For the Older Gamers

**JFLY** · 03-21-2009, 04:04 PM

For me it was the 16 bit era that sticks out as my favorite time in video gaming. Just thinking back on all the fun my friend and I had playing great co-op games on the Genesis, SNES and the local arcades bring a tear to this old man's eye. Also it nice to see Nintendo sweat a bit when the Genesis really started to take off.

**nathanallan** · 03-22-2009, 12:01 AM

For me it was 16-bit, with 8-bit a very close second.

**TjN001** · 03-23-2009, 10:49 PM

16-bit is first, N64/PSX/Saturn is second. Basically all the 90's.

**RowdyRodimus** · 03-23-2009, 11:37 PM

The thing with 8 and 16-bit games is that we all knew how good the games would look. The developers understood that and made do with what they had to work with and focused more on the gameplay. When a game like Donkey Kong Country or Vectorman came out, it made us stare in awe.

Maybe it was because we had such a jump from the Atari/Intellevision era to the NES/Master System era in terms of graphics and game length. Since then we have had those jumps incrementily since then that it's not as impressive. Add to that the lack of Arcades for como0anies to support so they can focus on the console side of it alone and you make it easier for the designers and developers to do kick ass games.

No era of gaming has ever been bad as it is, it's just that the 16-bit era is like the watershed moment that everything started coming together in a cohesive package. It's the WrestleMania III of videogame eras.

**Alvatron** · 03-24-2009, 01:38 AM

8-bit era is my favorite, 16-bit a real close second. I've probably played my SMS and Genny more than all the other consoles I've owned combined.

**The Jackal** · 03-24-2009, 08:50 AM

It's got to be the 16 bit era, all though saying that, the 8 bit era is great too...

**celticsfan** · 03-25-2009, 01:47 AM

16-bit for me. I grew up with an Atari 2600, NES, then a Genesis, and so on down the line to my Wii, but the Wii has been shelved lately for those mid-90s classics. Funny, I have zero interest in collecting/playing NES games, even though that's all I played from 5-10 years old, but I'll get all giddy when I see Robo Aleste for $1.

**Bablefish** · 03-25-2009, 04:33 PM

I maybe an older gamer, but I think the 16 bit era was the best. I know both graphics and sound have greatly improved, but gameplay?! That is a matter of debate. I hear a lot of people say some of the newer games are barely worth playing all the way to the end.

**TheEdge** · 03-25-2009, 05:22 PM

I guess I would have have to say both the NES and then Genesis days were the most entertaining times mainly because I was so new to gaming.

Dreamcast was good as well because of its superb multiplayer value.

Also it would be a crime if I forgot to mention PC gaming as well. I was always bouncing back and forth from PC games to consoles throughout my life. I think both hold a even amount of nostalgia.

**Scooter** · 03-25-2009, 05:24 PM

The 16-bit era is when I really became a gamer (I was already an adult by then) so I have a great deal of affection for that era of games, but I'd say I'm most attached to my PS2 era games. The level of story telling and the level of graphics power that could really draw you in hook, line and sinker really blossommed at that point, at least for the types of games I play and enjoy the most. It really ramped up during the Saturn and PS1 era, but hit the big time with the PS2 in my opinion. Funny thing is, I don't really see where it has advanced any with the newer generation of systems, in fact, I'd say the PS3/360/Wii era has taken a step backward in both story telling and gotta-play-that-game-so-bad-it-will-make-me-buy-a-new-console impact. Which probably why my PS2 is the most modern system I own.

**TheEdge** · 03-25-2009, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Scooter

The 16-bit era is when I really became a gamer (I was already an adult by then) so I have a great deal of affection for that era of games, but I'd say I'm most attached to my PS2 era games. The level of story telling and the level of graphics power that could really draw you in hook, line and sinker really blossommed at that point, at least for the types of games I play and enjoy the most. It really ramped up during the Saturn and PS1 era, but hit the big time with the PS2 in my opinion. Funny thing is, I don't really see where it has advanced any with the newer generation of systems, in fact, I'd say the PS3/360/Wii era has taken a step backward in both story telling and gotta-play-that-game-so-bad-it-will-make-me-buy-a-new-console impact. Which probably why my PS2 is the most modern system I own.

Where the heck were you when I made my thread on how this generation of gaming is the time of stagnation in the industry?

I think I may copy this quote and post it in there.

**Zoom!** · 03-31-2009, 07:11 PM

Atari 2600. next is either Sega Genesis or NES. I enjoy collecting for all 3, but am on a Sega kick right now.

**Alianger** · 03-31-2009, 07:59 PM

I'd have to go with 16-bit, but it's a tough choice. I think I actually have more fond memories of gaming in the 32-bit days, but I played just as much on the PC as I did on the Ps1 or N64 at the time
(Never actually played a saturn game during this era) and looking back I think there's a higher percentage of crap from that particular period.

I can still pick up and play a game from pretty much any era and enjoy it as much as any new game, with the exception of early 80s stuff like Centipede and Pac-Man.
Those games are fun if I have someone to compete with, otherwise I find them too shallow and repetitive.

For me, the least interesting period in gaming has been the early-to mid Ps2 era. It really seemed like fun gameplay and creativity took a backseat to "brand milking", polished presentation and cinematic storytelling...
Which would've been OK if the stories were actually worth hearing but they weren't.
It got much better towards the end though with games like Psychonauts, BG&E, Killer 7, GoW 1-2, RE4 etc.

**Tanegashima** · 03-31-2009, 08:03 PM

I don't know if I count as ''older'' I got my Genesis when I was 3 for xmas '89 and I played nonstop since. Every other system I've owned has eventually fallen the wayside or I've lost interest. So it HAS to be 16 bit era for me, as it truly lasted the longest.

I also loved the playground rivalries, the ''mine is better than yours'' harmless arguments. It was my first, and truly favorite system of all time.

The 16-bit era arcade games were also the shit. Hence my love of the Neo Geo...which is also a 16 bit system.

Genesis and Neo Geo are my two favorite systems...so it HAS to be 16 bit.

The Dreamcast is a lone system, without an era to call it's own, but it is another that is certainly a favvy of mine.

**MrMatthews** · 03-31-2009, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by Tanegashima

The Dreamcast is a lone system, without an era to call it's own.

I like yer style, boy. That's a pretty touchy subject around these parts. I suggested that very thing a couple times and was HOTLY contested.

Back on topic though, I just love my junior high video game memories: Nintendo Power arriving in the mail each month and the occasional purchase of GamePro and EGM for me to pour over while I ate breakfast each morning. The awesome commercials ("If you're not playing Genesis, you're a huge loser!"). And of course my trusty Gameboy, which provided several summers of solid time-wasting.

Sigh . . . Now I'm sad.

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