It felt weird that my last journal entry was seven years ago and titled "Back Again!". So let's do something weird and revisit this!

1) What was your FIRST video game console?:
Back then: The Atari 2600. My mother was playing it while I was in the womb!
Now: Still true!

2) Name a few games you played on said console:
Back then: Frogger, River Raid, Grand Prix, and... that one with the Kangaroo... was that just called Kangaroo?
Now: Also still true!

3) Excluding handhelds, how many VG consoles do you own presently:
Back then: Hmm... well, with me, just the PS2, but I leech off of a roommate with an xBox, a 360, and a GameCube.
Now: Let's see... I guess I have a PS2, PS3, and PS4 all on the same shelf, as well as a 360. They tend to collect a fair amount of dust.

4) Were you a Street Fighter nut? Any character in particular?:
Back then: I played it a lot as a kid, but recent retries have proven how much I suck at it... I remember liking all the characters, but the whole Ryu/Ken thing was kind of a standard.
Now: 'Tis but a faint memory. I've attempted to get into some of the new ones, but they remind me how bad I am at fighting games, and how easily my thumbs get sore.

5) If you think Capcom is a FUCKING awesome company with kickass character designs, I would like to hear a "hell yes" followed by a Capcom character you love.
Back then: Ah, they're not my favorite, but they're still in positive standing with me.
Now: I feel like the writer of this survey might've been biased! Well, not many jump to mind... How about Chuck from Dead Rising 2? Kind of bland, I suppose... meh!

6) Here's the scenario.. You had some friends over and you all ate FRIED CHICKEN! After the meal you all decide to play some video games. As your friend reaches for a controller you notice his/her hands are very "greasy." Are you the type that would insist they wash their hands before pawing the controller, or is it no big deal?:
Back then: Well, assuming it's my controller... yeah, wash them, that's rude.
Now: Get out of my apartment.

7) What's your favorite RPG/Action RPG?:
Back then: Disgaea/Disgaea 2 FTW!
Now: Disgaea/Disgaea 2/Disgaea 3/Disgaea 4/Disgaea D2/Disgaea 5 FTW!


8) Do you prefer 2D games or 3D games?
Back then: I like a good mix. I do kinda cringe at some of the art direction of 3D games these days... Yes, it has a trillion polygons, but it still looks like crap... go play Odin Sphere.
Now: It really depends on the game. These days every genre comes in a variety of visual styles. But I suppose 2D is more likely to charm me.. and less likely to make me dizzy.

9) Are you an SNK fan?
Back then: Nope! I'm not a fighter, I'm a lover!
Now: What the hell is snuck?

9) Are you good at DDR?:
Back then: I haven't played in a while, but I used to be able to pass most seven-foot songs and some eight-foot... So I guess I'm good... not great, but good.
Now: It's been such a long time but... I'm sure the fundamentals are still there!... The knees might not be.

10) Who wants to kick that dog's ass from Duck Hunt?:
Back then: Hey now, someone's gotta pick those things up...
Now: Monsters.

11) Have you skipped out on important events in life because of video games?
Back then: Probably, but I didn't notice... I was playing video games.
Now: Aren't video games important events?

12) Do you listen to video game music?
Back then: Outside of the game? Occasionally... if it's like Chrono Cross quality or something. I've given massages to the original Civ 4 theme. Relaxing!
Now: All the dang time!

13) Have you ever cosplayed a VG character..?
Back then: Well, if they ever make a video game about me... I suppose I have every day.
Now: Oh, 10 year ago me, so witty. No, I haven't.

14) Have you ever been in an arcade playing a fighting game, KICKING ASS, and then some 6 year old asian kid comes in and OWNS YOU??:
Back then: I typically stay away from the quarter-eaters. Virtua Fighter is cheaper at home.
Now: What is this "arcade" you speak of?

