2001, A Blog Odyssey

On 09/17/2015 at 03:24 PM by KnightDriver

The future had finally arrived: Internet was booming, even I bought a computer, cars were flying, and we had rocket shoes and teleporters. Replicators had replaced the need for making products resulting in a complete restructuring of society. No one had to work (except for those guys, like Homer Simpson, who had to watch for nuclear plant malfunctions. Boy, that probably sucked). We all just laughed and played all day long. But you could work in the game's industry if you wanted to entertain folks; creative work was still available, if you had the itch - totally voluntary though. And everthing was run by two computers, an IBM and an Apple. They were at war with each other though, but we watched their robot wars on the TV. So fun!

Totally lying about most of that above. So let's see about the arts starting with music.

Can't say I got in touch with music much that year but I probably first learned about Tool by downloading loads of music video (this before Youtube). They had some really out-there videos, and I dug the dark, complex sound. Their third album, Lateralus, was out that year. Also HBO TV show Tenacious D, led by Jack Black, released an album. It get's the over-the-top attitude of classic rock music and is very funny as well. After relistening to some tracks on the album, I thought about what I love most about comedy. I think it's when an artist makes fun of him or herself. That self-awareness really endears me to the form.

It was a big year for gaming. the GBA, Nintendo Game Cube, and Xbox all released that year. Add the PS2, on it's second year, and the next gen had finally fully arrived. I wouldn't get on the handheld thing until Nintendo DS, and I watched the GTA III phenomenon from the side-lines, but I soon got a Gamecube to play the next Star Wars Rogue Squadron sequel and a Xbox to play the almighty Halo. I think my full gamer status began this year. I was determined to own all the systems (sans handheld) and I began subscribing to magazines like Game Informer, OXM, OPM and Nintendo Power (I now listen to podcasts for my news). I spent most of my time with the Xbox. I played all the multiplatform games there. But I wanted the others for their exclusives too. Eventually I had them all and found great things to play on each of them.

In literature, I read Steven Hawking's The Universe in a Nutshell. I was big into astronomy at the time and was watching Teaching Company lectures on the subject and watching every documentary I could find. Eventually I got to a point where I had absorbed all the layman's and first-year-student presentations of the subject. What next would've been going to school for a degree, but I hadn't the money, and realized that my interest in astronomy had more to do with telescopes than actual space objects and science. I'm a photographer at heart, and those big lenses fascinate me.

Lots of good film that year too. I saw my first Wes Anderson film, The Royal Tennenbaums, that year. I didn't become a fan of him just yet, but I would later. Two great fantasy flicks, the first Harry Potter film (which I'd like to rewatch now that I've read the book) and the first Peter Jackson Lord of the Rings film. Another film I watched in the theater was Blow, staring Johnny Depp, telling the story of a famous cocaine dealer. I saw it on a whim and it surprised me with it's power. I was left crying uncontrollably during the credit roll. I think my favoite (and I usually choose comedies as favorites) that year was Wet Hot American Summer by most of the cast of the skit comedy group The State, which ran on MTV in the 90s. It's a spoof of summer camp films like ones I saw as a kid such as Meatballs staring Bill Murray. There are so many great moments in the film. I could watch it again anytime.

And that's 2001. What were you experiencing in media that year?

Super Step Contributing Writer

09/17/2015 at 04:14 PM

My older brother was in high school in the 90s so I was well aware of Tool. I don't think I liked them at the time, but I grew into them. As for Tenacious D, I found out about them from "You Don't Always Have To F* Her Hard" on the radio and thought it was hilarious. I like self-deprecating humor as well. Makes me feel better about myself.

