Gaming's Golden Oldies (And Where To Find Them in Perth!)

‘We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing’. Perhaps the key to a long life then is not napping, growing your own vegetables or uploading your brain to the internet, but playing those games that we stopped playing.

I’m sure George Bernard Shaw would’ve agreed (had he been a gamer).

In my experience, many people – gamers and non-gamers alike – remember playing some video game as a child. Maybe you used to play Banjo-Kazooie with your cousins. Maybe you used to go to your friend’s house to play The Simpsons: Hit & Run. Whatever it was, you probably have some nostalgia for the experiences that you had. But those days are over and the games lost to you forever – you have responsibilities now and besides, those games weren’t even cool when you were 10 years old. They couldn’t possibly be cool now…could they? Well, had you asked the question, I would’ve answered ‘yes, they could be – and they are’. Not to worry though, I’ll pretend that you did ask and resume my disquisition.

 We might not admit it, but the nostalgia that we carry for gaming’s ‘golden oldies’ is powerful. And game developers know it. How else can you explain the fact there are (at least) nine entries in the Mario Kart series? How was the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy able to sell 10 million units in less than two years? And why are we being sold replicas of older consoles like the SEGA Mega Drive Mini?

The only reasonable explanation is that we love older games and will pay good money to play them again. And while there are many ways that we can do that, none will ever be as fun as collecting original games. There’s just something about the look and feel of original hardware and packaging. It takes you back to a simpler time, before downloadable patches and in-game purchases.

Fortunately, Perth has recently seen the rise of small businesses with shops that trade and sell ‘retro’ games. Not that any of us would trade our cherished games, of course – but if you’re looking to find that classic game that you lost, broke or that your mum gave away, here are the best places in Perth to do it!

1. Retro Collect (Mount Lawley)

Located 10 minutes’ away from Perth City, Retro Collect is far and away the most convenient spot to satiate your appetite for retro games. They stock games and accessories for consoles dating back to the Nintendo Entertainment System, but specialise in the PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and Xbox. It can get quiet on a weekday but there’ll always be a console plugged in and running for a nostalgic ambience. Everything is kept in good condition and each purchase comes with a 40-day warranty – though make sure you bring enough cash to cover any impulse purchases (they don’t take cards)!

2. Beyond Retro (Morley)

Located inside of the Coventry Village Shopping Centre, Beyond Retro caters slightly more to collectors than to casual players. They stock a bit of everything but have stacks of PlayStation 2 games – enough to cover a whole wall! There’s a healthy supply of Nintendo 64 games and accessories, too. The staff are highly knowledgeable about games and you’ll often see them cleaning out cartridges with surgical precision - these guys are serious about games. But, they’re also very friendly and will gladly tell you the history of any product on their shelves! Each purchase comes with a warranty.

3. Mad Retro (Gosnells)

Located in the Gosnells Railway Markets, Mad Retro isn’t exactly convenient for most people. But not to worry, you can buy games and consoles via their Facebook page – they might even put together a bundle deal for you, if you ask! The owners routinely post pictures of new stock on the page and they respond quickly to comments and messages. Of course, their shop is very nice and has the most extensive selection of games in Perth. I recently picked up Tomb Raider (PlayStation), Burnout 3: Takedown (PlayStation 2) and Ty The Tasmanian Tiger (GameCube) all under the one roof! Each purchase comes with a warranty.

Now, you might be thinking – why not just buy online? If so, you have a valid point. These shops often sell games and consoles for more than what you might pay on Gumtree, eBay or even Cash Converters. But the added cost is worthwhile, if you think about it. Everything that you’ll buy is professionally cleaned, repaired, tested and packaged. You’ll have the opportunity to inspect things for damage or defects first – and if you need to return something, that can be easily done. Not to mention that you’ll be supporting the Perth families that run these businesses and love video games!

So go on, be a child again – gaming’s golden oldies aren’t dead yet.

This feature article was originally published in the ‘Gold’ Edition of the University of Western Australia’s Pelican Magazine (May 2019).