As I get older, people seem to be using the word retro for games that I largely consider to be relatively new. It's always a shock to speak to a young person about a game you consider pretty "in" still, only for them to turn around and, while understanding the words that you're using, informs you that it's pretty fun, for a video game that came out during the iron age.
I also got called a "noob" by some teenagers recently, for showing my excitement over the fact that I'd purchased a Wii U...
I teach at a Secondary school within the UK, which gives me ample opportunity to discuss games and gaming with the traditional target market of games themselves. However, most of what you hear about at lunchtimes is Call of Duty, Halo, Sonic - largely big name stuff.
And then there's the odd kid who mentions Zork!
What shocked me is how ignorant the majority of our youngsters are concerning classic video games from years past. Then, further delving into the shock, and expanding upon it, was the horrifying realisation that I've only played a tiny fraction of games that have ever existed myself, despite a lot of my limited free time being fully devoted to video games for decades!
Ignorance in the young is a wonderful thing as it can act as a beacon for knowledge. Students begin ignorant of literature and history then, through the process of education, cultivate this into wisdom. But to be ignorant of an area that you are deeply passionate about? Something must be done!
To this end: a classic gaming club being set up at my school. In addition to that: this blog!
The aim of this blog: to help out in the education of our young gamers towards the purpose of understanding our shared history as lovers of the medium of video games. (Or: play some games, write about some games!) And, of course, for us older gamers, to maybe point out some titles we've overlooked in days gone by.
Why this blog when I'm sure that many other fine blogs exist that can do the job infinitely better than this one (what a negative thing to have in a Mission Statement!)?
A variety of reasons:
- As an English specialist, I enjoy writing. (Selfish reason number one!)
- I can inflict my own biases upon readers! (Selfish reason number two!)
- It's an excuse for me to play more video games, while still maintaining the masquerade of a professional. (Selfish reason number three!)
- It gives me the impetus to revisit classic video games. (Selfish reason number four!)
- It justifies the amount of space in my house currently devoted to gaming. (Selfish reason number five!)
- I genuinely hope to provide at least some education to youngsters who are disconnected with enjoyable games from the past, especially as I believe that video gaming is the most enjoyable medium of entertainment! (Grandiose aim from a real modern-day hero!)
We'll be covering systems as well as games, the obscure as well as the commonplace, the high-octane to the banal! Hopefully some of you will learn a thing or two. Probably not from me, but from electing to play some of these games yourselves.
At the very least, checking some of these games out should provide a nice distraction in the ever-present moments of boredom!
Welcome to HVGLM!
