I went to Wal*Mart a few months ago. That’s not unusual. Living in small town America means that Wal*Mart represents the only real shopping option. While there, I went into the clearance section. Again, not anything new. I often peruse the deals in clearance to see if I can get school supplies or cheap Pop figures. However, this time, I found both College Football 25 and FC25 for the PS5 for $15 each. I haven’t yet played FC25, but I can say without hesitation that College Football 25 is a gift.
Some History
I last played the series back on the PS3 when they called it NCAA Football 25 and none of the names matched actual players. Now, in this era of NIL, each player gets representation in the game. While I’m happy for them, I ultimately don’t care who populates my teams.
That’s because the only mode I ever play is the Road to Glory mode. I love designing my own player, working against the odds to reach the starting lineup and leading my team to a national championship. In the previous version, I played a WR/CB two way player that won the Heisman as a sophomore and led the team to a number 1 ranking during his junior year. I don’t think I ever finished that player’s career because life got in the way.
Let me casually mention that I did that all at WVU, too.
Now, Back to the Present
For my first character, I chose a wide receiver again. I couldn’t see a way to make him a two way player, so I only played the one position this time. I started on Air Force, by no means a friendly school to wide recievers. However, I showed my grit and determination by blocking well and playing slot receiver for a team that started 0-9 and won the final three with me as starter.
I then entered the transfer portal and went to Tulane. We made it to the college playoffs every year (fortelling Tulane’s rise this year), losing in the second round during my sophomore year, losing in the championship my junior year, and finally winning it all in my Heisman winning senior year.
I recently finished a round playing as a quarterback, starting at Kennesaw State. I led them to a national championship win over Ohio State that year. My work done in Georgia, I came home to help my local team the University of Massachusetts. You may recognize them as the team that hasn’t won a game in over two years. Not so in the fictional world with Shawn Lucas as quarterback. No, they produced a two time Heisman winning running back (his sophomore and junior year) and three Heisman finalists this past year. I have yet to upload screenshot proof of that feat, but they will come sooner rather than later. I also won back to back national championships in my junior and senior year and went undefeated in both seasons.
The Verdict
You’d think it might get boring defeating mid-major and FCS schools 49-10 every single week. So far, it hasn’t. Having finished the latest round with UMass, I think I want to try a defensive player next. Perhaps a linebacker. Maybe for the University of Hawai’i? Who knows? The sky’s the limit. And, that’s part of the reason that College Football 25 is a gift.
What? MK1 is a gift?! Have we gone mad here at 2 Generations Gaming? Perhaps, but if you know us, this won’t come as a surprise. First, we zig when others zag. Second, I like to find something to praise about almost every creative project. Wait. I’m serious here. You mean the other MK1, right? The original? Surely, you don’t mean the new one. Reddit asks, “You’re still playing MK1?”
Nope, not that one.
Yep, that’s the one.
I don’t care what “the people” say. I played the game and it lets me do what I want to do in Mortal Kombat. It takes me back to my teenage years when my friend and I played the originals up until Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. We went to the mall on a weekly basis (daily during the summer) to play the games. We made friends face to face and laughed hysterically.
The Story
People say that they are tired of the “multiverse” stories. I’m not exactly sure why. I love the “What If” stories from old Marvel. Sure, some of them are ridiculous, but that’s what makes them so fun. I think we all collectively lost our minds during Covid and never truly regained any sense of sanity. Either that, or we all died shortly after they fired up the huge hadron collider and this is my personal hell.
Yes, I fully admit to being a Liu Kang stan. Perhaps that clouded my judgement of the game and story.
Truly, nothing about the story comes off as completely offensive to me. Liu Kang, who always wins the tournament in the end, takes the hourglass and uses it to reshape the universe in his image. Some things turn out the same. Others get tweaked. But, I recognized everything and everyone in the game. And, frankly, they made me laugh more than once with how silly they wrote the story.
Invasions
Again, judged far too harshly in my opinion. Are they repetitive? Sure, but that just means that you get more of a chance to perform your favorite fatalities or brutalities. And, they offer experience to work towards higher levels, new fatalities and brutalities, and skins. I mean, its better than paying 20 bucks every month for a battle pass for the exact same thing. So, I’ll take this version every single time.
