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Top-level
 You might wonder why I had a C64 instead of an NES. Part of the reason is that my parents wanted me to get something “educational” instead of something that would “rot my brain”. They imagined I’d spend my days writing novels and composing songs. Instead, I played games. And when I got bored with the games I had, I’d go to the library to figure out how to code my own games. 16 comments
@atomicpoet Same, but we got a TRS-80 color computer, and I never learned how to code even after I got bored with both games they bought. I just stopped using it. When I got a C64, I thought, “Wow! This could do word processing and has great graphics for games!” Because you got to remember that the first IBM PCs only had CGA graphics and they looked really awful for gaming. And if you didn’t have an IBM, you were forced to use the blocky Apple ][ or the rough black and white Macs. PC gaming mostly wasn’t as good as console gaming back in the day. C64s were the best computer gaming machines.  Gaming on IBM and compatibles didn’t really get good until Sierra got popular. It was adventure games like King’s Quest that made it worth it. As far as I’m concerned, Roberta Williams is America’s Shigeru Miyamoto. It slightly saddens me that she stopped making games in the 90s but at least she left on a high note, and got to travel.  @atomicpoet OG King’s Quest owned my childhood heart. My Dad’s IBM PC/XT was a true marvel at the time But even when IBM compatible gaming finally got relevant, it wasn’t quite like the C64. The games were just different. The C64 felt like a slightly slower NES. IBM compatible not so much.  @atomicpoet The analog joysticks really didn't help, especially the cheap ones that drifted.  @atomicpoet this is literally the only topic that matters at the moment. Unfollowing you as you chirp on and on while this is happening. Clueless. @LaureM Abortion is an important topic, and it definitively matters. But it’s also important to talk about things that don’t exactly matter. On this topic, I’d rather pass the mic to an American who possesses a uterus. Take care. @atomicpoet @smallsco Fully agreed. And glad she’s back for a remake. Oh, and since we can edit on here: The „a“ on her name didn’t take. @atomicpoet @RoganDawes I’ve been revisiting these games on retro handheld emulators. They still hold up. Fantastic games. @atomicpoet The C64 stuck around some years after the Apple II because of it. If the machine had better scrolling like the NES, I think it'd have had an even longer tail.  @atomicpoet Yep, the graphics on those 128k/512k mac games were... rough, indeed But! Those Infocom text-adventure games were what introduced me to the idea of "games=interactive-story-telling-media", which was what hooked me  @atomicpoet so ultimately your parents did get some non-rot activity for you out of it: you did start to learn coding, which IIRC wouldn't have been as easy on the NES |
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@atomicpoet Same. Only I got the TI 99/4A and my little brother got the C64.