Jobs and Gamer Lifestyle
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 8:08 pm
It is evident that many gamers end up in similar professions. Among those professions, software and computer engineering jobs are, I venture, dominant ones. In any case, as a somewhat young engineer, I can't help but be curious about where other gamers live and what their jobs are like. This thread is to prompt discussion about professions and lifestyle of gamers. I hope that two positive effects can be garnered: a sense of community among gamers and, more ambitiously, a network of opportunities among gamers that can be exploited to bring gamers together in work and play.
To get things started, here's a bit of my story:
Early Game Experience:
Atari 5200
I played Joust with my mom at the ripe age of 3. I was proud when I first qualified at Pole Position. My all time favorite was Dig Dug, with Qix approaching as a close second.
Atari 2600 and garage sales (recapturing nostalgia)
I began to amass quite a collection of 2600 games. I would rifle through garage sale boxes and haggle to get the best games for a quarter or two. I regrettably sold my respectable collection later in middle school when I needed a few bucks. Among the games were: Lock 'n Chase, Pac Man, Boxing, Defender, Galaxian, Adventure, Kareteka (7800), Combat, Pitfall, Yars Revenge.
Nintendo Entertainment System (the highlight of my childhood)
NES was great. I remember the best NES Christmas. My brother told me he was getting me a Barbie Dreamhouse. When the gigantic box appeared near the tree I was angry, but suspicious. Turns out, he got me TMNT for NES. The parents got me SMB2. What a Christmas.
Sega Genesis:
My brother sold the NES to a buddy for some speakers. As a consolation we got a Sega Genesis. Altered Beast was so cool and bizarre, but I missed my NES (Rygar in particular)
SNES:
Finally saved enough money mowing lawns to buy a SNES with Mario World. I'd end up playing a lot of Square RPGs on this.
PSX:
I bought it for Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
Dreamcast:
A great tragedy. So many great games. First net play. So short. I love the DC.
Gamecube:
Smash Bros. Melee, 'nuff said.
.... I don't have enough energy to recount my video game past, but it has shaped my future.
Went to college for Computer Engineering, not Computer Science. This is because I wouldn't be satisfied with just how the software works. I needed some hardware knowledge.
Got a job doing firmware development at a large corporation in Dallas, TX. Biggest regret is lack of time to play video games. I do primarily web related development for large embedded systems in enterprise computers. Got a commodore C64 in the office. Used to play Ghostbusters until the atmosphere got even more "corporate". Now I work at work and play at home.
Feel free to share a bit of your past video game experience and present work experience. I'm curious about what gamers have become.
~Icarus
To get things started, here's a bit of my story:
Early Game Experience:
Atari 5200
I played Joust with my mom at the ripe age of 3. I was proud when I first qualified at Pole Position. My all time favorite was Dig Dug, with Qix approaching as a close second.
Atari 2600 and garage sales (recapturing nostalgia)
I began to amass quite a collection of 2600 games. I would rifle through garage sale boxes and haggle to get the best games for a quarter or two. I regrettably sold my respectable collection later in middle school when I needed a few bucks. Among the games were: Lock 'n Chase, Pac Man, Boxing, Defender, Galaxian, Adventure, Kareteka (7800), Combat, Pitfall, Yars Revenge.
Nintendo Entertainment System (the highlight of my childhood)
NES was great. I remember the best NES Christmas. My brother told me he was getting me a Barbie Dreamhouse. When the gigantic box appeared near the tree I was angry, but suspicious. Turns out, he got me TMNT for NES. The parents got me SMB2. What a Christmas.
Sega Genesis:
My brother sold the NES to a buddy for some speakers. As a consolation we got a Sega Genesis. Altered Beast was so cool and bizarre, but I missed my NES (Rygar in particular)
SNES:
Finally saved enough money mowing lawns to buy a SNES with Mario World. I'd end up playing a lot of Square RPGs on this.
PSX:
I bought it for Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
Dreamcast:
A great tragedy. So many great games. First net play. So short. I love the DC.
Gamecube:
Smash Bros. Melee, 'nuff said.
.... I don't have enough energy to recount my video game past, but it has shaped my future.
Went to college for Computer Engineering, not Computer Science. This is because I wouldn't be satisfied with just how the software works. I needed some hardware knowledge.
Got a job doing firmware development at a large corporation in Dallas, TX. Biggest regret is lack of time to play video games. I do primarily web related development for large embedded systems in enterprise computers. Got a commodore C64 in the office. Used to play Ghostbusters until the atmosphere got even more "corporate". Now I work at work and play at home.
Feel free to share a bit of your past video game experience and present work experience. I'm curious about what gamers have become.
~Icarus