15) Name three games you would love to see remakes of if it was done properly:
Back then: I'd love to see another Earthbound... but no one wants to legally translate them. X-Com would be great... people keep trying and screwing that up. And then I suppose there's good ol' FFVII... but I somehow can't see that going well.
Now: Huh... 2 out of 3 of those happened, and the 3rd is coming. Now... I'd like to see the old GTAs done in a modern engine. Vice City was great but I played it recently and had no idea how janky it was. I'd always be up for proper remakes of Final Fantasy games, but... I feel those are going to all be "modernized". If we're talking about sequels? Rune Factory 5, 100%.

16) Mario or Sonic?
Back then: Mario is typically a bit more solid... There have been a LOT of bad Sonic games.
Now: Neither, I guess? It's been a while since either one of them has really charmed me. But Mario definitely has more nostalgia for me. Sonic's got some pretty great tunes, though.

17) When a movie shows up in the theaters, let's use SpiderMan as an example, are you likely to buy the GAME version?
Back then: Let's see... have I won the lottery and lost all concept of a wise purchase yet? No? Then no.
Now: Ffffft..BAHAHAHAHAHA!

18) What is your LEAST favorite genre of video games? (ex. fighting, sports, shooters, etc.):
Back then: "Epic" Action RPGs, such as Elder Scrolls. I guess I like to keep my stats games and my action games seperate... Please don't hurt me for saying that Oblivionites...
Now: And then Skyrim happened... Well! Now it's scary games. I'm a coward!

19) Is there a game out there that you feel was unique and didn't get enough love:
Back then: Once again, Disgaea and Disgaea 2... Of course, I kind of wish the whole Harvest Moon line got a bit more attention, if only so they could fund them and refine them a bit more.
Now: I could go on and on about the travesty of Ubisoft destroying the Settlers series with what they did to Settlers 7 DRM... But I'll also throw Rune Factory in there for good measure, the neglected genius stepchild of Nintendo's handhelds.

20) Have you ever verbally abused a game because you couldn't beat one of the levels and/or bosses?
Back then: Oh, who hasn't, honestly?
Now: These days we call it "salt"!

21) Do you own any VG apparel?
Back then: I didn't think about it until just now but... no.
Now: A random shirt or two, a few desk plushies and such.. Typically I keep it all digital.

22) What are your thoughts on the live-action Super Mario Bros movie?
Back then: The best most terrible movie I ever not wanted to see again.
Now: A gift that was given to future generations of internet memes.

23) On that note, what did you think about the live-action Street Fighter movie?
Back then: I... didn't.
Now: And more memes!

24) Who hottest out of these three KOF chicks IYHO?
Back then: I don't really know any of them, so... the one with the hair...
Now: My survey writing friend really likes the fighting games, eh? I'll go with the one who's secretly a guy.

25) Do you say "old-school" a lot when you're having a VG conversation with others?
Back then: Fortunately, no. I'm sorry, but Gears of War is just a pinch better than Pitfall...
Now: Heh, look at me, pulling out the sick Gears of War reference. I suppose that phrase has been used more these days.. That's the problem with history, it just keeps getting bigger.

26) Have you ever lent someone a game and they returned it to you damaged?
Back then: No, I don't really have enough stuff to lend most of the time.
Now: Not that I remember? Cookware, on the other hand...

27) Do you own any imported games?
Back then: A few German and Russian PC games, I think... somewhere in that closet.
Now: Presuming translated doesn't equal imported.. not really? Most things are digital now, but I suppose I have worked my way through a few things written in Russian or Japanese.

28) Are you ready for this meme to be over, or could you keep going:
Back then: Ah, I suppose I have stuff to do.
Now: Huh? Oh YEAH! We used to call these things memes! Weird!

29) In this scenario, let's pretend you're going to get a video game tattoo! What would you get and where?
Back then: Hard one... Perhaps a Prinney on the leg...
Now: If it hasn't happened yet, I don't think it's gonna... But that Prinny does sound pretty sick.

30) Have you ever cried after you beat a game? If so why?
Back then: I can't remember doing so, but I'm sure I've gotten close... I know I sobbed a little at the end of Cowboy Beebop, but... that's not a game.
Now: Undertale can still make me cry just by playing a video of the ending sequence. Brothers got me, too, at the time... I'm sure there were others.