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Video Games Appreciation Topic
- Thread starter GDJustin
- Start date
Huevos de Oro
Member
Great thread, OP!
I'd like as well to show my appreciation for all the people who have made possible for me, throughout all these years, to wander in amazing lands, to discover strange artifacts, to marvel at breathtaking sights, to finally solve that puzzle, to mourn the loss of a character, to strive to beat that impossible boss, to get that unique sword, to lift my arms after scoring a goal in the nick of time, to think twice before opening that door, to rush to the next expansion (before the other guy), to cover a teammate who just saved your ass, and so many other feelings and memories that exceed my poor writing skills.
Thank you, in short, for crafting the journeys that have marked my life forever, and here's to many, many more in the upcoming years.
The last two panels always ring true for me when thinking of video games.
I'd like as well to show my appreciation for all the people who have made possible for me, throughout all these years, to wander in amazing lands, to discover strange artifacts, to marvel at breathtaking sights, to finally solve that puzzle, to mourn the loss of a character, to strive to beat that impossible boss, to get that unique sword, to lift my arms after scoring a goal in the nick of time, to think twice before opening that door, to rush to the next expansion (before the other guy), to cover a teammate who just saved your ass, and so many other feelings and memories that exceed my poor writing skills.
Thank you, in short, for crafting the journeys that have marked my life forever, and here's to many, many more in the upcoming years.
The last two panels always ring true for me when thinking of video games.
bob_arctor
Tough_Smooth
I'll be 37 in a few weeks and my very first game was Vectrex and still my love of games remains as strong as ever. Having two children of my own now, it's been awesome passing down what I consider a tradition--seeing them try to figure out where to go next in LTTP is almost like going back and experiencing it for the first time.
And even then, even if nothing can really match the awe of youth, I still get a thrill from opening a game and poring over every little bit of the manual. Preferably over a bowl of cereal.
And even then, even if nothing can really match the awe of youth, I still get a thrill from opening a game and poring over every little bit of the manual. Preferably over a bowl of cereal.
revolverjgw
Member
Nice thread. Video games are the best, I play them all the time. I'm 26 and haven't lost any passion for them at all, the sense of adventure and wonder are still there.
demosthenes
Member
I started playing games on the Atari and Amiga PC with my parents. I graduated to the NES when I was 4.5. I love games and I'm sure they'll be part of my life in some way for years to come.
Great thread. I'm a 35 year old gamer and been playing games since my first Atari 2600 over 30 years ago. I still play for the very reasons you described. Even though I'm an adult with responsibilities, I still like to escape and live vicariously through the heroes (and sometimes villains) in video game form. My wife has been watching me play Infamous recently and she asked me why I keep "oooohing and aaaahhing" at certain points in the game and its because Cole can do some really cool stuff that isn't possible in the real world, but its stuff I wish I could do and its nice to become that character in the confines of his world.
/bowGDJustin said:
There's tons of cool stuff to do in the real world, but sometimes there are things you wouldn't necessarily want to do there, or stress you wouldn't want to deal with - even though they can be awesome gaming scenarios.Mash said:
I love being able to navigate a nuclear submarine, being able to fend off an alien invasion, flying a plane during WW2, commanding the battlefield from an operational-level, or piloting a giant robot and beating the crap out of other giant robots.
Some people are complaining about the decline of gaming and all that, but the recent popularity of online co-op has granted us more than ever the opportunity of sharing these awesome experiences and challenges.
Topics like this that make you remember why you joined NeoGAF in the first place. Fantastic.
Games have been a huge part of my life for the past 20 or more years. I hope I never lose that urge to explore and discover. The urge that makes me get up at 5:30 every morning so I can play an hour of videogames before the gym
Games have been a huge part of my life for the past 20 or more years. I hope I never lose that urge to explore and discover. The urge that makes me get up at 5:30 every morning so I can play an hour of videogames before the gym
EmCeeGramr
Member
videosgames suck and are for children lolol
HisshouBuraiKen
Member
I appreciate the fact that you put a SPACE between "video" and "games." Video games are where it's at.
TheRagnCajun
Member
Great thread. I have to say Fallout3 really was an amazing world to explore and discover. Its such a fully realized world and there is a purpose to everything. The increadible draw distance helps too. Its awesome to be able to climb a hill, look over a vally, see a small church 2 miles away and be able to walk over to it and see whats there. I only dumped about 40 hours into Oblivion because the dungeons started getting old, but I've easily spent twice that playing Fallout3.
