Game On !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My romance with gaming began when I saw one of my friends gaming on his Personal Computer (PC). This was in the early 90’s when PCs were a luxury and were rarely found in middle class homes. My friend’s dad was into some kind of research and a PC was more of a necessity than a luxury to him. My friend was allowed a couple of hours every week on the PC and he used it to do the best thing one can do on a PC….GAME!
He was kind enough to invite me on one such day and I played Tetris and Pac man for the first time. I was so happy that I recited tall stories of my gaming experiences to my other friends for a long time to come. A few years later my dad brought home a video game from one of his colleagues. Lasso and tennis were the games this time. Dad was totally hooked to tennis and even though he enjoyed the experience thoroughly he knew it could get addictive and denied us buying this new medium of family entertainment.

Flash forward to the year 2000, we got our first PC and I went totally berserk. I played all kinds of game I could lay my hands on. Cricket 96 and Unreal were the favourites then. Though the graphics were average they were way above the video gaming genre. My gaming skills were really honed during my MBA where I met real gaming addicts and was exposed to awesome games. Those were the days of Medal of Honor Allied Assault (MOHAA), Max Payne, Freedom Fighter, Soldier of Fortune, Half Life, Need for Speed etc. The best gaming experience I’ve had was on the hostel LAN, where 8 of us divided into 2 teams made plans, killed, captured the flag through out the night on Quake 3.

MOHAA made a home in my heart because of the World War 2 setting and the intriguing story line and never before graphics and controls. Everything was perfect; the weapons, the characters and the game play. During this time I saw a PS2 displayed in a mall and was awestruck by the graphics and the fun one could have with this machine. I promised myself I would get one of these when I started earning. Now PS3 and X-Box are the buzz words. Things fell in place and one my cousins was in the US at the right time where you can get these consoles for half the price when compared to India. So I’ve kept my promise and have got the PS3 and Medal of Honor Airborne is the game I am playing.

Gaming for me is the best form of escapism. You can play characters which are far away from real life. You can use weapons and vent your frustration and anger. Best way to be part of fiction.

The passion and the kid in me are still alive.

GAME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!