I grew up in the 80s and 90s, the era of the point-and-click graphics adventure games. Games like The Curse of Monkey Island, Broken Sword, Universe, and Dreamweb.
I have a large tome on my shelf dedicated to the graphics and storylines of these games. Simon the Sorcerer, Beneath a Steel Sky, and The Legend of Kyrandia to name but a few. I spent many hours of my youth immersed in the worlds conjured up by these games. Sailing the seven seas, exploring foreign lands, looking for treasure, saving fair maidens from dragons, or just hanging out in bars talking to the drunken natives in the hope of eliciting a clue in order to make further progress in my adventure.
People say that when they dream they can’t recall if it was in colour or black-and-white. When I dream I can recall not only the colour but the resolution! I recall many a happy hour spent exploring the world of Valhalla and the Lord of Infinity to many calls of “It’s a skull!”, or “It’s just a book”.
I’ve explored many a low-resolution pixelated world in my day. Minecraft players don’t know what they are missing!
So long and thanks for all the 8 and 16-bit memories!
Category: gaming
Digital mindfulness
I’ve discovered a new form of relaxation, using a digital form of procrastination that I like to call digital mindfulness.
To indulge in this past-time you have to have reached a god-like mode in an open-world video game. Something that can be played offline where you have completed the game, or campaign, and unlocked everything. By everything I mean one hundred percent completion of absolutely everything and every easter egg found and all weaponry and power-ups unlocked. Your character is essentially pretty indestructible.
Once in this state whenever you are bored you can just boot your game and just go explore the digital world aimlessly, maybe collecting more stuff, killing stuff, exploring looking for possible easter eggs that no one has found yet, or at least reported online.
There are several such go-to games in my collection depending on my mood.
For something mild where children are around I like to dip into Lego City Undercover. I enable a few mods such as turbo on all vehicles so I can get around faster. It’s a pleasant PG way to pass some time.
For something more adult there’s Days Gone. Get on your customised motorbike and head out into the post apocalyptic wasteland hunting freakers and looking for easter eggs. There are a few. Have you found the naughty photograph or bottles of whiskey?
My current favourite is Horizon Zero Dawn. I have the sequel to play but somehow I just like dipping back into the game with my shimmering armour exploring the various landmass areas hunting machines and crafting. Hours can easily pass before you notice.
They say everyone should practise mindfulness as a form of meditation and a way to relax. I’d like to add digital mindfulness to that recommendation. Go try it.