Abridged
October, 1997
I recently read an editorial that had been sent to me in the form of an e-mail forward. It was written in 1995 by Bryan Adkins, who I have to guess was born in 1975 or '76. He rejected the label of "Generation X," preferring, if anything, "Child of the 80's."
Most of the things he talked about seemed to relate to my life (I was born in 1978). He was right on about Transformers, You Can't Do that on Television, and the Challenger. However, Schoolhouse Rock ran too early for anyone my age to have remembered it first hand. Our parents or older siblings could have sang us the songs, but, trust me, I watched a lot of TV when I was young, and I have a good memory. My mom knew the songs, but all I knew was how to make a wagon wheel when I had a "hankerin' for a hunk of cheese." I know I'm going to get flames for that one, but it's true. As much as you'd like to think so, Schoolhouse Rock isn't something that all us Gen Xers (I don't have a problem with people I don't know labeling me) grew up with. We only think we remember it, because people tell us that we should.
Here's what I do remember: Atari, Nintendo, Sega Master System, Turbo Grafix 16, and Sega Genesis. Before that, there was Pong. I'm going to talk about home video games in this letter. Because, face it, it's video games that began to shape our generation, and they will shape the next generation (those born in 1981-1999) as well.
Adkins grew up with the Atari. Of course, I had an Atari too. Adkins had a 2600. I had an 1800 and later a 5200. Both were predecessors to the 2600 ("Under 50 bucks. 50 bucks? Now isn't that nice, it's the 2600 from Atari"). But I was the last of the Atari age. I was also part of an age that Adkins wasn't- the Nintendo age. That makes me different from him. It also makes me different from those kids who were part of the Nintendo-Sega Genesis age. I had both, but they did not both shape me. I'll break it down for you:
Video games make their impression on kids, mostly boys, between the ages of 5 and 9. Anyone who is exposed heavily to games at this age will be changed for ever. Atari was the home video game leader from 1980-1984, Nintendo from 1985-1989, Genesis from 1990-1994. The other systems never really made a huge impression on the population. I have classified 5 separate "ages" below. Your birth year has a lot to do with which category you fall into, but circumstances of your childhood may put you ahead or behind no more than one category. Adkins was Atari. I was Atari-Nintendo. Most kids who are currently seniors in high school are Nintendo, etc.
I have an insight into behaviors of kids these age because I am one, and I work all summer with kids who were/are impressionable during these times. Having been personally exposed to these systems at various points in my life, I have been able to interpret them personally. Here are my conclusions:
Atari (b. 1973-75): Characterized by Breakout
In Breakout the player moves his paddle back and fourth across the screen deflecting a ball into a pattern of bricks, which, when hit, disappear and result in a higher score for the player. The people of this age learn conformity. They must move back and forth within small boundaries, trying to find out how to knock out as many bricks as possible with as few movements as possible.Atari-Nintendo (b. 1976-78): Characterized by Arkanoid
Arkanoid is a game based on Breakout. However, in this game, the player is randomly awarded with lasers or extra balls. Unfortunately, people of this age expect to be handed bonuses. They are similar to the previous generation, except the Atari impressed don't expect to be handed anything.Nintendo (b. 1979-81): Characterized by Super Mario Bros.
Ahh, the classics. Anyone who has the technological smarts to log onto the internet today, is familiar with this game. What evil could it spread? Nobody got shot. The music was memorable. But it did bring us one of the most terrible concepts in modern history: the warp zone. If you look hard enough, you will find an easy way to succeed. There is an easier way. If you buy the right magazine, it will tell you where to find the warp zones. There is an easier way. If you make the right friends, they will help you find the warp zones. There is an easier way.Nintendo-Sega Genesis (b. 1982-84): Characterized by Altered Beast
Altered Beast was the game originally packaged with the Genesis. It was a simple game about a were-beast who walked from left to right fighting demons and other evil characters. But it was 16-bit. Isn't that cool? It was just like Pitfall for the Atari. Nothing had changed. Just avoid falling down holes and touching the bad guys. Run through life, avoiding hassle, it's easier than confronting it. Just make sure you're in 16-bit. Make sure you look good.Sega Genesis (b. 1985-87): Characterized by Mortal Kombat: Blood Mode On
The Genesis version of Mortal Kombat offered perhaps the most controversial video game option in history: Blood Mode. One on one fighting with blood flying everywhere, still-beating hearts being ripped out of bodies, heads being removed along with twitching spinal cords- this game had everything. Playing Mortal Kombat for these kids, though, was rebellion. No one's mom approved of it, so you had to go out and find someone whose mom didn't pay attention to video games, or who's dad thought it was cool. It's all about disrespect for authority. Trust me, these kids have no respect for authority.The next five year period will be dominated by the PC CD-ROM, and will result in a whole new breed of kids. To learn to cope with them, all we will have to do is examine their video games. Perhaps this trend will fizzle in the future, but at least 20 years worth of kids have been irreversably affected already.
Now, back to Sham. This, the seventh issue marks a few changes. First, the menu bar has been reorganized with a more unified look. Regular sections, features, and link pages have been divided up into easily recognizable categories. Of course, the "Art" section is brand new, and, of course, it needs as many of your contributions as possible. There is a new "Captain Scurvy" editorial, new poetry, and many other smaller changes. Be sure to read the extended editorial commentary in the "Music" section, and check out all the new links in "World Wide Webzines." Finally, I solemnly promise that the "Emeril" sounds will be up within a matter of weeks.
The last major change is in the counter. For the third time, I have switched servers. Siteflow prooved to be too slow, hindering the loading of the letter. Therefore, I have moved to the simple, fast, Syracuse University counter. As long as the server hosting this page is up, the server hosting the counter will be up, and connection time will increase significantly. With that in mine, make sure to tell all of your friends to visit Sham, so we can get the counter back up to 1500, where it should be. Remember, you can check this week's access stats here.
That's it for now. Remember, I'm always looking for your input, so send me anything original. If it has a specific place it should go, I'll put it there. Other wise, I'll include it here, like I did with the following editorial. So long, and thanks for all the fish... I mean "hits".
 William "Refrigerator" Perry tries to kick his $2,000 a day 40 oz. Surge habit
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This is something we feel very strongly about. As your public servants, as determined by an influential member of the NED family, we feel it is our duty to bring this matter to your attention. Some of you may have heard of Surge, the latest beverage to hit the consumer market. It masks itself as a spinoff of Mountain Dew, such as Mellow Yellow or Squirt, but those were good beverages. Not only does it lack in taste but the side effects of this bevarage are extremely dangerous. To say that one should not operate heavy machinary after consumption is a vast understatement... it makes you as slow as "Refrigerator" Perry with broken legs. Man that is slow. Can you imagine "Refrigerator" Perry dragging his fat ass around? I mean that would be a hideous sight. And hideous doesn't even begin to describe Surge. Imagine a leg deprived refrigerator Perry on a treadmill... he wouldn't get very far would he. Kinda like if you drink Surge. No wait... it's not like that at all... oh no, there we go again making fun of legless fat people. |