Games of future past

[00:00.36] Fashion and music are constantly looking back to the past.

[00:04.36] But would you be interested in retro video games?

[00:07.62] If so, you are part of a growing trend.

[00:11.37] Vintage video games are making their way back into living rooms.

[00:15.63] There is already a large market for 1970s and 80s games consoles.

[00:21.39] Despite their limited graphics and sounds, original machines by Atari, Nintendo and Sega command high prices.

[00:29.65] This year, a charity in the UK is hoping to cash-in on this with the re-release of the hugely popular 1980s home computer, the ZX Spectrum.

[00:40.92] The new version has 1,000 games pre-loaded - a big change to the old machine that loaded games from a cassette tape.

[00:48.94] That process took several minutes and would often go wrong.

[00:53.45] In the United States, large numbers of gamers wanting a taste of 80s action are visiting beer and arcade game centres where they can drink and relive the games of their childhood.

[01:06.22] "Our most popular games are the classics like Ms Pac Man and Donkey Kong and also the multiplayer games like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Simpsons, NBA Jam and X-Men," says Paul Kermizian, owner of one successful chain of arcades.

[01:23.75] Pinball goes even further back in time, but it's also enjoying a revival.

[01:29.51] New technology means contemporary machines have more features, but the gameplay has not changed.

[01:36.78] Pinball machine maker Gary Stern says people like playing because it's physical - more like a sport than a video game.

[01:45.29] Because of this, it's becoming popular with people in their 20s as well as older players.

[01:52.06] So, is it just nostalgia, or are older games more fun? Either way, with a new generation of fans, it looks like retro gaming is here to stay.