A reader explains why he values the plug ‘n’ play simplicity of the sixth generation of consoles and details the best way to play them with modern tech.
The sixth generation of consoles – which comprised the original Xbox, the PlayStation 2, and the GameCube – is probably the generation that I have the fondest memories of. I was heavily into gaming back then. I regularly bought gaming magazines. I visited the high street at weekends and visited shops to look out for bargains and new releases. Most importantly I played games for hours in my free time.
The quality and innovation of games definitely peaked, and you could say plateaued, during the generation that followed, but the sixth console generation was great because of its astonishing variety of games and genres. Game development wasn’t as financially precarious as it is nowadays. There were more developers and publishers around and (especially on the PlayStation 2) there were games for every taste and possible market.
I’ve become dispirited with gaming these days, because it’s too involved. Modern consoles are just so needy. If you’ve only got a spare moment for some gaming you definitely don’t want to be watching the progress of a download or an installation while your console updates itself for whatever reason.
After waiting for your console to update, the game that you actually want to play might itself require a patch. You’re initially asked to log on too. And try not to forget your username and your password. With these hassles in mind I decided that I wanted to skip back at least a couple of decades to a time when video game consoles were a much more straightforward proposition.
At various points during the sixth generation I owned all three of the main consoles. I should have kept them, but I sold my PlayStation 2 and GameCube. These days the only sixth generation console that I still own is the original Xbox.
One snag with retro gaming is that older consoles aren’t compatible with modern televisions. Fortunately, there are lots of different HDMI adapters available to buy on the internet. I bought my HDMI adapter for the original Xbox from a company/seller called xdevpro-net on ebay.
The adapter arrived promptly with instructions and it proved easy to fit and doesn’t require an extra power source. One end of the adapter plugs into your original Xbox. You plug an HDMI cable into the other end of the adapter and then you plug that HDMI cable into your TV.
Everything worked well after I fitted the adapter and the games looked and sounded pretty good to me. I can’t as yet figure out how to display full widescreen. Maybe you need a more expensive adapter or a better TV. My television’s cheap and fairly basic but I had short goes on Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and after a short time I wasn’t bothered at all that the games weren’t fully widescreen.
Graphical fidelity and framerate is important to some people but I don’t mind if an old game looks a bit rough. Blocky graphics are part of the charm of retro gaming as far as I’m concerned. First and foremost, I want to have fun with a game and the occasional visual glitch doesn’t trouble me at all.
My old Xbox is a bit scuffed and knackered. I bought the console years ago second-hand, so the machine has had quite a life. Thanks to the HDMI adapter that life isn’t over yet. Playing this old machine again has made me appreciate its simplicity. The whole selling point of consoles is their simplicity. You want to switch your console on and just start playing. An HDMI adapter makes this ambition possible in 2025.
By reader Michael Veal
The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.
You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at [email protected] or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.
MORE: Video game makers should bring back the best feature of the Xbox 360 – Reader’s Feature
MORE: Top 10 online co-op video games for modern consoles and PC – Reader’s Feature
MORE: Xbox is betraying the entire concept of video game consoles – Reader’s Feature
