Video Game Disciples: Paying homage to the Holy Console
July 16th 2007 00:48
And so it is with some trepidation that I should concede defeat on my own personal quest and publicly recognize the triumph of the modern video game blitzkrieg.
Never-the-less – and despite its humble and self-effacing birth – time has come to pay homage to the religious fervour that is the gaming console.
Hands up those who can remember sitting goggled eyed and ‘chomping at the bit’ back in the 70’s longing to have to have a tilt at something called “Atari” and “Pong”.
Based on the sport of tennis and named after the sound generated by the circuitry when the ball is hit – it was the first true in-home video game that I can remember.
I was besotted - along with millions of others - a cruel indictment of the times - but probably no less harmful to young minds than the tirade which I trust came with the advent of other evils such as pinball.
Then, however came the avalanche.
Like watching a car crash and having advance notice of it happening – I kept my teen surveillance of the burgeoning electronic demon from afar – a) because I couldn’t afford the games and b) because I couldn’t afford the games c) even if I could afford them – my parents wouldn’t let me have one
Asteroids, Donkey Kong, Pac Man and some damn shooting game - then the pinnacle, the zenith – the soverign ruler and holy grail of video games - Space Invaders.
Fads and gimmicks come and go – but I would put it to the court of disputes that there would be very few (if any) English speaking affiliates over the age of 18 – who hadn’t at least heard about Space Invaders.
What’s more – there was even a world wide No.1 hit about the game – curiously enough performed by a group calling itself ‘Player’.
Yep – we’ve come a long way from green screens, Atari and Commodore 64 game consoles.
Now if only I could work out how this new fangled Play Station/X-Box thingy works . . . apparently it will let me play football, drive F1’s, box and surf – all in the comfort of my armchair – hmmmmmm.
| 52 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I had an old Hanimex machine in the 70's, then moved to a Commodore 64.....I still love the game Jumpman, so addictive.
There was a magic and inteligent gameplay to these early pioneers that seems to be lost on the more concerned with Graphics modern ones.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Closest I ever came was having a Hanimex 10-speed. Ahhh - the Commodore 64 - 'more memory than you'll ever need' I seem to recall.
Thanks for calling by
MNG