Nokia announced that it will be re-releasing the classic 6310 for its 20th anniversary, and it will still be loaded with Snake. The throwback looks pretty similar to the original version - albeit with more modern internals like a colour screen - but currently isn't heading to Australia. It only has 2G connectivity (which doesn't exist here anymore), so you wouldn’t want it anyway.
Even though we won’t be able to get our hands on this retro Snake emulator, it did spark some memories about other retro tech we would love to see make a resurgence.
SEGA Mega Drive (Genesis)
Who among us doesn’t have fond memories of sitting, cross-legged in front of a boxy TV, and passing the controller around? While this one has technically been revived in 2019 with the Genesis (or Mega Drive) mini, it is missing one crucial element that is pivotal to the 90s vibe - cartridges.
There is something about fixing a cartridge by blowing the dust out, just so that you can play a side-scrolling game with corded controllers that hits your nostalgia right in the feels.
Let's bring back the innocence of youth, and the original Sonic while we’re at it.
Nintendo Game & Watch Donkey Kong
Dual screens are commonplace today - you’re probably reading this on one of your work screens, or on your phone while another slightly larger screen shines behind it. But back when the Game & Watch with Donkey Kong was released in 1982, this was barrel breaking stuff.
Dot matrix printers
I can almost hear the soothing melody now - crk crk errrr, crk crk errrr - echoing into eternity as a continuous stream of paper piles up on the floor.
No household printer will ever be able to compete with the banner-making prowess of the dot matrix.
Nintendo Game Boy
While we’re talking games, how can you go past the original Game Boy? 160x144 pixels of blocky beauty, bouncing two dimensionally within the screen. Remember playing in the car, and waiting to go past a street light before you can make your next move. Do you think you’d still have the badges to control this pixelated brute?
iPod nano (2009 if we're being specific)
Bring back the iPod nano, but make it modern. Imagine, if you will, the iPod nano but with support for Bluetooth headphones, and Apple Music entirely built-in. A separate music device, dedicated to offline music you’ve downloaded from the music streaming platform.
A well made, single purpose device in a flashy colour to boot.
SIM City 2000
We can all agree that the soundtrack from SIM City 2000 is THE must listen soundtrack. We all could do with those tunes in our lives again.
SEGA Lock-On
Does anyone else remember the feeling of hard plastic on your forehead, and the pew pew of these laser tag guns? Sure, technology has gotten more advanced - you can now drop yourself into a virtual reality game, or put a portable display up and shoot away - but can you really beat this portable game of laser tag?
Scratched knees, cheating by covering the singular sensor used to clock your shot, the feel of heavy plastic in your hands as you run through the park in pursuit of your brother who took you down last time. I would love to whip this out at Christmas.
Anula Wiwatowska
Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram
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