Poll: I think I am OFICIALLY an OLD PERSON

[TheRealCJ]

... And I'm only 18, woe is me.

Sigh, okay, backstory. Recently, I've been collecting old consoles, and I spotted a Pokemon Special edition N64 for sale at GAMETRADERS ROBINA INDOOROOPILLY, and rushed over to purchase the same.

Now, within GAMETRADERS ROBINA INDOOROOPILLY, they have a circle of TVs set up, until recently they've just been running demos, Anime trailers, and the occasional Xbox new-release, but suddenly they've decided to hook up some old consoles (to whit: an N64, PlayStation, and SNES) and run some old games. I was obviously overjoyed to play Diddy Kong Racing and Crash Bandicoot again, after so long, so I immediately picked up a controller and zoned out.

Here's the weird thing: A young man, probably in his early or pre-teens, and his similarly aged friends, walked up to the TV with the PS hooked up to it. He picked up the controller, held it in his hands, and just stared at it. With his posse muttering amongst themselves, this young man turned to me and asked: "What's wrong with this controller?"

"Is it not working?" I replied, not wanting them to miss out on their Crash-Bandicooty action. "No", he answered, "Where the hell are the thumbsticks?!"

It was at this point I lost my shit. Hard.

As most of GAMETRADERS ROBINA INDOOROOPILLY began to stare, I stopped laughing long enough to begin in impromptu lecture on the history of Analouge sticks, the first-generation Playstation, and the impetuousness of youth (well, all but the last one).

As I paid for my N64, and walked out the store, I came to the horrorfying realisation: I had become one of those old men who sit on park benches and claim that things were better in my day.

It's a scary thought.

EDIT: For those of you who are just taking shots at these kids for being young or willfully ignorant, know this: They were actually quite knowledgeable, and we had a long conversation about the merits of PC gaming over console/vice versa after my impromptu history lesson. These kids weren't dumb, just naive about consoles released before they were born. So lay off, okay?

 

[Cherry Cola]

You are not an old man. There are three kinds of people.

The old people complaining that video games suck and that on their time they had to settle with playing soccer and such.

The brats who don't understand a thing about video games and thinks that quality is a matter of how young the product is.

Then there's us, the only people who actually understand the essence of gaming. We are the middle-men, and until we die, we shall call both old and young people ignorant for not seeing how awesome video games are!

Although just to be safe, check your mirror for gray hair.

 

[Disaster Button]

As scary as that is. You can always take comfort in the fact you have it in you to be one of those old people who is a giant dick to everyone because he can get away with it.

You know, the ones who make cutting remarks under their breath and pretend like they said nothing, the ones who pretend they have no idea what you're talking about just so they can do their own thing or throw it back in your face later. Go forth sir, and be an old dick.

i realise the gross imagery associated with my final sentence but its late and I can't think of anything more clever

 

[TheRealCJ]

You're fine. I remember the Atari joystick. One button. And a stick. I win the 'old' game!

Joystick? I preferred the pong paddle. Oh, and although it was older than I was, my first console was a COMMODORE 64.

D:

 

[Xanadeas]

Heh, I felt kinda old at one point too. I picked up an emulator and a copy of golden eye 007 and while trying to get the hang of the old school controls again I wound up quitting in rage... I stopped afterwords and thought to myself "What the hell? I used to be so awesome at this... People raged when I kicked their asses. What's going on?" I attributed it to memory failure. :< Or maybe I've just been spoiled by modern controller configuration. *Shrug*

 

[Uncreative]

I'm already getting the "Yeah, shut up granny" look from people that are older than me.

Why are teenagers such idiots?...
OH GOD I DID IT AGAIN.

 

[Grayjack]

Piss off, gramps.
Nah, you're not old. Those brats don't know bollocks. Also, I remember the N64 Pokemons.

 

[TheRealCJ]

no, your not old,
your just not a dumbshit 12 year old who thinks gaming started at xbox360

Hey now, that's hardly fair.

I first started REALLY playing games at around age 9, with a Sega Megadrive (not my first console, but the one I remember the most.

When I started re-playing my Commodore, I couldn't believe how bad the graphics were.

Far from feeling ill-will towards this kid, I just thought is was hilarious.

 

[TheRealCJ]

Hey, don't worry. I'm 17, and I've felt that way for years. I sigh everytime I see today's cartoons, I retch everytime I hear today's music, and I wave my cane angrily everytime someone speaks of the new Pokemon. I also hate my generation.

And can you please post pics of your Pokemon N64 so we can bask in its awesomeness? I didn't even know it existed, and my mind has been exploded.

Sorry, I'm in-between cameras at the moment, but here is google to the rescue!

http://www.bidmate.com.au/uplimg/2009_a180801_addpic1.jpg

 

[Soulgaunt]

no, your not old,
your just not a dumbshit 12 year old who thinks gaming started at xbox360

Hey now, that's hardly fair.

I first started REALLY playing games at around age 9, with a Sega Megadrive (not my first console, but the one I remember the most.

When I started re-playing my Commodore, I couldn't believe how bad the graphics were.

Far from feeling ill-will towards this kid, I just thought is was hilarious.

Umm...

OT: Oh God, I just remembered that a lot of people now-a-days are idiots, and even worse, It's been like that!
Thank Doomfluff for the Escapist!

 

[Aesir23]

Nah, you're not old. An older generation of gamer perhaps (I am as well). But not old in general. I'm only 21 and I swear my eye twitches whenever I encounter a gamer who doesn't appreciate some of the older games simply because they aren't as 'pretty' graphic-wise as some of today's games. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go play the Legend of Zelda and relive my childhood.

 

[Sewblon]

That's nothing. I am only 19 and I have suffered a back injury, beaten Final Fantasy 1 and un-ironically used the phrase "Ahh kids these days."

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

I do that, I still have my original Prince of Persia game. Released when Sands of Time was only a rumour floating around.

The youth of today...

 

[Omikron009]

I hate it when I hear dickheads who aren't really into games babbling on about a game I really like in a shallow, fundamentally wrong manner. These kids were probably like that.