Video Games

"NickDavisGB" (NickDavisGB)
08/27/2013 at 01:31 • Filed to: Video Games

I think in my life there is a cut off point, at about 1977, with video games vs real life.

When I was in my early teens the best video game available was Pong on an Atari, if you were lucky you inherited the family s old colour TV otherwise you had to make do with a B&W portable.

Space invaders came to my local mall in about 1977, a single console outside a milkbar, ironically in the first Westfield. It fascinated the younger kids and some of my mates. I enjoyed it but for me it didn't compare to real life. By that time I was already well into chook chasers (dirt bikes) and a console joystick just didn't measure up to twisting a throttle. We had plenty of bush to ride in, and the cops didn't have off road bikes then, so we were free to enjoy ourselves without adult supervision in the sunshine and fresh air. After school I joined the Army and spent happy times learning how to shoot, blow up, drive (and route march to) a whole lot of fun stuff.

I think this is why I don't get into games now. It's not the technology, that's natural too, I interact with the e-verse constantly. I still race cars and bikes. My daily drive is an MX-5, I love her - she's such an under the radar car. I still shoot although Ive graduated to skeets with a rifle instead of animals or static targets.

What I'm wondering is if my real world adrenaline hit, and all the physical experiences that bring that about, has diminished my video game experience?

Don't get me wrong; I'm happy to have a games night with my mates but it doesn't satisfy me the same way missing a tree does.

DISCUSSION (9)

a cat named scruffy- live from Caldor > NickDavisGB
08/27/2013 at 02:18

I think that if you didn't play video games much before you were say 12 you'll probably never care much for them. The people I know around your age (I'm guessing) also never got into them very much. By the time Atari came along they also had better stuff to do.

When you're 7 or 8 you can't leave the house much without supervision and video games are reasonably fun if you're stuck indoors or restricted to your own yard much of the day.

By the time you're 14 or 15 you have more freedom to go places without your parents and that is much more fun than almost anything you can do at home (my opinion).

NickDavisGB > a cat named scruffy- live from Caldor
08/27/2013 at 02:54

50.

"or restricted to your own yard" - my Dad used to punish me with being restricted to the back yard so I "improved" my Matchbox/Hot Wheels cars and track.

Yes, I agree.

a cat named scruffy- live from Caldor > NickDavisGB
08/27/2013 at 04:04

That's about what I was guessing I have a few friends in their late 40s early 50s that never got into games. I'm 41, I was just the right age when Atari came out.

I usually got grounded and couldn't leave the house, play games, watch TV or play with most of my toys.

Legos and Erector Sets were considered educational so I built stuff constantly as a kid.

I built quite a few car models too, until I realized I didn't have the patience to do a god job of painting.

McMike > NickDavisGB
08/27/2013 at 05:26

Intellivision was my last console.

I work in IT, and one of the first personal questions people ask me is what game I am currently playing.

We usually don't have much to talk about after that. It's sad, I miss talking cars, girls, mechanical stuff, tools and shit with the people I work with.

NickDavisGB > a cat named scruffy- live from Caldor
08/27/2013 at 06:27

We are kindred spirits.

NickDavisGB > McMike
08/27/2013 at 06:34

I remember that advert, haven't seen it for years. :)

Yeah, I work in motor racing and we talk about the car stuff then games. The lads think I'm sad that I don't have a handset during lunch.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > NickDavisGB
08/27/2013 at 09:34

Call me childish but i'm still playing video games. I always think that Video Games is sort of world where we rule that world.

And of course i'm still enjoying driving, thanks to my W140 S600.

NickDavisGB > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
08/29/2013 at 04:56

Just out of interest, how old are you? Did you get into Games in your preteens? There seems to be a cut off in the late 70's when games weren't that great, so I never got into the habit.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > NickDavisGB
08/29/2013 at 06:18

Maybe i'm the youngest in this thread..

I'm 22.