What does your younger generations think about your cabinet and the older games?

[Dazz]

I have a 6 year old son and a 10 year old daughter that both love games and gaming in general.  In our house hold we have always had (almost, PS3 coming soon) every game console of the current generation and a couple last gen systems always hooked up.  We currently have Dreamcast, PS2, Wii, Xbox 1, Xbox 360, and a Nintendo 64 hooked up to a 65" HDTV. However, since I built my cabinet (3 years ago) the kids seem to have become more and more into the older classic games even with access to a console game library of over 700 games. 

What really gets me is that they enjoy playing Galaga, Mrs PacMan, Joust, Robotron, Tron, Dragon's Lair, Space Ace and other older games like that.  They do tend to like the side scrolling beat em up games like Simpson's Arcade, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Sunset Riders more though.  Fighting games also rank pretty high on their favorites.  I guess it allows them to beat the crap out of each other without getting mom or dad mad.

I've noticed that when their friends come over their friends tend to shun the classics and want to play the newer systems (I have a second 360 hooked up inside the cabinet)...  I've asked them why and usually get the response "they look better".  :sad: 

Is this the general consensus around your homes as well?  What has happened to the youth of today?  I am so tempted to invite all of the neighborhood children over and do a panel survey to see what kids really enjoy today and why they don't like the classics of yesteryear.  If you ask me games today just don't feel like games anymore...  Games get bad scores now if they don't have a "save anywhere feature".  Were we just easily amused back then?  Or are we just elitists and newer games will never really satisfy us like the golden ages of arcades did?

Overall, I am really glad that I spent the money to build my cabinet and have the ability to let my children play many of these old games like they are meant to be played.... and not on Xbox Live.

[javeryh]

My daughter is just starting to understand that she can control what happens on the screen with the joystick and a few button presses.  She's still too young though (3-1/2) to really understand.  She does love Pac-man even though she can't really control it but she also loves making Mario run around when I'm playing Mario Galaxy so I don't know. 

I hope she learns to appreciate the classics but the fact is that those old games are hard - they are designed to take your money and not last all that long which could be frustrating for a kid with so many other options available.  Time will tell...

[RetroACTIVE]

My daughter is 16... she's a geek like me, although she is of a different generation (she plays xbox live etc...) she also likes my classic games... When she wears her pac-man sweatshirt to school the teachers always have a comment

She's not your "typical" teenage girl... and its all my fault.

[Neverending Project]

A few months ago my wife's cousin (18) and her boyfriend (20) were visiting for the weekend. My cabinet is mid-conversion, and hence not playable but you can clearly tell that it is a full sized arcade machine. But I was excited to have another guy around to share my excitement for the cabinet, and bringing back the classics.

Me: "Dave, check out my project. It's going to be a complete arcade machine that will be able to play all the classic games from the arcades. And it's going to have multiple joysticks and controls so you can play most games, including two-player games!"
Dave: "Yeah, I just don't really get the arcade machines. I'm into the consoles - PS3, XBOX... and WoW."

And that's when I realized it is a generation thing. I am hoping that my kids (when they are a little older) will learn the arcade classics as they were meant to be played. Then my son's retro-memories will be of my retro-cabinet. Strange...

[ahofle]

I've noticed that when their friends come over their friends tend to shun the classics and want to play the newer systems (I have a second 360 hooked up inside the cabinet)...  I've asked them why and usually get the response "they look better".  :sad: 

Check the console forum...it's not just the "younger generation" that thinks that way. 

[RetroACTIVE]

And that's when I realized it is a generation thing. I am hoping that my kids (when they are a little older) will learn the arcade classics as they were meant to be played. Then my son's retro-memories will be of my retro-cabinet. Strange...

Yes... for most... if not all of us, it's about memories.  I grew up in central NH and spent many summers at Weirs Beach and Funspot arcades.... I STILL make the annual trip every summer and take my daughter with me.  Its definitely different now... but still has that authentic "arcade" feel that you just can't find too much anymore.  I've enjoyed creating these memories for her and every year we still get excited for the trip!

