Gaming In 1999: Things I Miss and Things I Don’t

MasonicGamer: Since 1999 gaming has evolved drastically. Some of these changes have helped our industry blossom and some are fettering it.

Since the emergence of online gaming — PSN, Xbox Live and the like — the personal camaraderie of gaming seems to have all but disappeared. Remember games like Goldeneye and Mario Kart 64? Gaming was more social back in the day; we had more fun, we talked trash, we had beers, we socialised.

[NatureOfLogic]

Anybody miss blowing the N64 cartridge?....... It had to be said.

[hollabox]

I didn't have that problem, but he mentioned the PS1 as being sturdy. I had 5 of them in 6 years while my N64 and Sega Saturn never failed.

Update:
My N64 did fail to boot after sitting idle for awhile, but by that time in 2002 I no longer played my N64. Probably was just a bad power supply, but I didn't care to investigate, only wanted to setup Goldeneye for my younger family members.

[Lon3wolf]

The original version of PS1 had the laser unit right next to the heat sink (left hand side of the unit I believe), later versions it was swapped over to be on the opposite side. Had a few that the laser units burnt out on me.

[TheFirstClassic]

I've had my n64 and it still works just as well as it did when I got it. Played Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask for the first time this previous summer, the two n64 games I really felt like I was missing out on. I still use it from time to time, great system.

[Legion21]

There's two type of gamers in this world. Gamers who had to blow into cartridges and liars.

[AlexanderNevermind]

@NatureofLogic,

N64....I been blowing since the Atari 2600 (Don't Judge Me!!!)

[ALARM-clock]

I still have my original PS1 today, the original model before they changed the look (not an actual launch console). It actually still works, and I used to have the thing sitting on carpeted floor.

[3-4-5]

I've never really had to blow in the N64 cartridges.

The NES though....that is another story.

[hollabox]

I don't miss paying $60-$75 for my N64 games. Thats not too much now, but considering 96-99 as a teenager in sports and school, $75 before tax was not always easy to come up with. And people complain about $60 a game today considering the 90's also had SNES and Genesis games going for $75 with Virtual Racing costing me $100. Oh don't get me started on the Neo Geo carts, only system I wanted but couldn't afford to buy the software until the CD version.

[SilentNegotiator]

"And people complain about $60 a game today"

Because better does not mean good.

[FunkMacNasty]

Videogame prices have always been high. I can remember for my birthday one year as a kid, My mom and Dad agreed to take me to Toys R' Us after school and I could buy Super Mario Bros. 3 (I desperately wanted it after reading a full length feature in a Nintendo Power issue)

I remember my mom and dad being shocked that SMB 3 was like $40 bucks.. where other original ninty games were anywhere from $5 to $25

[hollabox]

Yeah I would say we got it good considering paying $75.99 before taxes as a kid for the SNES,Genesis, N64 in Chicago. After taxes my games were closer to $90 in sales tax heavy Chicago. NES games were very cheap, like you mentioned I can't recall paying over $40 for my NES games at Funcoland back in the day. I'm glad we switched to CD/DVD games, while yes cartridges were fast, some actually did loading, I can't say I miss paying those prices.

[SilentNegotiator]

I miss having some awesome non-Mario 3D platformers (Spyro, Crash, Banjo, etc), instantaneous load times on N64, and splitscreen MP.

[TheFirstClassic]

Yeah back in those days you would hit the power button and immediately your were playing the game. Those load times on n64 were great.

[izumo_lee]

Miss 4: Buying a Game, the Whole Game and Nothing but the Game

Amen to that! Whoever started the DLC craze should be shot!

In the old days we unlocked characters (not buy them for $5), we unlocked extra maps, secrets were uncovered during exploration, games of the past had more bang for your buck.

To bad those days are gone cause DLC is unfortunately here to stay.

[FunkMacNasty]

Whoever MONETIZED the DLC craze should be shot.. and then shot again, only to be revived and subsequently shot a third time. After all, THAT person is the tool that ruined gaming.

When DLC first started coming out consistently toward the final years of the orig Xbox/ps2 era, and even into the start of the current console gen, it was worth it. It came out months after the game released, it was always either free or reasonably priced, and not a condition of preordering a game, or over priced components of a game that should've been included right out of the box at retail price.

Remember when you would buy a game and you weren't sure if there was any DLC for it? You had to go onto the marketplace and search for it!

Now it's "Preorder this game to access to this weapon or that character skin!!" or we see headlines that say things like "Day one DLC for Xgame just announced - $15 on XBL/PSN"

[StraightedgeSES]

I disagree with number 4 on don't. gaming in my opinion was better when it was a hermit hobby because developers did not have to worry about making games that appealed to the masses.

[Goro]

I miss the days when you payed the price for the game and you got the full game and didn't have to spend additional money on DLC/Locked Content.

[fossilfern]

Yes I remember the days when I unlocked costumes for characters whether it be different coloured costumes or entirely new ones or unlocking weapons, etc.

Now they expect you to pay for "super awesome weapon pack #6 only £2!" They may only charge small amounts but its the moral behind it.

[Goro]

Yeah, all those small amounts fairly add up though.

[Eyeco]

Yeah and when developers for the most part actually took the time to polish games, instead of realising a half assed product saying "yeah we can just patch it later" looking at you Bethesda

[Goro]

Sounds like Deep Silver, only problem is they don't patch it later...*Cough* Dead Island *Cough*.

[Stringerbell]

Total Dreamcast fanboy here, I miss the old Sega =/

[GentlemenRUs]

Had a Sega Megadrive and a FAT PS1 :)

Still got the PS1 but sadly mother chucked the Megadrive away(Younger brother broke it).

Though this was like 1997-2007, I'm 20 ;)

[e-p-ayeaH]

Still have my PS1 and runs games with no problem unlike my PS2 slim that started having issues 2 years after i got it.

[jp_footy2]

Is it just me (it probably is!) or is the year 1999 popping up everywhere?...