SolsticeZero
Banned
This thread brought a tear to my eye. I'm going to print it out, learn it, and give this entire speech when someone asks me why I like games. Bravo, good sir, bravo. You are truly a saint among gamers and geeks alike.
I started gaming when I was a little NES-owning kid, but it wasn't until my college years that I went deeper into it, and I honestly believe that a video game helped save my life. When I was 22 my health cratered and I spent months waiting for a surgery slot (what I needed done was very uncommon and required a team of specialists). I spent that time in agonizing pain, unable to work or go to my college classes. I could not eat, drink, or do anything beyond sleep and rest in my recliner. Even though I was trapped in my apartment by my continually deteriorating health, I spent nearly two months going to Hyrule each day in the then-new The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Whenever I wasn't asleep I'd sail and seas and explore the dungeons, confined to bed yet free to roam the world. Wind Waker gave me a purpose during this difficult time; since I was physically unable to do anything worthwhile, it provided me with a goal to meet while the rest of the world continued on without me.
Two days before I went in for surgery I completed Wind Waker. I rushed to finish the game, as I wanted to see how the story ended in case the surgery failed and I wouldn't be coming home. The operation was a success, thank goodness, and after a period of recovery I am in better health these days. I haven't returned to Wind Waker, however. The game is so intertwined with the dreadful memories and painful feelings of the time that, years later, I'm not ready to go back just yet.
Someday I'll sail the seas again, but not today.
Two days before I went in for surgery I completed Wind Waker. I rushed to finish the game, as I wanted to see how the story ended in case the surgery failed and I wouldn't be coming home. The operation was a success, thank goodness, and after a period of recovery I am in better health these days. I haven't returned to Wind Waker, however. The game is so intertwined with the dreadful memories and painful feelings of the time that, years later, I'm not ready to go back just yet.
Someday I'll sail the seas again, but not today.
Calavera520
Member
Excellent post sir. I only have a few posts here as a recently cleared member, but this is what makes NeoGaf such a great place.
Games have always been a part of my life, most of my friends aren't into games as much as I am so it's almost this secret hobby of mine.
There are some singular moments that I've experienced in gaming that are impossible to ever come close to replicating in the real world. Thief 1 and 2 like no game ever before save for the original half life captured my imagination and propelled me into that world. I would love to see more games like that, where the love for the medium is so evident in the product.
Games have always been a part of my life, most of my friends aren't into games as much as I am so it's almost this secret hobby of mine.
There are some singular moments that I've experienced in gaming that are impossible to ever come close to replicating in the real world. Thief 1 and 2 like no game ever before save for the original half life captured my imagination and propelled me into that world. I would love to see more games like that, where the love for the medium is so evident in the product.
Thank you very much, everyone I'm glad you enjoyed reading my ramblings, and that I managed to come up with some at least halfway coherent thoughts.
For the record, I didn't mean to come down on the "real world" too hard. I'm a newlywed who is very much enjoying married life, and I have a fulfilling, varied, challenging job, etc.
I guess my point was that the things my wife and I like to do in the real world can often be amplified by a great video game. We moved to a new city and have been exploring a lot. Exploring good restaurants, but also good parks and paths. It's fun getting a little lost in a large park, taking a fork in a path not knowing for sure where it's going to take you.
It's the same reason I absolutely adore shows like Planet Earth. Learning that there *are* animals and plants that live on the bottom of the ocean, feeding off of heat venting from cracks on the ocean floor... stuff like that absolutely floors me.
This is also why SPACE is such an exciting concept. Both in the real world with what various NASA probes are up to, and in fiction via Sci Fi novels, Star Trek, etc.
Basically, all of this is intertwined and makes up the bulk of my character... the person that I am. And games are right at the heart of that. The other elements mix with it and wrap around that core.
The real world is getting smaller and smaller. Every day, there are less unknowns. More previously documented knowledge on the books. But creative minds are making up for this, by creating more and more compelling game worlds for people like us to knock around in
I'm glad you enjoyed reading my ramblings, and that I managed to come up with some at least halfway coherent thoughts. For the record, I didn't mean to come down on the "real world" too hard. I'm a newlywed who is very much enjoying married life, and I have a fulfilling, varied, challenging job, etc.
