Nostalgia is a powerful feeling. It's takes us back. We relive memories, emotions, and experiences that make our life what it is today. Knowing the power of nostalgia, more and more companies are bringing back nostalgic items and making them new and popular again.
In THV11’s series “Cool Again” we look at some of the old school items making a major comeback.
The market for gaming consoles has continued to grow over the decades as technology companies across the globe innovate new products. But now, passionate players are looking back in time to find their fix.
Nearly all game console makers are coming out with retro gaming options as the popularity for nostalgic items keeps increasing. When Nintendo unleashed the NES Classic as a standalone, $59 modern version of its beloved console, it sold out almost immediately.
According to Digital Trends, as many companies follow suit, “the retro gaming gold rush is on”.
THV11 visited a modern day arcade and video game store to find out what’s behind the retro gaming trend.
Vortex Arcade owner, Daniel Solis, describes his retro gaming arcade in quite the unique way.
“It’s like Planet Hollywood had a truck and it ran into an ‘80s arcade truck and it just blew up all over the place,” he said.
It’s a place like no where else in central Arkansas; walking through their doors takes you back in time. People come to relive their memories and create new ones.
“I had a customer come in and give me a big hug one time," said Solis. "She thanked me for giving her childhood back.”
Solis said business has been great over the last year as more parents are teaching their kids the old school classics. He said many kids are finding out the older games are even more challenging than the newer games that have top notch graphics and technology.
“Up, down, left, right and jump is simple and easy to comprehend but it is difficult or impossible to master,” he said. “In the last 38 years, just a little over 100 people have ever kill screened Donkey Kong.”
Vortex co-owner, Andrew Garrett has noticed more of his millennial aged friends wanting the arcade experience.
“There’s something special about you versus screen versus a computer and oh, by the way, your buddy is trying to beat your score too,” he said. “That’s awesome”.
Garrett said the nostalgia factor is powerful for everyone, whether or not you personally played the games when you were younger.
“For every generation, something comes out that tries to remind them of a time that was better,” he said. “I think nostalgia is definitely a hook but it means something different to everyone; it may mean going back in time or relaxing and having a good time.”
Garrett was right on the money about the pull of nostalgia. National gaming retailers like Game Stop are also seeing a huge increase of retro gaming popularity.
Store Leader Michael Montgomery said Game Stop is seeing a big increase in people interested in the classic games and high definition remakes. He said gaming systems like Super Nintendo Classic and the Regular Nintendo classic are popular.
“During the holidays there were a ton of kids looking to come pick these up and asking for them in particular,” said Montgomery.
He said new retro gaming options are coming out all the time.
“Almost every year things that come out are just HD remakes that satisfy peoples urge and curiosity for how those great games they played in the past would look nowadays,” he said. “They are remaking many games for the new generation consoles but people never lose taste for the original.”
As the curiosity grows for these old school games, Montgomery said sales are growing with it. He said there’s already a lot of talk at what the gaming companies will bring back next.
“There is big talk about Nintendo wanting to do something with the Nintendo 64 classic and there’s talks about bringing back the Game Cube Classic too,” he said.
For more information visit the Vortex Arcade Facebook page, or Game Stop at 4530 E McCain Blvd. in North Little Rock, Ark.