So "maybe" in the year of 2000 my first exposure to Video Games was at my grandma's House were I watch my brother play with the PlayStation 1 and playing an demo disc containing all the PS1 games that came out or coming soon to release, games like Crash Bandicoot and Intelligence Cube.
Seeing all the different games with different genres you can play blow my little mind. My first thought was wanted more of this so I can play, but that other part of my head was scared and was overwhelmed, which frustrated me now on why didn't I play beforehand.
But either way that was my way participating: watching other people playing video games, the only days that I do play video games was if it was easy or shut up my scary imaginations in my head and play the game!! And still to this day, that was my mato.
In the year of 2001 I saw alot of video games coming out and knowing that was a little crazy show called TechTV-the network shifted toward broader tech-related content such as gaming and pop culture; and shows like The Screen Savers, Nerd Nation and most famously: X-Play.
And with that my Obsession of finding and try to watch the games was a go! The List of endless for me in the 2001:
Franchise like: Final Fantasy IX and Final Fantasy X begins my love of the magic, setting and characters of the series; Super Smash Bros. Melee and seeing my cousins playing that series for the first time and watching all the other famous video game mascots duck it out! And that not the first Fighting game I saw too it was Super Street Fighter II Turbo/Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, Tekken 4, and Guilty Gear 1 + X (I saw surprisely alot of Cosplay of that series in the 2000s)
Then it was hack and slash games like: Devil May Cry
And first-person shooter games: Halo: Combat Evolved
And the many, MANY, violent and crude games like Doom, Grand Theft Auto series and Conker's Bad Fur Day (funny enough, to say it tricked me too is an understatement)
And Sonic! Oh Man, I can be here all day talking about my favorite hedgehog speedster, but I want to save that story for later, but all I have to say is: thanks to myself at a summer camp and seeing Sonic Adventure 2 for the first Time.
It's thanks to all Video Game magazines and sometimes the internet for letting me know all the games I've just listed; Magazines like: Electronic Gaming Monthly, Game Informer, Game Developer magazine, Nintendo Power and even the Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine and BOY! Did I learn alot! Both about the games, the developments and creations of a whole and people who love games as a whole too.
And during the 2001 I've also heard of this magical yet technical place; in a far away land of Los Angeles where New game Console and Video Games are showcased and Announced in one huge building and it was Called: E3.
And to think little me thinking if I save enough money: it was my dream to visit this magical place...As if! 😅
As during my video game journey was going smoothly, I've meant with a New (yet familiar) problem and this was my first exposure to this phenomenon as a little girl too! The whole "girls can't play" (or just "girls can't enter subject here") and seeing this the first time Really confused me one: There are female programmer,developers, writers and other more in the gaming market. Two: I've seen MANY girls and woman from little girls to grown adults woman play many genres of video games. And three: ...well, that's should be it.
So really don't get all the boys and even grown adults men get so pressed, technical and get even Mad of something that does exist and not hurting them.
For example: let's Use Kingdom Hearts series and the Final Fantasy series as a whole; because these two series are quite popular with the girls.
In the year 2002, summer vacation was almost over (and was about to enter kindergarten), but I was still at my home relaxing watching Kim Possible on Disney channel until I saw that famous commercial...
I saw the commercial game Kingdom Hearts the action role-playing game strangely featuring characters and world settings from Disney animated features... I was both confused and starstruck by the setting and the animation of this series that wanted to know more about it,
Then one day on my last play day of vacation me and my brother visited my other cousins home to baby sit, and as I was just walking around the house taking a tour (in other words:I was bored) then I went to my cousin bedroom and then I saw it... the Kingdom Hearts game on her bed. Just laying there. And me just staring at in awe. I saw the PlayStation 2 next to her TV and knew exactly I need to do.
I quickly ran to my cousin and asked her if I can play it and surprising she said yes! So I ran back to her bedroom, turn on the Tv and PlayStation 2, open the disc and pop in the game disc in the console; ive heard the famous PlayStation 2 startup and was getting excited and then....the opening starts
"I've been having these weird thoughts lately.....is any of this for real or not?."
That ominous quote and the iconic opening combined featuring Utada Hikaru was just breathtaking!
The 3D Animation
The Character designs
The MUSIC!!
And to to top it off, the game start titled music came in and I just fell in love, but then something bad happened, Once i gone the game sequence and head straight to the gameplay. I Froze.