I guess my point was that the things my wife and I like to do in the real world can often be amplified by a great video game. We moved to a new city and have been exploring a lot. Exploring good restaurants, but also good parks and paths. It's fun getting a little lost in a large park, taking a fork in a path not knowing for sure where it's going to take you.
It's the same reason I absolutely adore shows like Planet Earth. Learning that there *are* animals and plants that live on the bottom of the ocean, feeding off of heat venting from cracks on the ocean floor... stuff like that absolutely floors me.
This is also why SPACE is such an exciting concept. Both in the real world with what various NASA probes are up to, and in fiction via Sci Fi novels, Star Trek, etc.
Basically, all of this is intertwined and makes up the bulk of my character... the person that I am. And games are right at the heart of that. The other elements mix with it and wrap around that core.
The real world is getting smaller and smaller. Every day, there are less unknowns. More previously documented knowledge on the books. But creative minds are making up for this, by creating more and more compelling game worlds for people like us to knock around in
I do not share the same feelings as you do, GDJustin. I certainly fall much closer to the "ludic" side of games, far away from the narrative side. I don't look at my stack of games and think about the worlds contained therein. I generally don't enjoy heavily narrative games. Instead, I like the mechanics of games in general (including traditional board/card games).
For example although I often play jrpgs, I think I would enjoy them just as much if the story was removed entirely and the games turned into an endless series of incresingly difficult random battles. I mostly enjoy the aspect of building up a fun party, and playing around with the different abilities and jobs and equipment etc. The towns and worlds and characters could jump off a cliff for all I care. Even though it's one of my favorite games, and I've probably put a hundred hours into it, I've never made it to even the half-way point in FFT.
So I guess I enjoy video games for the same reason I enjoy games of any nature. I like the way players interact with rules and with each other. I love exploring systems of rules and mechanics (something you touched on a little bit), and fooling around with the consequences of various gameplay decisions. Competition is one of my favorite subjects. I love the dynamic between two opponents working within a set of rules to out-maneuver one another.
Out of all game types, video games in particular have a really great method of interaction. With the controller input and screen, as well as the advantage of a computer handling rules and simulating stuff. It works out very well.
As much as I love exploration, it's definitely not one of the things I find most alluring or even notable about video games. Although I do see exploration as a form of learning, which is a huge part of what makes games of all types fun.
For example although I often play jrpgs, I think I would enjoy them just as much if the story was removed entirely and the games turned into an endless series of incresingly difficult random battles. I mostly enjoy the aspect of building up a fun party, and playing around with the different abilities and jobs and equipment etc. The towns and worlds and characters could jump off a cliff for all I care. Even though it's one of my favorite games, and I've probably put a hundred hours into it, I've never made it to even the half-way point in FFT.
So I guess I enjoy video games for the same reason I enjoy games of any nature. I like the way players interact with rules and with each other. I love exploring systems of rules and mechanics (something you touched on a little bit), and fooling around with the consequences of various gameplay decisions. Competition is one of my favorite subjects. I love the dynamic between two opponents working within a set of rules to out-maneuver one another.
Out of all game types, video games in particular have a really great method of interaction. With the controller input and screen, as well as the advantage of a computer handling rules and simulating stuff. It works out very well.
As much as I love exploration, it's definitely not one of the things I find most alluring or even notable about video games. Although I do see exploration as a form of learning, which is a huge part of what makes games of all types fun.
Felix Lighter
Member
Great thread. It's nice to focus on the positive aspects of this hobby from time to time.
The final Calvin and Hobbes strip.
SteelAttack said:
The final Calvin and Hobbes strip.
Excellent OP. I had the privledge to work on both the creator and consumer side of the industry and I have to say they're both great. It only sucks that when you become an adult you don't have as much time to play as when you were kid.
I also often wonder how different my life would've been if I was never introduced to video games when I was a kid.
I also often wonder how different my life would've been if I was never introduced to video games when I was a kid.
GD, your opening was so interesting and talking to me that it did last 3 seconds reading it. I agree with all you say there and it's like you simply validate my fucking life. Thank you man, sometimes you wonder if the gamers out there simply have the same passion playing the stuff you make as much as you making it...
