by Old School Gamer | Apr 19, 2026 | Gaming
Why Arcade Design Still Matters Today If you walked into an arcade in the 1990s, you didn’t need instructions. The screen told you everything with bright visuals, simple controls, and instant action. That same thinking sits behind many of today’s biggest mobile games....
by Old School Gamer | Apr 17, 2026 | 1980s, 2020s, Magazine Preview
Donkey Kong not only started a trend with platform games back then, but it also created a vast universe of games based on the two main characters from the game (Donkey Kong and Mario, then known as Jumpman). I remember seeing this game for the very first time in the...
by Old School Gamer | Apr 15, 2026 | 1980s, 2020s, Magazine Preview
I can still remember my Atari 800. The screen went that deep shade of blue, and the cursor appeared, waiting for me to type something… No joystick… No sprites… Just text. Then these words appeared: “You are standing in an open field west of a white house, with a...
by Old School Gamer | Apr 13, 2026 | Gaming
Retro design has moved well beyond a simple nod to older players. In 2025 and 2026, it has become one of gaming’s most reliable ways to cut through noise, connect generations, signal identity and make familiar ideas feel current again. Gaming is now old enough to have...
by Old School Gamer | Apr 9, 2026 | Gaming
Most games are built to entertain. A select few are built to challenge the way you think, and those are the ones that tend to stay with you long after you put down the controller. Strategy-based games force you to process information under pressure, anticipate...