The Generation Gap

So, it's been a whole year since the XBOX 360 came out? Why, everyone who's anyone must have one by now, yes? All the truly devoted gamers on this site must have one by now, right?

Wellllll , perhaps not. There are still lots of us back in the last generation, and it turns out that we still have fun too. Granted it's mostly with one game, good old H2, but still. I won't go into the many reasons why a lot of gamers don't have a next gen system, except to say it isn't always because of money. In my case, I guess it IS about money, but it's more about too many "unexpected" expenses this year, coupled with my total aversion to using a credit card for anything short of a device whose sole function is to keep me or a loved one alive. So, you can easily say that I don't have a 360 or any other next-gen console by choice.

Now, I do have a few other items that have somewhat bridged the gap for me. You regular readers know I have a Nintendo DS which I love. It is a great companion on my many travels, and one that my wife doesn't mind me handling for hours on end while I'm on the road. I also have my Dell XPS, which has allowed me to enjoy a few PC titles that my old machine simply could not run.

So, I am not in any sort of last-gen funk, because I do have some cool toys. The interesting thing is that I still spend more time on Halo 2 then I do with my DS or my PC. I will admit to coming reallllly close to taking out my H2 disc and playing some Crimson Skies the other night, but, I began to wonder if my drive would even open if I tried to remove the H2 disc, and decided not to risk it.

I was bargain bin perusing the other day and noticed that there were right around 10 XBOX games in the bin for less than $10 that I had never played. And, these were not games like "Super Gizmo Hacki-Gotchi Fun Fun," they were games like PGR2, MechAssault2 and Counterstrike. Granted, these are all older games, but, I've never played any of them, and have heard good things about them all.

So, what is it that will, eventually, compel me to buy a 360? Clearly, I could play my XBOX for a long time to come with lots of games that would be new to me and wouldn't cost much. Although it would be easy to say that I just have to have to next gadget, that's not quite right. Although I do love gadgets, my thrist for them has waned over the past 5 years or so. I don't have an iPod, my cell phone pretty much just makes phone calls, and the only thing HD about my TV is that it weighs about as much as Heavy D.

No, the reason I will get a 360 at some point (probably pretty soon) is almost entirely social. A lot of my friends play 360 games. I miss them. So, I'll get a 360. This is a huge departure from what used to motivate me to buy or play a game or gaming system. I was always about the biggest, bestest, baddest-assed system out there. Somehow, over the past few years, I've become more about the people playing the game and less about the game. And, do you want to hear the scary part? I'm OK with that. (Don't pass out or anything, I still like gaming)

An interesting side effect of the rise of the next gen consoles is how many Last Gen players I have gotten to know better since so many took off for greener pixels. I believe my friend's list has turned over about 50% in the past year, because I've added so many folks who still play H2. To all those folks, I sure am glad I've gotten to know you!

And so, I have become a social gamer. Something I once couldn't say without a sneer on my face. Yep, a Social Gamer, and darn happy to be one! As for the Generation Gap, just repeat after me: "Those darn kids and their newfangled Consoles. Why, back in my day, we had ONE BUTTON, and we were DARN HAPPY TO HAVE IT."

:)