Nostalgia doesnt always hold up over time. Sometimes its like going back to a place you went to as a kid, that doesnt hold up the same way it did before.
I'm also curious, as I like a lot of old games due to nostalgia. There may be other reasons of course but nostalgia is a big part of liking SOME games for me. Therefore I cannot understand why nostalgia would be an invalid reason to like a game?
I don't think there is anything wrong with liking a game because of nostalgia. However, I feel it is best to leave it out of game reviews, which unfortunately some people do not.
I've never heard anyone say it's an "invalid reason" to like a game. It's not a big deal as long as you know not everyone else is going to share your enthusiasm for a game.
Maybe whatever/whoever this thread is referring to is trying to say nostalgia isn't a valid way to judge whether a game is good. Like. There's a difference between something being good and enjoying something. I like all sorts of things that I recognise are bad!
There's no accounting for taste!
The things you enjoy are objectively bad and you should be pretty upset about it!
I think a better thread would be: what are games that you know are "bad" or are generally recognized as bad or mediocre, but due to nostalgia, you just love them, play them, or keep 'em around.
However, I feel it is best to leave it out of game reviews, which unfortunately some people do not.
Agreed.
To those who asked "Says who?", in my experience a lot of people tend to complain about a person citing nostalgia as a primary factor in why they like a particular video game. Then again, I haven't seen any of that here, so it might just be limited to the gaming community everyone here hates (read: GameFAQs).
The things you enjoy are objectively bad and you should be pretty upset about it!
Something that is by definition subjective cannot be objective. It's true that the persons in question I'm referring to (which, again is NOT anyone here, sorry if I was initially misleading) were complaining about someone saying a game is good because of nostalgia, but aren't they entitled to that opinion? Again, there is no objectivity involved here.
The problem with Nostalgia is that it's something that's not shared. I don't have the same nostalgia for the Spectrum as someone who grew up in the UK might. Vice versa they wouldn't have the same Nostalgia for Oregon Trail that I do.
You can definitely find enjoyment in games out of Nostalgia, but what I find nostalgic differs from what someone else might just based on life experiences.
As a result, if I'm GRADING a game for other people, Nostalgia is something I have to take out of the equation as my experiences may not be shared with those of my audience.
nostalgia (n.) definition - The pain of old wounds.
When our minds are young, we easily get impressed. When we mature, our tastes are different and we get interested in different ways. You may have liked the game as a kid, but someone else might not have... I don't know
That's quite a pessimistic definition of the word. Not the definition I would use - and I'm sure not what most people are referring to in this thread.
EDIT: And yes, I know that technically speaking, that is a lot closer to the word's roots, but I think for practical purposes it has evolved into something different.
Yes, the word technically contains "-algia" meaning "pain", but my personal definition is:
The remembrance of past time that brings a euphoric or enlightened sensation.
While it is somewhat painful to see that those days are gone, if it's something you can hold in your hand, like a movie, a baseball, or a game, then I'm sure that's not really painful.
Nostalgia is not an invalid reason to like a game. Nostalgia is a valid reason not to like a game if you dust it off and learned it aged like warm milk and not a fine cheese.
Some games were good for the time, or just average/bad but as a kid it was the shit for you. But, then you come back 20-25 years later and try it again and once the 'WOW' burns off, you'll have your answer if it's valid or not. A game like Super Mario Bros, you'll get lost in again, but could you say that for like oh...Mach Rider? Ice Climber? Wrecking Crew? Some of you will say yes, and some will be like...ugh no.
Nostalgia is not an invalid reason to like a game. Nostalgia is a valid reason not to like a game if you dust it off and learned it aged like warm milk and not a fine cheese.
Some games were good for the time, or just average/bad but as a kid it was the shit for you. But, then you come back 20-25 years later and try it again and once the 'WOW' burns off, you'll have your answer if it's valid or not. A game like Super Mario Bros, you'll get lost in again, but could you say that for like oh...Mach Rider? Ice Climber? Wrecking Crew? Some of you will say yes, and some will be like...ugh no.
My thoughts exactly. I recently started Intellivision collecting, and let me tell you, games like Astrosmash just aren't something you can get lost in.
My thoughts exactly. I recently started Intellivision collecting, and let me tell you, games like Astrosmash just aren't something you can get lost in.
On the other hand, I just started re-building my Dreamcast and Saturn libraries; and those systems definitely have some games you can fall in love with all over again.
