So What Else Is New?

[Aswald]

Looking through Saturday's paper, I noticed a Pew poll/survey about video gamers, and the percent by age group of those who are into video gaming.

It mentioned Baby Boomers (of course- the universe shall end when they do), Seniors, and the 18-to-25 crowd.

Notice an obvious gap here?

That's right- the 26-to-40 crowd is missing. Never mind the fact that we were the ones who made video gaming popular in the 1970s and early 1980s, why ask us?

Funny thing- we've practically never existed except for some vague mutterings about "Generation X," even though there are now THREE post-Baby Boomer generations. Mine turned 40 in 2006, while the one after mine turned 20 (obviously). Yet, last year it was all about the Baby Boomers turning 60.

Guess what was "big news" in 1986?

This does help validate my position that the real reason for the Crash of 1984 was the fact that nobody ever bothered to find out if WE liked video gaming...not due to some "glut."

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I could swear I've said this before, but it was quite a while before it really hit me that something had "happened" to the market. Until that realization sunk in, I was basking in the fire-sale prices that were being used to dump inventory. I remember my mom picking up Q*Bert's Qubes and Mr. Do's Castle for the 2600 for something like $15 apiece.

Pity I loaned them to a relative who never gave them back, eh?

[MarioMania]

I hope this Gen Kids won't forget the "NES" saved the market

[mailman187666]

I hope this Gen Kids won't forget the "NES" saved the market

I think videogames will be like music. Our parents used to tell us to turn off that rap crap or stop listening to that screaming music. Maybe kids 20 years from now will be like "NES sucks" and we'll be telling our kids that "back in 1986 the NES blah blah blah." Then they'll go back to playing thier new systems while we sit in our rocking chairs by the window ready to call the police on any teenager that walks past our house.

[Superman]

We don't want it to be true, but you are probably right, mailman.

[agbulls]

I think videogames will be like music. Our parents used to tell us to turn off that rap crap or stop listening to that screaming music. Maybe kids 20 years from now will be like "NES sucks" and we'll be telling our kids that "back in 1986 the NES blah blah blah." Then they'll go back to playing thier new systems while we sit in our rocking chairs by the window ready to call the police on any teenager that walks past our house.

I hate to tell ya, but the future is now. With very few exceptions, kids don't play classic games. I think it was EGM who had kids play classic games and comment on them. Bottom line? They didn't like it. Any of it.

NES = The Beatles ...Really good entertainment for those who know what's good.

[whoisKeel]

I hate to tell ya, but the future is now. With very few exceptions, kids don't play classic games. I think it was EGM who had kids play classic games and comment on them. Bottom line? They didn't like it. Any of it.

NES = The Beatles ...Really good entertainment for those who know what's good.

Yeah, but that's not to say there aren't some amazing rock bands out there today, like...uh...um...


Oh no! Getting old...

[dlopez9069]

I think that yall are wrong. Me and my many brothers and sisters along with alot of my friends(who happen to be teenagers except for my youner siblings who are 8 & 3)all enjoy playing my NES, Genisis, & N64. And thanks to me alot of people in my neighborhood are starting to get into the classics.

[agbulls]

I think that yall are wrong. Me and my many brothers and sisters along with alot of my friends(who happen to be teenagers except for my youner siblings who are 8 & 3)all enjoy playing my NES, Genisis, & N64. And thanks to me alot of people in my neighborhood are starting to get into the classics.

You do realize that you are on a classic gaming site, right? That would put you well out of the majority. WELL out.

[Gapporin]

If the NES is The Beatles, does that mean that the Master System is The Rolling Stones?

[agbulls]

If the NES is The Beatles, does that mean that the Master System is The Rolling Stones?

Yes, perfect metaphor. Let me add then:

NES is The Beatles
Master System is The Rolling Stones
SNES is Led Zeppelin
Genesis is Pink Floyd

[heybtbm]

Yes, perfect metaphor. Let me add then:

NES is The Beatles
Master System is The Rolling Stones
SNES is Led Zeppelin
Genesis is Pink Floyd

That's pretty good.

[Flack]

I wish there were more kids like you dlopez9069, but that doesn't seem to be the case, at least from what I've seen. Even at shows like OVGE (the Oklahoma Videogame Expo), there's probably a 10:1 ratio of kids that want to play on an Xbox vs. those that want to dink around with an old Atari. Ubukuberales (sp?) had a couple of vintage Altair computers set up for people to play with and for the most no one gave it the respect it deserved. My neices and nephew used to play N64 games occasionally, but now that you can find Playstations at garage sales for $10-$20, I just can't get them interested in the old stuff.

[k8track]

Yes, perfect metaphor. Let me add then:

NES is The Beatles
Master System is The Rolling Stones
SNES is Led Zeppelin
Genesis is Pink Floyd

That would make the Fairchild Channel F the Lennon Sisters, the Coleco Telstar Alpha the Carter Family, and the Magnavox Odyssey the Savannah Syncopaters.

[Kitsune Sniper]

That would make the Fairchild Channel F the Lennon Sisters, the Coleco Telstar Alpha the Carter Family, and the Magnavox Odyssey the Savannah Syncopaters.

... Is the Atari 2600 the Osmonds, then?

[Sotenga]

Where does Rush fit? I'll just say the 7800, as nothing else in the late 80's to early 90's period pop into my mind. Admittably, a poor analogy, as Rush has been around for more than 30 years, and the 7800... did not last very long at all.

[ubersaurus]

Yes, perfect metaphor. Let me add then:

NES is The Beatles
Master System is The Rolling Stones
SNES is Led Zeppelin
Genesis is Pink Floyd

The 7800 is The Monkees

[smork]

I guess the AdventureVision is Captain Beefheart, eh?

[Tron 2.0]

Yes, perfect metaphor. Let me add then:

NES is The Beatles
Master System is The Rolling Stones
SNES is Led Zeppelin
Genesis is Pink Floyd

Neo-Geo>The Scorpions heh rock you like a hurricane.

[Hep038]

Atari 2600= Chuck Berry