I Used to be a "Triple A" Gamer

Since the late '80s, I have had an obsession with video games, especially role playing game or RPGs. Having rented, borrowed, and even purchased the newest or most talked about games for systems like the NES or Sega Genesis, my entertainment life would feel complete for the next two decades. I could plug in and experience worlds full of colorful badies or game ending dragons before dinner time. Hell, once saving your progress became easier, I could head off to work without leaving my system on and go right back to where I struggled to get to. Those were the veritable "good 'old days" of gaming as an industry and as a fan.

Now, my personal life took a sharp turn as 3D graphics and intensive immersion became the industry norm within systems like the Sony Playstation and Microsoft XBox (the only time that system's name made sense), and I removed myself from gaming to live a new lifestyle. The Army life left very little time for gaming and even less money for buying. I found my joy in emulators, reliving my past successes and even creating new ones (I finally beat Legend of Zelda), while longing for that sweet immersion into fantasy once again. Upon leaving the service, my immersion began in full, and I picked up where I left off...sort of.

The XBox 360 lacked RPGs but the home PC brought back that immersion. It also brought me a new way to find the next greatest thing coming out. And I started pre-ordering from the top publishers; Bethesda, Rockstar, Square Enix, and Blizzard to be more exact. Not every Final Fantasy is good. Oblivion sucked. Diablo 3 was OK but World of Warcraft had me playing for years just chasing achievements in between the next DLC. Fallout New Vegas was great except the crashing in random doorways. I blindly payed top dollar for mediocre games that had bugs. We bought lemons and we still do it today. Personally, one game brought me to reality, and it also launched a new view point on what I enjoy playing to this day.

October 23, 2018 launched the worst excuse of a "Triple A" title I have ever come across (except maybe Red Dead Online but that doesn't really count). I can sit here and rant about the glitches or the disconnects, perhaps the scorchbeasts roaming into beginner territory and you can't get out of your power armor and you're out of fusion cores and ammo and your friend just died because of a wandering deathclaw spawning in. Then it disconnects. And servers are down. 300 plus hours of gametime and I just couldn't try any longer. With a headfull of disdain, I stopped buying new games. I also swore about it and kicked my feet a little.

I wanted to just quit. Done. My PS4 wasn't that old or used and I'm sure I could have gotten some Funko Pops. Instead I listened to a few friends and started down the lost worlds of indie titles and simulation games. Content and games I once would offer only a passing glance at offered that long lost immersion. As new major titles released, I tended to my crops and waited for a good sale instead. I could watch others get disenfranchised live while trawling for fish in the Atlantic. Retro games can bring you back to those Saturday mornings again or let you watch your child's eyes glow with accomplishment. What I am saying is, Bethesda's biggest failure taught me to pull my head from my ass, keep my money, and enjoy the simple times again. Thanks Todd Howard!