310°

Problems Only 90s Gamers Could Understand

NowGamer: "With the PS1 turning 20 this December it’s got us thinking about gaming in the 90s. We complain a lot these days, but there were a lot of problems with gaming back then that we all seemed to ignore. If you were a gamer in the 90s you’d know all about these particular problems…"

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nowgamer.com
darthv724111d ago

"Having a friend who owned the ‘other’ console

You think console wars are bad nowadays? You’d fall out with a friend who adamantly insisted that Aladdin was better on the Mega Drive than it was on the SNES (come on, that’s just not true) and not speak to them again at least until the Monday after the weekend.

Console wars, man…"

Not true. Friends can agree and disagree and still be friends regardless of console loyalty. Personally I enjoyed it when my friends had the other consoles as it gave us reasons to swap now and then.

I'd borrow a friends PS1 or anothers N64 while they borrowed my Saturn or other systems. We were pretty satisfied with what we played. We werent cheating on our brands but sharing the joy that gaming brings as a whole.

The memory card thing...I still go through that even though i have like...4 memory cards for each system. you always find one with a game save you can live without.

lemoncake4111d ago

Aladdin on the SMS was better, good day to you, sir!

UltraNova4110d ago (Edited 4110d ago )

I went through all those phases except the Mario film which I have to give my thanks to the movie's producer for my six pack rock solid abs after the end of the movie...

EDIT: Who else besides me finished Superman 64?

(Another fellow masochistic :-p)

Kingdomcome2474111d ago

Yeah, even though I've had my preferences I always enjoyed the opportunity to try something else as a kid. Now as an adult with my own money I can personally find reasons, and afford to own all consoles. I still have preferences. Sony stills holds the top spot due to their exclusives appealing to my tastes more, but I still find redeeming qualities with each console. Console preferences never have nor never will be a cause for disdain in my opinion. The way some people go about conveying their preference is another story. I wasn't here last gen, but I would've said the same thing I'm saying now. It's dumb.

Nerdmaster4111d ago (Edited 4111d ago )

Even Shinji Mikami, who made the SNES version of Aladdin, agrees that the Genesis version is better.

http://www.polygon.com/2014...

NukaCola4111d ago

Aladdin was best on Sega Genesis...nuff said

Snookies124111d ago

Heh, that's what I had it for. Aladdin on Sega was freaking awesome...

Qrphe4111d ago

Decades later, we can all objectively agree the Genesis version was indeed better.

3-4-54111d ago

* Cartridges were more fun to own and collect.

They felt i guess more " special" in a way...I like that Nintendo still uses them for 3DS/DS.

* Memory cards...there was never enough space...and the knock off ones would erase data.

* I remember EVERYONE being excited about almost all games though. Not a ton of fighting and arguing and if there was it lasted for like minutes and then we started up a game.

* I was lucky enough to have friends who weren't shat talkers so we would game together a lot and try to be games together, and not really against each other.

People in the 90's were more open, honest, and got along a bit better......or maybe that was because I was younger.

caseh4111d ago

"People in the 90's were more open, honest, and got along a bit better......or maybe that was because I was younger."

It's because discussions were in person rather than hidden behind the anonymity the internet provides.

If half the things said on this site were said in person it would more often than not result in someone getting a beating.

rainslacker4111d ago

I remember arguing with friends about which console/games were better. We were mostly civil, although somewhat young(I was actually an adult 20 years ago).

What I also remember is that we'd go to each other's houses and play each other's games and not worry about the console wars while doing so until the next day on the playground.:)

Derpy4111d ago

I agree, real friends, can at the very least, agree to disagree. Though memory cards and batteries had their issues, I never really had the other issue as all my friends and I were multi-console, we brought any system that we thought we would have fun with. None of us thought then or now that we should miss out on great games for something as silly as being loyal to business. I miss how in the 90s there was always something new coming out and the console market wasn't flooded with boring FPS. Some of the best RPGs ever came out during this decade.

