Given the time I've spent playing games before and during this pandemic has made me reflect on my gaming choices throughout the years. I've been thinking about how much gaming has changed now (sometimes for the better, others for the worse). With regards to the indie market really making a boom in recent years, I will always have a special place in my heart for games I grew up with even if they have not stood the test of time (I'm looking at you PS1-era, lol). I notice that I tend to play a lot of platformers and RPGs more than ever, which is something younger me would detest. Sure, you can say age is a big factor, but I think it's good to have a variety of games to enjoy regardless of that. As they say, "variety is the spice of life."

If my time with gaming has taught me anything, it's 2 things:
1. No matter matter how old a game is, there's always something to learn from it.
2. Don't let influencers / reviewers sway your own opinions of games and genres.

What kind of games did everyone grow up with? Possibly, the nostalgia of that game may not have held up to something more recent? Have indie games spoiled you from AAA experiences? Made a departure from a genre in lieu of another? Thought I'd share something here if anyone wanted some insight. I'd love to read other peoples stories and get connected with people who have similar tastes in gaming. ^_^

1) I grew up with handmedown console generations from House Nintendo. And on Nintendo did I console until I just got tired of their consumer practices. So now I PC game.
2) Well, yeah. Can you think of a mainstream dev who would put out House Flipper?
3) One shouldn't just be so centered in genres as to completely be reliant on one.

I spent my childhood with consoles and my teen years (around 13-14) and onward on the PC.

Didn't go back to consoles once I got a PC so I didn't play any console games on the N64/Playstation onwards. The games on PC were great and I no longer saw the point in having hardware specialised for gaming when I could have a more general purpose device that I could both work and play on.

The financial situation of my family improved significantly in my teen years, but I kept a bit of a minimalist mindset. Nowadays, I just do it for the environment.

Most memorable games on the NES for me:
- Megaman 1-5
- Zelda 1 & 2
- Super Mario 1-3
- Castlevania 1 & 2

Most memorable games on the SNES for me:
- Zelda: A Link to the Past
- Final Fantasy IV & VI
- Populous
- Megaman X 1-3
- Secret of Mana
- Mario Kart
- Uncharted Waters: New Horizons
- Gemfire
- Super Metroid

Most memorable games on the Sega Genesis for me:
- Shining Force 1 & 2
- Phantasy Star 2-4
- Streets of Rage
- Wonder Boy in Monster World
- Kid Cameleon

Most memorable games from my early PC years:
- Master of Orion 1&2
- Master of Magic
- Ultima Underworld 1 & 2
- Ultima 8: Pagan
- Wing Commander: Privateer
- Syndicate
- Doom
- Warcraft 1

Yes. It was not released in my area (I think it wasn't even released outside of Japan) so I didn't play it back then.

I played it on emulation probably almost two decades later, but by that time, the emotional gravitas wasn't the same anymore.

If I had more time, I'd play Final Fantasy IV and VI again, not because they are revolutionary games by today's standards, but because it would trigger well worn pleasant pathways in my brain from when I played those games and they were the thing. Because I didn't play FF V back when it was significant, I didn't imprint that kind of attachment for it in my mind.

Along with other genres, I do like retro themed indie games, but I like them because they know how to mix in new/modern gameplay elements with old genres. I can't say I really want to revisit gameplay exactly as it was back then.

Concerning the FF series, for example, while I have fond memories of them, I can't say I really miss the grinding.

About that sometimes I still discover new secret areas in old games. It feels very strange after 20 or 30 years to know that secret area was there all the time.

I don't recall these particular FF games requiring what's commonly referred to as "grinding"; it feels like that was already left in the past when FF4 (especially FF2US and FF4 EasyType) came out.

Final Fantasy 5 does have powerful abilities that require a lot of AP, but it turns out they're unnecessary, even for a first time player.

