Story Weekend: Computer Games
My theme for this week’s Story Weekend came to me from my seven-year-old grandson. I’ve managed to avoid Angry Birds all this time, but while spending the day with him Tuesday, he introduced me to the vengeful little critters, and in an effort to bond more fully with him, I indulged. And now I pay the price in full-out addiction.
I’d love to hear your experience with computer games, so here’s your chance to tell me and the rest of the world about the time wasters in your life.
If you’re new to Story Weekend, here’s how it works: I pick a theme and you share something from your life that relates to that theme. Thanks to all of you who’ve been contributing. I’ve loved reading your (very short!) stories. As always, there are a few “rules”:
- The story must be true.
- Try to keep it under 100 words. That’s about six or seven lines in the comment form. I want others to read your story, and most people tend to skip if it’s too long. I know how tough it is to “write tight” but I hope you’ll accept this as a challenge.
- Avoid offensive language.
I usually kick off Story Weekend with my own comment, but I’ll be out of town when this post goes live and I’m not sure my comment will show up right away, so if it doesn’t, I hope one of you will be brave and get us started. Have fun!
Freecell was my weakness back in the days when you had to download games to play on your computer. I couldn’t stop and my work was suffering. I finally made up a nonsensical password I would need to use to log into the game, gave it to my stepdaughter, and told her never to let me have it. Twenty minutes later, I was begging her for it. She was strong. I recovered, but the withdrawal symptoms were ugly!
I had never played online games because I thought there was so many more useful things I could do with my time. Two nights ago my son started playing Angry Birds on his phone and taught the game to my grand daughter. She begged me to try it. Uh-Oh. Now I’m hooked. I wouldn’t go to sleep until I had cleared two levels with 5 different types of bird scenarios. Guess what I did as soon a I had my shower the next morning LOL !
I think the first computer game I got addicted to was pyramid solitaire. I’ve gone thru Bookworm, Zuma, Luxor, and many others. I love playing the hidden objects games with storylines attached. But like many, my new time waster favorite is Angry Birds. I saw it mentioned as an app on a commercial for a phone and noticed it was also available on my Nook. My husband and I wondered what the game was about and since it was only 2.99 we bought it. Instant addiction…..those damn pigs!! I have even bought Angry Birds Rio. And 2 days ago at Walmart my husband bought me a stuffed pig with a crown and the little red bird. I love his angry expression. Okay, enough time away….next level…..I know I will beat this time……
Way back in the early 80s, I worked in the inpatient lab of a major hospital, mostly on night shift (by choice). The workload on nights and weekends varied widely from totally frantic to snoozeville for half the night. Someone brought in Space Invaders on a floppy for the TRS-80s that ran the result input systems. Such hours of fun with such a new thing! How rudimentary it would seem now…. Eventually the inevitable happened. After a couple of years, a lab tech got unexpectedly very busy and forgot to remove the floppy. On day shift it was discovered by one of the wrong people and confiscated. We had to find other entertainment after that.
I remember Pong – when we hooked up a console to the TV that played only one game. Moved on to Nintendo and Tetris, Frogger, Space Invaders…and the arcades with my favorites Ms PacMan and Tron. I do not remember any real addictions to a game unilt now…when my game addiction is Mah Jong… well, and Chuzzle. 🙂
Diane, I really dont have a story for this subject since the only game I’ve ever played on the computer is Solitaire…nothing to tell…but I will say this, I laughed out loud when I read your story! (-O:
Diane I must admit total addition to Farm Town…I love it and it is so cool to make a design with flowers or trees. My girls saw a joke about that and I told them so true. Thanks Diane and I am not playing Angry Birds!
I am hooked on mahjong and hidden object games. I never pay attention to my score, but I look at the time. Each time I play I want to beat my best time or at least beat that particular level before time runs out.
Hi Diane, I am totally addicted to Angry Birds as well, it was introduced to me by my son when I got my new phone. The first thing out of his mouth was, “have you played Angry Birds yet?” Well once he showed it to me the die was cast. Last week my husband and I were in Grand Cayman, the tv there is not the best and one night we found ourselves sitting on the couch, both of us playing the game, Angry Birds even invaded our Caribbean vacation…lol.
Life has moved on quite considerably since the old Commodore 64 in the early 80’s! Each time I get introduced to some new ‘fad’, I tend to be in total denial of the need for it. I resisted the Wii, resisted the DS Lite, resisted TomTom Sat nav, Apple iPhone and the Kindle. Now ask me which of these I own and I have to confess that I have the lot, and couldn’t imagine life without them!
After owning my iPhone for a couple of months or so, and resisting downloading any games, I have to confess that I too am now an Angry Birds fan. Games have come a long way since Pac Man and I am showing my age!!
Laughing hysterically here because now you are hooked as is my whole family except me! So, I shouldn’t tell you this, but I’m hooked on Pinterest. I’m warning you now, once you enter you can’t get out quickly. Soon you’ll be a pinhead too. ;-D