If you’re a fan of classic games from the 80’s and 90’s, then setting up an old school gaming night might be on the agenda. It’s a great way to relive all of the classics and also introduce new generations to the games that shaped the gaming world as we know it. You want to make this night perfect, so let’s take a look at how you can do exactly that.
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Choose the right games
The first thing you need to do is find the right games for your gaming night. You should think about all gaming platforms too – from playing minesweeper on your Windows ‘98 right through to your SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System), you’ll need to make sure you have everything set up. You could always ask guests to contribute their favourite game from their favourite era if getting hold of the games is difficult. Consider classics like Super Mario Bros, The Legend of Zelda, Sonic the Hedgehog and Pac-Man for a fun filled evening packed full of nostalgia.
Gather the equipment
Once you’ve chosen which games are going to be featured during your nostalgic game night, you’ll need to get the equipment too. This means making sure you’ve got all of the consoles, controllers, cables, and even the right screens. Some older consoles are no longer compatible with modern televisions, so you might need to buy an adapter if you’re choosing to use your current TV. If you love the idea of really getting that feeling you had all those years ago, you could try and get your hands on a few CRT TVs for that classic feel.
Create the perfect atmosphere
The atmosphere will play an important role in your gaming night. Take the time to decorate the space in the era of the games you’re playing. You could put posters of classic games or characters up, and even use retro lighting to really set the scene. Pair that with some 8-bit music to really enhance your experience. If you’ve got the space, dedicate different stations for each platform or game genre to help keep things organised.
Plan the game play
Now is the time to decide whether the night will be casual gameplay, or if you want to organise some sort of tournament or competition. Having a tournament can add some friendly competition to the night. You could consider some old school classic multiplayer games for the tournaments so people can play simultaneously. For single player games, you could keep track of high scores to decide who has won.
Provide food and drinks
No gaming night is complete without the right food and drinks. Why not keep to a theme and pick food and drinks from the 80’s or 90’s? Take the time to think about foods that are easy to eat while gaming, but won’t make your controllers or keyboards greasy. Fizzy soda, energy drinks and candy is a great place to start if you’re out of ideas.
Invitations and scheduling
While a gaming night can be a very casual event consisting of old friends playing games, it’s a good idea to add some structure to your evening. Send out invitations on a day you know works for the majority of people, and consider adding a start and finish time to help keep things organised to the end. Why not keep the invitations in theme and create digital invitations with pixel art or retro game designs to really give the evening the feel you want?
Extra fun
You want to make the night memorable, so you could put in some extra twists of fun if you’ve got the time and the resources. Things like giving out prizes to winners of tournaments or setting up a photo booth with props related to games is a light hearted but fun touch. Or, maybe you could ask guests to dress up as their favourite game characters as another little twist? Small details like this will go a long way, so really put some thought into it.
Safety
As the host, it’s your responsibility to make sure that your gaming environment is a safe one. This means tucking away trailing wires, making sure the heating isn’t too hot or cold, and making sure you consider the needs of your guests with non-alcoholic alternatives available.
Your ultimate old school gaming night is just around the corner! Don’t forget to set up a camera and take plenty of pictures so that you can cherish your evening before, during and after your gaming night.
Categories: Gaming Talk Stuff
