I've been reading forums now for quite a while now and would certainly like to think that I have the ability to bring across some valid points on occasion and give a valid opinion every so often.

A while back, some of you may or may not remember me having an absolutely mad rant at the way the retro scene was turning into some sort of mad and crazy civil war between those that loved the retro scene and those that loved the money coming FROM the retro scene...

Now, I know that the latter form of people are never going to go away as it is the same in all businesses... if there is money to be made from something then people will be there to exploit it, no matter who gets hurt in the process.

What is really starting to rile me (again, I know) is the fact that we are starting to see a host of people appearing, either in publications, forums (ESPECIALLY forums), or other forms of retro media that think that they are god's gift to the retro scene because they "still have their original spectrum" or "they have played this game when it was originally out" or any other reason that apparently raises them to a higher level than the rest.

I'm not going to start attacking people, as I have already seen enough of that in the past year and a bit to sicken me, but I am attacking the retro scene as a whole. It is because of these certain "untouchables" that some of us feel that our beloved hobby/pastime is now becoming a tarnished childhood belonging.

I have always stood by the principals that the original Retro Gamer had and the ability to keep everyone under the one forum, but most importantly, IN UNISON with one another. The death of the 1st incarnation of RG also signified the retro community splitting into many different directions and I know a fair few people that will not look at certain forums now because they are sick of the constant bickering and bitching that goes on in them, not to mention the people that have to constantly post in certain threads because they cannot accept the fact that they are wrong because they are in that 'higher bracket' of retro enthusiasts.

For me the last straw was looking at the "how RG will fail" post. I don't want RG to fail, but at the same time I don't want Retro Fusion to fail either. I want both to succeed and I have a firm belief that both can work in tandem with each other instead of us having a West Side Story situation where we have groups of rival gangs with rattles out of their prams wanting to mark territories.

Retro Gamer is a magazine that has got an "80's Edge" feel to it that some may like, others not, but the content is still retro, which is a good thing of course, and Retro Fusion brings to us a whole cacophony of great little retro tales covering more than just games.

If I am honest, I spend more time in the Retro Fusion forum than the Retro Gamer one, mainly because I find the latter forum quite bland, but that is MY OPINION, so don't start saying your "Oh, but I think it's great because...... FACT" bollocks because it's not going to wash.

The bottom line, as far as I am concerned and is pretty much where I'm getting to, is that I want everyone to wake up and realise that all of us love retro and this frequent moaning and bitching is getting us all nowhere. I want us all to get along, be friendly and love our passion for retro as much as we love finding out about those things we never knew. I have also proved that it is easy to get a point across without getting the soap box out and screaming from the rooftops about it, I have just typed this in and let it speak for itself.

People may just forget about this thread and that's fair enough, but I just want this to be a stepping stone towards all of us getting together and realising that beyond all the moaning, complaining, bitching, fighting, one-upmanship, etc, there is a retro scene that needs the love and attention of us all....

....please people, just remember that.

Retro forever

Turrican

Oh dear Billy, you really need to start beating a different drum. This one's beginning to get very very old. ;)

My suggestion would be to run back to Retro Fusion if you enjoy it there so much, why feel the need to post this here? What does it achieve?

It's rather amusing that members of Fusion keep using Retro Survival as neutral ground to have their little spats, the staff here obviously haven't seen this yet... As I can't see how they'd allow it to continue.

The thing is, there is no bickering in the retro scene. Because to bicker you need two active parties and I have no interest in throwing back the mud that's continually thrown at me.

All the bitching and one-upmanship you constantly refer to has nothing to do with Retro Gamer, so I'm not really too sure what you're actually on about. As the only person who was doing what you suggests has now been banned from my MSN. Show me a thread where a member of Retro Gamer has shown ill-will towards Retro Fusion or any other publication - you can't because it's not professional to bitch on public forums. It loses you respect.

It should be obvious to everyone by now that Retro Gamer and Retro Fusion are two totally different publications with their own strengths and weaknesses. Rather than, put your energies into this suppossed rivalry that doesn't exist, why not put your energies into Fusion. I really enjoyed the budget label feature you did, and expect a Codemasters and Mastertronic piece next.

Retro Forever

Turrican

The opinions of other people have absolutely no effect on my enjoyment of retro games and machines.... FACT!

I don't care who hates who. What difference does it make unless I get involved?

Why join a crusade instead of playing Sonic Gems (well... ok, bad example :P ) ?

If all the forums and magazines closed down tonight I'd just go back to playing with stuff and talking to my friends.
I loved Retro before the current scene (many did, that's why there is a scene) and if it all went poof-de-woop in a minute's time we'd survive.

Flame me if you must, it won't make me stop playing old games or posting on forums just to spite you...

I go around all the retro forums sometimes lurking sometimes posting and I still don't know whats been going on over these last 12 mounths or so. I don't feel part of any retro scene I feel like I'm looking in from the outside while all this bickering goes on in the shadows.

Just to add I'm a supporter of all things retro and I'm completely neutral. :D

Long live Retro, Long live freedom of speech!

Personally I only give my honest opinion, I have no connection to any publication and I only want to contribute with feedback that I believe to be truthful and genuine.

My post was intended to ask questions and provoke constructive debate, apart from a few idiots looking to stir things, it succeeded.

Forget about the idiots Turri, Value the opinions of the people you know mate.

Yo' :D how y'all doin' this fine evening?

I don't think this thread is particularly helpful to anyone right now. Locked.