Retro gaming as learning

by Hearts and Minds Media

After being involved in the golden age of arcades and home computer games in the 80’s and 90’s I felt compelled to write a overview of retro gaming as it exists in the UK and its resurgence as a method of training and educating a new generation of gamers and programmers. The 80s provided a unique market and opportunity for bedroom programmers to become involved at a national level in producing products which sold eventually worldwide to critical acclaim. Alongside this phenomenon of business was the arcade industry which started in Japan with space invaders and soon came to enrapture the world in its potential to draw crowds together chasing the social experience of high-scores and co-operative gaming. There has been a wave of interest in events and new business’s offering retro game collecting and playing across the UK in the past 10 years which suggests that the popularity of gaming on systems and arcades older than 10 years is set to continue. The following pages will hopefully rekindle your interest in this fascinating area.

20 Questionnaires returned 20 Interviews 4 Arcade environments observed and reported on