Posted August 24, 2020
I've played hundreds of games, if not more, since I realized I loved video games. And that was from the late 70s. I actually love pinball before video games became mainstream. I participated in sports that excelled in hand//eye coordination. Basketball was my favorite sport when I was young, but enjoyed tennis too which I lettered in.
Now back to video games. I realized I loved video games with Mattel Football on a handheld device. It was limited. Although fun, when mastered, you could run 99 yards with a second on the clock in the half and score on the last play. 2 masters at play would always tie unless a rare random tackle would happen on the last play of the half.
To move on, at that time I enjoyed video games and knew I would be playing them for life. And at the time I was considered a nerd because I was weird for my obsession. I've had my VIC-20, Atari 2600, Commodore 64, before entering the PC world with a, jealous crowd forming, Pentium 75. I was just starting to understand social networks.
I could tell a lot of stories from Purdue University from the late 70s and early 80s. They were close to the forefront on wasting mainframes time because of programmers, with vision, creating games that people became addicted to and consequently followed every revision.
I was a horrendous writer then. Didn't care. If I had a video game that carried me away I was satisfied. This, unfortunately, was not a good attitude. An encapsulating video game dragged me down a path where pleasure was more important than life My time has passed, but I want to emphasize to those who still have major decisions to consider in life to measure what is most important and what to prioritize what is important. Video games have their place but not to the extent that the stunt life.
I have so much I could write about. Yet I wanted to say video gaming is still near its infancy, if you can believe that. I am so much into VR and see the potential, but so disappointed in the price points in where it has gone so far. $400-$1000 for innovation is out of reach for most, including me. I won't buy a VR headset until it becomes more mainstream (I can't wait).
My last point, I haven't stopped video gaming. That is impossible. Something I realized in the 70s. I will still play the original Diablo or Warcraft II. These I feel are underappreciated games. I now have every arcade game I played when I was younger (and played them to death), but still their priority is diminished.
The last point I wanted to make, and yet the most important to me. Some games are way underrated. My favorite game I've played for many many years was Diablo II. You get to know the environment, but loot becomes what is important, and the reason to play. and that held true for many years with Titan Quest the only game with the same feeling (I still play from time to time).
The game that set me apart and still come back to is "Grim Dawn". It is not a game from a major company. And even if you know it is from the ARPG genre, unless you've read reviews, there is nothing that sets it apart. Yet, I've played for over 1000 hours on GOG and I enjoy it as much as I started. And it isn't about finding loot, but understanding the complexities of the game. Yes, you can start it like Diablo II and it will have a similar feel, but with the devotion tree and progress of various classes if grows on you. And there is so many ways to play. My disappointment is that Crane disn't make a splash as intended. Therefore, development will fade (I've seen this way too often in great games).
Lastly on my long-winded, yet leading, stump speech Crane Studios needs to be acknowledged on the ARPG "Grim Dawn" and the legacy. It was surprising as one of the most enjoyable games I've played in my lire. I've played over 1,000 hours and still enjoy it as much as I started (than you Shattered Realm).
Now back to video games. I realized I loved video games with Mattel Football on a handheld device. It was limited. Although fun, when mastered, you could run 99 yards with a second on the clock in the half and score on the last play. 2 masters at play would always tie unless a rare random tackle would happen on the last play of the half.
To move on, at that time I enjoyed video games and knew I would be playing them for life. And at the time I was considered a nerd because I was weird for my obsession. I've had my VIC-20, Atari 2600, Commodore 64, before entering the PC world with a, jealous crowd forming, Pentium 75. I was just starting to understand social networks.
I could tell a lot of stories from Purdue University from the late 70s and early 80s. They were close to the forefront on wasting mainframes time because of programmers, with vision, creating games that people became addicted to and consequently followed every revision.
I was a horrendous writer then. Didn't care. If I had a video game that carried me away I was satisfied. This, unfortunately, was not a good attitude. An encapsulating video game dragged me down a path where pleasure was more important than life My time has passed, but I want to emphasize to those who still have major decisions to consider in life to measure what is most important and what to prioritize what is important. Video games have their place but not to the extent that the stunt life.
I have so much I could write about. Yet I wanted to say video gaming is still near its infancy, if you can believe that. I am so much into VR and see the potential, but so disappointed in the price points in where it has gone so far. $400-$1000 for innovation is out of reach for most, including me. I won't buy a VR headset until it becomes more mainstream (I can't wait).
My last point, I haven't stopped video gaming. That is impossible. Something I realized in the 70s. I will still play the original Diablo or Warcraft II. These I feel are underappreciated games. I now have every arcade game I played when I was younger (and played them to death), but still their priority is diminished.
The last point I wanted to make, and yet the most important to me. Some games are way underrated. My favorite game I've played for many many years was Diablo II. You get to know the environment, but loot becomes what is important, and the reason to play. and that held true for many years with Titan Quest the only game with the same feeling (I still play from time to time).
The game that set me apart and still come back to is "Grim Dawn". It is not a game from a major company. And even if you know it is from the ARPG genre, unless you've read reviews, there is nothing that sets it apart. Yet, I've played for over 1000 hours on GOG and I enjoy it as much as I started. And it isn't about finding loot, but understanding the complexities of the game. Yes, you can start it like Diablo II and it will have a similar feel, but with the devotion tree and progress of various classes if grows on you. And there is so many ways to play. My disappointment is that Crane disn't make a splash as intended. Therefore, development will fade (I've seen this way too often in great games).
Lastly on my long-winded, yet leading, stump speech Crane Studios needs to be acknowledged on the ARPG "Grim Dawn" and the legacy. It was surprising as one of the most enjoyable games I've played in my lire. I've played over 1,000 hours and still enjoy it as much as I started (than you Shattered Realm).