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...
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..
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.
I hope you get a chance to play Ape Esscape 3 soon, so you can see the Metal Gear bonus game in it.
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.
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!
Thanks Jamie: Sometimes I play it before December, but I always play it at least once in December.
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.
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
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.
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.
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!
That would indeed have been Ocarina of Time.
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
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.
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.
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.