👾New BIG trend: The Retro Gaming Renaissance
Retro gaming is the new IT. It’s taking the gaming industry by storm and shifting the paradigms of game design and demand. It is a cultural phenomenon that taps into a nostalgic yearning, rekindling interest in classic video games that once defined the childhood of many current gamers.
In fact nostalgia acts as a bridge linking memories with present experiences, injecting a sense of familiarity and comfort in the middle of the rapidly evolving gaming landscape. The new trend is significantly impacting both gamers and the gaming market, reshaping consumption patterns and inspiring a wave of remastered editions of old games and new retro-inspired games.
According to Youtube Gaming & Trends, there were over 1000 times more uploads of videos related to retrogaming in the first half of this year than there were for the same period in 2007.
Retro gaming is not all about nostalgia though. Fundamentally, game graphics are an interface - the way the game represents what is happening, and the actions we are taking in response. Early games were limited by technological capabilities, and were much more primitive than what we see today.
Technology today allows us to create fascinating realistic simulations and it’s easy to be blinded by all the visual spectacle, but this is not what really makes the game enjoyable. The core of the game is mechanics itself: how the game is played, what the objectives are as well as the obstacles that create the challenge.
Unfortunately the game’s interface and gameplay are often not well matched, as the focus is put solely on the visual side of the game. Therefore, we get nice trailers, nice intro animations, but poor gaming experience.
While the industry's AAA studios chase graphical advancements, smaller game developers like ourselves prioritize artistic expression and game mechanics. Pixel art presents a canvas where simplicity and imagination meet, allowing a focus on game mechanics and storytelling without the obstacle of competing over technological advantage. Pixel art is a deliberate artistic choice driven by a mix of pragmatism and devotion to aesthetics.
Good gameplay design transcends technology, that is why gamers are coming back to their roots. It’s all about the mechanics, that’s what the gamers in 2024 want. That’s what we are giving to them.
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