Playstalgia

Simplistic toys and basic techology from the past making a comeback

Implications - Designers have been evoking people’s inner ‘geeks,’ appealing to anyone who has ever engaged in gaming. Using themes from the past as inspiration, from LEGO and Rubik’s cubes to Pacman and Tetris, designers have reintroduced arcade appeal to the modern age of virtual worlds and HD graphic gaming.

Trend Themes

  1. Nostalgia — The trend of invoking past designs and themes to appeal to consumers could be leveraged by companies to market products that reference popular cultural tropes of the time and update them to fit modern aesthetics.
  2. Interactive Gaming — The desire for challenging games and the nostalgia for retro gaming has created a demand for interactive gaming technologies, such as multi-touch surfaces, arcade tables, and Rubik's Cube games.
  3. Customization — Products that allow for customization or personalization, such as color schemes or intricate design, are appealing to consumers who want to express their dedication to a franchise through personal crafting projects.

Industry Implications

  1. Gaming and Entertainment — The gaming industry could benefit from creating or updating retro games to appeal to nostalgic consumers, as well as investing in interactive gaming technologies for more immersive experiences.
  2. Marketing and Advertising — Companies could leverage multi-touch surfaces and other interactive technologies for more innovative and convenient advertising, allowing for projections on any surface that can be instantly changed.
  3. Craft and Design — Industries that involve personal crafting, such as jewelry and home decor, could benefit from offering customizable products that allow consumers to express their unique interests and skills.
4.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
12 Featured, 32 Examples:
580,697 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Feb 08 — Sep 08
Trending:
Warm
Consumer Insight Topics:

Featured Examples

Top 33 LEGO Creations
Top 33 LEGO Creations
Innovating Retro Toys
You didn't think LEGO died with the rise of video games and the internet, did you? Until the last of us who played with LEGO as kids die off, the fascination with the little plastic blocks will continue.… MORE
Rubik's Cube Alarm Clock
Rubik's Cube Alarm Clock
Cube Clock Has Thermometer
In addition to looking damn retro cool, this Rubik’s Cube inspired Cube Clock offers a multitude of functions such as time, temperature, alarm and date. You can easily switch between these functions… MORE
Nintendo Wall Decals
Nintendo Wall Decals
Blik Surface Graphics
These are super wall decals for your little gamer! Or perhaps your not so little gamer. The designs include the wildly popular Super Mario which is the highest selling video game of all time – 40 million… MORE
Geek Chic Accessories
Geek Chic Accessories
Pac Man Cufflinks
Dubai-based British silver jeweler BeauJangles has come up with super cool geeky Pac Man cufflinks. A must have for any retro game or 70s lover. For $48, you have the choice of two Ghosts, two Pac Man… MORE
Computer Security By Color Scheme
Computer Security By Color Scheme
Cheng-Li Hung's Rubik's Cube
So instead of memorizing numbers and letters, I will have to memorize color sequences? Say what? That's what designer Cheng-Li Hung has in mind when he designed the Rubik's cube as a security devise. The… MORE
Balloons for Geeks
Balloons for Geeks
Balloon Guy's Art
This is some wicked, really skilled balloon art. These geeky balloon sculptures by Balloon Guy Entertainment or just Balloon Guy, features such video game and science fiction characters as Mario, the Transformers,… MORE
play_circle_filledTop 9 Ways to Keep Tetris Alive
Top 9 Ways to Keep Tetris Alive
What is it about Tetris that even decades after its release, and in the face of high-tech modern gaming innovation, it continues to hold such vast appeal? We’ve seen a range of Tetris-inspired gimmicks… MORE
Retro-Chic Gaming
Retro-Chic Gaming
The Arcade Table
If you want to entertain a party with style, the cool hunter has a table for you. Looking like it took its inspiration from Microsoft's upcoming Surface Table, the sleek and modern Arcade Table comes loaded… MORE
Cheap Retro Thrills
Cheap Retro Thrills
Deluxe TV Etch-A-Sketch
How would you like to play a $13 Etch-A-Sketch on your $3500 52 inch LCD TV? Just about everybody had an Etch-A-Sketch when they were a kid, but if you didn’t it’s not too late. $13 will get you… MORE
Childhood Toys Evolved
Childhood Toys Evolved
Tater of the Lost Ark is the New Mr. Potato Head
I want a Tater of the Lost Ark. I love this guy. I will be seeing the latest adventures of Indiana Jones tonight and I will be thinking of Tater of the Lost Ark. He has shoes, and teeth, and ears and… MORE
play_circle_filledEtch-A-Sketch Clock
Etch-A-Sketch Clock
Upgraded Toy Keeps Time
Etch-A-Sketch toys have been around for decades, but people seem to continually find new and creative uses for them. This video is a good example. Angela Yuan, a former member of a Society of Automotive… MORE
play_circle_filledTouch-Screen Old School Games
Touch-Screen Old School Games
Multi-Touch Missile Command
According to their website, Obscura Digital has developed proprietary software that allows them "to turn virtually any surface into a full-motion video canvass", including even buildings and walls. Well,… MORE

Related Examples