Plus, they provide a mini story with each season that explains the crossover from the other world. Last time, it was Reptile’s race who ruled the world and all of the skins reflected that. I completed the entire map 100% and decided to take the plunge again this season. This time, all of the characters come with a Shang Tsung flavor. Sure, the skins don’t hold my interest as much as the Reptile ones, but I’m still excited to collect.
The Verdict (MK1 is a gift)
The game’s not perfect. Then again, nothing is. I know that goes without saying, but I feel like the internet (once a bastion against ignorance, I thought) now allows every single one of us to spout our idiot opinion unabated. Yes, I realize the irony of writing that on a blog dedicated to me spouting my idiot opinion. At least I’m self aware enough to make that realization. Because, honesly, the game plays fine and for me, at least, MK1 is a gift.
Over on Tik Tok, I posted a countdown to summer that some people enjoyed. Whatever I happen to be working on that day gets posted along with the countdown. I’ve covered Warhammer, end of the year Teacher Bingo, my water after a particularly long and hot day, and the comic book review among others. I also posted about my attempts to knock some games off my Steam nonplayed list last month. Putting those ideas together gave me the idea to write this quick article about five games for summer 2025.
Most of these games, as often happens around here, are old. I swore off new games during the Playstation 1 era. If you’re looking for the latest and greatest games, come back in about 5 years. I’m sure that I’ll get around to them by then. For now, let’s talk about the best games from the previous decade or so.
Honorable Mention
Enter the Gungeon: I tried this game a few years ago. Then, I picked it up again briefly last month for the “Steam cleaning” article. Both times, I enjoyed the game greatly. However, my skill needs some honing. Maybe I’ll take some time to do that this summer
Fallout: I played the introduction for the first four Fallout games. For whatever reason, I always put it down and never get past that initial part of the story. No better time than the summer when I have unlimited time.
Doors: I played this for the first time during my “Steam cleaning” phase last month. I liked the game so much that I think i want to use it as my first game to stream towards the end of June. The simple and laid back game play fits right in with my philosophy of gaming.
The Five
Pikmin 2: I started playing Pikmin 3 when I bought my Switch last year. I played the game when it first released on the Gamecube, but never made it very far. Playing the 3rd one inspired me to pick up the first one again and I played it through to completion. Now, on to the second one.
Red Dead Redemption 2: I loved the first game. I like it more thana the GTA series. I picked up GTA3 for my handheld emulator and that made me think of RDR. Having never played the second one, I think it’s time to remedy that.
Last of Us: I wanted to play this game, but never got the chance for some reason. We watched both seasons of the show and I enjoyed it immensely. When Aiden bought the PS5, I stumbled on the game again and downloaded it in order to play through.
Spider-Man: The main reason I wanted a Sony console was these games. All of my kids already beat the first one. Aiden beat all three and 100%’d them as well, I think. So, by the time I sit down this summer, I will have to suffer through Jefferson Davis’s death four times. Pray for me, chat.
Hades: Chris, as you know, introduced me to this game. Then, Liam bought it for me for Christmas. I played it through that Christmas break and into the year. Periodically, I pick it up again. Most recently, I tried it on the Switch Lite to see how it ported. With the second one out there, I want to finish this one.
The Verdict
These five games for summer 2025 plus the few honorable mentions are sure to keep me busy throughout the summer. For a couple of them, I can bring them to the UK with us, so I think I can actually make it happen that I play every one of them and accomplish the goals I set. Follow me on Tik Tok and YouTube to see my progress.
As often happens in the family, many of the gifts this year involved games and gaming. I purchased an Atari 7800+ for myself that Christine suggested that I put aside for Christmas. I wondered if the boys would even care about it. Surprisingly, they all said, “Cool!” when they saw it. However, it remains in the box. That’s because Aiden went above and beyond this Christmas. He bought us all a PS5 with the Spider-Man games and Minecraft. While we start there, those aren’t the only gaming gifts 2024.
Atari 7800+
I finally caved to the pressure and nostalgia a few months ago. I saw that Atari advertised the 7800+ with a new game and controllers for a good price. I thought, why the hell not? I bought all those cartridges when I bought the Retron emulator. Plus, the 2600 and 7800 have a robust homebrew scene. And, we all know how I feel about the guys over at Audacity games. It felt like a no brainer. I played some of the Bentley’s game to test it out but, like I said, it remains in the box for now still under the tree.
