March 16, 2006 - 4:05pm Josh Lacey

Acquiring a new video game has always been a true delight for me, at all points in my life. Oftentimes, the imminent release of a game I have been waiting for is preceded by an excessive amount of hype (much of it self-engendered). Finally having the ability to rend the plastic wrap with extreme truculence, and fire up a new adventure is a prospect that evokes a sentiment not unlike that of a young child on Christmas morning (which coincides with a number of my acquisitions). In fact, high profile game releases garner more import for me than most holidays (Rogue Galaxy and Dirge of Cerberus, here I come!), and this ostensible excitement is a product of how games came into my possession as a child.

You see, in the mid to late 1980s, I had access to a rather diminutive income, and thus, there was naturally an extreme dearth of console gaming purchases for me (I'm sure some readers can relate to this plight). This necessitated the need for a rigid and discerning approach to decide what games were deserving of my limited funds (at least, as serious of a consideration that is possible from an eight year old). Numerous sources had to be exhaustively culled and diligently perused (reading issues of Nintendo Power and consulting friends) before I could be convinced of a game's merits. Then, and only then would I feel as if my impending purchase could be justified, and that procuring the required simoleons was a wise decision. Due to this research, I found myself developing my own distinctive tastes for what constituted a "good game". As a younger kid, adequate enticement was usually found in the form of a game that could promise a challenge for my manual dexterity, as well as some degree of replay value.

It follows that, as I have aged and matured, thus have my predilections for gaming progressed in a commensurate manner. Moreover, I am no longer bounded by the rather impecunious situation from my youth, and I am able to purchase games much more capriciously than before. However, I find myself just as stingy when it comes to games I am willing to spend my money on, and devote the time to play. Nowadays, I actually expect more from console game manufacturers to obtain my interest, as they have more tools available and are capable of building upon the foundation of great gameplay that made my NES games so endearing. Epic stories, or a brand of addictive play that makes me want to demolish my controller at times (but I still keep coming back for more) are about the only games that I feel warrant a complete play-through.

Furthermore, it is this incessant drive to discover the best new games that keep the gaming experience refreshing, and quite thrilling. And more importantly, it allows me to remain just as giddy about new games as when I was a kid, spending a whole "life savings" that was earned nearly every way, short of clearing out a town full of zombies (though that would have been a pretty sweet way to earn some cash).



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