MRMagoo1234111d ago

arguments have been going a lot longer than those old cartridge systems, when I was at high school we used to argue about which pc was better out of the spectrum the c64 and the amstrad. The games on cassette tape and floppies were the days.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 4110d ago
CerealKiller4111d ago

Turning the PS1 upside down? I never heard of this.

darthv724111d ago

Yeah, it was a 'thing' in the earlier models. I usually kept mine elevated to allow for proper airflow and never had to resort to the flip mode style of playing.

GamingSinceThe80s4111d ago

I remember that all to well as I had to do the same thing.lol

Gazondaily4111d ago

Haha yeah I did this.

Oh man I went through so many things. Freezing the adapter on the megadrive, turning my PSone upside down, blowing on cartridges (standard)....man. You younger gamers have no idea what you missed! I feel sorry for you!

I feel old.

rhap4111d ago

During the PS1 era it was extremely common here in Brazil to see some upside down PS1. People used to say that it's because of the use of pirated games and bad quality of the CDs.

KwietStorm_BLM4111d ago

I had to start doing it to mine right about the time when Resident Evil 2 came out, just so scenes and audio wouldn't skip. Upside down. So it wouldn't skip. Technology.

Rebel_Scum4111d ago

Yeah we never turned them upside down in NZ but had it on a 45 degree angle. It wasn't for cutting down load times but to ensure it started the game.

The early PS1's had overheating issues so you had to provide space for the heat to escape. You also couldn't just have it on the carpet either.

rainslacker4111d ago

It was actually caused because Sony tuned the lasers a bit too low to increase their yield. If those lasers were faulty-ish, then that tuning could cause the laser to not focus properly.

When you turned the system upside down, the slight pull of gravity on the disc would cause the focal length of the laser to increase, and then it could focus properly on the tracks.

Petebloodyonion4111d ago

Turning the ps1 was a quick fix to solve the optical lens problem with early ps1 model. similar to towel trick for 360 with the RROD.

actually the trick was to put it sideways and ironicaly it's the inspiration for the standing ps2 position.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 4111d ago
annoyedgamer4111d ago

Fighting over who gets the dreaded clear controller.

jaymacx4111d ago

Yeah the 3rd party ones? With N64 I had a clear third party controller that had a huge dead zone on the analog stick. I had 3 nintendo pads and the dreaded clear one...

TheFirstClassic4111d ago

Haha We had a rule where last place got the crap controller. Good times.

BluFish4111d ago

Totally forgot about that Mario face at the start of Mario 64. So awesome!

crusf4111d ago

Blowing on the cartridges. Ah the good ol days

rhap4111d ago

I remember when a "friend" borrowed our Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo or something like that and then gave it back not working. My brother took his Streets of Rage 2, removed the chip from the cartridge and put some random really bad game in it haha The guy was really pissed, but couldn't do anything since he broke our SSF2T.

ThatArtGuy4111d ago

DON'T BLOW INTO CARTRIDGES!!! I recently got a NES cartridge from eBay recently and had to take an Emory board to the pins because there was rust on them.

It's really bad for your games.

NatureOfLogic_4111d ago

Gamers didn't care about that back then. I would've done anything to get the game working back then. Blowing into the cartridge gave a glimmer of hope.

darthv724111d ago

I actually thought my system liked it. it certainly worked better than sweet talking it.

Godz Kastro4111d ago

Wouldve been nice to know 15 yrs ago :)

ChozenWoan4111d ago

Never had that problem... SMS FTW!
3D gaming, headphone jack, and top loading cartridges made it a beast. My friends across the street on the other hand... >.> ... lol

It was all good though as we'd talk trash on each others console while playing on them. Good ol times on the Console War Frontlines.

KwietStorm_BLM4111d ago

Blow with your mouth, not with your nose.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 4111d ago
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30°
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110°

There's an Underrepresented Majority That Wants Entertainment Without Agendas, Says Ex Tripwire CEO

Ex-Tripwire CEO John Gibson shares his 'Entertainment First' vision to capture the agenda-free magic of classics like Star Wars, Zelda, and Metroid.

