So it begins. What exactly I am getting myself into I have no idea. However I felt the need to start this chapter in my life. I have always had a desire to write. I have written things numerous times in my life. However this is the first time I am putting it out there to be viewed by all and judged by the masses. (Or the three of you who are still here)
Nintendo. It’s a powerful word. It’s a word that can conjure up many emotions from many different people. It’s a word that is loved by many and that’s the thing. When you speak about Nintendo it is either “I love Nintendo” or “I loved Nintendo”. There is rarely anyone who can start a sentence with “I hate Nintendo”.
Why is that? Probably because our earliest memories of the Big N is littered with a chubby plumber and a childlike elf in a green tunic. So when you put those two things together and give them to a child their minds will go crazy.
So what about me? Where do I stand in all of this? Well I definitely “Love” Nintendo. See where I come from (in terms of gaming history) we only knew one thing. Atari 2600. Growing up we lived in this world of amazement when my father walked in the door one day with this black box that hooked to our television.
To see worlds (or one screen usually) come to life before our very eyes was amazement. At that time I never could imagine anything could be better. I played for what seemed like a lifetime.
Then 1985 happened. I walked into my cousins house. His dad always got him the cool things first. So it comes to no surprise the day we go over and he has an NES. The first kid on our street to have one for sure.
To see this guy Mario for the first time was unreal. It was shocking. My uncle then says, “Remember Donkey Kong you loved so much on your Atari?” I nodded rapidly as my eyes were locked on the screen. “Mario is the same guy.” I didn’t even care I just wanted to live in this world of amazement.
Then he says check this out. They put in Mike Tysons punch Out. That was it. I was sold and I needed one that moment. I come from a family that loves boxing. My grandfather was a golden gloves boxer in the Marines. My grandmothers brother? My Uncle Johnny used to spare with Rocky Marciano in New York City.
So with that said to see a boxing game like that? One that had rounds and conversation in between those rounds? My young mind was blown. To say the very least.
When you come from a time where video games are just a few weird shapes that you are supposed to determine what the image really is? (Indiana Jones on Atari 2600 anyone?) to where Nintendo was taking us? I was strapped in and ready for this amazing ride. I still am.
That gets me to my love, I love Nintendo. Why? Because they can take me back to that time when I was sitting in my uncles living room seeing it all for the first time. They have this ability to do something over and over a million times and make it feel like it is your first time all over again.
Are they perfect? No one is, but in my mind they strive for perfection. They try to give us that feeling of pure joy whenever they can. More times they are successful than not.
In life we search for our true loves. The “one” that we want to spend the rest of our lives with. In the early goings you come across people you feel are the ones but in the end they never live up to your expectations. Then in the end you realize you have these notions in your mind that no one can live up to. You then see you aren’t in search of the one you can live with for the rest of your life. You are searching for the one you can not live without.
That is Nintendo for me. Despite all of their faults. All of this miss steps. They are the one that I can’t live without. For many others this is the same. They just haven’t come to that realization yet.
So welcome to my world….hopefully I have shown you enough for you to see where this is all going. I hope you stay with me. Things won’t be all bright eyed and dreamy. They will be the best I can give you.
My Honesty.
