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Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow


"Delightful and absorbing ... expansive and entertaining."
New York Times
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Are there video games that you've formed an attachment to in your life, as a child and/or as an adult? If so, what drew you in and left an impression on you?

Created: 03/30/23

Replies: 13

Posted Mar. 30, 2023 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

If you play, or have played, video games...

If you play, or have played, video games, which games have you formed an attachment to in your life, as a child and/or as an adult? What drew you in and left an impression on you? What do video games offer a person in the form of entertainment, community, and growth that other art forms do not?


Posted Mar. 31, 2023 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
cathyoc

Join Date: 04/26/17

Posts: 247

RE: Are there video games that you'...

One of the things I found interesting in the novel was their descriptions of the games as they varied throughout the decades covered in this book. I enjoyed the references to Oregon Trail as I remember introducing that game to my students and enjoying playing it myself. I think that is how every kid learned what dysentery and cholerah were. I enjoyed Playing the Sim games when they first came out and I even looked up Pioneers as that sounded like a game I would enjoy playing, don't bother doing that, it is not a real game.


Posted Mar. 31, 2023 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 889

RE: Are there video games that you'...

Oh my gosh, yes. The book had me reminiscing about the text-based adventures I used to enjoy, like Zork and Crystal Cave. I also used to play a bunch of the Sierra games - Leisure Suit Larry and the King's Quest series in particular. I was in high school when the original Atari game, Pong, came out, followed not too much later by Space Invader (spent a lot of quarters on that one!). And then PacMan. Ah, the memories...

I never got into the community aspect of gaming, although I can easily see the appeal of that. Certainly gaming offers more interaction than a lot of other forms of entertainment - you're a participant rather than an observer. Plus you have to use your brain!

I never played Oregon Trail, but I ended up downloading it after reading the novel. I'm a little afraid to start it because I think it would be a huge distraction! When I downloaded it I found it interesting that the intro said they'd modified the game to be more sensitive toward Native Americans. I think that's pretty cool.


Posted Apr. 01, 2023 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Maggie

Join Date: 01/01/16

Posts: 434

RE: Are there video games that you'...

I have never been a gamer. However I can imagine that people can really get hooked on them, in a good way, just as others do on watching television shows. I am a reader and I need to be in a book all the time. As I read the last 50 pages of my current book I need to organize my to be read pile so I know which book I will read next!


Posted Apr. 01, 2023 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
cindyb

Join Date: 04/14/20

Posts: 110

RE: Are there video games that you'...

I received the game Pong for Christmas in 1972. It was a fun novelty with very simple graphics. Then came Atari Space Invaders. In college I played PAC Man. These games were far less interactive than modern video games. I found it interesting watching my teenage son’s interaction with video games as it was a conversation starter and a social activity with multiply players and great graphics.

Working in elementary schools it is important to note that the reading teacher and I had many conferences where we asked parents to spend as much time reading and practicing reading skills with there child as their child was spending playing video games. It is very hard for print to compete with rapidly evolving graphics. The parents who took our advice always came back sharing their surprise at how quickly their child’s reading scores improved!


Posted Apr. 01, 2023 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
robertaw

Join Date: 04/20/16

Posts: 83

RE: Are there video games that you'...

One of the reasons I immediately loved this book was the reference at the very beginning to The Oregon Trail which I did play. I thought it was going to be a kid's game, but it was tons of fun to play as an adult. My husband and I got quite addicted to it. I currently play a garden game which is fun and keeps me from missing gardening in the winter.


Posted Apr. 02, 2023 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mali

Join Date: 05/01/20

Posts: 24

RE: Are there video games that you'...

The only games I play now as an adults are the same ones I loved as a kid (super Mario bros and bubble bobble). I loved the simplicity and feeling of accomplishment when passing a level, and the challenge. There’s definitely a factor of nostalgia for why I still love those games.


Posted Apr. 03, 2023 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dorothyh

Join Date: 01/23/15

Posts: 225

RE: Are there video games that you'...

I did not play any video games as a younger person. There are games noted in the book that I didn't know if they were real or developed for the story line. I play candy crush now. That's all. -:)


Posted Apr. 05, 2023 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebeccar

Join Date: 03/13/12

Posts: 548

RE: Are there video games that you'...

I have never been into computer games. Unless... does Wordle count?


Posted Apr. 09, 2023 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mceacd

Join Date: 07/03/18

Posts: 132

RE: Are there video games that you'...

I show my age by admitting I’ve never played a video game, except for a brief fling with Frogger, a small free game that appealed to my lesser self by killing video frogs. It did serve as a great stress reliever.


Posted Apr. 10, 2023 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Knitter

Join Date: 09/05/20

Posts: 13

RE: Are there video games that you'...

I never really got hooked on any games, but I spent a lot of time keeping our kids away from them. One that we did let them play, though, was Oregon Trail, and they were obsessed. It provided a happy balance between entertainment and education. Looking back, I see how important it was for them to fit in, while I was more interested in protecting them from violence, death, etc.


Posted Apr. 12, 2023 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
tswaine

Join Date: 09/14/11

Posts: 94

RE: Are there video games that you'...

I haven’t played many video games. I do remember playing a Harry Potter video game that my daughter had, but that’s all. I had heard of Oregon Trail but had no idea what it was about.


Posted Apr. 13, 2023 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
djcminor

Join Date: 03/14/19

Posts: 208

RE: Are there video games that you'...

I've never played video games to any extent. I tried a few, but they did not engage me. I would rather read!


Posted Apr. 13, 2023 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jos

Join Date: 03/14/21

Posts: 139

RE: Are there video games that you'...

i was a grade school kid in the 70’s and as mentioned here earlier pong, Space invaders and Pac-Man were favorites! As an adult I like the hidden object games occasionally and when my niece and nephew were younger they got me into mine craft.


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