A positive appellation referring to when things weren'
t flashy but empty of substance, were done by hard
work, didn'
t pander to the lowest common denominator, and required
real skill. Labour-saving devices, shortcuts that reduce quality and quitting before the task is done are not characteristics of "old school."
In reference to
computer games, refers to a game that had substantial playability without flashy graphics or eye
candy. Old school gamers appreciate difficult maneuvers, careful planning, and scorched earth policies.
In reference to role-playing games, old school refers to games that tested players' wits, could kill off careless characters, and required dedication and inner strength to play. Old school games didn'
t pander to the ideas that everyone is created equal, that all options are open to all races, that the markets were somehow free, and that a quasi-medieval
society could have near 100% literacy.
See also classic.
