Dangerboy
05-01-2007, 01:17 AM
How I almost left gaming and what gaming told me to do.
So, while people know me specifically for my PlayStation adventures and psychotic collecting habits, there was a time when I was more laid back, and in fact, was practically done with gaming forever. It was near the beginning of the 3DO and Jaguar era, and I was pretty much losing interest in gaming. Having sold off most of all my SNES, Sega / Sega CD, NES and other goodies, I was down to a TurboGrafx-16 with 3 games that I had gotten for $30 in the dusty corner of a Toys R Us.
The scene was a Memorial Day flea market where I had set-up shop. With only the mentioned TG16 and 3 games, a most peculiar customer walks up. It was someone in a giant Eagle costume, complete with American flag t-shirt. This giant bird looks over the TG16 and games (it was all minty and boxed complete), asks me about the price, says he’ll think about it and walks away. Never removed the head, or anything; I just talked to a giant bird about selling my last game system.
Well, for whatever reason, I freak out and decide to keep the TG16 and games. I go home and wonder why he didn’t jump on the deal; what was I missing; why didn’t he unmask himself? This sent me on a long mission to start tracking down TG16 games; it was here that I discovered Military Madness, Ninja Spirits, Splatterhouse, and more. Next thing you know, I have a complete library and have discovered the joy that is Street Fighter Alpha on the PlayStation.
Now, one 4-year fanzine, accolades in several magazines, artwork in a professional video game, co-editing the Digital Press PSX section, having worked for a video game accessory company, running a PSX web-site, having a complete PSX library, 4,000+ games, and a Biggest PlayStation Fan award later, a I’m full fledged gaming and collecting machine. All thanks to a walking, talking eagle.
The moral of the story: if you try to leave gaming, gaming will flip you the bird.
So, while people know me specifically for my PlayStation adventures and psychotic collecting habits, there was a time when I was more laid back, and in fact, was practically done with gaming forever. It was near the beginning of the 3DO and Jaguar era, and I was pretty much losing interest in gaming. Having sold off most of all my SNES, Sega / Sega CD, NES and other goodies, I was down to a TurboGrafx-16 with 3 games that I had gotten for $30 in the dusty corner of a Toys R Us.
The scene was a Memorial Day flea market where I had set-up shop. With only the mentioned TG16 and 3 games, a most peculiar customer walks up. It was someone in a giant Eagle costume, complete with American flag t-shirt. This giant bird looks over the TG16 and games (it was all minty and boxed complete), asks me about the price, says he’ll think about it and walks away. Never removed the head, or anything; I just talked to a giant bird about selling my last game system.
Well, for whatever reason, I freak out and decide to keep the TG16 and games. I go home and wonder why he didn’t jump on the deal; what was I missing; why didn’t he unmask himself? This sent me on a long mission to start tracking down TG16 games; it was here that I discovered Military Madness, Ninja Spirits, Splatterhouse, and more. Next thing you know, I have a complete library and have discovered the joy that is Street Fighter Alpha on the PlayStation.
Now, one 4-year fanzine, accolades in several magazines, artwork in a professional video game, co-editing the Digital Press PSX section, having worked for a video game accessory company, running a PSX web-site, having a complete PSX library, 4,000+ games, and a Biggest PlayStation Fan award later, a I’m full fledged gaming and collecting machine. All thanks to a walking, talking eagle.
The moral of the story: if you try to leave gaming, gaming will flip you the bird.