Sony Playstation 5
I wanted to play these games since they released 6 years ago. Then, Insomniac came out with a second one and that reignited the fire. I guess it finally registered with Aiden because he purchased a Playstation 5 for all of us for Christmas with these games. We have all been taking turns playing through the game and watching each other play the game. Numerous times, we’ve said, I love playing this game. Aiden, the other day, said, I’m obsessed with this game. It truly is remarkable. The same way that the Arkham games made you feel like Batman, this one puts you in the Spider Suit and that’s something I’ve wanted my whole life. This one is going to get a ton of play. Hell, I even invited Chris over for some Madden or NHL soon.
Retroid Pocket
I can’t remember how I discovered this little gem. But, it immediately caught my eye and I ordered one. I played it a few times, even using it to capture game play footage for the YouTube channel and some articles. Then, I showed Liam that it emulated GameCube games. He more or less commandeered it. But, that’s okay. Because I have a problem, I just ordered another one for myself that should be arriving sometime this week. I also, for some reason, threw in one of the minis to my order. Hey, I told you. I have a problem.
Nintendo Switch Lite
Probably the console that received the most play from me during this vacation is my Switch. I swapped out Hades a couple of weeks ago for Pikmin 3. I played that up to the final level in the game this week and hope to beat it in the next day or two. After that, I plan to focus on Hades to finish that one out.
The Verdict
Some great gaming gifts 2024 for the 2 Generations Gaming family. Plenty to take me into January and the “New Year, New Games” theme. I hope you all received the gifts you wanted this year and that they bring much joy in the year to come. We will be here multiple times a week to talk about the games we enjoy.
The last day of Thanksgiving brings an article that I’ve been planning and crafting for almost the entire month. I hope that it lives up to that hype and doesn’t disappoint. When I came up with the “Thankful for….” series, I knew I wanted to say thank you Nintendo and Sega. Like other gamers my age, both played a huge role in my teenage and early adult life.
Those who come back to the page often know this story. But, I told it again texting my brothers for Thanksgiving. We owned an Atari 2600 forever. My parents fought against buying us and NES, but finally broke one year and got it for Christmas. It came years too late and I then got a job and rendered it obsolete by buying an SNES. But, it still remains a good memory and one that gave my brothers and I a smile in the face of the death of our mother.
Nintendo vs. Sega: A Battle for the Ages
Nintendo took a side character from Donkey Kong and gave him (and his brother suddenly?!) their own title. This title went on to spawn a genre that persists to this day, the side scroller. If you told me at the time that this game would bring literally thousands of clones and also birth other genres, like Metroidvanias, I’d never have believed you. Yes, we all know that I’m not the most visionary among us, so that’s no surprise. But, seriously, the games involved running sideways and jumping to avoid things. And, yet, I dumped quarter after quarter into that very game. I used that as one of my arguments to my parents when I asked for the NES. We spend this much and it saves me this much.
One of those clones came from Sega, a video game company that showed true promise. They made fun games that toiled in obscurity (sound familiar?) in the shadow of the Nintendo behemoth. To whit, I never even knew that Sega made a console before the Genesis. I discovered them when they made the bold decision to finally stand up to their bully in the console wars. Part of that stand came with a redesign of their blue (not yet mascot status) hedgehog as a supersonic (yes, pun intended on their part) alternative to the slow and plodding running sideways and jumping to avoid things of the Mario games.
As you see from the video, Nintendo responded to Sega’s claims that Mario is too slow and boring. They added new powers and, more importantly, put a run meter into the game. This worked because even though I started as a Sonic fan, Mario rules my gaming memories. The games are just much more deep and detailed than the Sega counterpart. Don’t get me wrong, I like much of what Sega did, but Nintendo made Mario into a true icon.
Beyond Mario and Sonic
Both companies obviously expanded their libraries beyond Sonic and Mario. Nintendo started their habit of allowing any and all development companies to throw shit at the wall and hope for the best. Sega held their cards closer to the vest and mostly just allowed polished games and franchises on their consoles. But, I plan to concentrate only on the best of the best games in this article.
Thank you Nintendo and Sega for these franchises that endured and followed me through life. Again, I became a staunch Nintendo fanboy when they dropped the pretense and released Mortal Kombat II unmolested. They repeated offered better graphics and more fun gameplay than Sega. Even so, it surprised and saddened me when Sega decided to stop manufacturing consoles.
