u/-csephus- — reddlx

Update: Up to 25 Games!

I'm about halfway through gathering my intended collection and still playing 'em in release order! Still got some gaps to fill in.

Note: the Sega GT game is the two-pack with Jet Set Radio!

Finished:

Halo: CE (classic, genre-defining, to hell with The Library, etc)
Dead or Alive 3 (Not a fighting game guy, but it's gorgeous and fluid)
Project Gotham Racing (Complicated relationship. Love it, but it also infuriates me)
Star Wars: Starfighter (Definitely doesn't push the Xbox's capabilities, but a fun 'lil 4-hour romp)

Now playing:

Amped
Max Payne
Jet Set Radio Future

I'm also reading through OXM issues from launch and seeing a couple more games that I'd never heard of but really want to check out. "Wreckless" seems to have been poorly received but it looks like good dumb fun! And "Gunvalkyrie" seems so cool.

u/-csephus- — 10 days ago

▲ 211 r/theroom

Is this Denny??

I found this ad for Circus Maximus while browsing through the third issue of Official Xbox Magazine (OXM), the Feb 2002 issue.

That's totally him, right? Anyone know anything about this?

u/-csephus- — 11 days ago

▲ 90 r/originalxbox

Workin on collecting/playing some bangers in release order.

Here's where I'm at so far of a planned 42 games. A few of these are my childhood copies, but I plan to replay 'em in release order, in batches of 3. So far, I've played Halo, DOA3 and PGR.

PGR left a damned *impression*. Had never played it before. I am frequently mad at it, but I also find myself thinking about it throughout the day, and the game just feels/looks amazing.

Previously, was limiting myself to games that are backwards compatible with 360, but I've gotten an OG Xbox and can open up a little bit.

Workin on getting a copy of Jet Set Radio (probably gonna get the combo pack because money) and Dark Alliance.

Up next is Amped, and I'm prolly gonna keep doinking around with PGR until I gold medal everythin'.

I fear Morrowind. That one's coming up soon, and it is going to take a whiiile.

OG Xbox is coooooool guys.

u/-csephus- — 22 days ago

▲ 1 r/StopGaming

Do Games Spark Joy?

This is a weird thing I've been reflecting on for a few days as I try to balance my days. Sorry in advance for the rambling.

I've noticed that I spend most of my waking hours reading, watching movies/shows, or playing games. I've clocked that I do these things to scratch itches for emotions or experiences that I can't(or won't) access otherwise (going on an adventure, controlling my time, defeating evil, reliving falling in love), and I don't think that's inherently bad in moderation. I've just noticed that I'm probably doing escapism way too much.

To assess this, I tried asking myself when the last time games made me feel joyful. I drew a complete blank.

I tried then to define joy and think of examples. One is when I make my kids laugh. Another is when I write a story and share it with people. Other times are when I solve impactful problems for myself or others or do acts of kindness.

None of my examples came from my escapist habits. But they seem so important to me! That can't be right, I keep telling myself.

But seriously. Say I beat megaman 2. In the moment, I think I feel some accomplishment because I did something difficult. But then I try to tell people about it, and I realize that nobody cares (and kinda rightly so). Either folks don't know or care about megaman 2, or they know everything about it and they go "oh cool, man" and move on. It feels like I'm simulating emotions or efforts that should be happening in real life with little or none of the practical benefits.

What I get out of overcoming challenges in games seems to not be joy, but relief after throwing myself at something tedious. That the challenges are manufactured as such and have very little impact in the real world makes it feel meaningless, upon reflection.

All that to ask, has a video game ever made you feel genuine joy? Or is it always just "relief?"

reddit.com

u/-csephus- — 1 month ago