Why We Should Let Kids Play The Classic Video Games
Some gamers and even parents may feel that the classic video games might even have more substance than the newer ones.
Every kid has played at least one video game. Boomers had the Karateka and Super Mario on the Family Computer and millennials had Pokémon, Final Fantasy, and a variety of other titles when the Playstation, Dreamcast, and Gameboy came out. Video games back then only had one purpose: for us to have fun! Some of us may even have bought gaming magazines to make the most out of them.
It would explain why some of the games may feel repetitive now a days. Their gameplay’s similar to 10 other games while some, despite their replay value, failed to update their technology to modern day gadgets. So here’s why we believe kids should have a chance to play the classic video games:
1. Story and gameplay over graphics
Back in the day when the technology to produce realistic graphics wasn’t well-developed, game developers had to focus more on developing the video game’s story and the gameplay. Even though some had similar mechanics, they always had something unique in them which challenged and developed our problem-solving skills. In some cases, the mechanics of video games of back then were even more punishing than the ones of today. But that was helpful — it made us more resilient and less prone to frustration!
But it goes without saying: make sure the games are age-appropriate. That’s why these games have ratings on their CD jackets and posters!
2. Probably cheaper to afford
Some game developers became exclusive, wherein their games could be played only on that particular console which can cost around at a minimum PHP15,000.
However, the classic games just need something called an Emulator which can be downloaded from the internet. The latter is an app that can read the files of old video games, adapting them to a desktop or a laptop. The best part is, because their graphics aren’t as great as that of the new games, they don’t need the most advanced technology to play.
3. It’s bonding time for a lot of us.
Kids love video games and they’re always looking for something new. So even if we consider those video games, our kids’ minds perceive it as something novel. Teaching them the mechanics is how we bond also and watching them figure it out is also quite nostalgic for us. Playing those classic video games helps us decompress and destress. It reminds us of the good old days where we didn’t have to think about adult things like taxes and income.
4. Our kids get to see where their favorite video games came from.
A lot of gamers have already said that some of the games are becoming repetitive in terms of how to play and what it’s like. Some even developed the lingo to describe these games like “Dark Soul-esque” — a term that likens a video game to the notorious and famous Dark Souls game.
Some kids who even aspire to become professional or major league gamers even train by using the old games because the game’s more challenging and it teaches them to be more flexible in their thinking. Mobile Legends, as famous as it is, had many games before it. That includes DOTA2, League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm, and many others.
How we can make classic video games playable again
While we might think that souping up an old vintage gaming console does the trick, it’s not easy to find mechanics who know how to repair those. Greenhills, particularly V-Mall (formerly known as Viramall), might still be home to some of those repairmen but they’re a rare breed. At the same time, those consoles probably took a beating because let’s be honest: kids back in the day weren’t gentle about handling their gadgets.
However, developers and other programmers have made it possible to “transfer” the classic video games onto the computer via Emulator. There are different kinds, however. Be sure when downloading them, they match the console and the game.
Once we get those up and running, computer and gadget stores have accessories like USB console controllers and the like to make it feel like an old gaming console. And the best part is, it’s a screentime that we can bond over together with our kids.
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