WBC, or When Old Games Don't Matter - CPRoark's Blog

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WBC, or When Old Games Don't Matter Stuck

Posted on January 22, 2013 at 06:58 PM.

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Today I picked up a used copy of MLB 2K6, hoping to take a look at the ONE game (in the 6 year history of the event) to represent the World Baseball Classic. I had hoped to detail the specifics of the mode, see if it could work within a modern franchise mode, and perhaps simulate the tournament for fun.

But something happened on the way to the field--actually, more like something didn't happen. I couldn't get to the actual game part of the mode without a hard freeze of my 360. I remember this being an issue when the game was new, but had figured it had been resolved. A quick look of our original review (http://www.operationsports.com/revie...-baseball-2k6/) shows that it was corrected, at least at one time.

It seems that the passing of time, or at least hardware and/or software changes, have resurrected the problem at some point in the past six years; which got me thinking: are modern "obsolete" games becoming disposable?

See, in a room next to my gaming set up is a box of old consoles. Once in a while, I hook up the old Sega Genesis for some World Series Baseball or fire up the Dreamcast for some Crazy Taxi. I recently played GoldenEye 64 with some buddies to rekindle some college memories. Sure, I know that occasionally a cartridge needs to be blown out or a lens needs to be cleaned. But primarily, these consoles (and their games) work just as they originally did.

But today we read about servers being shut down, updates being scrapped, digital games being pulled from sales, or, in my case, a game that simply no longer functions due to its age. Granted, this MLB 2K6 bug seems to be an isolated incident, but I'm sure there are other games that aren't fully functional, or at least as functional, as they once were.

What games have you experienced from this generation that no longer work? Do you think our reliance on online services, software updates, and digital media mean our current games have a truly finite lifespan? Will people still be playing--or even be able to play--games from this generation?

Comments

# 1 HighCmpPct @ Jan 22

I definitely feel you on playing the older games every once in awhile, I currently have multiple emulators on my pc for the sega,64,and a few other old consoles.

Now to comment on the second part of your blog, I think there is two big problems with our reliance on software updates especially. The first being that I don't think that we the gamers are to dependent on the updates or "patches" if you will, but that it is the developers that are too dependent on them. It seems that the fact that they know they can fix problems with these "patches" that it has created a very big testing/quality assurance problem with todays games. The real question in this regard is what does this hold for gamers without internet access for their consoles in the future?

The part you mentioned about games no longer functioning because of age, I also think is a possible big problem in the making. I mean it costs us $60 now to buy a game (not to mention what that price could move up to when the new consoles come out) and then without warning the next thing you know after a few years your game is not only worth nothing, is doesn't even work any more! Not to mention that many of the big games are really geared towards online play with little to no re-play value for offline gamers, then when the servers for said games are shut-down there is really no use or ability to play them any more.

Any ways this comment went a lot longer than I expected LOL, however nice job with this write-up man it was a good read.

# 2 Seltaeb9091 @ Jan 22

While not quite from this generation, I remember once in the later years of my PS2 use that one of the older early Madden titles would freeze on me just a few plays into a game. I just figured it was a sneaky way for EA to force you to buy the latest Madden.

# 3 inkcil @ Jan 22

the good 'ol days are fading fast...anything to make us put up more cash...surprised they haven't already thought of it to have a fee to play older games when a new version comes out. Also, if you have MVP 05 on PC there is a mod for the WBC...it's pretty cool.

# 4 ty5oke @ Jan 23

One of the pro yakuu spirits games had the WBC.

# 5 Dazraz @ Jan 23

Great article. I still have a Megadrive, Master System, ZX Spectrum, Atari 2600 and even an ancient Magnavox Odyssey 3000! Now granted I can't remember the last time I fired up any of these things but I'd like to think that should I wish to do so I'd be able to. I can understand developers ceasing to continually support ageing games but any updates/patches that are released should always be made available.