If there is anything I’ve learned from the gaming culture during the last decade, it’s that nostalgia has a considerable influence on our opinions. It’s no secret, and the psychology behind it is sound; we, as humans, tend to think back on memories passed with rose-tinted glasses. We’ve all heard about how green the grass is on the other side, and you can look back on your past failures with perfect clarity, believing you could make it right if only you could go back in time.
We mostly live our lives in the past, reminiscing about the moments that filled you with joy and warmth. We seek shelter in the cozy blanket of our cherished memories when we’re subjected to the chaotic natures of existence. We find comfort in the familiar and unease in the unknown. The very mention of a deviation from the norm instantly causes hesitation and uncertainty. Well, at least that’s the effect it usually has on me.
What drives this point home, in my opinion, is the fact that Intellectual Properties (IPs) from as far back as the mid-seventies still have a substantial foothold in the gaming industry of today. An IP refers to the creation and ownership of a concept. To name one example, Mario is an IP of Nintendo and has been a major influence on the gaming industry since his initial appearance in Donkey Kong (1981). Countless developers and designers endeavored to capture the same design structures and elements that made Mario so successful.
Today, one of the most popular games on Nintendo’s Wii U is Super Mario Maker; a game that lets players design their own levels and test their skills against the challenging trials put forth by their countless peers. The foundations of the games design are still more or less intact since it was introduced. The classic platformer with enemies and the occasional boss fight along with interesting and colorful level design. I’m sure you can find loads of articles out there that will tell you what makes Mario games so great.
My question is: Would the IP of Mario be met with the same reception it got in the early eighties today? It’s impossible to know for sure, but my gut tells me that nostalgia plays a bigger role in our opinion of games than we realize.
Bedsforth 