The Crimson's Arts Board is a committee made up primarily of Gen Zers as they reflect on the games they loved as kids. In many ways, the time spent on these apps, websites, and consoles was not wasted, but now serves as memories to cherish.
Pokemon Nintendo DS Lots of video games
I have two younger brothers who are similar in age to me, so we were inseparable from our respective Nintendo DSs when we were younger. And the game that was always plugged into our devices was one of the many Pokémon Nintendo DS video games. My brother and I all chose different starter Pokémon from Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver, perhaps because their personalities clash. I chose the fire type Cyndaquil. My brother chose the water type Totodile. My sister chose the grass type Chikorita. We were constantly competing to see who could defeat all 16 of his gym leaders the fastest, and in his free time he scoured YouTube and forums to learn the secrets to catching as many legendary Pokemon as possible.
My generation now criticizes the Alpha generation “iPad kids,” but my siblings and I may have been more obsessed with screens. I was glued to my DS screen not only at restaurants, but also when I was exploring new places on vacation. Over time, and while exploring the various other versions of the Pokemon Nintendo DS video game that exist, we have amassed an impressive collection of game cartridges that are a testament to our abiding passion for the series. did. Even though the DS has long since become obsolete, the appeal of Pokemon video games remains strong. I sometimes find myself quietly opening the Pokémon Go app on my phone to relive the excitement and joy of the game.
—Staff writer Allison S. Park can be reached at allison.park@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @Allison Skypark.
Doodle Jump and Cut the Rope: Remnants of the Past
In the age of streaming services and algorithms, the idea of a ubiquitous cultural phenomenon may seem outdated. When was the last time we had a truly universal piece of media that transcended generations, races, and cultures? Downloadable iPhone games were ubiquitous.
To share the time lost to Doodle Jump and Cut the Rope, back in the days before in-game deaths came with 60 seconds of unskippable ads and free games became a place for inevitable microtransactions. It took only a few years for society to come together. Those were the blissful days when the sound that filled the middle school hallways wasn't TikTok audio, but the rhythmic “boom” of players climbing higher and higher to set new Doodle Jump records. Instead of political vitriol, the family group chat was filled with updates about who took over the Candy Crush leaderboards. But perhaps the rose-colored glasses of time are clouding our memories of this precious shared pastime. After all, with each of his Doodle Jumps that foster new friendships, Flappy Bird is tearing apart both relationships and cell phone screens.
—Staff writer Jen A. Hughes can be reached at jen.hughes@thecrimson.com.
Temple management and home taste
As far as mobile phone games go, the epic escape game Temple Run is by far the best. With technical terrain wonders and complex escape routes, this game serves as a blueprint for any mobile he running game. However, unlike other mobile games, its advanced iterations only increase the game's appeal. From the classic sequel Temple Run 2, which is my personal favorite, to more niche offerings like Temple Run: Brave and Temple Run: Oz, the game has always been based on the original concept (from monsters to idols). steal and run away) and even improve it. Visuals, more player options, and more interesting hurdles.
For years, I've spent hours feverishly swiping up and down on my smartphone, tilting it back and forth, dodging rocks, craters, and falling idols. In every game, there are moments when obstacles increase your speed and you have to increase your concentration. Its tapped-in space feels like childhood. The moment I was swiping my phone in the back seat of her mom's car while she drove me home from school suddenly came into focus. Even when I'm miles away in my dorm room, playing Temple Run reminds me of home.
—Staff writer Avery Britt can be reached at avery.britt@thecrimson.com.
Dream with the layout of Restaurant City
As I looked at floor plans for the horribly overpriced Junior Housing Lottery, I was reminded of my days playing Playfish's Restaurant City and poring over restaurant layouts on my mom's overheated MacBook. My restaurant was my pride and joy. It had magical decorations, themed sections, and restaurant scores that put me on the game's leaderboard. I swapped ingredients with friends to make quirky dishes and took virtual restaurant tours on the phone. Apart from these memories, Restaurant City gave me a platform to fulfill an artistic dream that I didn't even know I had. I was obsessed with choosing furniture, decor, cuisine, and optimizing customer aisles. . And for a long time after that, I wanted to be an interior designer. Restaurant City was discontinued by Playfish in his 2012, but even though I'm a little older now, I now use But I remember my restaurant.
—Staff writer Sean Wang Zi-Ming can be reached at sean.wangzi-ming@thecrimson.com.
Stardew Valley: The Making of a Madwoman
A friend convinced me to download Stardew Valley from the App Store, touting it as the best $4.99 price I've ever spent. I'm not much of a video game player. The closest I ever got was playing bowling on Wii Sports when visiting a friend's house. So Stardew Valley had a slow start. My in-game character, Rochelle, took a while to figure out how to use a fishing rod and collect berries, but once she did, I was hooked. According to my girlfriend's iPhone screen time (which spiked 70% the week she downloaded the app), she spent over 40 hours in Stardew Valley the week after she downloaded the app. Every time I gave a gift to one of the Valley's future bachelors, her mother asked me if I was talking to someone because I kept giggling into my phone. At one point I forgot that unlike Rochelle, I can walk around curves and keep hitting telephone poles before making a 90 degree turn. That's when I decided it was time to delete the game before I started standing in the gutter outside my house and moving it around in my hands.
—Staff writer Angelina X. Ng can be reached at angelinang@college.harvard.edu.