The back of my head was talking negative to me and I freakin Froze! Little me was getting overwhelmed again and I paused the game! I don't know what came over me, but i Quickly walk out of my cousin room, went to living room and just watch TV like nothing happen. Till this day I regrated not finishing the game, but That didn't stop me trying to find and learn more Infor and gameplay of the game.
Speaking of gameplay and Learning, I've found out more about the history of Final fantasy (and other JRPGs from Square) On Tech TV in a documentary back in 2004 (it was called "Icons") and a separate disc from Final Fantasy XII: Collector's Edition in 2006 a friend in middle school gave me.
But, back in 2001; the one game that made me notice the series a whole was Final fantasy X (FF10) and boy! was it hyped up! everyone back in Kindergarten really wanted to get this game and that don't even get started on the teens either, they been want it too. I wanted to see more of this game but, no luck or time for me to check it out until one day in my Kindergarten school In the beginning of May, a random boy (who was one of the cool kids in the school) brought in a disc called Jampack Demo Disc Winter 2001 witch feature Demo like: Dynasty Warriors 3, Kinetica, Extermination, SSX Tricky and of course...Final Fantasy X!
The kids in our classroom were (including me and my old friend) surprised and exhilarated! Once it was recess: The boys went straight to the Gaming station (It was actually called the Computer Learning Room, but the whole class agreed it sound lame for a room that had: Three iMac G3s, three CRTs connected to a PlayStation 1 and 2, and N64) and pop it in the PlayStation 2. Me and other random two girls also wanted to see the demo too, but one of the boys said "You cant come, only boys can see," and another said "Yeah, you know don't know this!" And my Responds: I do knows this!" and (ironically + perfectly timed too) pulled out the Official U.S. PlayStation magazine + Game Informer magazine Infront of them. (I brought them with me so I can read them during lunch time when I alone to myself or at the front office when im ready to be picked up) They all saw the magazine and stand there in silents, when the cool kid said: "They can come if they want to." Not only did I save my tail, but also the other girls too.
Once they put in the disc, and boot up the console, We all saw a janky 3D girl character introducing to the demo and more, and the other options of games to play. The cool kid then said: So, which one yall want me to play?" Everyone in the room Responded: Final Fantasy X!!
And so He did...everyone in the room went quite, we saw the Square logo and then THAT iconic Music started playing and seeing all 7 different characters siting around the fire while one of them (named: Titus) climes up a hill and looks afar at the sunset...then the title dropped; already Me and the two girls were in amazed by the beautiful setting, and the game just getting started, next thing we knew the 3D animation drastically changed with the main character laying in a water all wet (That definitely caught the girls eyes) and then his eyes open and the music changed from melancholy piano to Rock, it caught all of us off guard, but that didn't stop us from head banging to the music. There was a lot going on too: from the strange fantasy water sport, to a mysterious yet cool looking guy (Named: Auron) on top of a building and a Huge tsunami coming in destroying buildings and once were all set in on the game sequence the cool kid started playing and From the looks of it, it looked easy so far; Though is was a Demo. Then as Titus and Auron were done fight off the "Sins" a giant moving sky portal open and sucked both of them up! and that's were the demo ended on. We some groan while others say "No!" just when things were getting good.
As the others Boys were playing SSX Tricky; me and the other girls went to Comfy Room (aka: The Library Room) and read one of my Gaming magazine I pulled out, including one Animerica Magazine together. Probably one of the peak moments in my Kindergarten years.
From that point on in 2005 I was fascinated with Final Fantasy series and all thanks to that one cool kid, gaming guidebooks and especially YouTube; I've remember all the gameplay, Trailers for other spinoffs and main titles, Parody Videos and GMV (Game Music Videos).(I even made my self a playlist of all gaming moments and random videos on YouTube of my memories) So, it doesn't matter if im a girl who love Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy Series because I've got many other games I know, want to know of and finely fully playing them!
Which comes to my main problem: Me having the courage to play the game! And during my not so middle class life: I've found out that its not just me; there are other Guys and Gals who are also struggled in life and money and had to read guidebooks and magazines and Watch YouTube gameplay videos and they still do! (since Gaming has been getting expensive too) so they (including me) try to find other alternatives ways to play games like: emulating or Pirating them as a whole.
As Im doing this blog; I now have a PSP and a Gameboy SP with games for me to play. Not only am I proud of myself for overcoming my fear, but this was just the start of my gaming journey,!
As of right, keep discovering and searching new and old video games, Keep griding until YOU have fun and Stay Golden! 💛
