What was lost
Old games, old computer programs, the old web had some intangible but satisfying qualities that were lost:
- simple
- fast
- stable
- comfortable with information density
- something inangible thing that is uniquely satisfying about isometric graphics
In games, it imparted a tactile feeling of being consistent and rock-solid and visually satisfying in its informatoin density in a way that gams are now squishy or glitchy. Something about made them beautiful in a unique way. Some of the best at representing of the feeling are the CRPGs from the 90s: Fallout, Fallout 2, Baldurs Gate, Arcanum.
There's more to this idea, but I have no essay on offer. This is the part where I hesitate, because the temptation is to put everything down in a single word, or worse, to suggest that there's already a word, and to make a really bad suggestion.
Isometric feels like the closest single thing, but it is not that, but if you had these experiences, you probably know exactly what I mean.