[Malenko]

they dont really grasp the concept of 1 giant machine and a screen for just 1 game. They kinda ID more with the NeoGeo cab with multiple games but they dont understand why I like Galaga more then TonyHawks Downhill Jam.

They too like the side scrollers like knights of the round, tmnt, simpsons, etc

[TimmyB]

I don't have my cabinet done yet, but do have MAME setup on my media center in the living room.  9 year old digs playing the older games, especially Rampage and BattleToads.  Always asking if he can play MAME.

[vertygo]

My son (4) loves 'his' Superman arcade machine. He always drags whoever comes over to play it. He also tries to get his little sister (2.5) to play, but usually gets too frustrated with her.

And same thing here, we've always had consoles hooked up to the big tv.. wii, xbox, xbox360, ps, etc etc.

However, now that he plays on Live with headphones, he's found a new interest..
"Prepare to Die! uhh.. Dad, tell me one of their names ?" 

[BORIStheBLADE]

I think it has to do with the options you had when you were growing up. I'm 27 and grew up in a arcade while I owned a Coleco and Nintendo too.
Now the arcade games are atleast a dollar to play a game. I think the parents would rather buy them a console and keep them at home the same time.
Now that we are grown up with money to do as we please we want that arcade cabinet with all those badass games we grew up playing.

[wp34]

I built a prototype one-player control this weekend so I don't have a full cabinet yet.  Having real buttons and a real joystick is a hit with my younger two kids.  I just got done playing Bump and Jump with my six year-old.  He likes Pac Man and Track and Field as well.  

My 13 year-old likes the Metal Slug series but is otherwise not as impressed being from the Nintendo generation.  

[ids]

I have two sons: 11 and 18.  They both love Mame, but their friends don't get it, so I assume that its exposure, not generational.  They also have almost all the current and previous gens of consoles+handhelds, several PC's, and a solid library of games, but they seem to get bored quickly of most games, and keep comping back to Mame.  They even have emulators on their PSP.  They love games like galaga, joust, tron, fighters, etc.  They love finding games they haven't played yet, and I keep hearing "how's this one work" or "wanna play this one together?"

I haven't built a cab yet - we've just been playing on computer.  However, I recently put together a  prototype CP (which has been edging out the keyboard, to the point now where they keyboard has been cast aside) -- and it's getting LOTS of use now.  Even the wife has been putting in time now - the U360's configurability is great, the TT-HL spinner is amazing, etc.  I can't say exactly what it is about these old games, they just seem to be compelling in their own right.  The fact that the kids don't group them in the "old, thus worthless" category amazes me, but that's a good thing.

[wp34]

I was playing Ms. Pac Man tonight with my 10 year-old.  We got to the "Act 1: They Meet" intermission and I tried to explain what a big deal it was to get to a cut scene when I was a kid.  Her response was "you call that a cut scene???" 

Oh well...

[vertygo]

I was playing Ms. Pac Man tonight with my 10 year-old.  We got to the "Act 1: They Meet" intermission and I tried to explain what a big deal it was to get to a cut scene when I was a kid.  Her response was "you call that a cut scene???" 

Oh well...

Haha hadn't thought of that one, but I can definitely picture it!

[Xb0x3r]

I'm 15...I'm building my own cabinet

[BORIStheBLADE]

you remember Back to the future 2 when he goes into that dinner and kicks over that old arcade cab? Thats how its going to be.

[Xiaou2]

  A few years back, I found a local place that had a Robotron in it    
One day, I brought a friend who was about 25yrs old with me to
play it.   I was 30 at that time.

  You could see the dismal look in his eyes.  He really didnt want to even
look at the thing.  Yet, I forced him to play.  At first, all he did was complain
about how sad the game was (looks, age).   Then it was about how it was
way too difficult.

 But eventually, he started to get how fun and challenging it was, as he
improved.