Phew... I wouldn't know where to start and fit it all into a forum post. I actually even started to write a book about the games I played when I was growing up, which ones matter to me the most and why, how I came by them, which ones I missed when they were new and big etc. I got to like 4 chapters and 19,5 thousand words before I realised it would not really be of any interest to anyone :D

Really the long and short of it is this: "the more things change the more they stay the same". We all know how gaming changed in the last 10, 20 years, and yet here I still am - playing point & click adventure games, single player RPGs, old RTSes and new 2D plaftormers. Sometimes when I went back to replay something like Secret of Monkey Island I used to think "games will never be this pure again" but then I'd play something like The Journey Down or Kelvin and the Infamous Machine and you know what? It's the same pure joy, fun and humor and wonderful flow of dialogue, characters, puzzles and jokes. Screw Heraclitus. It's still the same river, even if new water's flowing on.

I've reflected on this a lot too. I think the main change is in how I rate games. Maybe it's because I don't have as much time nowadays, but I went from looking for meaningful stories to simply wanting games to be fun. I have accepted that not everything has to make me question my very existence. The world is depressing enough as is. Ultimately, if it's not fun, why bother?

I started playing more hack and slash, horror, and farming simulators like Rune Factory and Story of Seasons. I find horror in general to be the most immersive, so no surprises there, but as a kid I never would've imagined I'd play a farm simulator.

I also find myself enjoying "bad" games a lot more. I'm not blind to the plot holes, but if it entertains you then it's doing its job correctly, isn't it?

The ony constant is my general disdain for ambient music. I like themes that scream for my attention. It's one of the reasons I enjoy the Ys franchise so much.

Its definitely not the worst example of its kind, but yeah, I recall there being some grinding.

If you speed through the game, you will struggle with many boss fights or at least, it was my experience as I recall. If you take the long way around, explore every cranny of the map, never run away from battle and maybe get lost a couple of times and have to backtrack, then you'll probably be ok. But if you do that, with the "random" fight mechanic, you'll get into an insane number of rather repetitive battles.

But you're right, different people have different thresholds there.

My past and current preferences did not change a lot. 4x titles/strategy titles light wargame and tactics titles are still the mainstay of the games i play these days. The heroes of might and magic games for example or the general type of games, civilization, moo lookalikes etc. All currently available in their modern design jackets, i did move away from the modern homm games and tower defense type of games and i guess isometric rpg's and maybe rpg's in general. Exploring with a group of people, fighting tactical battles and configuring characters does not have the same allure anymore what it was to younger me.

One of the evolutions of these past years i certainly enjoy is the implementation of random story events that when done right contribute to the feeling of creating a empire, being part of something bigger.
While i do enjoy the triple A quality from the bigger game houses i won't shy away from indie releases either. A release suc h as Shadow Empire shows perfectly how a ( almost single ) developer can treat a niche audience with great success, the game also shows in a nice way how much of the mechanics in a game are forfeited by developers who aim at success targeting a mostly younger crowd. Another evolution from these past years that i kind of despise is the growing group of adventure games that pit you against the most impossible of opponents expecting superior controller handling from you, maybe it is because of my growing age or the less time i have available for gaming that prevent me from enjoying those titles in a good manner. Still one of my latest additions on that plane, Star Wars Jedi - Fallen Order is done is such a qualitive manner that i actually want to persevere, if only to see how that story fits into the ever expanding lore on the original star wars trilogy.

After about 25 years of gaming certainly a lot of factors changed, be it from growing into maturity, having your own share of life and its qualities, reasons to game or personal preference but in the essence, it seems that the entertainment value remains equal to reading a book, enjoying some music or to watch a movie..... lay a puzzle, be creative etc etc etc

Reading a book listening to music or watching a movie are passive activities.

A videogame is fun because is interactive.

Is it? if you say so!

?

Yes is fun because is interactive.

No way the entertainment value remains like reading a book. I don't remember the last book I read.

So you don't agree if i rate games on the same level as other more passive means of entertainment, and i did mention puzzling you know.

to be honest, a lot of wargames still fall short , when compared to their more romantic novel counterparts, they do fall in line with military educational soldier promotion movies. and personally i do expect a fair level of passive motions accompanied in the game of choice. Watching a world unfold in any 4x game can be quite entertaining, at least if the a.i. is set oke