Conference rusure::nintendo

    
    Ha!  Yes!  I can relate!  I just had to make a *big* decision, to buy
    a new Sega or buy some MUCH needed new clothes.  The bad part is it was
    a tough decision, but I did decide on the clothing...I *needed* it.
    
    Now I'm back to plotting how to save for the Sega.
    
    Remember the saying 'a family that plays together, stays together.' 
    families have always sat in front of the T.V. to watch shows together
    and specials, and these days movies...well now at least it's not
    watching together, it's playing together.  As long as it's maintained
    as a hobby and not an addiction, video games are great.
    
    Ron.

	Yes, I can see myself in much the same situation.  I did decide that
    I would get an Amega instead of one of the 16 bit graphics machines next.  
    It costs more but has many more good games out already and has the potential
    to be a real useful machine.  Then again, it IS the heart of a number of
    arcade machines.

	I set up a DCU account to provide money for computers and games.  That 
    way I can keep a reasonable limit on the amount of money being spent.  The 
    problem is it sometimes gets diverted to emergencies, like getting the car 
    fixed, when all the other pockets have been tapped out.  I also have a rule
    that I will not buy something until I have slept on the prospect at least
    three nights after finding out how much it costs.  (On the other hand I did
    jump on Gauntlet when I saw it for $18 but I had expected to find it in the
    mid $30s and had been thinking about how bad I wanted it at the higher price
    for more than a month.  Maybe I am rationalizing...)

Boy, does that sound familiar!  If you're not careful, you could change your
paradigm as to what's important in life and what's not!

Perhaps this will help:  I can think of lots worse things on which you could
be spending your time and money!  At least you're at home with your family.
Just keep the activities in line:  not too much of any one thing and you'll
be fine.  It's when you do something to excess (eg, eat, drink, mess with
computers, read, sports, just about any human activity) that you get in
trouble.

Mike

    re. .2
    
    Yeah, I've decided to go the Amiga (not "Amega") route myself instead
  of the new 16-bit systems.  NES has had some decent games come out 
  recently to keep me satisfied for awhile.  The new 16-bit systems (TGX-16
  and GENESIS) haven't offered much in the way of RPGames, which is why
  I've held out.  With the Amiga, you get all the things a PC can do (only
  better since it multitasks!) plus as a game system, it is unequaled.
  But the purchase won't be for awhile and it won't be taken lightly, since
  the expense will be little(lot) higher.  

   re. 3
    
     My gaming has been done in moderation (do it on nights the wife
    works and the kids are in bed) but that still doesn't stop these
    guilty thoughts.  It's the same thing I go through in the summer
    when I'm playing golf.
    
-rick

    	Personally, I think playing video games is more beneficial
    	for your brain than watching most television, which is what
    	many Americans spend way too much time doing (in my opinion).
    	At least you have to *think* a little bit, or a lot, depending
    	on the game and your brain. :-)  Hey, as long as your game
    	playing (be it "excessive" or not) isn't infringing on anyone
    	else's rights or diminishing their well-being, then I say -
    	annihilate those aliens; crush those creatures; mutilate those
    	mutants; trounce those trolls; erradicate those enigmas; at-
    	tibute those anomalies; find those features; traverse those
    	terrains; master those mazes; etc.  And have fun doing it!
    
    								  Mike
    

    Well, ya only live once and ya might as well enjoy it.
    
    You wanna play a game, play a game. 
    
    I NEVER feel guilty about playing a game, of course, I sometimes go
    weeks without turning the nintendo on. I guess if all you do is go home
    from work and play nintendo for hours every night, you might be
    overdoing it....guess it depends on how many other things you need to
    do.
    
    I'm also thinking of going the Amiga route. It's just that the Amiga is
    expensive (if configured so it can do anything usefull), and I've got
    all the computer power I need right here. But, it will figure into the
    decision if/when I decide to upgrade.
    
    JoJ
    
    

    
    	My boys also got one for Christmas.  After reading this set of
    notes, it seemed strange to me that this would be a "social" type of
    thing for the boys.  I had alway thought of games are games.  I also
    own a Apple and since the Nintendo came into the house..BOY(!) do I
    have computer time availabe to me.  I also ahve to agree that this is a
    great way to get some help around the house; no work...no play.
    
    			Thom Terriffic
    

    
    	Recently, I rented the game Tetris because I was thinking of buying
    it. Well, I played it until about 4 am. I don't know why. My eyes
    started to close on me and I was still reluctant to turn the thing off.
    It's because of that that I decided NOT to buy this game. I don't need
    another "lost" five hours. It's one of those games that you can play
    and turn most of your brain off at the same time. By the time the rest
    of your brain wakes up and realizes that it was bedtime HOURS ago, and
    that the alarm clock will go off in just a few hours, your eyes are
    bloodshot and your body is exhausted. I've got to buy games that
    require the use of MOST of my brain's capacity...that way at least I
    won't be able to play much past my bedtime! 
    
    Steve