 He ended up loving the game.. and we both played it for hours at a time.
He reached level 32 once... which even beat my top level.

 
 Ive tried to introduce him to other classics.. but its always a fight.  I did
however get him hooked on Two Tigers.   We have a blast playing
that together.  I think level 10 is the highest we have achieved.

 I cant say too much, cause I recall when I was a little tyke in the arcades,
that some games looked too ancient for me to play.  Two Tigers was actually
one of them.   My father insisted we play together.. and soon I was hooked.
He also got me into Mr Do.

 Sometimes you have to teach kids to see beyond the graphics, and show them
how fun and challenging a game is.  Challenge them, or challenge them to play
along with you.  Convince them that these are superior playing games, and that
they will get hooked.  Soon enough, you may have to fight to use the machine   hehe

[bleargh]

My daughter is just starting to understand that she can control what happens on the screen with the joystick and a few button presses.  She's still too young though (3-1/2) to really understand.  She does love Pac-man even though she can't really control it but she also loves making Mario run around when I'm playing Mario Galaxy so I don't know. 

javeryh, it won't take long.... my son just turned 4 and I'm handing him the controller when we're playing Dragon's Lair.  Spent 20 odd years playing it and my four year old comes along and whoops ---my bottom--- at it. 

[Extreme8]

My son (12) has been playing on my machine for the last couple of years, and whenever he has friends over they spend hours and hours on it.
I asked him why he was spending time on the arcade machine rather than his consoles (x-box, x-360, ps2, wii) and he said that it was more fun.
They appreciated the graphics on the current generation of consoles, but it came down to the gameplay. I think what it comes down to is this; the classics are simple to understand, but incredibly difficult to master. That has always been the appeal to me.

[severdhed]

I'm 28, and I love my mame cabinet..however when I am playing games by myself, I am more likely to play my xbox 360 or Wii than classic arcade games.  The cabinet is always a big hit when we have people over, the women stay upstairs talking, and the guys all go to the basement to play on the arcade cabinet.  but usually after a while, someone wants to play Madden on the big screen (102" using a DLP projector).  THe problem with the classic arcade games is that they are designed to be very difficult in order to take your money, which makes me feel like an inferior gamer since i end up inserting dozens of tokens to get through a few levels.    If I only have 30 minutes or so to waste, then i usually hit up the arcade cabinet, but if I have a little more gaming time, I generally go for the 360.  I grew up with console games (starting with the NES).  we lived in a very rural area and had no money, so going to the arcades as a child was very rare.  I just don't have that attachment that I do with console games.  I do find myself playing alot of NES and SNES games on my modded xbox, but the arcade cabinet just doesnt get as much use as I thought it would.

I am trying to get my son to appreciate the classic arcade games.  he is only 11 months old, but i set him on the bar stool and he has a great time just moving the joysticks (usually one in each hand). 

We do have alot of younger kids that come over to visit and they are generally fascinated by the arcade cabinet, but they usually lose interest quickly.

[protokatie]

I think what it comes down to is this; the classics are simple to understand, but incredibly difficult to master.

You may want to consider the "This is unique (to them) factor". I mean, you DO have an arcade cabinet in your house with old school controls that can make any game more fun!

[gatordad]

My kids love the classics so much I was having a hard time getting to play my cab

and after a less than stellar progress report from school I made a new rule.
No video games Monday thru Thursday on school nights, exception for Mom and Dad that is...........

[TheShanMan]

I got 1 joystick and set of buttons on my 1st swappable panel (a 2 joystick panel) done last night, so it was finally time to let the kids try it out. They're 6 and 3, so I let them play a joystick-only game (pacman) to keep the controls simple, and I lowered the emulation speed to make it easier to develop their skills. I think that is a good way to introduce little kids to it. They really enjoyed it. The pacman music sure sounded funny at 1/2 speed though!

