I was writing this out on my local [email protected] and realised I was basically making a patient gamers post, so here’s a copy and paste:

Despite everything you might read from gaming journos about corporate greed destroying the gaming industry I still think it’s an amazing time to be into video games. I’m absolutely spoiled for choice with games to play and I think it’s just down to not caring about online multiplayer or getting caught up in marketing hype.

You don’t have to pay through the nose to buy a fancy machine to play half-finished blockbusters, there are decades of classics that you can still play. Borrow a friend’s old console and play some old games-of-the-year, find some random classics on Humble Bundle or GOG, see what random freebies I’ve posted in [email protected], stick an emulator on your phone or find one that runs in a web browser.

Example: I played Metroid Prime after seeing a Lemmy post talking about. I could either:

  • Dig out a GameCube or buy a Wii on eBay for £5 and find a copy of the game at CEX if I fancy the retro experience
  • Buy the remastered Switch version if I fancied splashing out
  • Just pirate a ROM if I feel rebellious
  • Dump my own ROM and play it on PrimeHack if I feel like tinkering

This is just one example of a great game that passed me by, there are thousands of others out there. We have a crazy amount of choice not only of what to play but how we choose to play it. The bittersweet part is that this could all change so enjoy it while you can!

    • insomniac_lemon
      3•10 months ago

      Yeah, sorry. I could probably do something, it’s just tedious especially now. Maybe eventually, though I remember stuff (like a cheap laser puzzle game from the PSN, also some old animations sold on the PSN though I did remember Stickman Exodus) that I probably won’t ever find again.

      On a very similar note I really like the idea of creating some sort of content, not sure if things will ever align there either. I’d like to create minimalist stuff (that could probably run on the PS1 even), so it’s a shame that it’ll never be as simple as clicking export from Godot (it could happen 3rd-party maybe, but might be too niche) and copying a file over.

      • @[email protected]OPEnglish
        2•10 months ago

        Given the classic example of running Doom on everything I think eventually if an old platform is popular enough then its hacking/homebrew community will find a way of running anything on it. Maybe your Godot dream will be reality one day!

        • insomniac_lemon
          1•10 months ago

          Doom ports are a meme at this point, which is a motivation for a straightforward task (for someone who knows what they’re doing, at least). A flexible engine, less likely.

          I assume these types of scenarios/features fare better:

          • newer hardware
          • open (SDK and sideloading OOTB)
          • bespoke engine (limited capability)
          • WASM or similar universal shim layer (I assume)

          Likely meaning money (and healthy homebrew scenes in some cases might be sunk cost, like the Playdate which I’m sure is great if cost isn’t an issue). Though honestly the main reason I care at all is just to use hardware that I already have*. I don’t really need a handheld console even though I expect that will likely have a better homebrew scene. (If unclear, I’m just saying the PS3 bit isn’t important for the idea, and if it’s dead then the novelty/excuse is gone too)

          I guess some older consoles have options now but those also usually need some sort of extra buy (mostly the step itself being an issue) plus I don’t have most of my old consoles.

          *=especially if semi-unique features. Like sixaxis for the PS3 (analog triggers if comparing to KB+M)… though I do wonder if someone could make accelerometer controls work for the steam controller rather than just gyro. Then again, on top of my other PS3 issues I don’t even know if my controllers are still alive.