Old time gamers

PinoZino · September 2015

Some replies remind me about these lines:

The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers

It's a quote from a play of Aristophanes. He was a Greek stand-up comedian who liked to caricaturize Socrates.
Oh and he lived between 446 and 386 BC. lol

I don't think the youth of today has less respect for anything.

Times were just different.

Games and hardware were much simpler. Expectation were just low. The audience was more nerdy and geeky. Today, even a dog with a hat is using a computer. These dogs don't know anything about software development and pretend it's easy. It's not.

And there was no internet (at least, not accessible by the mass - those were the times). You were not aware if some were complaining.

In fact few people are complaining about ESO. It counts millions of players and just a few hundred complain here every day. It's cheaper than therapy I guess. lol

About my own story, my first MMO was MUD, but my dad used to be a programmer for the DEC PDP-10 and VAX-11/784 computers.

He played on the PDP an MMO called 'Adventure'. Geeky dad he was, he didn't tell us (my sister and me) stories before bedtime about Little Red Riding Hood, but he talked about his explorations in Adventure.
I played a CP/M version of that game a few years ago and I was amused about the humour it contained.

By instance, if you typed in (yeah typing!) KILL BEAR the game replied with:

"With what? Your bare hands? Against *his* bear hands?"

Priceless.

Mitchblue · September 2015

ZioGio · October 2015

GreySix wrote: »

Sandmanninja wrote: »

You have been pwn'd by a grue

Yeah ... see that? It makes no sense to me, with IMO is a good thing.

"You...are likely...to...be eaten by a grue." - It Is Pitch Dark by MC Frontalot

FuriousFridge · October 2015

kalimar44 wrote: »

I'm 44 years old and I've been playing pc and console games since 1977. I truly believe we are the gamers that rarely complain about any game that is made today. You might ask yourself why?? The answer is simple. We went from playing games that had a bouncing ball that went back and fourth(PONG)to the games of today.
So in till you had to live through all of the games from the 1970s to this day you don't have any reason to complain. So if your around my age and you have been a dedicated gamer for all these years you know exactly what I'm talking about. That's all I have to say.

Lol just stop

Workerdroid7 · October 2015

I'm 43 and my first "computer game" was the proverbial breakout type game... although I only became a "hardcore gamer" once I discovered Manic Miner on the ZX Spectrum. Games have certainly come a VERY long way since the 1980s

At various points during the last 30 odd years I have stumbled across a game that has left me awestruck at "technological advances". ESO may not be a perfect game, but it still amazes me in a lot of ways. And to the OP, yes... perhaps I am more forgiving of the game's issues because I can still remember when 8 bit graphics were astonishing.

And one last point: the fact that I might be more tolerant of the issues does NOT mean gamers don't have the right to complain about bugs and/or crashes. Especially if you are a loyal subscriber.... games have changed since the 1980s, expectations have changed, and so has "the bar" of what is considered inappropriate/appropriate.

Edit: as a completely unrelated point - I was 10 years old when I decided I wanted a "computer", more specifically, I wanted a ZX Spectrum 48k (yes, 48k memory was THE thing in those days). I spent 4 or 5 afternoons a week at a local shopping centre pushing trolleys for old ladies (for really small tips). After a full year of that, I had finally earned enough money... that ZX Spectrum is possibly STILL the single purchase that pleased me most... and definitely the one purchase that changed my life the most.

Robbmrp · October 2015

vamp_emily wrote: »

Sounds like there is allot of history in this thread.

I must share with you that TESO is literally my first gaming experience. I have played a few console games in the past but no game has gotten my attention like this one. I think I like the fact that you can interact with other players.

About 4 months ago a friend of mine asked me to join her on ESO. I was so not a gamer, but she finally talked me into it.

My first experience was trying to escape from the prison ( I think that is level 1 in the game ). I heard loud noises and fighting going on, I had no clue on how to use the keyboard and mouse as a controller. It was a rough start because I was kind of afraid to play.

Level 3, I get to Daggerfalls, and I was amazed to see everyone walking around, they could chat and you could interact with them. It was a really nice experience, until I accidentally hit a guard, and repeatedly got beat up and I almost quit the game then.

A few months ago, I went to PvP to collect a few skyshards and seen a huge group pass me up, and i followed them and i got into a battle. And now that is all I do, I kill people and for some strange reason I like it.

The biggest complaint I have with this game is the balancing of skills. I spent the last 4 months creating characters and learning play styles, then someone complains and next thing ESO does is nerf something. I think it is so unfair.

I can just vision it now, in 20 years from now I will be telling the noobs my first gaming experience was playing The Elder Scrolls Online on a Digital Storm Krypton 17.3 Inch Laptop, Intel Core i7 4910MQ, Quad Core ( 8MB Cache ), 16GB DDR3 1600MH, with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M 8GB.

