The Culture of 8-Bit Retro Gaming

Years ago, 8-bit gaming machines ruled the family television and revolutionized the up and coming video game industry. Since then, games and the beloved systems that play them have evolved beyond belief. With all the change and modernization the industry has seen over the years, however, one thing remains constant. The joy of old-school gaming, and the faithful culture that surrounds it today is very relevant.

Travel back in time and remember when the games played on early greats such as the Atari VCS (aka Atari 2600), the Commodore 64, and the very first Nintendo Entertainment System were top sellers on store shelves. While it isn't argued that many of today's popular titles are very successful in their own right, the deep appreciation of the everlasting nostalgia, and the simplicity of the classics is still very hard to defeat. Creative pixelated graphics combined with great gameplay and originality made them truly memorable. It is the experiences that these games created in a moment in time that ultimately built a dedicated following. Thinking in terms of comparison, the classic titles played on these 8-bit machines are realistically more recognizable than many of today's hottest games; take Pac-Man or Frogger for example. Interestingly, the collection of games for these older systems have also somewhat morphed together to become a genre of their own; a genre with a dedicated allegiance and following - a genre with an established culture of its own.

Aside from the joy and appreciation that is to be had in the memories, and the actual gameplay, representation of the old 8-bit era is also important to the culture's existence. The retail industry caters to the importance, and along with the gamers, they have contributed to the routine resurgence of the unique genre. Art, clothing, retro products, and tributes are part of the overall experience. Popular cultural icons and symbols reminiscent of the time include Pac-Man, Dig Dug, Q-Bert, Donkey Kong, 5 ¼ inch floppy disks, cartridges, and more. A simple search on eBay reveals a gold-mine for the retro gamer, and the retro gamer interest. Aged gamers can remember all of these things and hold them near their heart, while younger gamers are discovering the rich history, the importance, and the fun to be had with the old.

As time continues to move forward, the culture also lives on. Every avid retro gamer's laptop has each 8-bit emulator representative of Atari, Sega, Nintendo, and more installed. These are the games they choose to play.