“1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die” and Me: 70s Edition

A few weeks ago I discovered “1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die”.  That treasure led me to the discovery of “It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken” and the fact I have volumes upon volumes of comics reading to go before I die if the editors are to be believed (dubious at this point since I didn’t see the Mutant Massacre storyline singled out, X-Men #211 to be specific).

Differences with the editorial staff aside, it is an impressive collection filled with what I am sure are many yet to be discovered treasures. The book’s existence is a reason to maintain some faith in humanity in these dark times.  As there are many other geek arts in my life searched CUL’s catalog for other editions that might bring more hope. These are after all dark times, watch a Republican debate if you disagree.

Cornell Library again provides: “1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die” will be ordered later tonight from Borrow Direct, another slam dunk. “1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die” came in earlier this week. The much derided medium has been a big part of my life since I was about 5.

With “A Moment in the Sun” by John Sayles taking up most of my reading time this past week my  exposure with “1001 Video Games” has been limited to the 1970s.  Those period and the games that made it have been read through,  my personal coverage inventoried.

According to the book the high points of video games in the decade of disco are:

1971 – “The Oregon Trail” – Who didn’t enjoy going bare bones with a grueling pace and betting on who succumbed to cholera first?  It beat whatever school work you were dodging at the time.  Before reading this I had no idea the game was older than I am.  Score.

1972 – “Pong” – I love this game.  As a twin single player games held little value for me.  All they meant was that I would be spending at least half my time sitting, waiting and wishing for my brother to die.  “Pong” meant we could both play.

1976 – “Breakout” – I loved it when I was younger.  Let’s just say that my tastes have changed.

1977 – “Boot Hill” – I played this game once. ONCE!

1977 – “Combat” – A huge time sink for the same reasons as “Pong”  Bi-planes FTW!

1978- “Space Invaders” – A classic that I played, but never really embraced.  I preferred “Galaxian”

1979 – “Adventure” – This was a game I drooled over (along with “Superman”) every time I read through the Atari catalog that came with each cartridge.  If I had gotten my hands on it then perhaps I would be an RPG honk now…

1979- “Asteroids” – Fun, but I preferred “Gorf”, which was a few years off.

1979 – “Galaxian” – See “Space Invaders”

1979 – “Lunar Lander” – A fun game if you had only one token left and you were in an Arcade with 2 token games.

9/10 for the 1970s.  That percentage will go downhill from here.  A sports game rut in the 90s and early aughts will have the 1970s games earn highest percentage of “must play” games in the book.