Page 41 - OSG Presents Classic Gamer Magazine #3

ike many classic cape mechanisms - and
gamers, I wasn't just they were displayed in 16
L into playing the colors on a TV or monitor.
games; I was into how they I had to keep my wits
worked, how they “thought" about me and my reflexes
and made their decisions. sharp, because it's hard
I originally lusted after my enough to stay alive in the
first computer (a gleaming, same space with Sinistar
64K, Apple II-compatible, *without* chemical inter-
one-ton - or so it seemed ference. It's just possible
when I was merely eleven that all this pixilated silli-
years old - Franklin ACE ness kept me alive and
1000) primarily so I could made it possible for us to
learn how to program my meet each other in the
own games. first place.
It didn't quite work out And in the end, it *is*
that way, but video games did have a just a hobby. I know we're all reading
seismic effect on my life. In fact, I By Earl Green this magazine because we love these
credit my whole career track to the mul- old games...but the truth is, I'd much
titude of interests spawned by two master bedroom. In fact, I'm anticipat- rather spend time with my beloved than
things: the original Star Wars and Pac- ing that they'll probably languish, play another round of Dig Dug. She'll
Man. Somehow, my interest in both of framed nicely and ready to hang, in probably never be into these games as
these things led to a fascination with storage until we buy our own house much as I am. (Believe me, I do keep
computers, graphics, photography, and there's room for me to display all trying.) One of these days when we
writing...and the end result is me today, my trinkets that bring me so much nos- have kids, I'd be more than happy to
a mildly successful (but ever teetering talgia and comfort. turn them on to the joys of these sim-
on the edge of being completely broke) But that's still hard to explain. Hey, ple, addictive old games. (I think I'd
TV promotions producer. I'd jump at the chance to pick up a full- much rather introduce a child in his sin-
It's easy to see the role these things size working Tron game for the right gle digits to Pac-Man than to Battle
have played in my life. Now how do I price, but the main point is that I'm Arena Toshinden.)
explain this to the woman I'm marrying really not actively looking to get a I'd like my classic game fixation to
in just under six months? whole machine. We really don't have be a family affair...but I know it proba-
I think she was okay with my eBay the room for it. It would have to fall into bly won't happen. I only ask my dear-
activities back when I was finishing off my lap very fortuitously for me to even est one, and the significant others of
my collection of old Star Wars toys consider it. I *am* aware that this isn't the readership of CGM, to understand
(another hobby of mine). She raised my old apartment in Green Bay, where that this stuff does mean something to
an eyebrow, but still seemed happy for the second floor served not only as the each and every one of us. Be patient
me, when I completed my collection of bedroom, but as Earl's museum of with the classic gamer. He may indeed
Coleco tabletop mini-arcade games. Coleco games, Star Wars figures, etc. be clinging fast to a fragment of his
But when I started collecting marquees I am keenly aware that I will soon be youth...but it's such a relatively harm-
that once graced real live arcade sharing close quarters with someone I less pursuit compared to hunting, hot-
games, the question finally came. care deeply for, and the last thing I rodding, or trying to convince his body
Why? Why are you doing this? Are want to do is make her uncomfortable, that it can still endure full-contact
you slowly working your way toward or make her unhappy with her sur- sports while pushing thirty years of
having your own full-size, stand-up roundings. age.
Frogger machine in the corner? I as- The only explanation I can offer her Video games, both in my youth and
sured her that this was a silly question, is that this stuff is important to me on a now, are proof that there are worse
because I'd much rather have a sit- very primal level. It reminds me of things I could be doing with my time.
down cocktail table version of Frogger summer days spent with my older So, I gladly celebrate them and share
due to the limited space in our apart- brother in Games R Us on the corner of them with others in the hopes of per-
ment. Somehow, I don't think this at- Rogers Avenue and Waldron Road. petuating something that future genera-
tempt at joking about it helped my We’d pop quarters into almost every tions might choose over the bad influ-
case. Why *am* I doing this? machine for a few hours and, curiously ences that so often overwhelm young
For the love of the games. And this enough, almost always listen to his people. With all the controversy sur-
is incredibly hard to explain to some- well-worn cassette of The Police's rounding video game violence, I could
one who didn't thrill to the adrenaline "Zenyatta Mondatta" album on the hardly do worse than introduce some-
rush that occurred in the seconds be- drive home. Those were the good one to Pengo.
tween dropping a quarter into the slot times. When the bad times hit later, Maybe I'll see if I can get this
and pressing the “player one” start but- sometimes the games and the com- woman - the one I'm marrying in
ton in an arcade. It seems incredibly puters and the other hobbies were all I just under six months - to play a round
silly to her. Probably - though she has- had to cling to. And the bad times or two with me.
n't put it quite so bluntly - childish. were *bad.* Members of my family
For the record, I am working on a have often wondered how I managed Earl Green, editor-in-chief/webmaster,
little decorating project with all these to sidestep bad influences such as http://www.theLogBook.com
marquees. I'm working on framing and drugs, drinking, and so on, like walking
lighting them; setting them aglow once between the dark raindrops of teenage
more. These items won't, however, be angst. The truth is, I had better things
on display in the living room or the to do with my time. I used other es-

Classic Gamer Magazine Spring 2000 41