Longing for the Past
Longing for the Past is a series that explores the nostalgic pull of gaming’s yesteryear, the games we miss from our childhood, and the joy of rediscovery.
Why do we long for the past? With infinite free time at our fingertips, why do some gamers want to go back? Longing for the Past explores this question, pulling on our gaming heartstrings to unearth the joy of older games. We’ll also explore the best games of today and how we can balance nostalgia with progress.
We’ll look at the beauty of retro remakes, the games we miss, and why some developers want to remake the classics. Other topics include the best games of today, finding comfort in the familiar, and why the pull of nostalgia can shape our desires. We’ll also look at the nostalgic gamers – people who relive the magic of childhood through their games.
Why do we long for the past? What is it about gaming in high school that we miss? How does gaming in high school shape our desires? These are some of the questions we’ll be exploring in Longing for the Past.
The Games We Miss
The last console generation saw an explosion of remasters, with developers bringing back old favourites in gorgeous new HD. Some of these games have even made the jump to the next generation, with the likes of Perfect Dark, Halo, and more all seeing revamps.
With the next generation of consoles now upon us, however, it seems as though nostalgia is in the past. Long gone are the days when we would get excited over a new HD remake, and yet, we still yearn for the classics. So why do we miss the games of yesteryear, and why haven’t they been replaced with the latest and greatest?
“Not everything was better back in the day.”
As you may expect, the answer to this question isn’t a simple one. Some of us miss the games of yesteryear because we have too much free time, others because we’re nostalgic, and others still because we’re just broke. Regardless of the reason, we miss the old games and we wish they were still around.
Longing for the past is also a matter of perspective. While some of us pine for the days of the PS2, others only want to go back as far as the Nintendo 64. Is it possible to miss a time and place that you weren’t alive to inhabit? The answer is yes, and Longing for the Past will look at why some games, and not others, are longed for by gamers of all ages.
Nostalgia vs. Reality
Dreaming about the games of the past is one thing, but what about actually playing them? Some gamers are willing to go back and play old games, while others have moved on from their childhood favourites.
So what do the nostalgia vs. reality games look like? Some of the nostalgic gamers from above have actually played the nostalgic games of their past, and what did they think? Longing for the Past will explore this with gamers who have actually gone back and played classic games. How did these reminiscences match up to reality?
Embracing the Present
While some of us pine for the past, there are plenty of gamers who are happy with what they’ve got. For every gamer who laments that Nintendo 64 games aren’t coming to Switch, there’s another who is enjoying the latest Mario adventure. So what makes these gamers different?
Longing for the Past will celebrate games of today, exploring the best games of the current generation. We’ll also look at the pros to gaming in high school, and why a lot of the cons are actually part of the appeal.
The Power of Nostalgia
So why do we long for the past? Is it because of the games themselves, or is there something else at play? Longing for the Past will explore the power of nostalgia, why it affects us the way it does, and how it shapes our desires.
The Nostalgic Gamers
Some of us wish the past was still present, others are happy to reminisce about the good old days. No matter which camp we fall into, there’s something about childhood games that will always hold a special place in our hearts.
Longing for the Past will explore what makes us nostalgic, what we miss about gaming in high school, and how we cope with these feelings of loss.
Here are some of the articles you can expect to see on Longing for the Past:
And that’s all for now, but Longing for the Past will be updated regularly with new nostalgic gaming content.
