Video Games meme

[muscadine]

1. What was the first video game you have ever played?:
Pong

2. What was your first console?:
The first I owned myself was the original NES (Nintendo Entertainment System). I got it with the Zapper light gun, and ROB (Robot Operating Buddy) though I had no game for him. I still have the system hooked up, and I still have ROB, though just for show.

3. Have you ever visited a video game arcade?:
Lots. I frequented one in the little mall in my hometown.

4. What was your first handheld?:
The original Game Boy. I still have it. It's funny to see the pea-green screen and feel how much heavier it weighs than, say, the GBA. I think it's like a pound.

5. What was the first game you've beaten/cleared completely? (Got to the last level/got 100%/beat high score, etc.):
Probably Super Mario Bros.

6. Games based off of real sports: Yay or Nay?:
I played several back in the NES days, like Nintendo's generic series (ie, "Baseball") or Techmo Bowl. Now the closest I get are the "fun" variations, like Mario Kart/Golf/Tennis, Monkey Ball, etc. or the RPG games like Blitzball in FFX.

7. Online games: Yay or nay?:
I play a MUD and that's pretty much it. I think the idea is cool, and I may get into it more once I get a DS and/or one of the next generation of consoles since they all promise more integration of online play. I have a few computer games but don't generally play them, and most of the MMORPGs scare me because I fear I would become addicted.

8. Do you play any Massively Multiplayer Online RPG games? (MMORPGs?):
See #7.

9. Do you play any virtual pet games? (Neopets, Teripets, Aftermathzone, etc.):
Not so much. I used to have a computer game that had a virtual cat pet. Animal Crossing is sorta similar too in some ways though I haven't played that in a while.

10. Puzzle games and Strategy games: Yay or Nay?:
Strategy games are one of my favorites. I'm currently playing Disgaea. Final Fantasy Tactics is my all-time favorite (the Advanced sequel is pretty good too). And I love the Ogre Battle series. Other pretty fun variants: Advance Wars, Fire Emblem series, Gladius. Puzzle games can be fun but I rarely play stand-alone puzzle games unless they have a "party game" aspect.

11. Do you play any RPGs?:
They are my #2 preference after Strategy. All the usual suspects.

12. Do you play any Platformer games?:
Mostly Nintendo platformers like the Mario series.

13. What was the first game/console/handheld of yours that stopped working?:
I've never had a game system stop working. *crosses fingers*

Characters/Plot

14. Do you actually care if a game has a plot or do you just play games for the gameplay?:
The way RPGs are involved they are basically about the unfolding of the plot. The gameplay is just (hopefully fun) interludes in between. Adventure games like Zelda depend pretty heavily on both. With strategy games the gameplay is the thing, although a good plot definitely helps. And with platformers the plot is just what moves the gameplay along really. Then some games don't have a true plot to speak of (most racing/sports, puzzle, or even some sim games like Animal Crossing).

15. Name a few video game characters that are your favorites.:
In no particular order: Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad (Mario series), Link & Zelda (LoZ series), Samus Aran (Metroid), all the main characters and many of the side characters of Chrono Trigger & Secret of Mana, Ramza & Agrias (FFTactics), Alveen (Hoshigami), Aerith (FF7), Vivi (FF9), Yuna, Kimahri, & Lulu (FFX), Mog (FF Series), the characters of Eternal Darkness, the main characters of Disgaea.

16. Name a few series that are your favorites:
In no particular order: Mario, Legend of Zelda, Chrono, Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy, Ogre Battle.

17. Has a video game ever made you cry?:
Yes.

18. Has a video game character annoyed you so much that you wanted him removed from the game?
Oh yes.

19. Do you "pair" or "ship" characters up with one another? (make/create/write romance involving them):
I don't actually write anything but sometimes I think about it or read what others have written.

20. Do you write video game fanfiction?:
No.

21. Do you draw video game fanart?:
On occasion.

22. Do you come up with theories on how a character came to be/what he or she would do in a situation/why he or she is moody/etc.:
Sometimes.

23. Are you a "fanboy" or "fangirl" of any character?:
Not really.

Boss Battles/Villains

24. Hardest Boss Battle:
I dunno. Some of the Zelda bosses can be a challenge. Most RPG bosses just require you to level up enough or know the right combination of techniques/strategies to overcome. The ultimate FFX monsters are pretty tough from that POV. And some of the single-dual battles of various strategy games.

25. Most Frustrating Boss Battle:
Probably Chrono Cross, where you have to use elements in a particular order to get the best ending. Also, the final temple guardian in FFX.