Nintendo 64 and Sega Dreamcast
When I think of one of the seminal times of my gaming life, that death of Sega still feels fresh and raw in my memory. Being part of the problem when I purchased a Sony Playstation instead of a Sega Dreamcast as my first console as a grown adult, I obviously helped in that demise. However, as a young person not fully versed in the insanity of our money culture, I still expected Sega and their consoles to be a part of my life for the duration.
Thankfully, Sega stuck around long enough to give us one last Mario v. Sonic showdown into the three dimensional realm. You can argue the merits of this transition. Many, including some of my most esteemed colleagues made a living doing just that. For this article, I argue neither for nor against it. I simply include them as a monument to the fallen and a reminder that nothing in life is permanent. Oof, that got philosophical.
Thank you Nintendo and Sega for great games, as always.
Both Companies Innovate and Survive
Nintendo famously went away from the bro culture that gaming became and started developing their consoles as more family oriented. They pioneered the use of motion based gaming with the Wii, revolutionized mobile gaming with the 3DS and WiiU, and then put it all together in their piece de la resistance, the Nintendo Switch. Again, I started the 3D console wars with Sony, moved to Microsoft, and ended up firmly back in the Nintendo camp.
Meanwhile, Sega focused on making great games for other systems, thereby removing the loss leading nature of gaming systems. They pivoted to a more pop culture focus for their characters, releasing several successful cartoon series. Finally, they triumphed over Nintendo in creating a “cinematic universe” for their mascot in the form of three movies and at least one television show. Nintendo eventually responded with a movie of their own and a soon to be released sequel.
The Verdict
No matter the setting, both Nintendo and Sega brought my great joy in my life. Sure, I mourned when Sega stopped making consoles and wondered if Nintendo could survive the leap to 3D gaming. But, that made me shout with excitement even louder when both survived and grew into their new roles in the ecosystem. I look forward to decades more with these two industry giants. One last time, for now, thank you Nintendo and Sega.
For as long as I can remember, I played video games. We owned an Atari 2600 when I was a kid, then a 7800. It took my parents some time to get on board and purchase us an NES. Ever since then, nearly every system I owned, I purchased. Many of them got sold or donated to youth programs. But, I keep memories from all of them in my memory and they make me smile. While perhaps not the poster child, I wanted to take some time out from my busy schedule to talk about gaming and mental health.
Bear in mind, in an attempt to remain honest, I want to discuss both the positive and negative impacts of video game. True to myself, though, I hope to give everyone some strategies to maintain a healthy balance and avoid those potential downfalls. I like to start with the bad news and finish with the positives, so bear with me.
The Negative Impacts of Gaming on Mental Health (Addiction)
If you spend any time on this page or my social media, you will hear about my time in World of Warcraft. Even today, as they advertise a new expansion released last month, I consider trying the game again. One of the things that gives me pause is that I fell into the dark place of World of Warcraft addiction. Before that happened, I never considered such a thing possible. Sure, I played games, sometimes obsessively. But, addicted? How do you become addicted to a video game?
Not my screenshot, but this looks familiar.
It started innocently enough. I learned about mods that made the game more player friendly. Then, I joined a guild that promised a family friendly experience. Suddenly, I found myself playing at all hours of the day to grind for raid night that consumed my life. Eventually, I found a guild via The Instance that allowed me to play the game on my own terms. When I started working 18 hours a day, the game fell into the dust bin of history. I played it some over the last few years, but never picked it up again on a regular basis.
I tell a similar story about the release of Skyrim. At the time, I recently lost my job and it took some time to find another one. I lived on unemployment and stayed at home with my young son, Quinn. As a baby, he slept a lot. So, I purchased Skyrim and started playing. At the end of the first week, I looked at my played stats and saw over 50 hours. I know for some of you, those are rookie numbers. But, I saw that and said, “What am I doing with my life? Spending 50 hours chasing after virtual butterflies?” When they say touch grass, I know exactly what they mean.
The Negative Impacts of Gaming on Mental Health (Toxicity)
Get lost, Noob! Okay, there’s plenty of other games in the sea.
While evidence of bullying, antisocial behavior, abusive language, and other toxicity exist in abundance in nerd communities, I only experienced a small amount of it myself. Before moving on to a different topic, when I played WoW, I always fought against these things. A person asks something in general chat? I answered the question. Sexist and racist language? I called it out. Look, I’m not saying these things to paint myself as a hero. I simply thing we need to handle these issues in house and make nerd communities the loving and welcome groups that they should be.
