13/08/2025
Say what you will about "outdated" formats, but the true nature of plug n' play media meant none of the issues that come with digital media. Digital is space saving, convenient, fast, and often cheaper than physical media now, however, it's not without fault. Patches required to fix hastily unfinished projects by studios, not having anything tangible that coincides with the content itself, and the fear that one day it will disappear, like many games and already have. Not even just live service games, but some that simply no longer have support for things required to play the game at all. Netflix and Hulu are great, until they remove the show you're watching. Having it on VHS or DVD is a good way to avoid losing something you paid for. Subscriptions often cater to what's current, and a rotating backlog of things they have to pay for themselves. The cost of convenience is often temporary media. Many of us like having the ability to own something for as long as we please, not just until your licensing rights to it expire. In the 90's when you purchased a game or a movie, so long as you cared for the item, it would last forever...you didn't just "barrow" it. (I mean you could, that's what Blockbuster and Hollywood Video were)
Not having any requirements to login online and download content meant the moment you opened your product, it was complete as is, and immediately playable or watchable. (Which was sometimes disappointing, no doubt) That was the beauty of CD's, cassette tapes, VHS tapes, DVD's, and all games produced. It had more magic to it. But it also had it's own flaws. I just think there's beauty in both. Back then, You got what you got. Now, you can get anything, all the time. Both have their own way of making us appreciate the good stuff more. Be it oversaturation in the market, or a limited library.
In short, there was something magical about having it in its entirety. That limitation of the 90's just hit different. That's why so many have so much nostalgia for that erra, and I'm here for it 100%