I was up all night last night playing through Jet Set Radio and having more fun playing it now than back when it came out!
The things you enjoy are objectively bad and you should be pretty upset about it!
Something that is by definition subjective cannot be objective. It's true that the persons in question I'm referring to (which, again is NOT anyone here, sorry if I was initially misleading) were complaining about someone saying a game is good because of nostalgia, but aren't they entitled to that opinion? Again, there is no objectivity involved here.
I see you are indeed pretty upset about it. So we're on the right track here!
Ignoring the difference between quality and appreciation is a good step but I think you need to use gendered insults and more capslock.
Comments
I meant to say: "I think nostalgia is a perfectly valid reason to like a game"
I'm curious?
I'm also curious, as I like a lot of old games due to nostalgia. There may be other reasons of course but nostalgia is a big part of liking SOME games for me. Therefore I cannot understand why nostalgia would be an invalid reason to like a game?
Errr, it's not?
^^^ This
There's no accounting for taste!
The things you enjoy are objectively bad and you should be pretty upset about it!
However, I feel it is best to leave it out of game reviews, which unfortunately some people do not.
Agreed.
To those who asked "Says who?", in my experience a lot of people tend to complain about a person citing nostalgia as a primary factor in why they like a particular video game. Then again, I haven't seen any of that here, so it might just be limited to the gaming community everyone here hates (read: GameFAQs).
The things you enjoy are objectively bad and you should be pretty upset about it!
Something that is by definition subjective cannot be objective. It's true that the persons in question I'm referring to (which, again is NOT anyone here, sorry if I was initially misleading) were complaining about someone saying a game is good because of nostalgia, but aren't they entitled to that opinion? Again, there is no objectivity involved here.
You can definitely find enjoyment in games out of Nostalgia, but what I find nostalgic differs from what someone else might just based on life experiences.
As a result, if I'm GRADING a game for other people, Nostalgia is something I have to take out of the equation as my experiences may not be shared with those of my audience.
Vice versa they wouldn't have the same Nostalgia for Oregon Trail that I do.
Thanks to Oregon Trail, I get nostalgic every time I see or hear the word "dysentery".
When our minds are young, we easily get impressed. When we mature, our tastes are different and we get interested in different ways. You may have liked the game as a kid, but someone else might not have... I don't know
EDIT: And yes, I know that technically speaking, that is a lot closer to the word's roots, but I think for practical purposes it has evolved into something different.
While it is somewhat painful to see that those days are gone, if it's something you can hold in your hand, like a movie, a baseball, or a game, then I'm sure that's not really painful.
Some games were good for the time, or just average/bad but as a kid it was the shit for you. But, then you come back 20-25 years later and try it again and once the 'WOW' burns off, you'll have your answer if it's valid or not. A game like Super Mario Bros, you'll get lost in again, but could you say that for like oh...Mach Rider? Ice Climber? Wrecking Crew? Some of you will say yes, and some will be like...ugh no.
Nostalgia is not an invalid reason to like a game. Nostalgia is a valid reason not to like a game if you dust it off and learned it aged like warm milk and not a fine cheese.
Some games were good for the time, or just average/bad but as a kid it was the shit for you. But, then you come back 20-25 years later and try it again and once the 'WOW' burns off, you'll have your answer if it's valid or not. A game like Super Mario Bros, you'll get lost in again, but could you say that for like oh...Mach Rider? Ice Climber? Wrecking Crew? Some of you will say yes, and some will be like...ugh no.
My thoughts exactly. I recently started Intellivision collecting, and let me tell you, games like Astrosmash just aren't something you can get lost in.
My thoughts exactly. I recently started Intellivision collecting, and let me tell you, games like Astrosmash just aren't something you can get lost in.
On the other hand, I just started re-building my Dreamcast and Saturn libraries; and those systems definitely have some games you can fall in love with all over again.
I was up all night last night playing through Jet Set Radio and having more fun playing it now than back when it came out!
The things you enjoy are objectively bad and you should be pretty upset about it!
Something that is by definition subjective cannot be objective. It's true that the persons in question I'm referring to (which, again is NOT anyone here, sorry if I was initially misleading) were complaining about someone saying a game is good because of nostalgia, but aren't they entitled to that opinion? Again, there is no objectivity involved here.
I see you are indeed pretty upset about it. So we're on the right track here!
Ignoring the difference between quality and appreciation is a good step but I think you need to use gendered insults and more capslock.