I love video games no matter the system. Many great games through the years with maybe more letdowns than we like to admit. I remember shopping for Miner 49er for the family Coleco-Vision. My first memory of In Home Video Game Entertainment, was that of PONG and Combat! units(each a nightmare to switch between).
If you were to tell me then that these games would be in a museum and looked at as the "Stone Age" in twenty years. I would have told you to "Is my name Mork and is this the planet Ork?" Well over 30 years later and I have seen it. I have watched those very games become one millionth of a piece of an epic journey through alien invasions. Or a devastating battle with a backwards flying dragon.
With each step forward the platforms gotten smaller and buttons are now a "choice" for some. We have handheld units that display 3d without the use of glasses. Now those handhelds we started with are embarking on that same museum journey. Your first Pokemon game is very well on its way to a hall of fame if not already declared a favorite amongst an early generation of gamers.
With the 360 and PS3 halfway through their lifespan we see some things that were not expected (by many)have come to fruition such as distribution with the lack of hardware licensing (EA V Sega)and the massive consumer support of digital distribution.
I have kept up and participated in nearly every console (missed 3DO) since video games were released for consumer purchase and I am always excited to see what companies have in store for me. I have spent (250) hours in the land of Cyrodiil. As I have thrown many Sackboys.
I cannot help but to throw praise to nearly every company that has anything to do with my favorite entertainment medium.... LONG LIVE VIDEO GAMES!!!!!
Even though I always Lagged behind in game consoles during my younger years with me being born in 93' but I still managed enjoying my NES, Snes, Genisis then got my Ps1 in the middle of it's cycle.
Gaming is no doubt my favorite hobby and it's changed so much over the years it's overwhelming. We keep seing innovation upon each new release like the addition of multiplayer on home consoles and motion gaming. Gaming will always evolve and I always see myself playing them.
Games were not as story driven as they are these days and it makes the experience so much better, and makes you actually care for characters.
<Gamer Of Nes, Snes, Genisis, Ps1, Ps2, Ps3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Dreamcast, Psp, Gba, Gbc, Wii, and Pc>
<3 Gaming <3
The bulk of online is FPS which is hard for me to enjoy since a brick wall has better skills than I do. :D I did play FF XI online for a few years, but after a while it was time to leave. WoW only lasted a few months. Just really don't care for online play. Perhaps one day I'll enjoy it more.
Overall, I like any progression that allows me to shoot my buddy in NY (me in CA) in the face and laugh about it.. with no repercussions or ER visits.
My favourite memories are of the late 90's on PC with games like Baldurs Gate, Half Life, Thief, Deus Ex, Commandos and Total Annihilation all emerging as stone cold classics. And Hexen. I frelling loved Hexen.
I wouldn't go back and change it if you gave me £100,000. It is by far, the best form of entertainment.
For all those old enough, remember multiplayer games consisting of your triangle sprite shooting little lines at your mates different coloured triangle sprite, good times.
I agree, right now is a great time to be a gamer, I just wish people would stop arguing about sales figures.
The evolution of games has been an amazing thing to witness, from the "you're the white block, your enemies are the red blocks" days to today's fully-detailed character and environment models. But beyond the technical improvements, the fact that gaming is a much more mainstream hobby now than it was when I was a kid is the most surprising thing to me. That widespread adoption has helped propel gaming forward, and I look forward to see where gaming will go next.
My favorite time in gaming though was prob last gen because i experienced so many new genres and games. FFX was my first jrpg that i got sucked into, it was the most beautiful game id ever seen. Metroid prime blew me away, i didnt know what to do when they dropped me off on the world. My friends and I would take turns on gta3 until we beat a mission or got too many stars and died. I remember my bro watching me play through the whole game of SOTC in 2 sittings. Okami, ff12, wind waker, mgs3, re4, killzone, kotor, fable, there were so many games that stirred my imagination and took me to other worlds. This gen has fantastic games but some of the magic is gone for me. A few special games like mass effect, lost odyssey, and demons souls have reminded me why i fell in love with gaming in the first place.