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wccftech.com
Goodguy012d ago

Yes. Just make a good game instead of worrying it should make some kind of stupid social/political differences in the world... we've got enough of that in the real world. Games are places we can escape to and just have fun.

z2g2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

How about you make a game that’s important to you and the people who are interested in that buy it and the ones that don’t like it don’t have to buy it. Just because something bugs some people doesn’t mean there aren’t other people who it doesn’t bug. Someone’s hangups shouldn’t be other people’s problems.

Don’t want a game that features a political or cultural statement or an underrepresented group of people? Don’t buy it.

Not all of us just want vapid, mindless fantasy all the time. Sometimes we want something that represents us or means something. There’s nothing wrong with that. Look how many movies in the world have covered so many types of stories, people or historical controversies to huge successes. Games are no different.

Eonjay2d ago

The plot to remove representation or ideas and content that you dont approve of is an agenda within itself. Its also censorship. People need are trapped in this main- character syndrome where they believe that the world and all of its happens are fashioned for them alone.

crazyCoconuts2d ago

"Don't buy it"
Exactly what people do.
And then big companies are reminded why if you want to make money you may not want to do things like villainize half your market. If you want to preach one side of an argument you're gonna lose people. At least do the Deus Ex/GTA thing and show the warts on both sides so everyone has something to agree with

senorfartcushion2d ago

We’re still waiting on that Splinter Cell remake…

raWfodog2d ago

On the flip side of that, good games can have characters of different ethnic and social backgrounds without thinking that some agendas are trying to be pushed. I've played many, many great games throughout my life with many different characters (male, female, white, people of color, even some animal characters) and loved them all simply for the story and entertainment they provided me while I escaped into those worlds.

senorfartcushion2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

That’s not possible.

Being a child doesn’t remove the political points of OLD GAMES, we were just kids. In fact, older media was decidedly more political than some of the cowardly, childish efforts we have today.

This is precisely why we are still to get that Splinter Cell remake. We can’t have a fun Splinter Cell game with AAA graphics because a few virgins don’t want “politics in their games.”

neutralgamer19922d ago

Keep gaming free of nonsense. Agenda pushing in social media age has gotten worst

senorfartcushion1d 9h ago

Name a game and I’ll tell you what the agenda was

Notellin1d 23h ago

"While our first game is faith-based"

Yeah you guys want to get rid of all the politics and play a nice Southern Baptist game. We get it.

Christopher1d 22h ago

He should follow his own words, then.

*** That changed around two years ago, when he started consulting for Bible X, the studio behind the Christian-based game project Gate Zero. Last month, Gibson, through his recently established publisher Templar Media, acquired the developer.***

Not sure there's anything more political in history than religion.

S2Killinit1d 19h ago

But his statement is also an agenda. Hope people are intelligent enough to know that.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 1d 9h ago
z2g2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

I fail to see how representing actual underrepresented or making them feel included is an “agenda”. This is an extremely self centered selfish viewpoint. Those actual underrepresented people just want to be recognized as valid. The privileged majority who are always represented take that for granted and can’t deal with the fact that “other” types of people or views exist. Inclusion or awareness isn’t an agenda. It’s representing reality and making those “other” people or stories be seen and align with actual reality.

There are literally thousands and thousands of games to choose from, and if you are annoyed that some have cultural or topical relevance, that’s your problem and you don’t have to buy them. Meanwhile other people who want that actually have games that speak to them. So sick of this “my way or the highway” attitude.

And there are plenty of games out there, if that privileged majority have an issue or don’t want a game based on cultural relevance. Pick up a Switch. Most games are g-rated, noncontroversial cartoons with stories fit for tweens. No reality to get mad at.

2d ago Replies(2)
KyRo2d ago

It's always me me me me me with you lot. There's a difference between representation and forcing it for the sake of forcing something to a very very loud but very small minority.

Christopher2d ago

You really are only proving their point with this sort of response to the idea of people feeling included in some games versus the plethora of games without it.

Outside_ofthe_Box2d ago

We need to define what "forcing" is because I've seen people say things like Aloy being female in Horizon is pushing an agenda or catering to a "very very loud but very small minority" before.

dveio2d ago

@z2g

I personally think you've nailed it here.

