gamey jamie

I am embarrassed to admit that I have spent an inordinate amount of time during the past week playing Super Mario Bros. The original version, in case you were wondering. One of the “perks” of my job is that sometimes I get free stuff. Like free admission to local “attractions.” Three groovy swivel chairs. A nintendo. (the gray and red one – the NES – complete with the first Mario bros., TETRIS!, Zelda and the baseball game that Fred Savage plays on The Princess Bride.) No benefits, (non-profit, holla!) but free 23-year-old nintendos for 23-year-olds! Awesome.

I grew up in a nintendo-less home (and cable-less, for that matter) until I was in 9th grade. Christmas, in 9th grade, to be exact. I don’t think my parents had a nintendo philosophy or anything, because I was allowed to play at will at friends’ houses. I think they just thought it was a waste of time. My parents aren’t big fans of wasting time. The nintendo we got when I was in high school (an N-64, in case you were wondering) was meant more for my brother, who was nine, at the time. My parents have no doubt learned that having a nintendo didn’t have any affect on that kid’s intelligence or creativity. He scored a 1550 on his SAT last month. (There’s a writing section now, so it was actually a 2210 or something, but math and verbal – 1550!) Holy smokes!

So, what I’m wondering is: What defines a “gamer”? I’m worried that I’m becoming one. We all know I have a history of addiction when it comes to Tetris. Growing up, my neighbors had the gameboy version. I eventually grounded myself from playing (what a kid I was!) because I had recurring nightmares of being smashed by blocks falling from the sky! I played a lot of it last summer too, thanks to freetetris.org. The nightmares about blocks didn’t return, thankfully – I guess my subconscious had bigger fish to fry.

Anyway, if you’re ever bored and want to come over and play some good old school nintendo and be a gamer, let me know. And, if you can show me how to beat the last “world” (8), I’ll bake you a cake!

SIDENOTES:

If you’d like to remember the theme song, check this guy out. WOW! Creepiness aside, it’s really impressive! I wonder if he ever says things like, “I don’t know what to do with my face!”

And, this is totally random, and entirely off-subject, but obnoxiously hilarious.

it wasn’t!