Insignificant things in life may have defined who you are

[Trevor Ash]

Looking back, what seemingly insignificant things or people influenced your life more than you could have known?

I was organizing some photos yesterday (long neglected) and found this one again. I don't think I can explain how happy I was when I got that Nintendo. Those were the days

I'm convinced that video games are one of the few things in my life that set who I am and what I do. I learned so much from playing them and met a lot of people. They were my start into electronics, and then to computers, and then software. Sure, I've written a cheesy game or two throughout the years as well. They are important to me.

I remember in High School I had a Game Boy and my girlfriends would make fun of me for playing games (it's still not cool today but was MUCH less cool in 1990-94).

[another view]

You haven't changed a bit. Well, slightly different hair style...

[Sebastian]

I too, am defined by video gaming. Not by the games I play, but by the fact that I play them.

A lot of people don't understand that. To me, gaming, like sports to some, is an inherent part of my life.

I would rather wear a shirt with Mario on it than with a Bulls logo on it.

[opus]

I'd probably have to think for months to figure out which specific "insignificant things" went into building who I am today. Some of those things I'm not sure anyone here really wants to hear.


But that's probably a subject best handled in therapy. As for the subject at hand, it was perhaps my big brother's interest in computers (and gaming) that contributed to my passion for them now. I remember the first time we ever saw PONG running on a TV at Sears. My dad ended up buying it, and I remember waking up at 3 am and hearing "blip ... blip ... blip ... blip ... " coming from the living room ...

Then in the late 70s he'd be up all night programming things into his TI-99 and Commodore console. When I'd wake up he'd excitedly bring me into his room and have me play the latest game he programmed from some magazine or other. Some of my favorites were very early versions of "enter-a-room-look-around-find-a-key-that-opens-a-door-and-move-to-the-next-room" games, which eventually grew into games like MYST and beyond. Also, he had a donkeykong-like game called "Miner 2049er" that was one of my favorites.

And so, because of his example, I took "computer programming" in high school (1984) which consisted of carrying around a 5-1/4-inch floppy from the Apple II computer platform and learning things like:

100 GOTO 200
200 PLOT x=1 y=0
300 x=x+1; y=y+1
400 PLOT X
500 RUN

(or whatever. That was 20 yrs ago!!!!)

And then, that day in 1992, when I *thought* I "knew computers" -- yet had never seen a spinning hourglass -- the day I realized that the world was progressing and I had to jump on the boat! Started school again in 1993 and re-learned computers, graphics, DOS, Windows 3.1 and Mac OS 7 ... and here I am.


Maybe I'll come back to this thread and explain other subtle influences that drive what I'm interested in ... genetic, for instance. Two of my maternal aunts are photographers, one was actually a reporter and writer too. And now that I'm digging into genealogical records I'm discovering that my paternal great-grandfather worked for a printer.

Enough about me. This is really interesting stuff to think about. Thanks for starting the thread, Trevor!

[almo]

I havn't been the same since....

[tink]

My goodness Almo, this makes me feel significantly 'old'!! I gave my son one of these for his birthday when they first came out!!!

I think perhaps my son is in the same 'catagory' of kids as some are here. I call him (not to his face of course) my nerdy boy lol. He's dead keen on his computer games, he has just about every game imaginable on his laptop, playstation and game boys! He knows so much more about computers than I ever will, he spends night and day on them! But.. he plays sport as well! So as 'nerdy' as he is, he still socialises during a game...ehem..the only time he does socialise! So..this is normal??? Oh boy I hope so!

Being female I dont understand how you can spend your whole life on games and not go out to socialise with friends!! Weird lol