As you may have guessed already, my main negative experience with gamers comes as a result of League of Legends. Intrigued by the game, I logged in and played a few games. In five games played, I found exactly one player willing to work with the newer players and teach instead of hurling invective and rage quitting. Needless to say, I never played another game of League of Legends since.
I know some people make the argument that such an environment breeds strength and weed out the “weak” players. First, if you’re playing in my lobby, I guarantee you aren’t in any way, shape, or form a professional at the game. Therefore, weeding me out of your community just makes one less person in the queue to make your game fire. Second, the whole “alpha, beta” mindset is bullshit. It’s based in a flawed experiment and misread data. So, if you subscribe to that, I automatically assume that you’re not even what you consider to be an “alpha” and I can ignore anything that you say or do.
The Positive Impacts of Gaming on Mental Health (Building Social Connections)
Okay, enough about the negatives. Let’s talk some about the positives. While I have nothing positive to say about League of Legends other than the fact that it spawned a very fun game mode in the form of Teamfight Tactics, I actually still look on my time in World of Warcraft fondly. In addition to providing a great story, I found my people. That guild that I talked about that started family friendly and eventually became corrupted into a more try hard version?
I met people in that guild who I remain in contact with through social media. As time goes on and more and more people decide that they don’t want to be “friends” or “followers” of randos they met in a video game 20 years ago, the number decreases. But, I still consider those that remain friends. I watched their kids grow up just like friends that I see on a regular basis.
Hell, I started this web page and podcast as an attempt to start my own community around gaming. Clearly, that hasn’t worked as intended so far. But, who knows? Maybe one of these days, it will. I finally got some engagement on Instagram and someone reached out about sponsorship on the podcast. So, things are trending in the positive direction. If you like what I do, spread the word!
The Positive Impacts of Gaming on Mental Health (Stress Relief and Building Cognitive Skills)
My favorite game of all time.
I present Portal 2 as exhibit A in this section. For some of my life, when it seemed like all I did was work and sleep, I ostensibly played games to relax. In reality, some of the games I played only increased my anxiety and stress. One, in particular, that grew from World of Warcraft, gave me similar feelings. For some reason, maybe the left over damage from the addition, Hearthstone made me unreasonably angry when I played.
It still frustrates me. But, I found a balance with the game that lets me play without the overwhelming anger and dread. Maybe I grew up. Perhaps by removing the other stressors in my life, it allowed me to find more joy in the game. Whatever the reason, I play it on a daily basis to finish quests. I can say the same about Magic the Gathering Arena, too.
Through it all, though, I always picked Portal 2 as my game to relax. I loved the story. The game play was unique and added to that story. Dressed as a an action game, it offered challenging puzzles that made me think. Really, what more can you ask for in a game? Honestly, anything that makes me think and use my brain holds a special place in my heart.
Plus, Liam watched me play the game through one time. As silly as it sounds, that brought us closer together and we still talk about that time and those memories to this day. Also, he and Quinn returned the favor a couple of months ago when I watched them play through Super Mario Wonder. While games don’t represent everything in our family, they definitely play a part.
The Verdict
Like anything, gaming offers both positives and negatives. Gaming addiction is a very real and potentially dangerous thing that can happen to anyone at any time and with any game. Beware of the warning signs in yourself and others. Don’t be afraid to have those difficult conversations with the ones you love. They’ll insist that there’s no problem and there might not be. But, as always, better safe than sorry.
They key is recognizing the negative effects and attempting to reduce them while finding games and communities that accentuate the positives. If you ever find yourself in a position where you need a positive influence, consider us as a possibility. No matter what, though, take care of yourselves and each other. Just follow the golden rule of gaming. “Good Luck and Have Fun.”
If you or someone you know needs more help, check out the following links: Take This – an organization that helps reduce the stigma behind mental health issues in the gaming community, National Alliance on Mental Illness – the leading advocate group for bringing mental health to the forefront and helping people deal with their own and their loved ones mental health. There are also many apps that deal with improving your own mental health through diet, exercise, and meditation. Find one that works for you.
As part of our 10th anniversary celebration, I came up with the idea to write about my past, present, and future in video and tabletop games. I already talked about past and present. That, of course, brings us to video games of future. I won’t say that I completely inherited my father’s knack for being wrong when it comes to predicting the future.
However, a student mentioned the “Gamestop thing” to me about five years ago and I thought nothing of it. Then, something happened and they wrote a movie and produced several documentaries about it. Perhaps you heard. Then, more recently, when picking stocks, one of the students suggested Nvidia. No movies about that yet, but investing before the split and then doubling down might have been a good idea.
