Know Your Roots

This is me.  So no, I do not have freakishly long arms and did not in fact take this photo.  I did however ask Andrea to take this photo with my iPhone, so it is good enough for me.

This is me, playing my Sega Master System.

This is the Sega Master System, not mine, but an example.  As you can see in my picture, the TV I am playing on is quite large and in full color.  The TV my older brother and I originally played this on was neither of the 2.  We had a black and white, about 19" or so that had to have the necessary adapter installed just to be able to play the game.  Yes, we have come a long way.  Amazingly, I still remembered controls for the games I got working, and even the bonus maze game that you can access from the error screen that appears when there is no game present.  If any of my controllers had worked better that would have been great.  The system has literally been sitting in a garage collecting dust, to the point that it is covered in it.  Great fun.

During this same time we were also successful in hooking up and playing the Sega Genesis.  Such a classic system.  For the record, I didn't own a Nintendo until I purchased one from an older brother's friend, after we already had the Genesis.  Once I convinced some of the Genesis games to work, it was great.  I played Bill Walsh's College Football '95.  Technically the 2nd College Football game produced by EA, it was by far the forerunner to the current NCAA '10.  It was the first to have actual school logos, a decent number of formations, and customizable audibles.  Nothing like using Kordel Stewart to run the option.  I also played NHL '94, which is of course the greatest hockey game ever.  NBA Jam was also included.  Nothing like playing a basketball game in the mid 90's that didn't include Michael Jordan.

As I said, getting these games to work was not easy.  Fortunately, we have come a long way since the old method of blowing on it.  That's right.  I used compressed air.  Really changes the way you do it.  There was also a lot of banging, as these machines are certainly quite different than today's counterparts.  Let us pause for a moment to remember Sega CD.

You will also note in this picture the original Nintendo, as well as the classic 64, which was the last relevant system for serious team sports play produced by Nintendo.  Game Cube was behind on the times, and the Wii is great for things like golf, but just not a good way to play Madden.

2 buttons and a D-Pad.  What more do you need?


*Taken with iPhone, 11/7