Christmas 1991.
I don’t remember if it snowed. I can come to the fairly strong conclusion that in the weeks leading up to the big day that I probably drove my parents insane. I have never been one for wanting much, I’m quite happy getting by with what I have. But since that festive season I don’t think I’ve wanted something more, apart from love and world peace of course.
A Nintendo Game Boy, that’s all. I don’t care if I don’t get anything else, one present. I’ll do anything.
In hindsight I regret the constant badgering I gave my Mum and Dad since the Game Boy had been released. Not being particularly well off, the prospect of forking out a fairly big sum of money for a toy they probably didn’t understand was a lot to ask of them. But to this day I always remind them how grateful I was to open that box on Christmas morning to find one sitting inside. In fact I cried for ten minutes afterwards.
What was even more amazing was the smaller box that came along with it, because it took over my life for months. Super Mario Land was probably the first game I ever obsessively played: the challenging levels, the catchy tunes – I was in love!
Present Day.
After months of planning and stress, alongside high levels of work, exams, coursework and training, our holiday finally arrived. Having never been abroad on a fully fledged holiday, let alone never having flown, I really didn’t know what to expect, but I was so thankful to finally be getting away with my other half that the fear of actually getting there probably wasn’t half as bad as it could have been. Still, thank goodness for hand held consoles for keeping me distracted.
While digging through all my old games before the flight, the nostalgia of ‘91 came flooding back. I dusted off the plastic cases to see what hidden gems I could find. Pokemon Red and Blue, Gargoyles Quest, Kirby’s Dreamland… and then… there it was. Mario!
I grabbed my old Game Boy Advance, slotted in the cartridge and hoped to luck. I don’t know why, as all of my old school games seem to work far more reliably than my more recent ones; sometimes I miss the simpler days. But it was just how I remembered. Run, jump and collect the super mushroom power up, kill the Goomba (or Chibibo if you want to get technical!). I savoured the game for the actual holiday, and it was so worth the wait.
My only regret was that it wasn’t longer. Even 18 years on, I could still clock it in 30 minutes, but the memories will last a lot longer. When I think of all the games I’ve played since, few of them will hold as strong a place in my heart as dear old Mario. Although I was an avid games player before getting that original Game Boy all those years ago, there was something about that console that shaped me into the gamer I am now.
In some ways I feel sorry for the younger generations of game players today. My generation and older really were born for the golden age of games, to see the transition from KB to GB, the technology improve beyond all of our wildest imaginations. Working in a school I’m often surrounded by gamers whose idea of ancient is a Playstation 2, but no matter where we go with this love of ours, no matter how realistic, futuristic or crazy this ride gets, I’ll never get tired of sitting back and taking a look at that stack of old games and thinking “Man, we had it good!”.
Marcus, between us girls you’re starting to look a little worn around the eyes.
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