Why Retro Sports Games Are Still So Popular
When FIFA and PES were battling it out for supremacy in the football video game market, it was usually the most realistic graphics and moves that sold potential customers on which one to go for.
The chunky pixels of the past had made way for football characters moving just like their real-life counterparts and with as little NPC involvement as possible.
Technological advances have continued to the point where gamers can now fully immerse themselves in sports titles, with augmented and virtual reality placing them on the field of play.
The rise of AI has many people worried but it has also given developers another invaluable piece of tech to make their games as realistic as possible.
So, why is it that retro sports games are still so popular? While gamers have become esports professionals and the big events are featured on all the best mobile betting sites, there are a growing number of people looking to the past for their sports gaming enjoyment. Do we really just want to play the old games?
Nostalgia for Gen X-ers
For a lot of people, gaming has been an ever-present in their lives. There have always been consoles – and there have also been annual releases of sports video games such as FIFA and NBA2K.
But if you identify as Generation X, you will remember a terrible time before everyone was able to plug in and play at home.
The nostalgia of older games can be a huge draw for these Gen X-ers and that has led to the sustainability of titles that were originally released in the 1990s – and sometimes even earlier.
Reliving your youth and remembering past memories are both powerful reasons to pick up that copy of Sensible Soccer in the game exchange. For some people, it was never better than when they were young.
Simpler Gameplay
There is no doubt that the same technological advances that have provided us with the ultra-realistic games we have today have also meant increasingly complex controls and gaming.
This is to be welcomed, as it gives us a chance to do things we were never able to do. But sometimes you just want to play a simple game.
Retro sports games tend to have much simpler gameplay because there is not as much you can do. You might be able to control a player by running and passing a ball but the complexities of a trademark dunk or dribble were beyond the technological limitations of the time.
That can now be an attraction to gamers of all ages who want a more relaxing time. The straightforward nature of older titles can be a release in itself.
A Sense of History
We are all aware of the gaming community, but the fact is that the community is splintered into so many different sub-groups – and one of those is a group of gamers who appreciate that the titles they play today have come from somewhere. There is a history to gaming that should be applauded and protected.
Retro sports games, in this context, are cultural artifacts. The basic graphics, music, and gameplay are exactly why the games we play today are so much more complex.
They were building blocks for developers and game designers to improve and move forward. Playing retro games becomes an homage to the history of the culture.
Collectibles
You should never underestimate the appeal of something older and possibly rarer – especially when it comes to technology. It might seem perverse to the early adopters who crave the most up-to-date models and the latest tech.
But there is also an equally devout group of people who want to collect the more basic, retro versions.
There are groups of people who concentrate on collecting old consoles and accessories. Some may see their interest as an investment and never actually use the equipment.
But for those that do, there is a need for vintage games to go along with them. Sports titles are sometimes the best example of this.
Pop Culture
As much as pop culture is an embodiment of everything in the here and now, it has always been something that has been inspired by the past.
Fashions and trends tend to be quite cyclical and any of those Gen X-ers we mentioned earlier would probably agree that they saw today’s fashions the first time around.
There are countless musicians and artists who have been inspired by the aesthetics and sounds of previous decades. With everything seemingly made for an Instagram reel or a video on TikTok or YouTube, these then get shared with a greater audience.
Later generations are comfortable with retro looks and sounds, so the next step of playing the old sports games is not a huge leap to make.
Back to the Future – Forever
The very fact that we have advanced so far with the technology we enjoy in modern gaming but still also play retro titles proves that there will always be an audience for both.
This phenomenon is not going to fall away just because the older gamers on nostalgia trips are no longer around.
It might be that what we refer to as “retro” changes over time, as future generations discover the games we are playing today.
But there has never been a problem with embracing the old as well as the new when it comes to sports gaming. We can live in both worlds – and that will always be the case.