Prologue

August 19, 1992.  A day that changed my life.

This day, like each August 19th before it, held significance to me - it was the anniversary of my birth.  Only 5 years before, in Austin, TX, I was introduced to the world and taken home by my parents, two young, aspiring musicians.  However, this August 19th would prove to have a much greater impact on me, as a person, than any other before it for one reason - the introduction of video games into my life.  It was on this day, August 19, 1992, that I received a Nintendo Entertainment System bundled with Super Mario Bros. 3 as a gift from my parents.  From that day forward, video games have been an integral part of my life.

I cannot claim to be one of the "old guard" of gamers.  I was born only a year before the NES was released, and did not own one until years later.  Scores of arcade and PC games and various lesser known home consoles had come and gone in the years leading up to Nintendo's first home console being released, few of which I had the opportunity to play.  That being said, as I look back over the past 20 years, gaming has become an inextricable part of my life.  The technology may have changed over time, but the core experience - entering a world created by someone else for the singular purpose of entertainment - remains the same and is, in my opinion, unparalleled by any other form of media.  I follow video game news and culture feverishly.  I await the yearly industry and trade shows, typically filled with new game and console announcements, with heavy anticipation.  I allow myself no other hobbies, utilizing all of my free time (and money) to dive into these worlds and mingle with the characters living within.

I love modern video games.  I love setting up a new console or upgrading my PC and witnessing the power of technological advancement.  For all of its worn out cliches and tendency to churn out slightly-altered yearly sequels of established franchises, the modern video game industry still pushes forward.  One need only search beyond the major franchises to see that the heart of gaming as an art form still beats.  There is no doubt, however, that video games have changed.

The video game industry has always been a business - but the breadth and scope of that business has grown to a scale I never imagined possible.  As a child, I recall video games being a niche hobby.  As a teenager, video games were definitely not associated with popularity or social acceptance; in fact, I found that many of the people I met who also played a lot of video games were often social outcasts, much like myself.  I was lucky if the average person even knew what a "Nintendo" was or that they had played one for any extended period of time.  As an adult, I am astounded by what my little hobby has become.  When I see a video game (in this case, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3) surpass $1 billion earned in 16 days after its release, I have trouble connecting such a massive phenomenon with the curious distractions of my youth!

It is with this mindset that I now set out on a journey to revisit the video games of my past (and beyond!).  Initially, armed with an NES and a vast assortment of games, I plan to return to a simpler time, when crafting a video game did not mean that billions of dollars were at stake.  Developers could take more chances, be a little more quirky, and art direction was more important than how far we could push the graphical limitations of hardware.  I want to explore the origins of my favorite characters and see how the games I enjoy today have evolved over time through the eyes of a discerning adult.  Periodically, I will record my thoughts on a specific game here for posterity.  Please feel free to chime in in the comments below if you have any thoughts or reactions to what I write.

Wish me luck! :)

-DJ