Remember 1985? My NES and the Magic of Mario

Picture this: the year was 1985. Hair was big, music was synth-heavy, and something magical was about to happen in our living rooms. The Nintendo Entertainment System, and a mustachioed plumber named Mario, were about to change everything. For Gen X kids like me, 1985 wasn't just a year; it was a revolution. Let’s take a trip back to that 8-bit wonderland.

The Pre-NES Landscape: A Gaming Wasteland (or Not?)

Before the NES stormed onto the scene, the home gaming landscape was…well, let's just say it was complicated. The Atari 2600, once a king, had fallen hard, leading to the infamous video game crash of 1983. Arcades were still the place to be, but for home entertainment, things were fragmented. Home computers like the Commodore 64 and Apple II offered some gaming experiences, but they were often seen as productivity tools first. Skepticism about home consoles was high. We were a generation that had seen the rise and fall of home gaming, and many were wary of investing again.

The NES Arrives: A Revolution in a Gray Box

Then, the gray box arrived. The Nintendo Entertainment System, with its sleek design and the promise of quality, felt different. Nintendo wasn't just selling a console; they were selling a promise. The "Nintendo Seal of Quality" became a symbol of trust, something sorely needed after the crash. The hardware was a leap forward, offering smoother graphics and better sound than anything we'd seen at home. The included R.O.B. the robot and the Zapper light gun added a layer of novelty that grabbed our attention. It's important to remember this was a re-branding of the Japanese Famicom, which had been successful in Japan. Nintendo was smart, and knew how to market their product to a North American audience.

Super Mario Bros.: A Game Changer

And then there was Super Mario Bros. It wasn't just a game; it was an event. From the moment we heard that iconic 8-bit theme, we were hooked. The gameplay was innovative, the level design was brilliant, and the controls were intuitive. It was simple enough for anyone to pick up and play, yet deep enough to keep us coming back for more. It revitalized the platforming genre, showing us what was possible in a home console. Plus, the two-player mode was a revelation. Playing with a friend or sibling, trading the controller, was a completely new experience.

V. My Personal 1985 Mario Story

I was lucky enough to get an NES for Christmas 1985. It was the basic model at the time. But I did not care in the least. My neighbor had the full experience that included R.O.B and light gun, and I did envy him, but I truly loved the single cartridge that I owned. I sat crossed legged in front of my TV for HOURS guiding the collection of pixels across the screen to rescue a Princess from a Giant Spiked Turtle.

10 year old me was instantly turned into an adventurer! 

I have not stopped adventuring since!

I have rescued countless Princesses, slayed and endless string of Giant Spiked Turtles, and too many other accomplishments to list since then.

The Long-Term Impact: A New Era of Home Gaming

The NES didn't just revive the home video game industry; it redefined it. Super Mario Bros. set the standard for platformers, and for video games in general. Nintendo became a gaming powerhouse, creating iconic characters and franchises that continue to this day. The NES changed how games were marketed, focusing on quality and family-friendly entertainment. This was the beginning of Nintendo Power magazine, that gave gaming culture a central point to gather around. The NES brought gaming out of arcades and into our living rooms, changing how we spent our leisure time, and how we interacted with each other.

Conclusion: The Magic Endures

The magic of Super Mario Bros. and the NES endures. For Gen X gamers, and all those who followed, it's more than just nostalgia; it's a connection to a pivotal moment in our lives. It's a reminder of the power of video games to bring joy, inspire creativity, and create lasting memories. So, remember 1985? Remember the magic? Share your own NES and Mario memories in the comments below. After all, we were there when a plumber jumped into our hearts and changed gaming forever.

Saving Our Gaming Past: Why Retro Game Preservation Matters

 Ever fire up your old NES and find your favorite cartridge just doesn't work anymore? Or maybe you've scoured eBay for that rare Playstation game you loved as a kid, only to find it's going for a small fortune (if you can find it at all!). This, my friends, is why preserving retro games is more important now than ever.

We're not just talking about dusty old cartridges and consoles; we're talking about saving pieces of our history, our culture, and yes, even art!

Why Should We Care About Old Games Anyway?

Think about it: games are a snapshot of the times they were created in. Pac-Man, with its ghosts chasing you down, was a reflection of the anxieties of the 80s. Early RPGs like Final Fantasy were pioneering new ways to tell stories in a digital world. These games give us a window into the past, a way to understand where we came from.

