Press Start: My Gaming Journey

How I fell down the rabbit hole.

My video game journey is simultaneously simple and complex. It would be far too easy to say that I started to play video games, had fun, and that was that. In actuality, I was playing video games before I knew they were video games. I grew up watching Disney films and many of the bonus features had additional activities you could complete with your remote. I would spend hours swapping discs to play the handful of games available on each one. That was the first time digital games captured my attention.

The first console I ever owned was a handheld. The Nintendo DS had been around for a couple of years at that point and was very popular with my age group. I vividly remember sitting in the car with my mother, telling her all about this fancy new gadget that all my peers had. I knew I was begging but hoped I didn’t sound like I was begging. It finally ended with me sweetly and earnestly asking if I could have one. Her response?

“Sounds nice. Buy it yourself.” Something in her tone told me that was the only answer I would get on the matter. I remember considering the factors in my head- the DS cost around one hundred and fifty dollars. For an eight-year-old with no allowance, that was a small fortune. But I was determined, and after a solid year of saving I finally had a DS of my own. It quickly became my prized possession and I rarely left home without it. Thinking back on it, I didn’t have very many of the heavy hitting titles. But I knew better than to complain-when you’re younger and don’t have much money you take whatever fun things anyone is willing to throw at you. Even when newer models came out, I was perfectly content. I loved being able to play games wherever I was and was certain it couldn’t get much better for a young gamer.

Boy, am I glad I was wrong.

Although not the same as my childhood system, this Nintendo handheld (2DSXL) allows me to play multiple games from my childhood.

A couple of years later, I was introduced to the Xbox 360, allowing me to take gaming more seriously. Games on this platform were larger in scope and far more engaging. The first game I truly dove into was Batman: Arkham Asylum. I’d had a passive and somewhat minor interest in Batman before, having grown up watching reruns of the animated series. This game allowed a deeper exploration into Batman lore and forced me to attempt to improve my playing style (prior to that point, I would often mash buttons and somehow be successful). Perhaps the most important thing this game did was change my view of the medium in general. Games could have depth and story and be meaningful. They weren’t just ways to kill time.

After that, I was hooked. I continued my newfound hobby with Red Dead Redemption, followed shortly by Assassin’s Creed II. I started regularly asking for games around Christmas time, and visiting GameStop whenever I had enough money saved. I didn’t need to have the newest releases-I was more than happy to root around the bargain bin. As the years went on, I expanded my gaming preferences. At some point, my family was gifted a Nintendo Wii, which I quickly fell in love with. I also loved that my parents seemed to enjoy it as well, making gaming a family activity. Many laughs were shared over virtual mini golf.

However, I quickly ran into one of the biggest problems with technology-eventually devices become obsolete. When Xbox and PlayStation announced their new consoles, my excitement was quickly overshadowed by a grim realization. The companies were shifting their focus to the next generation and their older consoles would be left behind. With no chance of affording a new console at full price, it would be a long time before I could play any major releases again.

Around this time, I had to shift my focus almost entirely to academics, leaving me less time to relax and play. It was probably for the best-I was growing weary of replaying my small library because I had no other options. I could feel one of my favorite hobbies slipping further from my mind.

And then, on Christmas morning of 2016, my grand finale gift was a PlayStation 4 bundled with Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. I was ecstatic-not only was it a new console, but it was also the first console that was truly mine, as the Xbox belonged to my father. I finally had the chance to return to my favorite hobby and explore even further.

The exploration has continued without ceasing. In just the past few years, I have upgraded my setup and began collecting older consoles and games as well as experiencing new releases. I’m interested to see where the industry goes, while also continuing my own personal journey through video games.

My current gaming setup

This post was written by Vanessa Hart, creator of Deep Dive Gaming