"aging well"

what games have aged well? does that concept even apply to gaming?

what games are as fun for you to play now as they ever were?

that's kind of an obvious "what are your favourite old games" thing, so scratch that, what i really want to know is, what games have gotten BETTER over time? is that even possible with technology getting better so quickly?

I dunno about technology so much as interface and difficulty differences? It's one thing that games are so picturesque and have such great sound now, but more important is how much better the interfaces are. Going back and playing something "great" too often entails dealing with a control scheme that's GAAARRAAAARRAAARGH by comparison with most modern stuff.

i dunno, there's something to be said about the relative simplicity of say the snes controller as compared to the xbox thingy

or the wiimote vs the xbox thingy

have we ever done a controller poll?

I don't think the wiimote is that simple. It's a mess actually.

most old games are way more usable. i'd feel pretty confident sitting down with a new-to-me nes/snes/genesis game and being able to figure out the controls within a minute or two. with some more recent games, even going back to something i beat a few years ago might take me awhile to feel natural.

I am really impressed by Mega Man 9, even a few hours after playing it. It is challenging in the most satisfying way. It requires a good deal of dexterity, and really makes you earn it. That sort of game is basically timeless, like Tetris.

I don't think the wiimote is that simple. It's a mess actually.

yeah, planet earth seems to disagree.

I'll actually take back my statement about interface design. I just remembered what it was like trying to play my first Madden (07? the vince young one I think) and that was an atrocious experience in almost every regard. For some specific types of games there's certainly been improvements in how menus and commands are handled, but thinking about it there's been this drive to add more and more "depth" at the expense of pick-up-and-play, which has made a lot of shit borderline impossible to a casual schmo like me.

right, the wiiremote can be great for certain kinds of games and stuff - usally the simple ones. The pointing and clicking (when it registers accurately) is great, and the A, B, C and Z buttons and the analog stick are perfect. The problem is when you have to use the plus or minus buttons and the really uncomfortable 1 or 2 buttons. Personally I don't like wearing a wrist strap, and the cord that connects the remote with the nunchuck is cheap, annoying and an example of inelegant design. There's lots of room for improvement.

On topic: Super Mario Bros. is an example of a timeless classic. Advances in technology don't take away from the charm of a good game. "Better" graphics / sound don't make a game more fun.

the cord that connects the remote with the nunchuck is cheap, annoying and an example of inelegant design

There's a wireless option.

I find the wiimote/nunchcuk combination mostly fine but I can't get used to the controls for Far Cry - I feel as if I'm always having to remind myself how to play it instead of enjoying the game. This has put me off buying any other wii FPS.

I'd say games that didn't rely on state of the art visuals will age better, ie rock solid gameplay as the back bone.

heck, that's kind of obvious isn't it.

but can anyone name an older game that's gotten BETTER with time?

Earthbound is one of those games I really enjoyed as a kid but think I appreciate more as an adult. There is nothing like it; it's like a video game art piece, but on more than a purely aesthetic level like most games. RPG creators need to spend less time ripping off the Final Fantasy franchise and more time ripping off Earthbound

― original dixieland jaas band (Curt1s Stephens), Wednesday, October 15, 2008 5:58 AM (8 hours ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

right after posting the above i read this. which i think counts

but can anyone name an older game that's gotten BETTER with time?

the louder and meaner games get, the more I enjoy Ms. Pac-Man. does that count?

sure.

kinda relevent bbc quiz:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7671677.stm

Bushido Blade (PS1) is still incredibly satisfying.

The control scheme for Ghost in the Shell (PS1), combined with the 3rd-person perspective and ability to WALK ON ANY SURFACE has yet to be duplicated to my knowledge, and the bone-ignorant sameness of shotter control schemes since then has only solidified the game's greatness. Apparently the controls were based on Jumping Jack Flash (PS1), which I have still never played but always wanted to.

Sorry - I mean "Jumping Flash"

oh yeah, i remember that ghost in the shell game. i think i rented it or something and couldn't get very far, but was more than happy to just drive around the first level.

Its only been out for a year, but Team Fortress 2 (on PC) has gotten a lot better over that time. Not only did the fix the bugs and exploits, but they've added in new maps, several new game modes and new weapon unlocks. They way they are evolving the game and adding tons of content keeps it feeling really fresh. I don't play WoW, but I imagine people who do, probably feel the same way?

ghost in the shell for PS1 was a+

crucial part of curtis's post is the "when i was a kid" part imo. i played crystalis recently and it was certainly a lot more fun then when i was a kid. but i don't think the gameplay or the story are better now, i just appreciate them more.

Its only been out for a year, but Team Fortress 2 (on PC) has gotten a lot better over that time. Not only did the fix the bugs and exploits, but they've added in new maps, several new game modes and new weapon unlocks. They way they are evolving the game and adding tons of content keeps it feeling really fresh. I don't play WoW, but I imagine people who do, probably feel the same way?

― Jeff LeVine, Wednesday, October 15, 2008 4:50 PM (31 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

i guess that's a thing too... games that literally get better. burnout paradise too.

Colonization is still pretty great. Probably better than the remake if you ask me.

I still play Ghost in the Shell a lot! unfortunately I don't have a PS1 memory card so I have to start from scratch every time. I am very, very good at the first six or seven levels now.

reminded me thanks to the other thread - Zelda Link's Awakening, one of the rare games I picked up on an emulator and played for hours and hours and hours