What a Lifetime of Videogames Has Taught Me

A Short Visual History of Videogames from Kyle Downes on Vimeo.

This post manages to combine 2 of my interests. Motion Graphics and Videogames. Having spent countless hours trying to save a Princess from some sort of world-threatening evil, I watch this video with a sense of nostalgia.  

While most kids put away the consoles sometime around high school, I’ll never surrender my gamer mentality. Here’s what I’ve learned:

Every puzzle has a solution.
Whether you’re arranging falling blocks or text boxes, every problem has an answer. It’s just a matter of twisting and shifting. Insert the right block and the problem disappears. 

You can accomplish anything with the right tools.
Mario needs a fire flower and Link needs the Master Sword, maybe you need a graphic tablet or paintbrush. Graphic design technology has come a long way. Get the right tools, buy a book, take a class. Equip yourself for success.

Imagination is more important than knowledge.
Everyone knows that warp pipes can’t teleport you to fantasy lands and that winged caps can’t make you fly. Everyone knows that mushrooms can’t make you giant. 600 years ago, everyone knew that the earth was flat.  200 years ago, everyone knew that an African American could never be president. 50 years ago everyone knew that manned-space travel was impossible.

Imagine what we’ll know tomorrow.