[david656]

well im 16 and my first console was the Playstation ! you remember the fat grey one! well i had a few games for it like all 6 tomb raiders and the 3 james bond games and a few other shockers! then of course i got my PS2 with BLACK, the 2 Evil Dead games and a built in HDD with 80 games on! i for my 16th birthday treated myself to a PS3 and to be honest and absolutly discusted with how shocking it is ! all the games avalible are pants or 'been there got the t-shirt... then burnt it!' and for my tec GCSE i have decided to make a arcade machine based on moon patrol but pimp it out to the max with mame! for some reason bubble bobble is addictive! and bad lands is quite cool, of course all the decent games like street fighter i didn't know exsisted till  last year! i have never touched a nintendo! whats mario? sonic ! well i got my first sega last year! a sega master system II ! so i just about know what sonic is 

can't wait to get the machine built, im starting next week, i really wanna catch up on what i have missed.

i pritty much grew up with my gran so have always been into really old tacky music!  but since about 14 got brought into the 80's and like the 80's rocked ! i'm constantly listening to all 80's music i can get my hands on.


(sorry for the waffle)

but basicly i think unless they can come up with some dam good games on PS3 its going in the bin! in today's complex fast world who wants to sit baffled at what you have to do next on prince of persia ! with something like pacman everyone knows what to do and its a fun relaxant, a good alternative to drugs !

[yalborap]

Speaking as another one of those 16 year old types, I appreciate a good classic game(though I lack a cab. But that will be changing soon if all goes well). However, I'll be honest that a lot of games don't grip me for an incredibly long time.

Why? Simple. Look at something like, say...Pac-Man. It's a handful of stages, repeated over and over again.

Now let's look at something more modern in my collection. Resident Evil 4. There are quite possibly HUNDREDS of individual battles in that game, in different areas, with different equipment, using different tactics.

I'm not saying that Pac-Man is bad, but I am saying this: Lack of new material limits a game's replayability when you move out of that 'I will gladly bang my head against the Wall Of Fun endlessly' phase(explanation: Where you would play an impossible or difficult game again and again to try and beat it), and aren't in the 'dude I remember this game it's so awesome' phase yet.

And just since it's being mentioned, my first console was an SNES. I'll be honest, a lot of my favorite 'oldschool' games are from around that time frame(bullet-hell shmups, run 'n guns, beat-em-ups, etc.), though I certainly enjoy the uber-classic stuff.

[philby85]

Well, my kids are 13, 10 and 3. The two olders one's love the arcade games and try anything once. When I first built the mame cabinet they were like WTF but grew to  love the classics. We have all the modern consoles, but the mame machine gets more time on average. The 3 year old, can hit the power button and listen to it turn on but thats about it


I just get a kick out of watching them play the same games I did as a kid.

cheers

Philby

[Turnarcades]

I built  minimame cabinet for my nephew after he begged for one after seeing mine. The novelty soon wore off though and he craved the newer stuff from PSP's and the like.

The reason? Cos his mates had them.

What annoyed me is I've seen him play and he (and many other kids) find many games too advanced or in-depth and quickly get suckered in to the next big advertised game, which again they find too complex. The hand/eye co-ordination demands of classic gameplay has gone out the window in favour of graphical mini-movies, which is sad as the only people with the skill to play these in-depth games are veterans like us who grew up on the basics and are now skilled enough to beat the new challenges.

I played my nephews at some old-school and new school games recently - they'd been playing a game for a month solid after Christmas and claimed they wer getting on well on their own and 'could thrash anyone'. I played them all and beat them all after about 2 goes, bringing on the sulks. I was embarrassed for them, as when I was a kid I would scoff at a challenge from an adult as my thumb-wizardry was honed within hours and wouldshow them one thing it was better to be a kid for to be good at. Not the case anymore!

When they do get to play the oldies they can't get enough, but all too soon they just turn their heads to the idiot box and say "so-and-so's got that, and I'm getting it next."

Want want want.  

