November 16, 2011
-
Positivity Posts Day 3: Childhood Story
Third post of @Shining_Garnet ‘s Positivity Week, to join in head on over here and read her post ~Positivity Week~
One way or another pretty much my whole life has been influenced by computers and computer games. So the positive childhood story I shall tell will reflect that life long passion
When I was much younger (perhaps 10 or so, not really sure) we used to have only one computer that was mainly my dads, but since he too had a soft spot for digital worlds it often wasn’t hard for us to all get stuck into a long game or adventure.
Many hours, even days must have been spent slowly trying to find our ways through the Point and Click adventures of the early nineties, such as DiscWorld and the excellent Monkey Islands.
But the one I always remember fondly is MidWinter. This game was for it’s time a real masterpiece, though today it’s graphics may look blank and uninspiring back then they were the cutting edge of 3D worlds, and it’s gameplay and design is still strong even today.The basic story line was this; You were a rebel group trying to over throw an evil regime on a strange frozen island (The island I believe was the last bit of land left in a frozen world) The gameplay consisted of the player taking control of various agents spread across the island and then guiding them to achieve objectives, from sabotage to recruitment.
To travel you could choose a variety of vehicles including Skis, Hang Gliders, Tanks and even on foot. But through out the icy wastes the bad guys men patrolled and no trip was ever easy.
It was a challenging game since the landscape was dangerous in it’s self, with sudden drops, high mountains and freezing temperatures that slowly drained your health as you travelled. And if you failed to gain a foot hold quickly enough the ever present Bald and scarred enemy commander would be quick to capture and execute your brave rebellion.
Anyway we used to play this for hours me, my dad and my bro. Each sharing different characters and missions depending on our skills, working together I always felt it was far more real. Some moments were funny when accidental disasters such as leaving a building only to ski into it by mistake and be laid up for a few days, and sometimes it was tragic when brave heroes gave everything to achieve an impossible goal freezing somewhere out in the wilderness.
Often long nights fuelled by hot chocolate would pass with the three of us sitting on variously disintegrating ex-office chairs until the early hours of the morning.
Comments (13)
Wonderful post! You see I usually don’t allow my kids to spend much time playing video games either PSP or computer, but They do it a lot more that I’d aprove, the thing that I find amazing is when like in your story, it becomes a family hobby, when my brother and my kids are playing I can’t interrupt them even if they’re delaying their sleep time
Great post and I would be lost with out technology and am so grateful computers came to be in my time.
Because of computer/video games thingy, these days kids didn’t real have experience in real fun and excitement of childhood days.
@xXxlovelylollipop - Yes too much can be a problem…I will admit I might over indulge in Digital worlds somtimes, but when it’s something shared and enjoyed by the whole family it can be quite something and creates some lasting memories
@Grannys_Place - Yea
I have to admit my life would be a whole lot more lonely without my computer, and when i consider that in only my lifetime we’ve come so far I really blows my mind as to what the future might hold.
@RestlessButterfly - True, but not only do I live in a place that allowed me to have all the usual more outside/dangerous childhood fun aswell
But computers and games I think help open the mind to different worlds and universes and that aids imagination and creativity. Much like books do/did.
@BFB1131 - I came from a very small and isolated village, even radio and TV are kinda ‘alien’ to us then. We spent most of our childhood climbing trees, playing and swimming in the river or just simply running wild without adult supervision around the village.
@RestlessButterfly - :D that sounds wonderful.
As much as I love technology and what it offers, what it’s taken away was more precious.
We lived in a Caravan so even though we did have TV and Computers since they were pretty old and glitchy we’d spend a lot of time outside, much better way for kids to be.
Such a heartwarming story. I enjoyed reading it. So this is where you get the imagination to come up with your drawings? I should’ve played more games growing up. Great post Bede!!
@livexlovexlaughter - Lol yep games and 6inch GI Joe figures
a childhood well spent 
That sounds like a very interesting game
Makes me wish I played more games growing up.
I was scrolling down to see if you posted your childhood photos too
Great post. I’ve enjoyed playing video games since I was around 4.
@xdeelynnx - Hehe yea it was great
And it’s not too late they may not have the pace of the good old days but there are many cool games still out there 
@fabolousclown - hahaha nope sorry
just text.
@Shining_Garnet - :D Good to hear! I often get pretty nostalgic about the older games, they had more uniqueness.
@BFB1131 - With college, I don’t have a lot of time to play games. Scott recently introduced me to Portal 2. As confusing as it seems, it’s interesting and makes me think.