Kirby Conversations | Exploring Kirby, Nintendo, and More What if Video Games Stopped Receiving Patches? (with Nic McConnell)
Nov 12, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Nic McConnell, a video game manual streamer and host of Instruction Derby, shares his compelling perspective that video games should retain their original versions without frequent patches. He explores what’s lost in updates, like the unique charm of retro game 'jank.' The conversation also covers the importance of preserving historical contexts and offers examples from classics like Street Fighter and GoldenEye. Nic argues for having both updated and original versions available, emphasizing the balance between improvement and preservation.
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Preserve The Game As-Released
- Nic McConnell argues games should exist forever as they launched, reflecting the limits and context that shaped them.
- He sees value in preserving original versions as historical artifacts rather than continually altering them.
Jank Reveals Historical Context
- Nic values the ‘jank’ and quirks that reveal a game's era, technology, and creative constraints.
- He feels patching can erase contextual history and change the identity of a game.
GoldenEye And Retro Slowdown
- Nic recalls GoldenEye's slow, swimmy four-player feel as part of its identity shaped by N64 limits.
- He treats moments like slowdown in Genesis shooters as memorable, not just technical faults.
