Hey, It’s Okay to Be Excited For a New Generation of Gaming
By: Paul Lombardo
Tags: Features, Gaming, Digital Life, Happiness, Technology

Hey, It’s Okay to Be Excited For a New Generation of Gaming

Every video game generation comes to an end and it’s okay to be excited for another. As I rearranged my consoles yesterday in preparation for my PlayStation 5, I had come to the realization that I’d probably be doing the same thing again in another five to seven years. Despite this, I grow exceedingly more hyped as November 12th comes closer. Xbox fans already have their hands on their newest console, the Xbox Series X, and it’s only a matter of time before PlayStation fans get theirs.

For me, an oncoming generation of gaming is closely tied to fall. The slow approach of a brisk winter cold fills me with thoughts of new games, new consoles, and new memories — maybe that’s why fall and winter are my favorite seasons.

This time around, gamers are eagerly awaiting the release of Microsoft and Sony’s new flagship consoles: The Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5. “Launch day” is full of memories for everyone, whether it be the long wait for a package to be delivered or the overnight stay at your local electronics store. With COVID-19 causing a quarantine this year, things will most certainly be different for most gamers, but that hasn’t stopped Microsoft and Sony from providing new consoles.

Why do people get excited about new consoles? Many would say new games or better graphics; you might even hear a few people getting excited over new controllers. Hell, maybe it’s even a facet of our capitalist society: hyperconsumerism. There’s nothing more novel than owning a contemporary piece of technology.

Video games have been a staple of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was little, my uncle would have to read the words on the screen to me as I played games (Lego Star Wars on the PlayStation 2 was always a good time). That means I’ve been gaming before I was literate, so it’s definitely been a long while. As such, the experiences and the memories they provide are invaluable to me.

Source: Microsoft.

Growing up, gaming shaped my identity. Many periods of my life are tied to certain generations of games, like how elementary and middle school is the era of the Xbox 360. The Xbox One filled my free time during high school and even leading into college, up until I finally built my PC, which is a window of time on its own. These consoles were escapes from many hardships in my life, and honestly, all of my closest friendships developed through video games. Without my trusty Xbox, I’d have been a lot lonelier growing up, and I thank Microsoft for that. Introversion has many downfalls, but gaming was a remedy.

The kinds of games I played throughout my gaming history change as well. Square Enix and Disney’s ultimate mashup of Kingdom Hearts is a nostalgic blast from the PlayStation 2 era. Building towns with friends and mining for diamonds in Minecraft as well as playing mind-boggling custom games in Halo Reach are memories of my Xbox 360. I could list dozens of games for the Xbox One, but Grand Theft Auto V comes to mind as a game I spent many hours online goofing around with friends. Destiny provided hundreds of hours of raiding with friends that I’ll never forget.

Nowadays, my favorite games are those that provide enough room for deep analyses and commentaries. Longer, more mature titles like Persona really catch my attention — but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a bit of fun party-gaming every now and then. It’s intriguing to look, in retrospect, at how our gaming habits develop and change.

Source: ScreenRant.

A new generation of consoles doesn't happen often and it’s worth getting excited over. Expressing your interest in video games, being exhilarated to play them, and harboring joyous feelings during a time where the world is in an iffy state is totally okay. Writing about games has been one of the only ways I’ve stayed sane during this grueling quarantine. SUPERJUMP’s enthusiastic view on gaming and the joy of the hobby has been more than warming during times like these.

Watching gamers on the internet, young and old, come together to talk about their memories with consoles has prompted me to remember just how important this little hobby of mine is. The kickstarting of the latest generation of games comes with the potential of new memories to form. The delight of unboxing a shiny, contemporary console, plugging it in, and booting up your first game can’t be beaten — especially in a time where gaming is a distraction from the state of the world.

Some believe it’s in poor taste to get excited over video games when there are so many issues in the world, but I say phooey to that. Get out there and raise your voice to how much you love video games. There’s nothing wrong with escaping to a virtual world and focusing on things that make you happy. Boot up that console and get gaming!