A brief history and reason of my gaming
Posted on Tuesday, January 6 2009 @ 19:36:52 Eastern
There are a few things people always define me by. Gaming is definitely one of the highest things up there.
One of my first memories is living in a one-room apartment in Columbus, and mind you, I was two, yet still see this as clearly as anything else. My dad had gone to the bathroom and left the Sega Genises paused, and i went over, picked up the controller, and finished the level of Sonic the Hedgehog for him. My first gaming achievement.
Getting older, after my parents divorce, I experienced greater gaming joys. One of these was Rampage and Primal Rage, both of which had arcade machines at Marcilitas, where my mom worked at the time. I played both of them so much that they had to shut down the machines for the day just to get me off. I was slowly building up skills in the wonderful animated world.
Through the years, the Sega had a complete hold on me. Games like Sonic, Mega Man X4, Jurassic Park, and Sunset Riders kept me glued to the screen. And then I turned 6.
Waking up Christmas morning, I ran downstairs, and went through my presents and got the greatest presents ever. A Playstation 1 -at both my parents houses-, Spyro the Dragon, Gex the Gecko, and The Lost World. Along with the new big screen TV we just got, i was hooked. Other games would follow, and for the sake of time, i wont even begin to tell you about the next few years that i played them out.
When the playstation 2 came out, it was $600. Not the $50 youll see now, a full $600. I just happened to get one at my dads house when they came out, and got two games, both of which I didnt view as fun, but played all the same. One was my second foray into the fighting genre -the first being X-Men, Children of the Atom-. called Street Fighter EX3. It made my jaws drop with its detail and cast of characters. Putting in the other game, NHL '01, me and my dad applauded the screen at the "life-like" graphics of the time. Again, for the sake of time, Ill move on.
My first real taste of shooters came with the release of Halo. Id never really been a big fan of hardcore games, but when me and my cousin randomly decided to rent it, we were hooked. In one night, we stayed up as late as we could, and stopped only because we were too afraid of the Flood. Many wonders have come from that little box.
And before I forget, I must mention my grandfather. All in all, he's probably spent over $2000 in games for me, and about the same in buying systems. He is the reason I have the ability to game.
During the past few years, Ive really began to find that I really have a knack for this. I dont mean to sound cocky, but I am really good at almost any video game I try at. Ive developed this state where the sounds from the game are only used to tell me if anyones around me, the lights only tell me where there might be something, and other characters are just chances to further me on. Nothing can stop me from getting to the end.
This is one of few things I know Im good at, and one thing I can only hope to become better in. You always hope to become the best, but at games, there really is now "best." You can play a game for years and make some giant achievement only to see it blown away a week later. And I love the idea of that. Its a challenge that will never go away.
From the handhelds that lost their buttons from being overplayed, the controllers covered in sweat, and the discs scratched from over use, Ive developed something that makes me me. I can sign on to Xbox Live, start up a Halo 3 match, and instantly be rewarded with a new challenge every time. I can lose, and I can win, and Ill never know which until its over, and that, that is addicting. Whats even more addicting is knowing that I can be the game changer, the one who everyone looks up to when its all over and just wonder how he did that. Games keep me calm. They let me put any anger I have into sharpening reflexes and strategies. They let me feel good about myself when nothing else does.
Now, I have a 360 with live, a PS2 I use for mostly old playstation games, an xbox I use for Morrowind, my laptop with 10+ games on it at any time, a DS and a PSP.
Lately Ive been working on showing off what I can do. Ive been working on speed-runs for MegaMan 8 and the assassins guild in Oblivion just for the fun of it, but I know Ill record them eventually.
For now, though, Im content just to play a game and know there will always be something new, something fun waiting for me.
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Before Microsoft and Sony do something regarding their future in the video game business, I wanted to write, and I've wanted it for a long time now, but other things kept getting in my way, and fearing that tomorrow might be too late, today will have to do.
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