Retro is the new retro

Retrofitting,

Behold a new buzz word for the video game community.

When I was younger I didn't just want to make video games, I wanted to make an entire damn system. I actually cut out a console made out of cardboard and made a slit in the top to put in my literal paper thin games (I think I ended up designing some game covers too, but alas all of that has been long discarded). My console was only going to be able to play 16 and 8bit games in an era of 3d graphics and spinny CD thingies instead of good ole catridges. This would make the games easier to make when I finally figured out how to... er, make games.

Point is that with the advent of Xbox Live Arcade, PSN and WiiWare the idea of taking long running series back to their roots has become popular. We'll see where it goes from Mega Man 9 and Bionic Commando Rearmed but my guess is that their will be a small community of developers and publishers that will jump on this ban wagon.

There is nothing inherently new about retrofitting; back in my day it was just referred to as being gameboyized. A more recent example of this would be the New Super Mario Bros on the DS. Some series continue to create hand held graphical downgrades (Zelda for instance) while some oddly continue to stay away from nostalgia based games (I'm looking at you Metroid). Other series like Castlevania find shelter in the 2d sprite games while cautiously courting the 3d realm once more (A fighting game? Seriously?)

So strong is this meme of 'old is the new new' that The Independant Gaming Source held a demake competition where newer games/series get the Atari/NES/SNES (/Genesis for those Sega fans out there) makeover. This includes well known titles such as GTA, Silent Hill, Super Smash Bros, and God of War to name a few.

Go here to view TIGS competition and if you want some more superfun look through the games and see if you can figure out the originals.

Retrofit... demake... graphical 8bit overhaul... whatever you want to call it... video games have caught up with fashion, interior design and music where we in the community can now say, "Retro is so in right now."