We have probably all been there: that sudden memory of playing a (video) game and the good memories associated with said memory. Yet how advisable is it to try and re-experience those nostalgic moments? That’s what [Matt] of the Techmoan YouTube channel decided to give a whirl when he ordered the Arcade1Up Pong 2 Player Countercade game system. This comes loaded with multiple variants of the Pong game, including Pong Doubles and Pong Sports, in addition to Warlords, Super Breakout and Tempest. This unit as the name suggests allows for head-to-head two-player gaming.
This kind of ‘countercade’ system is of course much smaller than arcade versions, but you would expect it to give the Pong clones which [Matt] played as a youngster a run for their money at least. Ultimately [Matt] – after some multiplayer games with the Ms. – concluded that this particular nostalgia itch was one that didn’t have to be scratched any more. While the small screen of this countercade system and clumsy interface didn’t help much, maybe Pong just isn’t the kind of game that has a place in 2024?
From our own point of view of having played Pong (and many other ‘old’ games) on a variety of old consoles at retro events & museums, it can still be a blast to play even just Pong against a random stranger at these places. Maybe the issue here is that nostalgia is more about the circumstances of the memory and less of the particular game or product in question. Much like playing Mario Kart 64 on that 20″ CRT TV with three buddies versus an online match in a modern Mario Kart. It’s just not the same vibe.
It’s in the wrong screen orientation for where the controllers are on its title game.
“Maybe the issue here is that nostalgia is more about the circumstances of the memory and less of the particular game or product in question.”
Yes, yes! It’s definitely a thing when playing early tele games like pong.
You remember the times when playing indoors on your grandparents’ house, on an old 1970s TV in a chippendale chassis, while the snow falls in late autumn..
It’s a romatic, cozy experience. Especially if friends were around.
Games from 16-Bit era were fun all by themselves, though.
Even without any nostalgia or prior childhood memories.
Provided that a proper CRT monitor is being used. ;)
Indeed, he’s right about nostalgia not being what it used to be.
Still, I like a Breakout and Tempest with proper rotary controls, and I might pick it up just for that.
And, to find out what’s inside, and if it can be re-purposed like some did on the latest Mario game and watch from a few years ago.
there is a lot about what other input was available in the times when Pong was “unseen-unheared-unexperienced”. With the nonstop bombardement of input today (including the last couple of decades), most people don’t even have the attention span for booting up Pong (1-2 seconds) or, behold, the fantasy to see more than what is depicted on the screen (do the brain-works to imagine a GAME behind the pixels). This isn’t dismissive, it is observing.
I fondly remember playing text adventures – MUDs included. I still do! Why? Because, I have a life. I go outdoors, I wander, I enjoy the noiseful silence of nature, I can wait for a little snake to wake up in the early morning first beams of sun light and watch her slowly crawl away for breakfast. I don’t need a “new enemy surprising me every 3 seconds”.
And I still enjoy C64 games, even though my real life doesn’t give me much time to do it. I am not saying those games were better (some were, though) than today’s “games” (that mostly follow one or two generic ideas and just add more blood and gore to it). I AM saying, though, that with the right amount of “boredom”, you can enjoy a simplified, coarse looking game much easier than if even your toilet paper is printed in AI generated manga porn.
This was.. wonderful. 🥹
+1
Last night, the US “History Channel” had a four-part special on “Built America Presents” on the development of consoles and handhelds. Started with Pong. Really interesting. May be availanle through their app.
No teardown :(
what do you expect? mostly empty box with a generic arm based SOC the size of a playing card and the backside of an LCD. Controls wired up with hair thin wire and cold solder, maybe a half stick of hot glue dabbed in various places