Pros and Cons of Using a Xbox 360, PS3, or Wii for Retrogaming

I'm no dinosaur. However, I've lived just long enough to see the evolution of the gaming industry to what it has become today. My earliest gaming memories come from inheriting old Atari and Commodore 64 consoles from my uncle and unwrapping the cutting-edge (at the time) NES that my parents got me for Christmas. Like me, many gamers have similar memories. With the introduction of online marketplaces for current consoles that offer retro downloadable titles, retrogaming is becoming more and more popular among older gamers. Even with the introduction of newer retrogaming platforms, some gamers prefer to stay true to the retrogaming tradition by purchasing the original systems and game cartridges. If you are torn between whether or not to go with an older system or modern retrogaming, here are some pros and cons to help you decide.

Pros of Retrogaming on Current Consoles

Not limited to one console

One of the best features of modern retrogaming is being free to play games from various platforms without having to purchase or swap out consoles. My wife and I can now easily enjoy games that were made exclusively for Sega, NES, Atari, and traditional arcades directly from my Xbox 360.

More Reliability

Any true gaming veteran can appreciate this point. I will never miss having to blow dust out of my NES cartridges so hard that my cheeks hurt.

Better Connectability

Sorry Charlie, but your new HDTV doesn't come with an twinlead hookup. Not only is it a pain in the butt to find some of the old consoles and titles, but you practically need a degree in engineering to figure out how to get them to work on your new "tube".

Decent Prices

Most retro titles are available for just a few dollars. Last week, I downloaded Pac-Man, Centipede, and Contra for 400 Xbox Live points each (about $5 each).

Cons of Retrogaming on Current Consoles

Limited Titles

Not every title is available on current consoles. For obvious reasons, it is only profitable for game makers to provide copies of retro games that are going to sell. Games that you once loved probably won't be available in the online marketplace if they didn't have large following back in their hay day.

No Hard Copy

if you go with modern consoles for retrogaming, you won't have a hard copy of the game. If your system crashes, you will be out of luck. You also can't take the game along to your friend's house.

The Retrogaming Experience

Modern consoles take the "thrill of the hunt" out of retrogaming. For many retrogamers, searching yard sales and thrift stores for old titles is just as much a sport as playing the actual games.

Cheaper Yet

While many of the old games are pretty reasonably priced on new consoles, buying the old hard copy of a game is even better. Unless it is a rare "holy grail" copy, you can probably buy each game for mere pennies.