First of Two Possibilities
Following up on the Nvidia thread, one of the ideas I wrote down in my notes is artificial intelligence. Ever since the release of ChatGPT (and maybe before), AI jumped to the front of the technological zeitgeist. Everyone jumped on board to be the next company to incorporate AI into their platform. This resulted in the stupid money (not dumb money, but stupid money) following that trend with huge investments in what, so far, amounts to so much vaporware.
It comes as no surprise that a company known for graphics chips that pushed video games to new heights also became one of the leaders in AI. Ever since their infancy, video games used the concept of artificial intelligence in their vernacular. Granted, it means something else these days. They added the descriptor generative AI to describe the latest in technology. In truth, it feels like a step back from what video games considered artificial intelligence.
I mean, I’m not the brightest bulb, but this game could kick my ass.
Don’t get me wrong. Combing the wealth of human knowledge contained on the internet to write a semi coherent essay or build a picture based on a simple prompt is impressive. However, when you consider how much it takes to control 22 different players on a football field in addition to the coach and sideline players, AI already impresses in video games. Admittedly not a visionary, I struggle to see how they can make things better with the current iteration of AI.
Second of Two Possibilities
Likewise, virtual reality (VR) has been a promise for as long as I can remember. Back before he went off the deep end, Dennis Miller performed a bit about VR in his stand up set. According to an article I read, Sega researched the possibility for VR for the Saturn. They realized the limitations of technology at the time, so it never went anywhere. Still, the possibilities excite. It makes sense now that they released Virtua Fighter and Virtua Cop now, though.
We finally reached the point in technology where VR is possible and enjoyable. However, recently, things start to look a bit too much like Ready Player One (see my Noob’s Book Club about that!) for my tastes. Science fiction is always written as a warning and friendless losers who somehow become titans of industry look at it as a how to manual. And, by the time they get there, nobody tells them to their faces that its a bad idea. And, so, we get nonsense like that video above.
The Verdict
Video games of future looks bleak. As I say, I’m no prognosticator. Additionally, I generally take a more rosy view of things, especially the future. But, when I consider where we are now and what those things might become, I’m fine with my new Switch Lite and handheld emulator. At least I know those won’t let me down.
While Chris and I mostly just talked during this latest visit, we still discussed our recent gaming adventures. I suggested D&D if the boys were home and maybe Warhammer, if not. I showed off my models and he thought they were cool, but we didn’t actually play. He’s been busy with other stuff, his gaming habits mirror mine lately. Nevertheless, we talked about video games of present.
You probably both know that our video game habits often rely on older games. Without question or shame, we consider ourselves retro video gamers. Every now and then, most recently with Skyrim (yeah, how’s that for a blast from the past), we buy a new title. Usually, though, we play old Street Fighter or a previous version of NHL or Madden.
Nintendo Switch
Because I am an adult with adult motivations, I promised myself a Nintendo Switch if I made it through the remainder of the school year. I mentioned to Chris that I bought myself a Switch Lite. He replied, “That’s what I play the most.” You may remember that the boys bought me Hades for Christmas a few years ago. Well, both Quinn and Liam use the main Switch. So, for me to progress in the game, I got myself a Switch. I told you, an adult with adult motivations.
I grabbed a few other games from the pile to add to my bag, too. Chris gave me Elliot Quest a few years ago because he bought a duplicate. I got addicted to the DS version of Luigi’s Mansion, so I picked the third installment of that. Also, PIkmin and Super Mario RPG to round out the games that I wanted to play. Note: I only booted up the Switch twice since buying it. But, winter is coming and I usually play more then.
Retroid 4 Pro (Video Games of Present?)
I also told Chris about the handheld emulator that I bought. “Handheld emulator, he asked?” So, I showed him the Retroid 4 Pro and some of the systems/games that I owned for it. To be honest, I played this quite often. Like I say, we are without question, retro gamers. Booting up Mario vs. Donkey Kong or Circus Convoy (hey, a relatively new game!) makes me happier than it probably should.
I always say that I rarely suffer nostalgia. That’s true for most things. But, games, for whatever reason, mean more to me than that. Comics, on some level, too. But, I like when they update comics and change the characters or stories. Because, otherwise, they get boring. Not so with video games. I play the same games numerous times and never tire of them. Note: Witness the 3 or 4 times that I played Portal 2 to completion.
