October 2023 – Ms. Bella's World

3–4 minutes

Gaming is a pastime beloved by humans for millennia. Board games like backgammon and checkers, created over 5000 years ago, have entertained generations. And while video games are relatively young, the first-known video game, Spacewar!, emerged in 1962 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This makes video games over 60 years old. That’s older than me!

My own introduction to games began with a range of board games in my family’s collection. We played Mousetrap, Operation, Battleship, and Monopoly, along with several others. It’s no surprise that I readily embraced video games when my parents brought home the Atari 2600. By then, I’d discovered that games offered fun entertainment and a wholesome hobby.

As I grow older, this belief strengthens, particularly regarding video games with their wide range of genres and playstyles. But gaming offers several additional benefits along with being fun. Let’s explore a few.

While physical exercise is the best activity for improving coordination, video games can also enhance this skill. Eye-hand coordination is vital for various tasks, from catching a ball to writing. Games demanding quick responses, like platformers, FPSs, and fighting games, provide an opportunity to train our brain, eyes, and hands to work together swiftly and effectively. This becomes more critical as we age, as I can personally attest.

Gaming also hones problem-solving skills, especially in puzzle games and RPGs where choices matter. Gamers are regularly presented with problems or decisions that require foresight and considering various options. This skill transfers to real life, where we encounter daily choices, from the mundane “What’s for dinner?” to substantial decisions like career choices, buying homes, and planning for retirement.

Stress is a common experience in life. At times, all you want is to unwind after a tough day, week, or a significant disruption to your routine. Games offer an excellent way to achieve that relaxation. Whether exploring an immersive open world, farming in a cozy simulator, or battling waves of foes in an action-packed game, the relief of leaving stress behind in this hectic world is invaluable.

While the physical and mental health benefits are important, games also serve as powerful tools for creativity. Games like Minecraft provide vast creative freedom, allowing players to construct houses, castles, and even entire worlds. An outstanding example is a Minecraft server dedicated to Middle Earth, where people can explore everything from the Shire to Khazad Dum and beyond. You can check out their work at https://www.mcmiddleearth.com. It’s impressive!

Games with strong RPG elements offer creative outlets by enabling players to craft narratives for their characters. In fact, games like LOTRO even host dedicated RP servers, where players can gather and create intricate storylines together. This neatly leads us to the last point…

We shouldn’t underestimate the social aspect of gaming, particularly in online games such as MMOs. The ability to connect with other players, join groups, complete quests, and conquer dungeons fosters an organic sense of community. Throughout my years of gaming, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many wonderful people, some of whom I still count among my closest friends today. Beyond a shared love for a particular game, players often discover they have much in common. It’s also a fantastic way to connect with people from around the world. I’ve talked to individuals from England, Wales, France, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Argentina, and many more countries.

These are the core reasons I believe video games make for a great hobby. However, as with everything in life, moderation is key. There’s a point where anything can shift from being beneficial to detrimental. While gaming offers many advantages, extended periods in front of a screen can strain our eyes and impact our physical and emotional well-being. I recommend exercising discretion, recognizing when it’s too much, and acting accordingly.

Let everyone know in the comments – what is your favorite genre of video game to play and why?

Until next time, bye for now!

3–4 minutes

Last week, I talked about the Atari 2600, my first gaming console. This week, I look at 10 Atari games I remember playing.

Pac-Man (1982) – This maze game features a single protagonist in a maze, gobbling up dots while evading four pesky ghosts. Despite it being a subpar port of Namco’s arcade classic, it remains the best-selling title on the Atari 2600. I spent countless hours playing Pac-Man and probably saved my parents a ton of quarters!

Breakout (1978) – Published by Atari, this deceptively simple game gave you a paddle, a ball, and one goal: demolish the brick wall. I might’ve spent almost as much time on this as Pac-Man, although it did tempt me to abuse the TV with the controller.

Space Invaders (1980) – Taito’s creation, this shooter placed you at the helm of a small cannon, defending Earth from a neverending wave of alien invaders. I spent a lot of time with this game and it’s still one of my favorites.

Asteroids (1981) – Continuing with the space theme, we have Asteroids, a multidirectional shooter that put you in charge of a spaceship in the middle of an asteroid field. You had to blast them while avoiding collision. Like many Atari classics, it began as an arcade game and was tons of fun.

E.T. (1982) – This was an Atari-published game based on the blockbuster movie of the same name. Playing from a top-down perspective, your mission was to find three parts of an interplanetary phone so E.T. could ‘phone home.’ E.T. also had to find and eat Reese’s Pieces to refill his energy. I played it for many hours, but it wasn’t a particularly good game. Both the movie, and the candy made famous by it, were tons better.

Superman (1979) – Released when Warner Communications owned Atari, this game was based off the prototype for another game, Adventure. You played as Superman, having to rebuild a bridge that Lex Luthor had blown up and avoid various enemies. While the game earned a few awards, it wasn’t my favorite, despite loving the movie and character.

Pitfall (1982) – Activision’s treasure-hunting adventure had you play as Pitfall Harry, dodging enemies, hazards, and a 20-minute timer in his quest for jungle treasure. While I didn’t play it as much as other games, it was fun.

BurgerTime (1983) – Originally named Hamburger in Japan for the DECO Cassette System, Mattel Electronics acquired the rights from Data East and rebranded it as BurgerTime for Intellivision and Atari. I still find it amusing to ‘assemble’ hamburgers by walking across ingredients to make them drop. It’s one of the more colorful games and one I wouldn’t mind playing again.

Donkey Kong (1982) – Donkey Kong hit the scene in 1981, courtesy of Nintendo. This platforming game introduced us to two iconic characters—Donkey Kong and Mario. In the game, Donkey Kong kidnaps Mario’s girlfriend, and it’s up to Mario to save her. Nintendo’s choice to work with Coleco for a license agreement led to versions for ColecoVision, Atari, and Intellivision. I remember having a blast with this classic that marked the beginning of an era.

Pong (1977) – This tabletop tennis simulator initially hit arcades in 1972, becoming the first commercially successful video game. Magnavox wasn’t happy though, and sued over patent infringement. Atari settled and paid $1.5 million to Magnavox, among other things. I remember playing against the 2600, which I swear cheated, and also against my brother. Both ways were loads of fun.

Bonus Entry:

Frogger (1982) – I set out to feature only 10 games, but during my research, I couldn’t resist including Frogger. This gem required you to guide a frog safely across highways and rivers. Developed by Konami, it was eventually ported to numerous systems, including the Atari 2600, ColecoVision, and even the Apple II and IBM PC.

While there were other games, their names have disappeared down the memory hole, leaving only vague images behind. Perhaps someday, I’ll stumble upon a few more old classics. For now, I’ll cherish my memories, knowing that most of those games wouldn’t stand the test of time.

Do you have any games for your childhood that you remember playing? Let everyone know in the comments!

It wasn’t until my mid-20s that I’d own another console—the SNES. But that’s a tale for another day.

Until next time, bye for now!