[Singapura]

Why? Simple. Look at something like, say...Pac-Man. It's a handful of stages, repeated over and over again.

Interesting, that's EXACTLY how a 16 year old would look at a classical game.  The same generation that is now grinding in World of Warcraft, killing the same monsters over and over again is looking at games like Pacman and Galaga as repetitive.

I've been playing games for 28 years now (has it really been that long?  ) and love my Xbox and Wii. Still, after a days hard work and an evening with my study books or entertaining my family I rather play a quick game of Pacman then start up the X-box to give Master Chief a spin. I just don't have time for immersive shooters unless it's a holiday.

[protokatie]

killing the same monsters over and over again

Hehe! Good point, you might want to remind the child that they arent just killing the same monster over and over again, but also have to collect X number of things to advance to the next level! (LOL) Love when things go full circle

[yalborap]

You will note I also don't play WoW, for the same reason; It's the same basic stuff, repeated over and over again. I'm not saying all classics are like that, though quite a few of the 1980s-realm titles are simply due to their limited memory. On the other hand, you can pull out stuff about equal to, say, the NES, and the problem already fades away for quite a few titles. Now you've got a nice set of levels to go through and attempt to conquer, which is needed when you no longer wish to just bang your head on the Wall of Fun(NOTE: I am not saying that old games are bad or frustrating, merely that...Well, you hit brick walls. Think of how many times a game would completely lock you down at some point and suck your quarters away because of some enemy spawn or something. The games are fun, tob e sure, you just hit these frustrating blocks).

So, let's look at something like...Geometry Wars Galaxies. THIS is how you do classic games in a more modern time. Dozens of levels that change the dynamic, while keeping consistent raw gameplay, a good clean look, and you can just completely ignore a particular stage if you hate it(which is something most games need, unless they're story-oriented.).

Sorry if I seem insulting or anything.

[Singapura]

Don't worry, us geezers aren't that easily offended  . I guess it also has to do with what you feel with certain games. For instance, the Star Wars cockpit has a very special significance for me, as do Popeye and Galaga. They are connected to memories. When I play those I recall those memories. The older the memory, the stronger the feeling (Alzheimer setting in already?). I guess it is because you forget bad feelings much faster then good feelings so in the end only good feelings remain (isn't that heaven?). Anyway, I still remember entering the underground dwarven city in WOW which was pretty awesome as well. And clearing those aliens in Resistance, Fall of Man simply rocked! Geometry Wars hasn't left my NDS for quite some time now.  There's hope for me yet, I guess.

[CheffoJeffo]

We have a snow day here (well 2 of the kids did and I kept the 3rd home anyway) and, while I toil away browse BYOAC here in the kitchen, I hear the sweet sounds of Galaga, PacMan and others coming from the basement where all 3 kids are quiet (except for the occasional "*I* want to win").

 

[ids]

Afraid to take the 401 or Gardiner today?  I braved it knowing i'd be the kid playing galaga and not getting work done - damn mame! 

 

[Dazz]

I'm glad that I am in good company here on these forums...  I'm 32 and grew up with games.  First console was an Atari 2600 and everything just snowballed from there.  While I love console games and would never give up my 360's, Wii, or anything else Arcades still have a special place in my heart.

Growing up we had one of the coolest arcades called the Gold Mine @ Six Flags Mall in Texas.  Just playing some of these games brings back the memories of playing in that dark, cold arcade.  Sometimes while playing out in the garage I turn off the lights and run the Arcade Ambiance Soundtrack on the CD player and just play all kinds of old games.  Almost feels like I am back in that old arcade...

[CheffoJeffo]

Afraid to take the 401 or Gardiner today?  I braved it knowing i'd be the kid playing galaga and not getting work done - damn mame! 

I work almost entirely from home (e.g. when I am not at the cottage or visiting one of the data centres), so this is a normal day for me ... except I have four other people home as well. Kids are switching between the games room and the Wii ... I fear this is not going to be a terribly productive day for me.