I actually had to look up my computer specs, I'm not a geek like most you guys are. But in 20 years from now I wonder what everyone will be gaming on? Cellphones? VR headsets?

@vamp_emily, you won't have to wait 20 years for VR. It's due out next year!
http://www.maximumpc.com/oculus-system-builders-to-promote-vr-ready-pcs-starting-at-under-1000/

Robbmrp · October 2015

Caligamy_ESO wrote: »

Red is OP! Needs nerf!!!1

LMAO, I remember that game!

jimshrum3b14_ESO · October 2015

I'm 45 and my first game was Pong. The Atari 2600 was so addicting I thought my Dad would kill me as my Mom fueled the fun by buying more cartridges. My first PC game was DOOM. I remember playing Doom and thinking PC games could never get any better than this. So, yes I really don't complain a whole lot about ESO and the bugs. I stopped my subscription because there just wasn't anything added for PVE, but it is still a fun game with beautiful graphics.

GreySix · October 2015

ZioGio wrote: »

GreySix wrote: »

Sandmanninja wrote: »

You have been pwn'd by a grue

Yeah ... see that? It makes no sense to me, with IMO is a good thing.

"You...are likely...to...be eaten by a grue." - It Is Pitch Dark by MC Frontalot

Oh, from a rap video.

No wonder I was clueless about it.

Seriously, when I a teen in the 80s, seriously thought rap was a terrible, no-talent fad that would die out within just a few years.

Eleusian · October 2015

omg really. OP your not that old so dude get over yourself. Our whole generation games. A gaming history lesson is not an excuse for a broken product.

ZioGio · October 2015

GreySix wrote: »

ZioGio wrote: »

GreySix wrote: »

Sandmanninja wrote: »

You have been pwn'd by a grue

Yeah ... see that? It makes no sense to me, with IMO is a good thing.

"You...are likely...to...be eaten by a grue." - It Is Pitch Dark by MC Frontalot

Oh, from a rap video.

No wonder I was clueless about it.

Seriously, when I a teen in the 80s, seriously thought rap was a terrible, no-talent fad that would die out within just a few years.

I was a teen in the 80s, too, and I can't really stand rap, either, but now and then you find a song in an genre you otherwise wouldn't listen to with which you feel a connection. Bring on the nerdcore!

AhPook_Is_Here · October 2015

Best gaming experience ever, Quake I, House of Chiton camping that quad with the dubba-barrel. So many gibs. I miss gibs. I wish ESO had gibs.

My first character's name in this game is Wumpus the Hunted.

SUPER BAT SNATCH

OVID IS FOR ERP

DenMoria · October 2015

kalimar44 wrote: »

I'm 44 years old and I've been playing pc and console games since 1977. I truly believe we are the gamers that rarely complain about any game that is made today. You might ask yourself why?? The answer is simple. We went from playing games that had a bouncing ball that went back and fourth(PONG)to the games of today.
So in till you had to live through all of the games from the 1970s to this day you don't have any reason to complain. So if your around my age and you have been a dedicated gamer for all these years you know exactly what I'm talking about. That's all I have to say.

Your a baby. I've been at it since 1976 when PONG came out (I think it was 76, that's when Mom married that rich guy and he bought us video game system after video game system). Frankly, the kids nowadays have it pretty cushy when it comes to games. Anybody remember the stupid glitches in Asteroids or Donkey Kong? And they were only 2D! And don't even get me started on Pac Man or Space Invaders.

Oh! The original Tron! How I loved that game. I bet I still have my copy of it buried in one of those boxes in my store room along with all my old systems.

DenMoria · October 2015

vamp_emily wrote: »

I just want to ask all you old people.

pong/atari or what ever games you are referring to.

Did they crash?

This is my normal night.

1. I log in and go to PvP - I teleport to a keep, once I get there I take a few steps... CRASH
2. I see a resource that is flagged, so I go there and help.. i travel to the resource I see my group.... CRASH
3. I'm in a battle i'm trying to help save a Keep... CRASH
4. I take one of my purple drinks.. yes Purple the ones that cost most.. I head to a fight.... CRASH

I do this several times a night, so yes I have the right to complain.

Yes. They crashed. BTW google pong & atari - they were dern good! (of course one is a game and the other is a system). Of course we barely had color TV back then so we didn't complain.

ReinaHW · October 2015

I'm 36, I've been gaming since around 1984/1985, played a lot of games over the years. I tend to find the constant whining about graphics to be laughable, graphics today are far beyond anything we had back in the old days.

Mirelurk · October 2015

P3ZZL3 wrote: »

Jeezus, talk about old-school and over the hill

I'm a spritely 42 here

I like how some people went from Atari playing Pong to a C64 What about all the cool stuff in the middle.

