Not Just a Game

If I were to tell you 2 decades ago that ESports would be a multi-billion dollar industry and a Worldwide accepted sport you would laugh your ass out. To be honest i would have laughed too. Passions and Dreams are powerful tools capable of doing anything thus this happend.

"Hey Im Next". Jessie putting a coin in front of the screen signaling he's up next to play the arcade game.

Back then the only videogames we had that could support multiplayers was arcade games the titles were mostly fighting games like MORTAL COMBAT, STREET FIGHTER, CAPCOM VS MARVEL. Etc.

"Hey rowen come on its our turn". Jessie said.
"Coming!!". Rowen shouted.
Sitting down on an old plasric chair gripping the joystick with joy and excitement in his face.

Jessie was already good at games but not fighting games he was more on MOBA(Multiplayer Online Battle Arena)A game called DOTA more on that later.Jessie's my cousin he was a lot older than me much older. I was the eldest of my siblings, he was the closest thing I had to an older brother. He would introduce me to many things but the best thing he introduced me to was playing videogames.

One day he called me at my house.
"Rowen!! Come down here lets goo!!". Jessie shouted.
Shouting at the Bedroom from the Living Room.
"Where you two headed?". Jessie's mom asked.
"Just out". Jessie said with a smirked to his face.
"Just be home before dinner,okay?". Jessie's mom replied.
"Let's go jessie". Rowen said.

While walking to the usual place we would play arcade games.

"Hey were you going?". Jessie asked.
"To the arcade? Duhhh...". Rowen sarcasticly said.
"Uhmm were not going to the arcade." Jessie replied.
With a weird smile. Almost like hes planning something evil kind of smile.
"So where are we going?". Rowen replied with a confused look on his face.
"Come on just follow me". Jessie said.

So I followed him. He took me a few blocks away. When we reached our destination.I recognized the place but never Got a chance to go in. Why wouldn't i recognize it it's right across my uncle's house.

"We're going in there?". Rowen asked. With a troubled look.
"You wussing out?". Jessie answered with that smirked smile of his again.
"No way!". Rowen replied. They were already there why not just go through with it.
"Come on now!" Jessie said.

The place where Jessie took Rowen to was a fairly new Computer Shop right across my uncle's house. We would never go in cause we were scared as kids. They say only 16 above was allowed to go in so i never even bothered to go in I was just contented with the arcade games that i played. The Shop's name was "CYBERHOLIC" yeah sounds addictive right?. Yeah well little did I know this place would be a stepping stone for my addiction in the future to which would become my Passion.

Jessie opens the door. The room was lit with red LED light strips on each side, the airconditioning felt like you were on the freaking NorthPole, each side had 20 computers.Jessie walked in like it was his house.

"Hey jessie!!". The clerk said. Giving him a high five.
"Hey whose the kid?" He asked.
"That's my cousin, Rowen". Jessie replied.
"Hey". Rowen said softly.
"Nice meeting you kid, Im Rj". With chill and calm voice. You could tell this guy was cool the way he dressed the way he carried himself he was so chill and approachable.
"Rowen, Nice to meet you" Replied with a shy voice.
"Hey jessie open time?" Rj shouted across the room.
"Yeah 16 and 17". Jessie replied.

Listening to them like what the F** are you guys talking about.

"Hey come here! Sit!". Jessie yelled from across the room.

It felt like a trainer was teaching me new tricks. Confused as I sat down. Held the mouse I was (INTRIGUED? Spelling?) at how the mouse works it had a ball at the bottom it was heavy and too big for my hands. Put my other hand on top of the keyboard pretending to know what I was doing. The keys were so soft and new.

"So what now?" Rowen asked. Confused as ever.

"What do you mean so what? We came here to play games did'nt we?". Jessie replied.

"How?" Rowen asked again.

"For the love of---!" Jessie annoyed at how ignorant I was.
Well can you blame me i thought we were gonna play arcade lile usual. Mashing some buttons and banging the joystick so hard that it might break. So yeah.

So he taught me the basics point and click. Type this type that. Just the basic commands.

"So what game should I play first?. Rowen asked jessie with excitement.
"Do you wanna try shooters? Or more fighting games?" He replied.

Since i always played fighting games i think ill try something else right? And I felt wierded out playing fighting games without a joystick and buttons to mash.

"I'll try some shooter games." Rowen replied.

He pointed out a bunch of games to choose from. I didnt know a single game that he pointed to since it was my 1st time using a PC. So i just randomly picked one.

"Huh..". Jessie said with a bit of amazement in his voice.
"What's the matter?" Rowen asked noticing jessie's reaction when i loaded up the game.
"Nothing it's just. That game is actually the 1st game I ever played." Jessie replied and laughed.

The game i just booted up was no other than "GTA: SAN ANDREAS" yeah so little did i know this game is pretty massive and revolutionary for its time.
Well the game would become an all time classic and set the standards for what an OpenWorld games should be. Let's not geek out about the details.

Game started I saw the iconic "R" logo which meant "Rockstar". Entered the game, Watched the 1st cutscene of the game and heared the iconic line of Cj "Here we go again".

Poured a few gameplay in. It was hard at first but I got the hang of it. Little did I know time passed by so fast. I already played a few hours in and I didnt even noticed. Tap jessie on the shoulders and gave him a signal that we gotta go.

"Jessie that was fun!" Rowen said with much joy in his voice. "Let's do it again tommorrow!". Rowen begged jessie.

"Yeah sure. Like you would ever accept no for an answer you spoiled brat!" Jessie replies with a fun and joyful tone.
He was happy seeing rowen enjoyed so much. "Hey come on dinner's ready! Let's eat." Jessie added.