It is always a good sign when one feels that one is writing one’s own obituary. ¬_¬
This page shall be dedicated to tracing forward that which I recall of my relationship with play, with a focus on games. It is unclear even to myself as to why I have chosen to engage in this expository indulgence, and I note that I grow weary even as I brace myself to begin – not too dissimilarly but less intensely to how I feel when trying to learn new relevant skillsets today. A feeling of latent revulsion physiological that I am unable to shake.
A sheet, some wooden blocks, and some figurines.
Memory cards. Puzzles. Plasticine. Paper and scribbles.
Lego blocks. So versatile and ripe with possibilities. Nowhere near enough. Not easily shared.
A number of hand-held electronic games. Speak and Spell among them.
Smoke rises around a table as elders play with cards and toss coins into a plate in the middle of it. Was allowed to watch but not play, at first.
A square box in monochrome green. Ring bound books unintelligible. I did not much care that the machine was second hand. It sparked imagination.
The weight on my heart grows. I take a short break in writing.
The first true video game. An Ultima-like game from Strategic Simulations called The Shard of Spring. It is not long before I become obsessed with it.
My appreciate of TSoS spills over into pencil and paper. Among other things I make a very amateurish top trumps style paper card game.
A chessboard on a carpet. Curious yet interesting looking plastic pieces turned over in hand to reveal dull metallic magnets at the base, the yellow sunlight filtering through and casing shadows across them.
A bazaar find. Another Strategic Simulations game – The Battle for Normandy.
Hero Quest. A tabletop game obtained long before I was ready for it – but TSoS had sparked my interest in fantasy themes.
A little early for Christmas. An Atari ST with several games included.
Books upon a floor, serving as islands in the void. Much packed away, in preparation for a flight.
Browsing the shelves of a shop Choosing a game to take with.
It is at this point that I remember that my parents were generous. Time makes it all too easy to scatter their contributions to the four winds, but recalling these far from comprehensive details about the past do help me to regain an appreciation for their sacrifices made. The list already makes me look spoiled rotten, and it merely covers the first seven or so years. O_o