Technology in the good ol’ days
I was thinking the other day about how far the cellphone and technology has come. I can remember in the 6th grade that if I wanted some of my boys to come out 'n hoop or play football, I had to call their house and leave a message. If that didn’t work, I'd have to go outside and ride my bike around to see if they were already at the field or at the hoop we had. When I got a cell phone it was for emergencies only. I didn’t even turn the thing on. Nobody had a cell phone so who was I gonna call?
I will never forget when my dad got this old Merceedes. It was like a 1983 diesel. The thing always had something wrong with it. I hated the big, heavy, ol' stupid car, but the only thing good from that car was the cell phone. I guess the previous owner had it. We used that bad boy once to call my grandma. We sat in the car in front of the house and we talked to my grandma for about 5 mins. We never used it again. My dad said it was broke but I'm pretty sure that he saw the bill and his cheap-self shut project carphone down immediately - lol.
I alremeber that we used to have an extensive collection of cassestte tapes, which were great until we got CDs. Then I figured out that having tapes was the worst, most annoying thing ever. Having to rewind or fast-forward to get to the beginning of a song; maybe having to flip the tape over...
Finally, when it comes to video games, I remember I got my first Nintendo in 1989 when I turned six. I stayed up for what seemed like 48 hours playing Mario. Of course, I only got to maybe level 3, but still, I played it until the Nintendo almost burned itself out. Those were the days when if the system wasn’t working, you'd have to blow in it or blow into the catridge. Whoever made that up or discovered that was a genius because it worked every single time. I doubt it did anything, but for me it was just a habit. Man, I loved my Nintendo.
There's actually a place in Portland that has nothing but old-school video games. When my friends came into town we all went there. I sat down, had an Arizona iced tea, and played games like the first NBA Jam with Rony Seikaly and Dan Marjle, Duck Hunt, Super Mario Brothers, Ms Pacman, and I mean about 60 others. It was hilarious how tight those games were and now the graphics on a PSP is sometimes beter than playing on a big screen.
Wow, how much life has changed...
March 12th, 2008 - 22:26
Right there with you, Channing… I loved NBA Jam! That had to be the best hoops video game ever. (Drexler/Porter vs Jordan/Pippen or Payton/Kemp) Did you ever play Arch Rivals or Jordan vs Bird on the NES? Maybe a little before your time… And, when Blazers vs Bulls came out for SNES, I was all over that. They seriously need to make those games available on the Wii online store… I better go now. I’ve got to write an email to Nintendo now.
BTW – Do you play NBA Live 08 or NBA 2K8? What do you think of your skills ratings?
March 13th, 2008 - 01:14
What about telephones that had a cord to them? How about Televisions that you actually had to get up from the couch or easy chair to change the channel? Then there is Black & White TV! Oooops! Did I forget 78, 45 and 33 1/3 RPM Records?
Uh-Oh! I think I might have just DATED myself!
March 14th, 2008 - 01:13
I’m about to pick myself up the hottest game system, Commodore 64
- Jeff
March 14th, 2008 - 02:35
Blowing on the video game ALWAYS worked. I don’t know where we all got that from but I just laughed so hard after reading that.
March 14th, 2008 - 11:09
How about pagers/beepers?! Before I finally got a cell phone, my parents got me a pager. I think that was the dumbest invention ever. Someone would call it and then you would have to go search for a phone. They made absolutely no sense…
I love your blog, Channing! And by the way, nice three pointer last night!
March 14th, 2008 - 20:11
Ground Kontrol! That place is great. Everyone go check out Just Be, right next door to Ground Kontrol, they have the sickest clothes, art, kicks, and dvds.
5th grade was the best. It was all no cell phones, riding bikes everywhere, avoiding 6th graders, drinking Capri Suns, and being really scared of our girlfriends.
March 15th, 2008 - 13:13
What is the name of the story in portland that sells all the old school games? Do you by chance know where it is?Thanks:)
March 16th, 2008 - 23:26
Channing I’m right on with ya. I don’t know how blowing on the games made them work, or if it really did anything either, but man it at least gave piece of mind and then you could just play the games until they stopped working again. Its crazy how much has changed since just the 80’s and 90’s…
March 23rd, 2008 - 14:59
The old school arcade sounds like a trip. I remember working at a snack-bar inside the lobby/arcade of a pga-mini golf place when i was in high school. NBA JAM was driving me totally insane. “HE’S ON FIRE!!”, and “BOOM SHAKALAKA!” “FACIAL” + other screaming loud phrases were on a 30 second loop all day – everyday in the otherwise kinda quiet room.
March 26th, 2008 - 16:40
I still have my nintendo!!!
April 8th, 2008 - 13:26
Where is that place… I am moving to portland on Friday.. I so need to go there… And I need a sweet coffee shop to make frequent stops at… So much stuff on my mind
April 10th, 2008 - 10:57
Man, this post brought back memories! I remember thinking Duck Hunt was like the bomb. Anybody else ever own the Michael Jordan vs Larry Bird game? Haha…yeah blowing on the system worked EVERY time!
April 18th, 2008 - 18:17
For all you old school NES players out there this site may blow your mind or at least bring back some memories. I ran into it a couple months back. Something like 750 old NES games available to play online.
http://www.virtualnes.com/