The Ghosts of Gaming Past: Why Preserving Flops Matters
The recent release of the Earnest Evans Collection, as Gamereactor’s review highlights, sparks a fascinating question: why revisit games that weren’t good to begin with? It’s easy to celebrate the classics, the Super Marios and Zeldas that defined generations. But there’s a growing movement towards preserving and re-releasing gaming’s failures, and it’s more than just morbid curiosity. It’s about understanding the evolution of the medium, the risks taken, and the lessons learned.
Beyond Nostalgia: The Value of Gaming Archaeology
Nostalgia plays a role, certainly. But the interest in these “forgotten” titles extends beyond rose-tinted glasses. Think of it as gaming archaeology. Just as historians study failed civilizations to understand societal development, game developers and enthusiasts can glean valuable insights from games that didn’t quite make the mark. The Earnest Evans Collection, with its ambitious but flawed mechanics, exemplifies this. It showcases a period of experimentation, where developers were pushing boundaries – sometimes successfully, often not.
This isn’t a new phenomenon. The retrogaming community has long embraced obscure titles. Websites like Abandonware DOS are dedicated to preserving and providing access to older games, many of which were commercially unsuccessful. The difference now is a growing recognition from publishers themselves, like Sega with the Earnest Evans Collection, that there’s an audience for this content.
The Rise of “Anti-Nostalgia” and Critical Re-evaluation
A counter-current to pure nostalgia is emerging – an “anti-nostalgia” that actively seeks to critically re-evaluate games of the past. This isn’t about dismissing beloved titles, but about acknowledging their flaws and understanding the context in which they were created. YouTube channels like Ahoy are masters of this, dissecting game design with a level of detail previously unseen. They don’t just *play* old games; they *analyze* them.
This critical lens is crucial. The Earnest Evans review points to a prioritization of style over substance, a common pitfall in early 3D gaming. By studying these failures, modern developers can avoid repeating the same mistakes. It’s a form of negative learning – understanding what *doesn’t* work is just as important as understanding what does.
Preservation as a Form of Game History
Digital preservation is a growing concern in all areas of media, and gaming is no exception. Games are often lost to time due to hardware failures, licensing issues, and simply a lack of interest in maintaining older codebases. Re-releasing these titles, even flawed ones, helps ensure they aren’t completely forgotten. Emulation plays a vital role here, but official releases, like the Earnest Evans Collection, offer a level of authenticity and accessibility that emulation can’t always match.
Consider the case of P.T., the playable teaser for the cancelled Silent Hills. Despite its short lifespan, P.T. became a cultural phenomenon, influencing countless horror games. Its removal from the PlayStation Store only amplified its mystique and importance. The desire to preserve experiences like P.T. underscores the value of game history, even when that history is incomplete or unfinished.
Future Trends: AI, Remasters, and the “Flop Revival”
Several trends suggest this focus on preservation and re-evaluation will continue. Firstly, advancements in AI are making it easier to remaster and upscale older games, breathing new life into titles that might otherwise be unplayable. Secondly, we’re likely to see more “flop revivals” – developers revisiting critically panned games with the benefit of hindsight, attempting to fix their flaws or reimagine them for a modern audience.
Finally, the growing popularity of game streaming and Let’s Play videos is creating a new platform for these games to be discovered and appreciated. A game that flopped in 1994 can find a new audience in 2024 thanks to the power of online content creation.
FAQ: Preserving Gaming’s Past
- Why bother preserving bad games? They offer valuable insights into game development history, design mistakes, and the evolution of the medium.
- Is emulation enough for preservation? Emulation is crucial, but official re-releases offer authenticity and accessibility.
- Will we see more “flop revivals”? It’s likely, as developers explore opportunities to reimagine and fix past failures.
- How does AI play a role in preservation? AI can assist with remastering, upscaling, and even reconstructing lost game code.
Pro Tip: Explore online archives like the Internet Archive’s software library (https://archive.org/details/software) to discover a wealth of forgotten gaming treasures.
Did you know? The term “vaporware” – referring to software announced but never released – originated in the gaming industry in the early 1990s.
What are your thoughts on preserving gaming’s failures? Share your favorite forgotten titles in the comments below! Don’t forget to check out our other articles on retro gaming and game development for more insights.
