In the last decade, retro gaming has move to the forefront of the gaming world. As a result of the market’s breakthrough popularity (possibly more popular it was when it was first introduced), the concept of retro gaming became increasingly mainstream, leading many to both collect classic consoles and titles.
While there can be no doubts that the industry has been at the heart of numerous technological developments over the last two decades, there are signs that retro gaming remains an integral part of the sector. So, let’s take a look at the genre’s appeal, as well as considering how it has adapted within contemporary society.
Has it Become a Niche Market?
Fundamentally, the aesthetics of retro productions gave the sector a unique appeal that helped it to forge its way into pop culture during both the 70s and 80s. In showcasing the popularity of the market, Pac-Man, the best-selling retro game of all time, sold approximately 400,000 cabinets and generated a revenue of w whopping $3.5 billion by 1985, as per Goliath. That’s billion with a ‘b’!
Contrary to widespread belief, retro gaming isn’t dead. Although this aspect of the global gaming industry may have become somewhat dated, its nostalgic feel has instead seen it make a comeback within the 21st century. Crucially, while there are many reasons behind the resurgence of retro gaming, some of its new-found appeal relates to re-releases of old consoles.
For example, in September 2019, Nintendo released the Super NES Classic Edition as the successor to the NES Classic. Intriguingly, as well as being designed in a retro style, the console enables contemporary gamers to immerse themselves in classic titles, such as Super Mario Kart and Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting.
Aside from this modern twist, and as touched upon above, the market’s nostalgic impact can’t be understated. Even though this trend may not appeal to younger gamers, the redevelopment of old-school consoles enables specific players to experience some of their favorite games on a more powerful device.
Reinventing Itself for Emerging Sectors
While, on the face of it, the gaming sector has reached technical abilities that have surpassed the nature of retro gaming, the genre remains an integral part of contemporary gaming, even in spite of up-and-coming markets. In 2018, Capcom published a remake of Street Fighter II Turbo that was made available on both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The two-dimensional title’s crossover onto modern consoles illustrates the demand among gamers for contemporary remakes of retro titles.
Furthermore, the fascination with retro games has also seen the market find a home within the ever-growing online casino sector. As forward-thinking technology has helped to enhance the appeal of online casinos, popular operators have, much like console producers, sought to cater to the nostalgic demands of classic gaming audiences.
Interestingly, this is evident through the array of games at Royal Panda. Although the operator offers prospective players newly-developed titles, such as Book of Dead and Starburst, they also provide life-like experiences within the retro genre.
For example, Retro Reels is a five-reel slot that combines new technology with a classic gaming style. Moreover, from an in-game standpoint, the title includes traditional slot symbols in the form of Bars and Fruits. Fundamentally, this game illustrates how thriving markets are utilizing the appeal of classic games and formats to develop their audience base.
Diversifying as Opposed to Dying
Ultimately, because of the significant changes that have occurred within the gaming industry in recent years, it was likely that classic productions would have needed to adapt to stay relevant. Importantly, as evident from the above, retro gaming has flourished as a result of its diversification.
Despite the modernization that surrounds the game’s market, this old-school style remains central to modern-day gaming through staying true to its nostalgic roots.
