Fun And Games

It has been quite a while since I have been active in the world of video games. In my youth, I used to be one of those kids that hung around in arcades. I realized this past week that arcades have seemed to go the way of the buffalo. There are still a handful of kid's pizza spots and a few malls that have a small grouping of video games, but the corner arcade has now faded into the pages of history. Technology has played a part in the obsolescence of these recreation spots. In fact, I can play most of the games from years past on any computer or home game system. One can argue that you may lose the personal interaction that you got at these arcades. However, with today's systems, we now have the ability to play with other people anywhere in the world. The virtual experience is still lacking something that I just can't express in words. If you lived through the era of the video arcade and have tried out some on-line gaming or websites like Pogo or Gametap, you may notice some minor differences. The only thing missing is your physical opponent, but that can be solved by inviting your friend along and have them bring their laptop.

It is kind of nice to play games in the comfort of your own home, I guess. Progress has both good and bad effects on the video gaming front. In the past, it was one of the reasons for me to get outside for a short time. It was also a good excuse to meet up with some of my friends. Arcades typically weren't open 24 hours like the internet, so it did force you to go home and to bed. I'm still playing games while writing this post at three in the morning, so there is a downside to progress. To the aging group of us that used to hang out in the arcade, has the technology improved the video game experience for you?

To borrow a quote from WarGames -- Shall we play a game?

See ya.