Prefer Defender to Devil May Cry? Pac-Man to Pro Evo? Then you'll be interested in the Classic Gaming Expo UK. Held in Croydon this coming August, the expo will let nostalgic 30-something's and curious/bewildered teenagers play on computers and arcade machines not seen since the last time Liverpool FC did well in Europe. As well as competitions on games like Out Run there will be guest appearances from Manic Miner creator Matthew Smith amongst others. Hmm. Now, don't get me wrong, I loved gaming in the 80s - Zzap 64 was my bible back then - but isn't this all going a bit too far?
There's something a little sad about gawping at ancient games when there is so much good stuff around now. Sure, there are some ancient titles that remain highly playable - Monkey Island, Paradroid - but the vast majority of "retro games" are rubbish. Once you've got over the nostalgic thrill of a tinny soundtrack or pixellated loading screen you're usually left with a game best remembered rather than re-lived. So congrats to the organisers for sorting this event, but I prefer to look forwards rather than back. Gribbly's Day Out or Grand Theft Auto 3? No contest.
