A Stupid Idea
I like to play computer/videogames. There are many of these games and I want to play them all, even the bad ones. In one lifetime, I can't. Well, I technically could, but then, at the end of it (the lifetime) would I be able to call it a life? With my clawed hands and burned out eyes on my deathbed, would I relish having consumed all possible videogames or would I curse my life as wasted? Nevertheless, I'd like to give it my best shot, while still trying to maintain a real life. We'll call this part of my life, the computer/videogame part: my obsession.
I also have what I will refer to as my quirk: sequelphobia. I don't like to play a game if it's a sequel to a previous game either literally or spiritually, if I haven't played the earlier game, first. In fact, I prefer to start playing games from a particular designer/publisher by playing their earliest work first. This twist of my quirk also began expressing itself with respect to genres. I try to find the game that introduced a genre before finding the games that defined, evolved, refined or even diluted the genre. Following my quirk when paired with my obsession to a logical, horrifying extreme I had to face the fact that: I want to play every damn computer/videogame, and I want to play them in order.
I also have a problem with the appropriate use of italics. If anyone knows some guidelines for the usage of italics, I'd like to hear them.
Sooo, I came up with this stupid idea:
Pretend it is 1972.
Play everything released to the Home Video Game market in 1972.
Then, pretend it is 1973 and play everything that was released in 1973.
Lather. Rinse. Increment Year.
Repeat.
For purposes of simplexity:
1. I'm only dealing with home video game systems. (I'll do computers on another run through.)
2. If it's super obscure, super expensive and/or un-emulated . . . I'll just have to forget about it.
3. Also, for purposes of not-going-insane-and-eating-my-children, I'm not going to try to play every Pong dedicated paper weight out there.
4. U.S. Released games mostly, but not exclusively.
First preference is to play the game on the original hardware.
Second preference is to play it emulated on PC with original controller.
Third preference is to play it emulated on Xbox or Dreamcast.
Fourth preference is to play it emulated with PC keyboard.
Fifth preference is to read about it and say, gee, I wish I could play that . . .
I'll start tomorrow in 1972 with the Magnavox Odyssey.
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