They just don't make them like they used to...

As the title suggests, they just don't make them like they used to. Who are "they" you may ask? In this particular case, I'm referring to video game producers. I grew up on video games and don't really see myself stopping any time soon. Ever since I started playing an old 8-bit Nintendo, I've been hooked. Funny story about how I got into japanese RPGs. One of my buddies from way back had one of those super nintendo emulators. He introduced me to "Chrono Trigger" (I'm sure he would have had an actual cartridge copy if they didn't run $200+)I suppose it doesn't hurt to have your first rpg be a game that is often considered one of the best of all time.



Squaresoft has made quite a few gems. With the merger with Enix, some other great titles were added to the catologue. You have all those Final Fantasy games, the Chrono series, Dragon Warrior/Quest, Star Ocean, Valkyrie Profile and countless others all under one roof. As good as the company is, it just seems like gaming has gone downhill in the past few years. There have really only been a few good games since the introduction of PS3 and Xbox360. Tales of Vesperia, Eternal Sonata and Star Ocean 4 have been enough to hold me over recently, but I find myself going back to my old PS1 and PS2 games. I wish some of those old games weren't so expensive and hard to find.

"I don't care too much for money," but why is it running my life?

One of those subtle little ironies of the Beatles. Then again, I was taught English by Alanis Morrisette, so I probably misused the word. Anyways... On one hand, you have the song "Can't Buy Me Love" in which the mop-tops claim, "I don't care too much for money, 'cause money can't buy me love." On the other hand, you have a cover of the song "Money (That's What I Want" - "The best things in life are free, but you can keep 'em for the birds and bees, now give me money (that's what I want)." Out of context, this might just seem like a contradiction. In context it really doesn't matter. Whether it be a testament to growth over time and a change of heart, or be it a testament to what happens when you sing a cover of someone else's song. I'm sure lots and lots of thought was put into this back in the mid 60s. PS: What the hell are they looking at anyways?

[Ahem...] So where am I going with this? I feel torn in both directions recently. It's as though I am diving head first into a schizophrenic existence. As I sit here in my one-bedroom aparment, on an expensive computer with Internet access, surrounded by various comforts and vanity items, I would like to claim that I don't care too much for material things. If I seriously thought that I didn't take most of the things I have for granted, I'd probably drop dead from some kind of instant karma what-not. But I digress. Again. The point is, I would like to think that I don't place a lot of emphasis on money. I would like to think that I don't have too much invested in material things. Could I suddenly give up what I have? Probably not. But can I do without the latest, greatest? Sure.

But... as I finish up my final month of college, money is the only thing I can think about. Sometimes I wonder if I even want to go into a career in my field of study. There are just so many things about public relations that I don't like. I'm also way too picky for my own good. It's like I want to start with my dream job instead of being happy to find a job. I might feel morally satisfied working for a not-for-profit or some company that actually does something beneficial to society. It just wouldn't feel right working for someone like Phillip Morris or some beer company, despite how well they pay. All along my plan was to look into something to do with music. I'm far too fed up with the music industry to really go that route though.

Looks like this blog will be another place for me to type out random thoughts and stream of consciousness. It is titled ruminations after all. Thoughts are cud.