me, personally, "retro gaming" is more or less anything that's 10 years old or oder, regardless of the quality of the game.

And I look at "classic gaming" as anything memorable, certainly not necessarily "old". This is what Digital Press has always been about.

Others will have different opinions. In fact, here's a column by Clint Dyer that appeared in Digital Press a long long time ago:

http://www.digitpress.com/archives/arc00036.htm

I just had to say that this definition seems to be one of the most logical so far, read the article!

[Sylentwulf]

To each their own I suppose, The PS1 and N64 are the same generation to me, they were both out at the same time, competeing against each other, with reasonably comparable stats. That makes them the same gen to me.

If I had to list Generations (And mind you, I don't give a nun's chance in hell of not being raped as to what anyone else thinks) it would be:
4 Gen back - Everything through Colecovision
3 Gen Back - Nes, SMS
2 Gen back - SNES, Genesis, TG16, Jaguar
1 Gen Back - Saturn, PS1, N64
Present - PS2, Xboix, Gamecube

I will also still insist that most of the answers given here are too prone to change for a viable definition of anything. I also don't agree that a current gen game can be a classic. That's like saying the 2003 350Zx is a classic car. It's not. It may BECOME one. But as of now, it's not. I also don't use the term retro-game because it's sounds too much like a catch-phrase that people use to sound cool.

<Casts Flame Bane 6>
<Fizzles>

[rcs7127]

retro refers to something in the past without a value judgement
classic refers to a value judgement, a classic may be old, recent or current.
anything that is no longer in vouge maybe considered retro.
classic means the game belongs in a special class.
its a matter of personal opionion as to what can be called a classic.

[zektor]

I dunno...I never though of any aspect of gaming to be "retro". It's all classic to me. New games can be classic to, providing they have that "good game feel" if you know what I mean. I only use "retro" when it comes to clothes really. You know, like that nice light brown leather Starsky jacket with the ram logo on the inside pocket that you have stashed in your closet? Ohh...maybe thats just me

[RubbarDucklin]

The way I see it is if you had a sitcom about a time period (That 70's Show). And this time period was being satarized for the things it had that some of the viewers would remember but not all would...And it included those games...thats retro. Well, that's how I see it

*QUE* THAT 80's TO EARLY NINTIES SHOW!

[rcs7127]

IIRC the first season of THAT 70's SHOW was set in 1976, by that date it should now be called THAT 80's SHOW.

That would explain why the intellivision II was shown on the shelves of the store where the father works.