I've written a few articles about video gaming in the past, and a few actually have been published in some scholarly journals, so as the summer time approaches I figured I would keep my literary self intact and write down some video game related thoughts as I spend the next three months at my summer job and on my DS. However, as I'm far too long-winded to do anything without a giant build up, I figured it would be imperative to give a back up of my video game time line.

1989 - We get an NES
This is my first video game memory, and it is very minute as I was only 4 at the time. However, I very distinctly remember playing Super Mario Bros. on our big old TV that would die only a few years later. My only other NES-related memory has to do with my dad spanking me for unpausing his Contra game while he answered the phone. Whoops.

There are a few other brief memories with the NES... renting Mega Man 2 and 3 and never remembering which one I was previously playing, so all my passwords would be useless at any given time. My dad renting Battletoads and confidently beating the first world only to become enormously frustrated. My dad is actually linked to a few of my video game memories: as a private investigator, he rocked Duck Hunt and when we burnt the bush leading to the 8th dungeon in The Legend of Zelda, I openly weeped. However, I have barely any memories of playing the NES, with the exception of Kirby's Adventure.

1993 - My best friend gets an SNES
Oh my damn. Super Mario World blew my mind and continues to do so even today. There was a lot of Mortal Kombat to be played as well, and oh did we play it. At this point in my life, I actually became a video game researcher, a job that would stay with me even today. Since it was my friend's system, I would often be the one watching him beat Donkey Kong Country as I eagerly read through the instruction booklets. While I was at home without any game systems to speak of, I would be searching for cheat codes on the limited access to AOL my dad gave me (oh god, remember that shit?). Considering I was on Smash Dojo every day until April 14th and have 4 video game sites on my "check every day" list... yeah, not much has changed.

1996 - I become a big boy and buy a Game Gear
Yes, after years of my no one supporting my video game habit (I had two step sisters with Gameboys and they would never share - unacceptable), I saved 65 dollars and bought a Game Gear, Sonic Chaos, and a wall adapter (I couldn't afford batteries). This became my video game refuge, and the start of my love for the handheld systems. In the three years I spent with this beast, I amassed over 20 games (not bad on a 10 year olds budget) and managed to grow as a gamer substantially. This also became the time that I fell in love with a little place called Funcoland. I would pick up their price listings each month like they were a newspaper and circle games I was interested in, fascinating by the fact that there was a Megaman game on the GG (seriously?!) and trying to save up money for Tails Adventure (20 bucks! I wasn't pulling in that kind of bank).

Late 1998 - My mom (finally) buys me a Gameboy Color - with Pokemon Red
I played a lot of Pokemon Red. It filled up the next two years. Oh, and my Kadabra, unaltered, was undefeated, including a bout he had with a Game Sharked Mew - that was awesome.

Late 2000 - We get an N64
This is when I discovered Super Smash Bros. I become the best with Kirby. People think I'm a big deal.

2005 - I buy a DS
I long hold this to be one of the best investments of my video gaming lifestyle. I put a lot of blind faith into the DS simply because... well, it was a feeling. The first time I touched one in a Gamestop, I was overwhelmed. The big talk around the DS at the time was that it was all gimmick and no show, but the first time I controlled Samus in Metroid Prime: First Hunt... I felt the potential of the system. It wasn't until a year and a half later that it really took off, but I largely consider the DS to be the epitome of video gaming.

Well, that's my history. I tried to sum it up and failed. Oh well, I'll post a real blog soon.

Peace.