* CheffoJeffo learned to drive in Montreal and Chicago and doesn't fear Toronto "storms" -- he fears Toronto "drivers" in said "storms"

 

[quarterback]

I'm older than most in this thread and I grew up in the heyday of arcades and arcade machines.  I remember seeing Galaxian when it first appeared at the local arcade and being STUNNED because the graphics were in COLOR!    After years of pong, those tank games, cowboy games and Space Invaders it was a really amazing thing to see.

One of my upright cabs is currently in a place where 18-21 year olds see it most days of the week.    They're always interested and think it's cool (or at least they pretend they think it's cool) but in the end, it holds no charms for them.  The games are too slow, simplistic or just boring to them.

Both that cab and the upright cab at my home as well are also seen by people from 28 to 40 years old.   For the most part, they also seem interested but, to date, only ONE of them has actually been interested in playing.  The others will play half a game of pac man, donkey kong or whatever and then walk away.

I have a hobby that none of my friends, peers, colleagues or acquaintences are really interested in at all.   My cabs rarely get powered up and I've never played a 2-player game on any of them.   

[ids]

* CheffoJeffo learned to drive in Montreal and Chicago and doesn't fear Toronto "storms" -- he fears Toronto "drivers" in said "storms"

 

Good point - it was my greatest fear on the way in, and will be when I leave tonight 

I'm older than most in this thread and I grew up in the heyday of arcades and arcade machines.  I remember seeing Galaxian when it first appeared at the local arcade and being STUNNED because the graphics were in COLOR!    After years of pong, those tank games, cowboy games and Space Invaders it was a really amazing thing to see.

Been there done that, wondering how much older anyone can be....

...seen by people from 28 to 40 years old...play half a game of pac man, donkey kong or whatever and then walk away.

Being at the top end of that range, I cannot understand the lack of interest; as said I've put a lot of quarters into the old black-and-whites, all the way up to $1+ for modern arcade machines.  I guess it's a personal thing, but you would have to peel me off any cab I found!

I have a hobby that none of my friends, peers, colleagues or acquaintences are really interested in at all.   My cabs rarely get powered up and I've never played a 2-player game on any of them.   

Sorry man - that is truly sad - though to be honest, I cannot think of anyone showing much interest in my attempt to build a cab..... except a ~25 yr old kid I worked with thinking its kinda cool, and a forty-something (ex) co-worker wanting to build a racing cab.

[rackoon]

I am 37 and grew up playing pinball before I saw my first space invaders at a burger stand. I have a 13 year old son who will play with me some times but he gets mad at the fact that the games get harder the longer you play them. All games today are meant to be beat and played again to justify the price tag of 50 bucks and for the experience, not the shear challenge of getting to level 20 of Robotron and the intensity of it.

[btp2k2]

we moved into our new house in July.

All it took to make my daughter the most popular kid on the block was a couple of the neighbor kids watch the movers unload 3 arcade cabinets.

I have kids under 10 playing my machines at least 3 days a week.

[yalborap]

* CheffoJeffo learned to drive in Montreal and Chicago and doesn't fear Toronto "storms" -- he fears Toronto "drivers" in said "storms"

 

Good point - it was my greatest fear on the way in, and will be when I leave tonight 

I'm older than most in this thread and I grew up in the heyday of arcades and arcade machines.  I remember seeing Galaxian when it first appeared at the local arcade and being STUNNED because the graphics were in COLOR!    After years of pong, those tank games, cowboy games and Space Invaders it was a really amazing thing to see.

Been there done that, wondering how much older anyone can be....

...seen by people from 28 to 40 years old...play half a game of pac man, donkey kong or whatever and then walk away.

Being at the top end of that range, I cannot understand the lack of interest; as said I've put a lot of quarters into the old black-and-whites, all the way up to $1+ for modern arcade machines.  I guess it's a personal thing, but you would have to peel me off any cab I found!