26. Most Rewarding Boss Battle:
Ummm...any final boss? Chrono Trigger has the neatest variable endings.

27. Funnest Boss Battle:
Ozzie from Chrono Trigger.

28. Most Boring Boss Battle:
Usually the first or second boss you encounter in the game.

29. Boss Battle that dragged out for a long, long time:
Any battle which requires the boss to instakill one or two of your party, so that you have to then revive them so they can get one attack in before they instakill them again.

30. Boss Battle with the coolest music:
I like most boss battle music.

31. Most Surprising Boss Battle:
The Legend of Zelda Wind Waker final battle was not exactly what I had anticipated. Eternal Darkness also tosses some interesting challenges your way.

32. What's your all time favorite villain?:
I don't have one favorite, and my favorites are mostly the usual suspects: Ganon, Sephiroth, Bowser, Team Rocket.

33. What's your all time least favorite villain?:
The Dark God of Gladius ended up being pretty lame. The _actual_ villains of FFX are kinda lame although Sin was pretty cool. The final boss of FFTactics is also something of a let-down compared to earlier challenges. Chrono Cross was too convoluted.

34. Do you ever feel sorry for the villains?:
Many times the villains are portrayed as having mixed or justified motives for their evil behavior.

35. Are there any villains that seem like they should be playing for the good guys, but aren't?:
Sure. Some are intentionally protrayed as mislead.

36. Most malicious villain:
Sephiroth.

37. Most surprising villain:
...Magus of Chrono Trigger?

Favorites

39. What's your favorite 3D game? (PS1/N64/Saturn generation):
What the heck is a 3D game? A non-sidescroller? Probably FFTactics and/or the two Legend of Zelda games of the N64.

40. What's your favorite arcade game?:
Bad Dudes. :)

41. What's your favorite next-gen game? (Gamecube/PS2/Dreamcast/X-Box):
These aren't really "next gen" anymore... Super Smash Bros Melee and Super Monkey Ball are the best party games. LoZ Wind Waker is the best Adventure. Disgaea for best RPG/Strategy.

42. Sequels/long series: Yay or nay?:
It's the quality of the game that counts.

43. What's your favorite Online Game?:
DreamsMUD.

44. What's your favorite console?:
GameCube & PS2 each have their niches.

45. What's your favorite handheld?:
GBA, since I don't yet have a DS and have no plans for a PSP.

46. Have you ever got yourself involved in a "console war"? (arguing that a console is better than another console):
Not really. We used to have a teasing back and forth between myself (an SNES owner) and a good friend who owned a Sega Genesis. But, to each their own really.

47. Have you ever defended a character/game/console you liked in an argument? Which one?:
Yes, I've defended some consoles. Most of the ones I own, some I didn't at the time.

48. Name a game that you like but everyone else seems to hate.:
I guess a lot of people didn't like Chrono Cross, but I enjoyed it for what it was.

49. Name a character that you like but everyone else seems to hate.:
Ummm...I dunno?

50. Name a game that you hate but everyone else seems to like.:
I don't really have a deep hate for games, I just don't play them if I don't think I'll like them.

51. Name a character that you hate but everyone else seems to love.:
Tinkle (LoZelda).

Miscellaneous

52. Have you ever stopped before you finished a game because it was too frustrating to go on?:
Yes.

53. Will you stop at NOTHING to get 100% in a video game?:
Not really, but I can be fairly persistent with some games.

54. Have you ever injured yourself at a video game? (Space Invader wrist and Mario Party 1 blister victims may answer yes):
Yes, blisters, sore fingers, etc.

55. Has a horror/survival genre video game scared you to the point that you refused to finish the game? Did you get nightmares from said game?:
Not to that point but I've been startled/frightened.

56. Have you ever thrown a controller/disc/cartridge in a fit of frustration?:
Controllers, very rarely, and not very hard.

57. Do you need to blow/clean certain games to get them to play?:
Old Nintendo games sometimes, but I also have a cleaning system for them.

58. Have you ever played a game for so long that you missed sleep over it?:
Yes, I commonly spend all night or even multiple nights playing after getting a new game.

59. Were you ever involved in the Pokemon craze?:
Yes, I have all the original games (Red, Blue, Yellow) and a few of the others. I once had all the first season's episodes on tape. Pikachu and some of the others (Charmander, etc) I find cute. I've not played a new Pokemon game in a long while though. It just got too complicated without adding much to the game.

60. Last but not least: Do you picture yourself playing video games 10, 20, or 30 years from now?:
Of course.