The plastic shells of the ZX81 - Running a massive 2k of Ram allowing you to Hand Code

Anyone else remember getting your monthly magazine and spending the next 5 hours typing:

With me it was 4 hours and 59 minutes of carefully pressing those damned plastic bubble buttons on the ZX81 until you accidentally (and inevitably) wiggled the 16k RAM expansion pack and *pzzzzzt* all gone.

bareheiny · October 2015

Now get off my lawn you damn dirty kids!

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Path · October 2015

I'll never be old as long as avatars exist.

"Friggin' fraggin' no good ride." My first true love for a game.

Pendrillion · October 2015

Well I thought to chime in...

So my first run in with Gaming was a Commodore 64 hooked to our TV in the late 80ies. But it was definitly not my thing. We had a soccer game, and something with triangular planes... Never managed to really master the joysticks. Computer stuff was kinda slow in my country at first...

Then I am not sure how? But I managed to get my hand on a Zelda dual screen handheld console. Funny that they kind of reintroduced this setup in the past few years. I guess thats one of the first games I ever beat.

Then for a few years gaming went out of the window until my Brother broke his arm, and my parents thought to cheer him up, and bought him a Game Boy. Half a year later i got my own one. First device I bought my own games for. Marioland 3 Warioland is still my favorite. I have it still on my Tablet. Although Touchscreen isn't as intuitive as real buttons.

Then in the mid 90ies, school buddies started to play Command and Conquer, and my brother and I went to visit my Uncle who hosted LAN and gaming parties for us. I guess among my friends I was the first who played Red Alert over LAN. Also my brother and I played through Wing Commander IV. Still my favorite game. Also I ended up playing through Star Trek A Final Unity. And shortly after we got our first PC. It sucked system wise, but we got Dune 2 with it. Later we got a Intel Celeron with 200 mhtz and 8 mb Ram. That was kind of fast. In 2001 I worked all summer long to buy my first PC. But I have to admit, I totally forgot the specs.

And then a year later, I got introduced to the game that would eventually lead me here. TES III Morrowind. Still play it. To this day.

I guess I will remain a gamer. Even hoping to introduce my kids one day.

Casdha · October 2015

Ok some of the later posts made me think of somethings I forgot.

The first game I played online (sort of) with a friend was Hexen. I thought it was so cool we could be in different houses and see each others characters as we played the same game, on our own screens

Yes it was modem to modem but it was still cool.

The first game I played online with strangers was Unreal Tournament, I was instantly hooked and owned and played the heck out of all the sequels. I might have lost more than I won (dang bots and aim hacks), but I still had fun and the original was always my favorite. I loved being able to hack in your own voice files for that game (favorites Sarge from Full metal Jacket and Carl from Sling Blade). In my minds eye PvP wouldn't even exist if it weren't for that game.

Edit: Oh and I forgot, the unofficial player made maps like the Star Wars maps.

Lylith · October 2015

Mitchblue wrote: »

>Open Mailbox

Opening the small mailbox reveals a leaflet.

AngryNord · October 2015

I want a car racing game that matches Street Rod... And a shipping/trading game that matches Ports of Call...

Prabooo · October 2015

my first RPG was Maniac Mansion... still unbeatable

Elektrakosh · October 2015

Robbmrp wrote: »

Caligamy_ESO wrote: »

Red is OP! Needs nerf!!!1

LMAO, I remember that game!

Combat. I always got owned by everyone. Perhaps this game is the main reason I hate competitive and pvp play now.

omegatay_ESO · October 2015

Caligamy_ESO wrote: »

Red is OP! Needs nerf!!!1

Dont want to admit the hours i played this game.

purple-magicb16_ESO · October 2015

GreySix wrote: »

Original fantasy MMO (arcade style, without the "online"):

GAUNTLET IS THE BEST GAME EVER!! Played this with my buds like everyday after school. I even made my own version of it in Java. Addicted to this one and then later Golden Axe.

Belidos · October 2015

purple-magicb16_ESO wrote: »

GreySix wrote: »

Original fantasy MMO (arcade style, without the "online"):

GAUNTLET IS THE BEST GAME EVER!! Played this with my buds like everyday after school. I even made my own version of it in Java. Addicted to this one and then later Golden Axe.

They released a new version of Gauntlet recently on the PC with modern graphics, it's pretty good and it's quite cheap too.

purple-magicb16_ESO · October 2015

Belidos wrote: »

purple-magicb16_ESO wrote: »

GreySix wrote: »

Original fantasy MMO (arcade style, without the "online"):

GAUNTLET IS THE BEST GAME EVER!! Played this with my buds like everyday after school. I even made my own version of it in Java. Addicted to this one and then later Golden Axe.

They released a new version of Gauntlet recently on the PC with modern graphics, it's pretty good and it's quite cheap too.

Sweet! I had played it for a while using MAME emulator, but lost that over the years too. I'll definitely check that out. Thanks!

purple-magicb16_ESO · October 2015

this is what we old folks do for fun nowadays.

DenMoria · October 2015

Anybody remember this? I can. Used to play it at lunch when I was in high-school!