At some point in my life I realised that games were where its at and I never looked back. I divided my income in 2 just enter this industry. Just for the passion. Today i'm 31 years old and still passionate about videogames just like when I was 10. It REALLY is a wonderful job and and important part of my life.
cheers bud. Best 10 000th post on GAF ever.
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At some point in my life I realised that games were where its at and I never looked back. I divided my income in 2 just enter this industry. Just for the passion. Today i'm 31 years old and still passionate about videogames just like when I was 10. It REALLY is a wonderful job and and important part of my life.
cheers bud. Best 10 000th post on GAF ever.
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eXistor
Member
GDJustin, I salute you. You pretty much nailed why I still play videogames at age 28 with just as much joy as I did when I was a kid. Yes, I got more cynical and I am more critical od games nowadays, but when a rare game comes along that just manages to take me away to another world completely, it's a magical thing.
usea said:
Yeah, I know what you mean. It's just much easier to wax poetic about environmental exploration than exploration of game systems
I'm completely with you on this one, though. I derive a tremendous amount of enjoyment out of discovering, learning, and eventually mastering game rules and interactions.
There's something a little primal and elemental about it. Even something as simple are Mario 1 on the NES... people (kids) don't even really realize that they're learning... but they are. As you jump and navigate obstacles you're filing away data about the gravity of that game world... what is and isn't possible. And this is different, for every single game. I have bits and pieces of sub-conscious game knowledge all over my brain.
And that's not even counting the "conscious" knowledge like Punch-Out patterns, SM64 stars, Halo 3 multiplayer map layouts...
I have to admit, I'm a sucker for over-arching, all-encompassing game systems. They create such a wonder chemistry of positive feedback loops. They used to be practically exclusive to RPGs, but one of my favorite developments from this console generation is this concept seeping out into other genres. Mastering COD4's multiplayer perks is a good example.
Any time I'm reading a preview of an RPG and it mentions something like "this is all tied together with your ability to craft, discover, and purchase items to decorate your home" or "As you complete quests your guild rises in notoriety" (or whatever else), I'm completely sold. I love poking around "under the hood" so to speak and learning how it all works.
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
Sure, if you ignore several other threads in the meantime... ;PGazunta said:
eXistor said:
Yeah. Personally, when certain kinds of games started to lose their allure to me, I thought I might outgrow games.
But there are even more games that appeal to my tastes today than there were as a kid playing my Super Nintendo. I couldn't be happier with the way the industry is going today.
Captain Pants
Killed by a goddamned Dredgeling
This thread made my day.
soul creator
Member
I think the Idle Thumbs theme should be the official song of this thread
sweetvar26
Member
My dad is the guy who got me into gaming, i remember when he first bought a console to me, we used to sit and play together for hours, racing, tank games, super mario, baseball and all sorts. Fun times and great memories none the less. In fact i really miss those days when i was a kid and my dad was young and he spent his time playing video games with me.
To the OP, great post, i have my passion towards video games. I always wanted to create video games, just didn't know where to start. I am thinking of transferring to Computer Science from Mechanical Engineering so that i can start programming and get into the industry.
Hopefully one day i will be one of the many developers that makes games on GAF and the rest of the world.
To the OP, great post, i have my passion towards video games. I always wanted to create video games, just didn't know where to start. I am thinking of transferring to Computer Science from Mechanical Engineering so that i can start programming and get into the industry.
Hopefully one day i will be one of the many developers that makes games on GAF and the rest of the world.
cooljeanius
Member
I need to find some opportunity to quote the OP.
thestopsign
Member
Thanks for the great post man. I think you just put words into the mouths of hundreds to thousands of gamers who never could quite substantiate why they play games.
PIMPBYBLUD
Member
This OP is awesome I love this!
Asmodai said:
Very much agreed. I believe years from now people will believe this this generation was a second Golden Age for games.
Although there were TONS of great, great games released in the 32/64-bit era, overall, those years took gaming down a kinda of crappy path.
But now, we've rebounded. We get the incredible production value, big-budget epics (Halo, Uncharted, Zelda), we get the smaller, more focused professional titles (Shadow Complex, Shatter, Trine), and we get great exposure for truly indie, auteur efforts (Cave Story, Braid, Everyday Shooter).
There is something for everyone now, and more of that something, to boot.
Elfforkusu
Member
$$$$Downslide said:
Helpful clarification: exploring the real world costs a lot more than a $300 piece of electronics. Not that the premise is a bad idea, but...
