Today, I popped in Burnout 3: Takedown on the Xbox in the 360 disc tray for the first time in 8 years.  Why did I do it?  I have absolutely no idea haha.  But I did.  It is amazing how video games, though, can become such a part of you to the point that memories and people are associated with it.  

A little back story on Burnout 3, first.  Up until 2005, I had never owned a system that wasn't Nintendo made.  Had never thought to ever get a system that wasn't made by them.  However, this created an issue when Burnout 3 was not going to be released on the Gamecube.  So I saved money to buy an Xbox for the sole reason of playing Burnout 3.  I highly doubt there are many other people that got the original Xbox for that reason, but that was my reason.  I played that game nonstop until I had done everything to be done.  Except I hadn't tried out online.  After numerous trilas, I got xlive setup and purchased and started playing online.  This was my first ever experience with online gaming and my interactions to video games would forever be changed.

I quickly became a regular in the game.  I would play for hours nonstop on the weekends as school and baseball prevented me from playing on the weekdays.  I not only played a lot, but I became good.  Although not pertinent to the story, I broke the top 100 in rank during my time playing the game.  But what first started as competitive online racing quickly changed into an online medium to hang out with friends I will never meet in the real world.  I met two guys in particular that I would play online with for 2 years whether it be Burnout 3, Star Wars: Battlefront 2, or Tony Hawk's American Wasteland.  Every weekend for 2 years I would talk to these guys.

Now in 2014 going back and playing this game has caused all of these memories to surge up at once and it is quite overwhelming.  It makes you want to go and relive those moments not for the sake of being younger or avoiding the future, but just to rejoin a moment in the past that was seemingly a good point in one's life.  For a just a moment, to recapture that those same conversations, emotions, and memories.

Video games, in general, seem to get a bad rap as being anti-social or a solitary experience.  That when one engages in this hobby that they cut themselves off from the world.  But after having this moment and conversing with other gamers while working at Gamestop for 5 years, I think we all know this to be untrue.  In the case of online games, it is more than just competition that keeps us playing a shooter or a racing game on a daily or weekly basis.  We are social creatures by nature and it is that social aspect of online games that keeps gamers playing.  Even for offline games, we don't play them alone, per se.  There has never been a game I have played that I didn't tell anyone about it or my experience.  That I didn't share with others whether it was good or not.  Even when games limit us to a solo experience, we find a way to break those boundaries to share in that world.  

This is why it has been such a personal moment going back and playing Burnout 3 as all at once I relived a part of my life that has since gone by.  But this isn't a bad thing, moreso a reflection of a good time in my life facilitated by a video game.  

So how about others.  Is there a game that has more meaning than just defeating Bowser?  Would love to hear stories about games that have deeper meaning to you as well.  (Also this is the first thread I have created in about a year and a half haha)

Funny you mention this kind of moment cause I have a couple or two. So I'll try to keep this short and sweet.

1.
In the summer of 05, I've been searching high and low for a used copy of Star Fox Adventures. Luckly I found one. Also during this time my younger cousin who lives in Texas use to call at times. So one day he calls; and for some time we talk. During the conversation I'm playing the game at the same time in my living room since my had just bought his 42" tv. I don't know why but it was a nice moment; sitting alone in the room with lights dim on a clear evening/afternoon while having a conversation. It felt comforting. Sadly I lost a part of those memories when my memory card went kaput.

2.
In the spring of 2010 my local Game Crazy was closing its doors so I go to check out what was left to buy. I thought I was going to find nothing since most of the store's inventory was gone. Fortunately I found a fresh unopened copy of Odin Sphere (along with Excitebots and Muramasa), popped it in played it, never felt so mellowed out before. The spring sun, and 50*-ish cool spring air/wind came through my window. My mother, who btw just 3 months before her cancer symptoms started, was making dinner. What more could you ask for?

It was a great day; the game (although was pissing me the hell off) was one of the best rpgs I played. I was just having a blast with the alchemy.

Need for Speed Hot Prusuit does that to me. It takes me back to the carefree summer days when I'd play local multiplayer with my friends on Gamecube (Hot Prusuit 2). I get kind of a sad feeling in the background when I play the 2010 PS3 version.

Local multiplayer games in general do it to me, I noticed. Staying up late playing Mario Kart Wii online with my cousin, 4-player SSBB games where anyone and everyone would join in, and even old Mario Party games.

It's a hard feeling to describe. I'm not even sure whether it's a good or bad feeling.

Great stories.  It is amazing how when you think of that game the memory becomes so vivid.  And always you will remember particular things.  Like with Burnout 3 I always remember the moment when I played Burnout 3 the night before Hurricane Katrina.  I told them I will stay on as long as possible until the power goes out.  Kinda gave a calming moment before the chaos.

Oh I know.  I used to have 3 real good neighborhood friends and almost every day we would play Super Smash bros on the N64.  Kinda actually how I got good at the game.  And memories can be like that.  Sometimes they can be nice because you were having fun or with good people but then again you realize they are in the past and long gun.  

World of warcraft before wrath of the lich king was one of the best two years of gaming for me. I had no life playing that but it was a blast talking to people from around the world during raids.

Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door is a game I always enjoyed playing.  I actually refused one time to go to school just because I wanted to play more of TTYD ( I think I was almost done with Chapter 6).