And let's not forget the technological leaps! Space Invaders basically created the arcade scene as we know it, and the NES brought gaming back from the dead after the great video game crash of '83. Preserving these games allows us to trace the evolution of gaming, from those blocky pixels to the amazing graphics we have today.

But here's the thing: retro games aren't just about nostalgia. They're art! The incredible pixel art of Chrono Trigger, the haunting music of Silent Hill... these are creative works that deserve to be preserved just as much as any painting or symphony.

The Trouble with Keeping the Past Alive

So, preserving old games sounds like a no-brainer, right? Well, it's not that simple. Here are some of the hurdles we face:

• Tech Troubles: Old tech breaks down. Discs get scratched, cartridges corrode, and those old consoles can just give up the ghost. Plus, trying to get a game from the 80s to work on a modern PC can be like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.
• Legal Limbo: Who actually owns these old games? Companies go bust, licenses expire, and things get messy. It can be a real headache trying to preserve games that are legally tied up in knots.
• Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Sadly, not everyone understands the importance of game preservation. We need more museums, archives, and passionate folks like you and me to spread the word and make sure these games aren't forgotten.

Your Personal Retro Rescue Mission

Okay, so we've got the "why." Now, let's get to the "how." Here's how you can be a retro game hero and save your own gaming treasures:

• Storage Wars: Think of your games as ancient artifacts! Keep them in a cool, dry place, away from dust and sunlight. Those old boxes and manuals? Store them carefully too! And if you're really serious, look into archival-quality storage supplies.
• Back It Up! Emulators and ROMs are your friends here. They let you create digital copies of your games, so even if your cartridge bites the dust, you've still got a backup. (Just remember to be responsible and only use ROMs of games you actually own!)
• Keep Those Consoles Clean! A little TLC goes a long way. Clean your consoles and controllers regularly, and if something breaks, see if you can get it repaired. Some folks even mod their old consoles to make them last longer!

Join the Retro Revolution!

Preserving retro games isn't a solo mission. There's a whole community out there dedicated to keeping these classics alive!

• Online is Your Friend: Jump into online forums and communities. You can learn a ton about preservation techniques, find rare games, and connect with other passionate collectors.
• Museums Are Cool Too: Check out museums like The Strong National Museum of Play. They're doing amazing work in preserving gaming history.
• Emulation Nation: The emulation community is full of talented people creating software that lets us play old games on new machines. Support their work and keep those old games running!

Game Over for Lost Games? Not If We Can Help It!

Retro games are more than just entertainment; they're a part of who we are. By preserving these games, we're keeping those memories alive for ourselves and for future generations. So, let's all do our part to make sure that game over doesn't mean game forgotten!

.hack//infection

I have been play the first game of the .hack series  .hack//infection during my commute (1 hour each way by train, twice a week). 

I loved the idea behind this series, a simulated MMORPG, in which you play as a person that is playing an MMORPG. This MMO is called "The World". I did have this game when it was originally released it 2003, but did it play through any more of the series. Hopefully I can get through all 4 this time. 

To expand there are parts of the game that exist outside of the "The World"  game . When you first start the game you are at your desktop with few options,

• The World
• Play the game
• Mailer
• email
• News
• umm read news
• Accessory
• change your desltop
• Audio
• change background  music
• Data
• save your game

You check email, that is often from the others "player" of "The World". Read message board posts, and NEWS reports about various topics like the company that created "The World".

A mystery begins when the individual that invited you to "The World" goes missing, and you uncover this is not an isolated incident.

The mechanic are very MMO like, you load dungeon through a three word combination, battle through said dungeon. Rinse. Repet on another combination of three words.

The combat mechanics do take a bit of getting used to. I often found myself forgetting to give commands to the other members of the party. You can be vague and give commands like "Skills", "First Aid", and "Weaken". You could also have other party members use a specific skill. Then there are more elaborate battle plans that can be triggered.

The game has 2 disks with the second containing episodes of the companion story. Including some "easter egg" thre word combinations, that you can explore in the main game.

Being the first in the series, you can take your saved game from this game into the next. Starting the second stronger and with more resources than if you skipped this game.

Obligitory Hello World

Let's see where this goes.