Ah man, 2001 was all about gaming for me as well. That's when my Nintendo fanboyism hit critical mass. I didn't entirely sit out the GTA III craze, I just wasn't technically allowed to play it on my older brother's PS2. But the next door neighbors had it anyway. Still, I usually just watched them play those games which was quite boring. Star Wars Rogue Squadron was gorgeous as georgosity itself at the time. Us Gamecube fanboys argued that Halo was the ONLY thing on Xbox worth playing and loved Super Smash Bros. Melee. Later on, I'd lament the lack of diversity offered in the Gamecube's library compared to PS2 and get annoyed when kid-friendly fare came to Xbox and PS2 but not Gamecube. My decision to buy a PS4 was influenced by that time period in gaming, because I discovered things like Sly Cooper and Guilty Gear X2 on PS2. But now I want an Xbox One for some of its exclusives like Sunset Overdrive and Cuphead, those comfy Xbox controllers and the $350 price tag plus free Madden. I'd also love to play the Nintendo standards on Wii U. The main reason I was such a Gamecube fanboy was due to family money trouble and if I was gonna pay for it myself I wanted the cheapest system which happened to be a Nintendo, the company I grew up with via my older brother's NES, SNES, and my N64. If only I had more money now.

I need a camera. Never was too interested in astronomy, but I loved to think about what it would be like living on different planets and such in the future.

I really liked the first Harry Potter movie, but the first Lord of the Rings was a bit too long for my 11-year old brain. I would much prefer the action-packed sequels. I still need to watch The Royal Tennenbaums, but I had no interest in Wet Hot American Summer the movie or the Netflix series. Since you love it so much, now I'm curious.

KnightDriver

09/18/2015 at 04:40 PM

I have a new interest in GTA III since I heard on a podcast you can level up your biking ability to the point where you can outrace a train. I didn't know you could do that.

I remember several games were out on PS2 I wanted to play like Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance and Gauntlet Dark Legacy, but since I didn't have the system, I waited for them to come to Xbox about a year later.

Cary Woodham

09/17/2015 at 08:42 PM

Yeah like I said before, 2001 was a rough year for me for many reasons. That was the last year I wrote for the Dallas Morning News, and it all went downhill from there. The main thing I remember about 2001 gaming-wise was that it was when the GameCube was released, and it had some awesome launch titles like Luigi's Mansion, Super Monkey Ball, and Super Smash Bros. Melle a short time after.

Hey, if you haven't already, go read my new blog if you get a chance.

09/18/2015 at 04:42 PM

I discovered Luigi's Mansion years later and totally fell in love with that game. Can we have a Luigi's Mansion Maker game now?

Alex-C25

09/17/2015 at 10:25 PM

Man, how could I have forgotten about Tool and Lateralus? I love that album and it's my absolute favorite so far. Like I also mentioned in another blog before, System of a Down released Toxicity, which I think it's also pretty damn awesome.

Although the PS2 was released in 2000, I think this was definitely the kickstart of the 6th gen. My standouts from what I played so far are Halo and Smash Bros Melee.

Of course, all of this was done much later since I was only about 3 and 4 at that time and still only watched Nick and Cartoon Network on tv.

09/18/2015 at 04:45 PM

I forget exactly when I got all these 6th gen consoles. I think I got an Xbox in '01 and then the rest a year or two later (GBA much later).

Matt Snee Staff Writer

09/19/2015 at 10:02 PM

you should post some pictures, if you've been taking some lately.

Royal Tennenbaums sold me on Wes Anderson more than Rushmore did, though I did like Rushmore a lot. I think my favorite though is Life Aquatic. I havent seen any of the ones after that cause I have a hard time focusing on movies now, but I've heard good things.

I fucking love Rogue Squadron. I'm crossing my fingers a new Star Wars flight game is coming.

09/22/2015 at 01:44 AM

Haven't been taking much lately. Just not sure what to do with photography right now. Need to work on the physical and change jobs. That takes a lot of brain space.

Life Aquatic is great. Need to see Rushmore.

Star Wars flight game would be great!

VisuaLIES

09/21/2015 at 01:44 AM

2001, I was still relatively young (would have been two years after graduating college), and didn't really have any responsibilities. I had a lot of fun during those years, played a lot of games, went to E3 just before the launch of the Xbox and Gamecube. I think I really started getting into coloring my artwork digitally and setting up my deviantart page. I wish I had the time and energy now that I did back then...

09/22/2015 at 02:12 AM

E3 when Xbox came out sounds interesting.

PixlBit