The Results of a Deprived Childhood (why being a game junkie sucks)

So I head to the local commercial zone today -- you know, the area with the mall and the Best Buy and the Barnes & Noble and at least 14 different Dunkin' Donuts -- and visit one of the GameStops down there to check the selection of used Playstation 1 games.

Now I need to write a little autobiography. I have NEVER owned a current-gen system, excepting the GameBoy. My mom wouldn't let me play video games for the longest time, and I didn't get a Dreamcast until Christmas '02 -- right before it became outdated and Sega became a third-party company. (I had no knowledge of the video game industry at the time and asked for the Dreamcast based on the fact that it was the home of my idol, Sonic.) Now, I loved and still love my Dreamcast. But finding good games for it became more and more of a pain as my local stores eventually stopped carrying new games, then stopped carrying even the used games. Even on the net, it became virtually impossible to find good, never mind rare, games for the DC.

Then, about a year ago, I switched to the original Playstation. The PS3 had just been announced and I figured it was time to catch up on the origins of the classic PS series like Metal Gear Solid, Ape Escape, etc. I didn't think that being limited to PSX games would be a problem because, although DC games were extinct, I saw PSX games ALL the time. Unfortunately, I soon discovered that most of those games had the letters "NFL, NHL, or NBA" in their titles. Finding good PSX games became just as much of a problem as the DC games had been. Reflecting, I REALLY should have bought a PS2.

But even though it was difficult, I kind of enjoyed the experience. I liked visiting the local game stores and happening on gems like Abe's Oddysee or Vagrant Story. Today, I found a copy of Alundra and was really happy with myself. Hunting down PSX games became a kind of pleasure.

Which brings me to my point. Upon checking the PSX rack at GameStop today, I discovered a big, menacing sign, with a picture of Mario, reading "Starting June 1, we will no longer be accepting used Playstation 1 games." Mario grinned evilly at me as my heart sank into my gut.

Well, there goes one more favorite pastime. And it's not like I can just go to another video game store around; GameStop is the only chain in the area. I'll just have to grab all the games left on the small-time commercial game websites that I want before buying into the next generation of consoles. Hello, Sony! Why yes, I WOULD be willing to dish out $600 bucks to play Sonic the Hedgehog 2006!

I mean, what are my other options? Gametap? Emulation? I'd have to buy a new computer for that, 'cause my current PC is a piece of trash. How am I supposed to enjoy the classics of video gaming if the industry is constantly upgrading and revolutionizing so fast that the older consoles are being regarded as little more than garbage. That's what I hate about this industry: it's too commercial. I might never get a chance to play the more obscure Genesis games because either the console isn't available to me or I'll have to pay out of my ass (and be knowledgeable about current technology) to do so.

Maybe I’m overreacting. Maybe acquiring older games is or will be easier than I think. But I feel like I’m being deprived of something really cool, something that I didn’t get to be a part of because my mom is a good parent.

But if I don’t get to play NiGHTS before I die, I’m gonna be really pissed off.