Gaming with the Family
As you all know, we play Mario Kart on the Switch about once a month or so. A few months ago, we branched out into Mario Party and enjoyed ourselves then. Once or twice, we loaded up one of the Jackbox games as a family. Speaking of, we need to do that again. Along those same lines, I ordered a “Mystery Games” bundle from Humble Bundle. It simulates escape rooms and other puzzles. We always talked about doing an escape room, but never actually bite when given the chance.
8 days left if you’re interested! Note: Humble Bundle is not a partner. I simply like their product and want them to remain in business. I read a rumor the other day that they might be on the chopping block because of their managing company. I hope that’s not true. As an aside, I haven’t played any of the games yet, but I watched some videos and they look fun. Next family game night, I’ll have to suggest them.
The Verdict
No surprise, but video games of present look very much like video games of past for me. Other than the new games we try as a family, I find myself solidly in my teenage and young adult years when it comes to games. Granted, I try new games every now and again to make content for the page, but overall, I just like the retro games.
This month, we celebrate 10 years of the web page. I got the idea to celebrate my past, present, and future in gaming with a series of articles. I already talked about tabletop games of the past. This article plans to celebrate my video games of past.
If the title sounds awkward, I apologize. I tried to channel Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with the ghosts of past, present, and yet to come. Then, I realized that it doesn’t quite work the way I wanted. But, instead of changing it, I just leaned into the awkwardness. It’s one of the things I do best.
Actual Past
I wrote in my Newbury Comics article that comics played a big role in my history. Video games played an even bigger role. Growing up, my family owned an Atari 2600 and then an Atari 7800 back when both consoles first released. My parents resisted buying a Nintendo for a while, but finally caved and got us the Nintendo and a bunch of games. My mother worked at a grocery store that rented the games and then sold them cheaper to free up stock room.
The first console I ever purchased for myself was a Super Nintendo. I worked at Toys R Us and saved money in order to buy it. Shortly after that, I also bought a Sega Genesis. I never put much stock in “console wars”. The only reason I picked a side with Sony and Microsoft is that the consoles are prohibitively expensive and I don’t want to piss away 600 dollars every few years for a couple of exclusives.
Through it all, I remained loyal to Nintendo. I bought several Game Boy Advances, an N64, a Wii, and a Wii U. Liam bought a switch that the family uses. I’ve been thinking about getting myself a Switch Lite for trips. But, I should wait until the Video Games of Present to write about that one.
Trying to Capture the Past
More recently, I purchased a Retron 77, which has the look and feel of an old Atari machine. I found a way to load the ROMs onto an SD card and played them that way. Laugh all you want, but Audacity games released two new games for the system, 40 years after it became “obsolete.” That reminds me. I need to buy Alien Abduction.
Then, a couple of weeks ago, I finally caved and bought a Retroid handheld. It allows me to play Atari, GBA, N64, and other console games from my childhood and early adulthood. I love that damn thing and used it many times already while on Cape Cod. I know that Christine might think it’s silly if I buy a Switch, but I see it getting just as much use.
The Verdict
I forgot to mention the Commodore 64 that I received one Christmas that allowed me to play video games of past. It also let me attempt to program them. That produced mixed results at the time. However, my love for programming continues today as one of my many hobbies.
After the audio issue in the last episode, we decided to get together and record in person this time. Other than the gain on the microphone being a bit low while recording (easily remedied), everything came out much better. Enjoy 2 Guys Get Spooky.
First, we talk about childhood trauma related to horror movies. Then, we discuss a few other franchises before moving on to our favorite horror movie of all time. We both agree that it is Shaun of the Dead.
There’s a brief talk about television shows, mainly the Walking Dead. We both agree that the show never was that good and we even lost faith in the comic. But, Chris mentions some other comics that he likes in the horror genre. I never read many horror comics, so I let him take the wheel in this segment.
Finally, we talk about video games. Chris tells a story from when he first saw me playing Fatal Frame. We both think it is probably the scariest game out there. Chris hates Resident Evil much more than I do, so I let him get that out of his system.
Finally, we wrap up with the Simpsons Treehouse of Horror. No matter how much you think the Simpsons sucks now, the Halloween episode never disappoints. Thanks for listening to 2 Guys Get Spooky and we’ll talk to you again in a few weeks to discuss the new Ixalan set from Magic the Gathering.
