Video Games Pay Tribute to the Old Internet
Video games are offering nostalgic experiences that recall the early days of the internet, before it was dominated by algorithmic social media feeds and homogenized websites.
Nostalgic Video Games
Video games like Videoverse, Hypnospace Outlaw, and Darkweb Streamer are harkening back to the bygone eras of the internet with their unique experiences. These games use chat interfaces reminiscent of AIM or MSN, and feature fake websites with bold text and MIDI songs. While each game offers its own nostalgic lens, they all capture a sense of lost expression, creativity, and independence.
The lead developer of Darkweb Streamer, Chantal Ryan, expressed her disappointment at how high-quality independent services have been taken over by corporate interests. She cited examples like Goodreads and AbeBooks, both of which were acquired by Amazon. Ryan compared it to a forest clearing, where sustainable ecosystems and harmonious communities are destroyed without regard for those affected.
Researching the Past
Developers spend considerable time researching past online habitats to create an authentic experience. Chantal Ryan drew inspiration from archives of GeoCities and spiritual successors like Neocities, as well as her own experiences in the early Halo 2 esports scene. Lucy Blundell, the developer of Videoverse, replicated the chatting experience of the early 2000s, including nostalgic elements like adding a nose to smiley faces. She relied on Archiverse, which preserves user-made content from Nintendo's discontinued Miiverse.
However, finding source material for older internet eras can be challenging. Flash-based content is harder to access, as many forums are dead or excluded from archiving platforms like the Wayback Machine. In Hypnospace Outlaw, players must put in additional effort to find information, just like in the 1990s when search engines were not as advanced. Webrings and tags were relied upon to explore topics of interest.
The Stress of the Modern Internet
These nostalgic games also highlight the negative aspects of the modern internet. Developers like Lucy Blundell feel that the internet now produces more stress and negativity compared to the past, with constant cookie pop-ups and intrusive advertisements. The games serve as a reminder of a time when online navigation was simpler and free from external distractions.
Other titles like Emily Is Away and Secret Little Haven also capture the essence of the early internet. Videoverse, Hypnospace Outlaw, and Darkweb Streamer expand on these concepts with their own unique presentations, offering players immersive experiences.
Independent developers often feel tied to an ecosystem that is always on, which can be exhausting. The use of instant messaging apps like Discord as replacements for forums has made it more difficult to access information, and preservation efforts are lacking. However, there are still alternative platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky that offer a glimpse of hope in an increasingly scarce online community and self-expression.
