Are the Eighties really over?

The decade that was the 80's has been with us for some time now, unfortunately I feel it's legacy is all but over.

RIP VHS
It all started when I was thinking about my three year old son asking for his DVD to be put on; I gave my VHS VCR (Video Cassette Recorder for the younger readers) away to my wife's parent as I hadn't used it in years, so my son has never used a video tape in his life. The 1980's were when video's really took off, can you imagine the term DVD-Nasties ever catching on? The early part of the decade was all about the thrill of being able to watch movies that were not available on TV in the comfort of your own home and at a time that suited you.
Videos were so successful, they killed off the Cinema in a big way. The last movie I saw in my local "pictures" was Ghostbusters before it too fell victim to the success of VHS (don't even mention Betamax).
DVD has now slaughtered the humble video tape like some cheap teanagers (who has had sex) in a schlock horror movie. Everyone now stores their "recordings" on a hard disk and even my father now has a DVD recorder with which to record off TV.
At least the cinema has made a healthy recovery since.

The future of the Compact Disc
CD effectively killed off the Audio Cassette many years ago although both lived hand in hand during the 80's. How long has the Compact Disc got left before it too goes the way of the dodo? The threats lie in DVD or HD-DVD possibly, most likely the Internet Download will do away with it sooner. Don't get me started on Digital Rights Management though, it's a joke. All I can say at this point is "long live the CD".

Special Effects
The 80's were when the blockbuster movie really caught on, Arnie and Sly duking it out, Star Wars winding up the original (and best) trilogy, Die Hard, Evil Dead (1 and 2), Dune, Indiana Jones, oh the list goes on and on...
This was when special effects were special, guys (and gals) sweated over miniatures and models, stop motion was still king. Now all you have is CGI. Don't get me wrong, CGI is good, Jurassic Park still rocks and all that; but CGI still looks like CGI. Give me a physical model hand animated and blue-screened goodness. Tell me that doesn't make you feel closer to the movie. Now kid's will just laugh at such arcane technology and their imaginations will be left to rot.
They don't make them like they used to. Bastards.

The arcade scene
If you grew up in the Eighties and are reading this, you will recall the UK arcades in their hey-day. I have many fond memories shoving the big-ass 10p pieces (or a two Shilling piece as it was still legal tender) into many a cabinet. In 1985, the seeds of the arcade decline may have been sown by Sega when they produced the hydraulic version of Space Harrier (or before with the full size Hang-On machines). At the time, Sega's technology was astonishing; no home system could come close to replicating the graphics or the experience. Unfortunately it was the "experience" side of the equation that eventually saw the price per play rise and the expectations of each game exceed what most manufacturers and operators could afford; hence the steady decline started and here we are today, almost no arcades exist in this country and youngsters will miss out on the thrills of the "arcade" experience.

Home computers/consoles
I grew up with the Sinclair Spectrum 48K during the 1980's. At the time, it was either the Spectum of Commodore 64; it was never both (mind, some losers had an Amstrad or worse yet a BBC Model B). In retrospect the C64 was a better bit of hardware; but it lacked the enthusiasm present in the Spectrum and it's community.
Yes, I admit piracy was rife and home machines could never emulate the thriving arcade scene, it was still the good days. The gaming scene was growing and to us normal guys it was all new and paying £140 for a Spectrum was a helluva investment. Now we got parents getting ready to pay way too much for a PS3 for 10 year old Timmy (the spoilt little shit).
Gaming has got better and home machines are now more powerful than most high-end arcade systems, but it's lost some of it's sincerity and enthusiasm; it's not so innocent and fun anymore.
I blame Sony.

What you can do to prevent the word-wide catastrophe of de-1980's-ification?
Don't buy video tapes; but pick up Predator on DVD now; then buy it again on HD-DVD when it takes off. Build a model of the Millennium Falcon and make your own Star Wars sequel (fuck George Lucas: the chinless freak. That "beard" ain't foolin' anyone). Buy a hydraulic Space Harrier, restore it to it's former glory and use it to replace some shitty Noddy kids ride at the local supermarket. Ban Evil Dead in your own home, then turn the lights down and watch it quietly, avoiding the "Filth" knocking at your door.
Most of all: educate your children.

The 80's must live on.

01/11/06