For decades, wether in film or music, there had been ONE primary target group.

And if you're looking further, even in economy, laws, courts or any other area there had been only one target group.

While others, let's be real, were surpressed.

It's "funny" though - why do we all think personalities like David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Freddy Mercury, etc., have had such a huuuge impact on cultures and society? Because they were 1:1 depicts of the Demon Slayer or the Duke?

No, because they were different. Because we all are different.

The only people time and time again that are complaining, whining and moaning about everything (while highly likely even been a fan of Queen or something) are prejudiced people.

Are people that "But it's never been any different, and I want it to stay that way!".

There's nothing highly hidden here. It's always been the same. After decades, even centuries of rules written by and for the "one primary target group", they are now the loudest that complain & moan.

Inverno2d ago

Y'all could also, ya know, just not buy games you feel have an agenda? This constant bitching coming from all these whiney men every time they see a game that isn't catering to them specifically is tiring. They latch themselves onto these games and throw endless amounts of harassment as if there aren't another thousand games releasing before/around/after. I'm usually outspoken when it comes to forced diversity in games, but the issue here is you're all bigoted as hell and need to learn to be a little less offended. Y'all become the snowflakes you mocked so much lol.

MrDead2d ago

This guy is one of the biggest most delicate snowflakes out there, I'm sure he'll be crying on Tucker Carlson or Fox "News" again soon.

Michiel19891d 23h ago

@christopher cater to and include are two very different things. Played most of the games you mentioned and had no issue with any of em because they just include it. I have no issue with inclusion of that, but if in the next god of war, Kratos would all of a sudden hyperfocus on being a strong independent man or a hypermasculine one, I would give them shit for it as well. It has nothing to do with the inclusion of x or y group, but about the integrity of the game.

@inverno stop putting words in my mouth . It's actually the opposite of what you say, I said there can be no conversation because as soon as you criticize them, a whole angry mob comes at you and tries to cancel you. Thankfully it's become less and less over time and people actually realize now they can voice their opinion without having the fear of losing their job.
You really can't see that a lot of companies are now backpeddalling about the woke bs? They finally realize making your product worse to cater to a group who doesn't buy your product anyway is terrible.

Michiel19892d ago ShowReplies(4)
PitbullMonster1d 17h ago

Who was crying about kingdom come deliverance, Stellar Blade and the first descendant? White Hetero men Or leftards?

Inverno1d 6h ago

Leftards but those games still went on to release and become financially and critically successful. This dood, who was a CEO, went on social media to voice an opinion that at the time was controversial. Just cause you have freedom of speech and expression doesn't mean you hafto always voice your opinions publicly. He had to step down because it was more about the company than just him. Now he's back talking bout "unrepresented majority", as if there aren't different audiences to cater to. Since people from both sides can't seem to escape getting fired for voicing opinions then I guess everyone's got to equally face the consequences of their inability to shut up.

MrBaskerville2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Star wars, anti agenda? Lol. I don't think Lucas would agree.

Inverno2d ago

One of the most politically charged movies in existence. They can pretend it's all about space wizards with swords but the space nazis are still in the movies and they're still the bad guys. It's ironic as hell.

JEECE2d ago

More evidence that if the agenda feels legitimate within the story's world, people don't even notice that it is an agenda and they don't complain.

Elit3Nick2d ago

This one gave me a chuckle, too.

JEECE2d ago

As ever, this is a misguided expression of the speaker's issue. While of course there are some games (pure puzzle games, etc) that have no agenda, any game with a narrative is conveying some type of message. What people who say they don't like "woke" or "politics in games" actually mean is that they don't like hamfisted, poorly written narratives/characters that are thin veneers for modern political messages that feel out of place in the game's universe. It's why all these people complain about the Veilguard and not Baldur's Gate 3. They both have "woke" characters but in BG3 they feel like they belong in the universe, while in the Veilguard they just feel like generic fantasy skins for modern American 20-somethings.

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