A Gaming Tradition

On 12/22/2016 at 09:38 PM by GrayHaired

In 1998 at the youthful age of 40 I was working the second shift at my place of employment (I'm still there!) My shift ended at 3:30 am. After driving home and showering and eating supper I would lay on the couch and watch infomercials. One day at walmart I saw an N-64 demo console with a playable demo of a Zelda game. I thought, this would be something I could do at 4:30 am while my family was still asleep. After reading up on video game consoles I decided to buy the N-64.

However before I could save enough money to buy one, walmart put out a Sony console with a playable demo of Metal Gear Solid. I was hooked! I decided to buy the playstation, And when I saved enough money for a game (before that I just played and replayed the awesome demo disc) I paid a whopping $40 for my very first video game, Metal Gear Solid. It would be February of the next year before I bought another game.

Needless to say, until february I played MGS over and over and over. By the time december rolled back around I decided to replay MGS. And I've been replaying MGS every December for 18 years!

I just finished it for December of this year last night.

I always play it through 3 times each december but this year I'm only going to play it once,

Yes, I played it on Easy and used the camo and infinite ammo. I did that because I wanted to honor my tradition but I dont want to over play it.

Because in 2017 I plan on playing ALL my Metal Gear Solid games.

Maybe I can start a new tradition! A Year of Metal Gear!...Whew...

Halochief90

12/22/2016 at 09:45 PM

I used to play Panzer Dragoon Orta and the original Halo every year. Though at some point I broke that tradition. Interesting that you made your first game be the game you played the most. I guess you were lucky you stumbled into MGS when you did..

GrayHaired

12/22/2016 at 09:50 PM

Halo: yeah, the demo disc that came with my playstation had a playable demo of MGS and so I naturally bought that game first and it struck me like a bolt of lightning! I never knew how emotional video games could be, the story and music just stayed with me and still does to this day.

Cary Woodham

12/22/2016 at 10:03 PM

I hope you get a chance to play Ape Esscape 3 soon, so you can see the Metal Gear bonus game in it.

12/22/2016 at 10:10 PM

Cary: darn it. I keep forgetting but Im gonna go out on a limb and tell you that by next December I will have that game! It's gonna have to be part of my Year of Metal Gear celebration.

Jamie Alston Staff Writer

12/22/2016 at 10:24 PM

Wow, awesome story dude! I'm like that with Metroid Prime. I find myself playing through it at least once a year. It's one of my favorite games of all time!

12/23/2016 at 07:07 PM

Thanks Jamie: Sometimes I play it before December, but I always play it at least once in December.

KnightDriver

12/23/2016 at 02:52 AM

I keep wanting to have a game to play at certain times of the year. I played World of Keflings a few Xmas's in a row. I replay Wizardry from time to time, but not on any regular schedule. I also used to play that virtual fireplace indie "game" on Xbox 360 every Xmas for a laugh. This year I'm really thinking about trains. I always think of trains at Xmas for some reason, so I want to play a train sim. I'll probably just be still playing Diablo though. I'm in too deep to quit right now. Holidays be damned.

12/23/2016 at 07:08 PM

Knightdriver: hahahaha. I know the feeling. Im also replaying the Killzone series so I kinda rushed through MGS. But I plan on playing MGS again pretty soon in 2017

Super Step Contributing Writer

12/23/2016 at 03:21 PM

That's really cool. I don't have any gaming traditions. I just play through certain games every now and then. Funny you mention Zelda, cause I never thought about it, but I guess I do play those around this time.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

12/23/2016 at 04:05 PM

I remember playing Ocarina of Time when I got it for xmas, when I lived in Minnesota. It was a snowy christmas, and I would play with the fireplace going. Good memories.

12/23/2016 at 07:12 PM

Matt: The Zelda game they had on demo would have been the one released in 1998? I dont know which one it was but it looked good...it almost hooked me!

12/24/2016 at 09:19 PM

That would indeed have been Ocarina of Time.

12/23/2016 at 07:11 PM

Joe: it's my only video game memory, I envy the gamers who grew up with consoles and have stories of playing all night with their siblings at Christmas

12/24/2016 at 09:20 PM

I have an older brother, but I often received single-player games like Zelda and we each had our own consoles.

We do play each other on occasion though.

SanAndreas

12/23/2016 at 07:31 PM

That's awesome picking up gaming like that. That was around the time I got my first job outside the home. I motivated myself by saving up for a PlayStation and Final Fantasy VII. That's my annual game, my favorite game of all time.

goaztecs

01/03/2017 at 12:30 PM

Thanks for sharing your story! It interesting to read people's stories associated with games, and I wrote mine in a response to your other post. No gaming traditions here other than when I start a new Dynasty on NCAA Football I always start out as an offensive coordinator, build up a small school, and then leave.

PixlBit