The Evolution of Accomplishment Porn
How video games shaped my brain and my life.
In 1977, I learned about video games. (Yeah, dropping that year dates me, but it’s relevant.)
Pre-pre-school, I would get dropped off at Sandy’s house, and she would watch me while my parents were at work.
With my “Rhinestone Cowboy” 8-track in hand, I’d head inside and do whatever 4-year-olds do. I vividly recall sitting in her living room on an itchy orange couch, yellow shag carpet between me and the TV, and I’d watch her two kids play Pong on their console. (Let it be noted, the console ONLY played Pong. It was the Pong console.)
By just about any standards, that game sucked, but in its day it was magical, and I could watch it for hours.
Core Memory Unlocked
Video Games of the 1980s
Our first console was the Atari 2600, I don’t remember when we got it, I don’t remember much in the way of favorite games. I do remember a few things, though:
- Journey Escape sucked — A video game about a popular 80s band. Why?
- E.T. also sucked — You moved a blog around a big, single color screen. I never figured out how to play it, and it deserved to be buried in a mass grave.
