VR Retro Old is new again. Within the last few years, gamers collecting old games have generated a huge business. Whether it’s nostalgia or missing the artwork of games of yesteryear, prices for old systems and games have skyrocketed on eBay and specialty stores. Nintendo just released the NES Classic Edition, a tiny version of the original NES system that has 30 classic games built into it. The product has resonated with so many consumers that the company can’t keep it on the shelves. Fans have waited on line at various stores just for a novelty item. A gimmick or the future? This is the most confusing and intriguing question. In its infancy, the virtual reality head-mounted display is designed to immerse you in a setting or world in a way that a standard game can’t regardless of the graphics. The potential is endless. It’s like having a virtual reality ride from Disney World into your living room. You could feel like a superhero, like “Batman: Arkham VR” does on the PlayStation VR. There are already a few devices on the market. The Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive are expensive and tout impressive graphics; however, the Playstation VR, which already has a strong audience and band loyalty, seems to be the early hit. It’s also the cheapest due to less powerful specs. It already has a bunch of games available from launch, but remember, it’s the company’s first crack at virtual reality, so a lot of the games are short and experimental, giving fans a chance to see the potential of the tech rather than the finished product. It has tons of wires and you’ll have to wait a while for it to come to its own, but early adopters shouldn’t be too disappointed. Based on early sales, this seems to suggest gamers are ready for a new experience. And no, this is no Virtual Boy. It’s a safe bet that this will grow. Mobile gaming Ca sual gamers are always what software companies seek. The Wii was so successful because they got Nintendo loyalists to play their franchise games, but also young children, parents, and seniors to buy in, which is not an easy feat. I once covered a senior center that hosted a Wii bowling tournament. Seeing the smiles on the seniors’ faces while playing was remarkable. Now, motion controls have sort of died down a bit. But it’s clear that companies want everyone to play games. The best way to do currently that is mobile gaming. Whether you have a tablet or smartphone, games are available and cheap. This has resulted in deeply hurting the dedicated handheld market. However, there are so many games that, like Atari, there is really no quality control, leaving consumers with a lot of bad games. There are some huge hits like Angry Birds and Candy Crush, and they are lucrative properties. Although games are free, they offer you the opportunity to pay a dollar here or there to receive certain upgrades. It adds up. Gaming company Activision bought Candy Crush for $5.9 billion, a move that left many insiders scratching their heads. Mobile games seem to be flavor of the month. People don’t really clamor to play older hits like “Words with Friends.” But everyone has a smartphone and the ease of downloading a game at a cheap price is chance causal gamers are willing to take. Even Nintendo, which was hesitant at first, has thrown its hat in the ring, with megahits like “Pokemon Go” and “Super Mario Run.” It’s a lesser experience, but its presence can no longer be ignored. QNS.com WINTER 2016 23
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