I have a hobby that none of my friends, peers, colleagues or acquaintences are really interested in at all.   My cabs rarely get powered up and I've never played a 2-player game on any of them.   

Sorry man - that is truly sad - though to be honest, I cannot think of anyone showing much interest in my attempt to build a cab..... except a ~25 yr old kid I worked with thinking its kinda cool, and a forty-something (ex) co-worker wanting to build a racing cab.

Well, for those older people, it's pretty easy to imagine. Gaming is simply BEHIND them. They 'grew up', 'moved on', and aside from occasionally half a game of something they remember(always a common game, since they didn't bother remembering personal favorites half the time), they don't even touch them anymore.

'Tis sad is what it is.

[Dazz]

Haha, my 6 year old has found a new favorite game...  He woke up early this morning and got dressed just to play con the cabinet fo a few minutes before school.  Next thing I know I hear him scream... "I did it!"  I run to the garage to see why he was screaming and he said he passed the first level....  I look to see what game it was... Burger Time!  He said that is now his favorite game. 

Hell, I don't even think I can pass the first level on Burger Time after all these years...

[shardian]

Haha, my 6 year old has found a new favorite game...  He woke up early this morning and got dressed just to play con the cabinet fo a few minutes before school.  Next thing I know I hear him scream... "I did it!"  I run to the garage to see why he was screaming and he said he passed the first level....  I look to see what game it was... Burger Time!  He said that is now his favorite game. 

Hell, I don't even think I can pass the first level on Burger Time after all these years...

What do you know, I also do a happy dance if I am lucky enough to beat the 1st level on BT.
I swear that game cheats.

[emerica]

My daughter is almost three and she loves to play pac-man or "the ghost game" as she calls it. She can tell what the game is all about, at least well enough for a two year old.  

I don't necessarily agree with arcades being generational but I do believe that they are based on exposure. Growing up in NY, my brother and I had arcades everywhere, games in local stores and the Penn station arcade. My wife and her family are from Jersey and they never were really exposed to the arcade madness of the 80's. To them the closest thing to an arcade was the local movie theatre which only housed a few games. When I have people over it is always my brother and I playing games like zoo keeper, phoenix, and other classics. The wife and brother in law could care less about any of those games. We are all in out 30's, so its not really a generational.

[weisshaupt]

but it came down to the gameplay.

This is my experience as well. I did Big Brother/Little Brothers. In his teen years we played almost as much Space War and Neo-Bomber as we did Unreal.  I got the old 2600 games out for my Nieces (12 and 14) and they laughed at the graphics and were going to show the adults how to play when they realized that the games were actually pretty hard ("what, I can't just start over where I died?")  They eventually took to the challenge. My son  is now 6 and his friends are just as happy to play the arcade (though mostly Simpsons, TMNT etc)  at our house as he is to play console games at theirs. (I don't own any current day consoles- is that bad?) The graphics were so rudimentary in the classics the gameplay had to be good.

I think many kids reject the classic games because they simply want that instant (or nearly instant) gratification of "winning" the game. Classics don't end- you never win. Its all about performance.  I think if kids are exposed early enough they can get into that. I also think its a good lesson for them, as in real life, you never "win" either.

[hulkster]

my little brother, who is 18, paid me a visit a while back.  i showed him my 4 player showcase cab with tons of arcade games.  i also have a few console emu's on it.  here is the conversation:

me: "check out my arcade cab!"

bro: "nice! what games do you have??"

me:  "all kinds!  donkey kong, street fighter, mortal kombat, joust...."

bro: "cool"  (not too excited though)

me:  (slightly disappointed with his reaction so far...so i reach a little deeper) "yeah, and when i get tired of playing all of these games, i have console games to play as well.  see?  check it out, NES, Atari, Super NES"

bro: "HOLY CRAP!!!  YOU HAVE ZELDA?!!?!?  AWESOME!!!"

seriously...i was stunned that it took me showing him a freakin console game to make him happy.  stupid new generation.