Retro Games Are More Than Just Antiques

Intellivision is working hard to keep gaming simple, fun, and entertaining

May 18, 2005 – Among all of the booths here at E3, most people think the most exciting things to see are the Playstation 3, the Xbox 360, Nintendo's new Gameboy Micro, and Zelda, among others. Some people could care less about Nintendo. Others hate Microsoft and don't have any interest in their presentations. But in Kentia Hall there's a booth that very few gamers couldn't walk by without taking an interest. Coleco has had their History of Videogames exhibit for the past few years, but it's especially important as we enter the next generation of digital entertainment. The line to play the new Zelda game is over an hour long - a line I'd gladly stand in. But also waited in line to play the original Atari Star Wars arcade game, complete with vector graphics, and I had just as much fun playing the original Donkey Kong arcade machine as I did Soul Calibur 3. But how come?

Because they're still fun. And the people at Coleco realize this. The Atari 2600s, the Commodore 64s, and the Asteroids of the past are more than just antiques; they're the reason that we have games like Halo 2, Grand Theft Auto, and Metal Gear Solid. Most gamers don't even realize how entertaining some of these older titles can be, scoffing at their simplicity, but anyone who's played the multiplayer on Yoshi's Touch and Go for the Nintendo DS probably knows that simple doesn't always equate to boring.

That's one of the reasons Keith Robinson, President and Co-Founder of Intellivison Productions, makes such an effort to get distribution for older games. More importantly, it's one of the reasons Intellevision has been so successful in recent years. Theyve put together a new series of hand-held and plug-and-play devices with collections of some of the best classic arcade titles. The hand-held games are very nostalgic since they have simple LCD screens and simple button configurations. These new gaming systems are not considered to be consoles, or even hand-helds, but are more highly regarded as toys. Most of the reason behind that is the simplicity of the game, but also the price. The plug and play devices retail at $9.99 and $19.99 and the hand helds between $4.99, and $9.99, with the plug and play devices often containing between 10 and 20 games each. Video games don't always have to be a huge investment, paying hundreds of dollars for a console and $50 for a brand new game, and the appeal of spending less than $20 for something that is easy to connect, play, and enjoy with family is quickly growing. In collaboration with Techno Source, the popularity of these devices has gone from a 30 million dollar industry 4-5 years ago to over 500 million dollars, being picked up by stores such as Bed, Bath, and Beyond and Walgreens (their best seller).

But these old titles aren't just being crammed into cheap compilations, they're being updated to take advantage of current technology. For example, a game like Sub Hunt had over 15 buttons, and any console ports or compilation titles to include it have had to try and accommodate the game as best they can. Platforms like the Nintendo DS can allow for all the commands to appear on the touch screen, which can also be switched out as needed by the game and provide the most accurate recreation of the original title since it was first released.

Old games have influenced more than just the games of today. Into the Pixel, an art exhibit on display at this years E3, features original art from many different artists with the subject matter entirely on video games. Not limited to a single art medium, sound effects and music have found their way into incredible albums by artists like Beck, into concert halls with Nobuo Uematsu's masterpieces, and into the hearts of many gamers the world over. A few years ago, Intellevision released a cd compiled of many composers who generously updated original game tracks. That single release has evolved into the division known as "Intellevision Music" which deals specifically with signing artists for making music for or relating to video games. Their first release will be an group known as 8 Bit Weapon, a duo who makes modern music using classic video game consoles, obsolete computers, and old school synthesizers.

If you see Keith Robinson driving around in his '65 Mustang convertible, you might make note of his liscense plate's reference to video games. He and the rest of Intellivision Inc. recognize how important video games are, both past and present, not just to the industry or other gamers, but to our overall culture. Aside from the great conversations you can get into with him, Robinson's booth is one of my favorite's here at E3 because it's all about having fun, and it's wonderful to see a company working so hard to keep that spirit alive in the industry.