Editor's note: Tim takes a seat on the porch to wax nostalgic about the good ole' days of childhood, when he actually had to work to get the few games he played each year -- and enjoyed them more because of it. -Brett
Sometimes I wonder if poverty truly is the path to happiness -- especially when it comes to video games.
As was the case for many kids, I didn't have access to much cash growing up. I never received an allowance. Whatever money had the misfortune of falling under my young control was the result of birthday gifts, pop-can scrounging, or occasionally helping my dad haul and clean up shingles on rooftops.
My very limited wealth meant that when I wanted a video game, it had to be a game for which I was willing to toil and languish over a period of months to earn. Back when layaway was still a widespread option, I'd occasionally stow a game there as if I was worried everyone else would've bought up all copies in existence before I had enough to pay in full -- because I was. I would whittle away at the payment with whatever I had accrued whenever we went to the store, going to visit my beloved copy of Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest the way Wayne Campbell pined for his Stratocaster.
Earning every game was a campaign. I sold a quarter of my then earthly possessions at a garage sale for EarthBound. I painted an entire barn for Ocarina of Time.
My parents knew well of my dedication and used it to their advantage, too. They purchased a copy of Kirby's Dream Land and placed on top of the refrigerator, promising it to me in a month's time for a long car trip if I was good. Oh, and I was perfect -- mainly because I spent most of that time staring at the top of the refrigerator.
In what I still consider one of my life's greatest defeats, they promised me the ever-awesome Chrono Trigger if I didn't play any video games whatsoever for a month. I remained vigilant all the way to the last week, when I slipped up and played a demo SNES at a department store. I lost Chrono Trigger that day to Ken Griffey Jr.'s Winning Run. Some cultures would demand I commit honorable suicide for such an egregious mistake.
For all the trouble involved, though, the day I received each game was a glorious event. Every game I mentioned above -- with the exception of Ken Griffey, of course -- absorbed a considerable period of my life once I could pop it into my console. I played Kirby during the entire four-hour drive and back. I collected every last DK Coin in Donkey Kong Country 2 -- twice. And yes, several months later my parents surprised me with Chrono Trigger for Easter, eternally cementing the fact that hey, they really do love me after all.
The fact is, all the work and long-term emotional investment involved in earning these games made playing them all the more sweeter. Even if a game turned out to be a bit crappy, you'd still play it because you knew it was all you'd going to have for a while.
But when the perks of a mature life and steady job come along, a lot of that appreciation seems to die. When you know you can buy just about any game out there, it's not much of a conquest anymore. It almost becomes a chore.
Okami and Super Mario Galaxy sit on my shelf right now. In the old days, I would've explored nearly every nook and cranny of each game, then went back to do it again. But I still haven't grabbed all the stars in Galaxy, and I haven't even seen the end credits of Okami. I look back at them now and then and recognize them for the great games there are, but there's always something new coming out, another game I want to hurry through to ship out on Goozex. How many games do you play through more than once anymore? If your answer is relatively high, you're a noble gamer in my book. If not, I feel ya.
In the end, while it might not have felt fair at the time, I can see now the great intangible benefit to having to work and wait. My favorite gaming memories come from the days I saw all my effort pay off, and what better tribute can you give a designer than returning some of that hard work they put into their product?
If I ever have kids, I'm not just going to hand them every game or toy they want and watch them grow jaded. They'll have to work for the stuff they really want. Call me a stodgy old-timer if you want, but seeing the looks of joy on their faces when their goals come to fruition will put a huge smile on my face, taking me back to the days of my greatest gaming joys.
Layaway! I remember that. According to my girlfriend, they still do that in Australia.
Great article. You really do gain a different perspective on gaming once you can easily afford games yourself. Whether that's better or worse, I can't say -- but I do remember each game lasted me a LOT longer back then.
AMEN.
This is why "gaming journalists" have become so cynical and jaded. Because they rush through games and don't have the perspective that the average consumer has: that a game that came out two years ago is still a perfectly viable product to the right person.
Now that I'm old enough to buy a new game every month, I spend my money very specifically, renting most games and buying only games that have legs that I KNOW I'll go back to.
I've actually played through Galaxy 3 times since release (some how) and yet I never finished Okami.
But man, back in the days when I got two games a YEAR I'd play them like crazy. I used to play through Paper Mario and Mario RPG once every year. I still kind of do -- more like once every two years at this point. And it's still worthwhile.
But man, the gaming industry is putting out so much quality stuff it's hard for people our age to properly enjoy all of it!
@Brett The Great Recession has brought layaway back. Check stores like JCPenny, Target, and Kmart.
@Eddy Games that came out 20 years ago are still perfectly viable products. I agree with you: Just because something isn't the "new hotness" doesn't mean it's not worthwhile.
Super Mario Galaxy is incredible! Finish it!
I have been issued a direct order by Dan Hsu. I must obey!
@Brett They do indeed still do it in Australia, but we call it "lay-by."
I still can't afford many games, so not much has changed for me. I do remember the deals I had to make with my parents so that they'd buy me a new game, though. And my brother folded thousands of flyers/leaflets for my dad's business so that he could buy a Super Nintendo.
You need to teach kids the value of hard work and patience - making them wait or work for games is a fantastic way to do it. But you have to be careful not to have them associate the work and the reward too strongly - or they'll only do it because of the reward (rather than because they should).
Man, this reminds me of my childhood. I only had a chance to get two, maybe three games a year. Mostly due to birthday, or Christmas. But I was more of a renter kid growing up. But ever since I've gotten a job, I've been buying up all the old games of my past that I never bought. I guess sort of to make up for never owning them, and the enjoyment I get from them.
But I also agree with you on the Okami SMG part. Being able to buy any game I want now, has sort of dulled my intrest in completing games.
I have very similar memories. I used to get, on average, about 1 game every six months when I was a kid. I had a recent experience that really put it into perspective for me. In the last few years I've been really good about getting lots of games for dirt cheap. This became particularly easy when I discovered Goozex. I could trade in 1 high-value game and get three or four games that I missed out on before.
I hadn't bought a full-priced game in years. Staying a little bit behind the curve allowed me to get a ton of games at very little cost.
Games kept piling up, and I still haven't played them all. Most I'd play for one hour and then get bored. One day I learned about Monster Hunter Tri and all the great reviews it was getting. It sounded like my kind of game, but it had just came out, so it would be difficult to get for cheap. On a whim, I went to the store and purchased it at full price.
Suddenly, acquiring a game was an event again. Taking it home and opening it was exciting. It really was my kind of game, and because of my investment in it, I made sure I spent the time to really delve into the game and get to know it inside and out. That was a few months ago and I'm still playing it. Would it be different if I had paid 15 dollars? Or 300 Goozex points? I don't know for sure, but the feel that the act of paying full price really altered my experience.
I'll never look at game prices the same way again. Glad I'm not the only one who suffers from this condition.
I was 10 years old when I got a paper route, which proved the be the seed that planted my gaming habit. I always get a rush wheneverr I buy the new hotness. Being able to pay for ANYTHING with your own money let alone your own videogame collection is a great feeling, but what do I know? I'm cool with Santa Claus, and I still have a job. Maybe I just try harder.