Game Genie - 2/8/19

God mode. All keys, all weapons, full armor, and full ammunition. Could you imagine having everything you ever needed, and some?

When the Game Genie came out in the early ‘90s, it did just that. The struggles of beating bosses, solving puzzles, and acquiring all items vanished with secret eight-character codes. You could rip through enemies like they weren’t even there, kill bosses with a single touch, and input as much money, armor, and life as you wanted. Boom! Game beat. Mac & Cheese.

These $50+ games, developed and designed by hard working people for months or years, were beat in minutes then returned to the shelf. The communal Game Genie we all chipped in to buy was tucked in small padded backpack, ready to be transported safely to friend’s houses or exchanged on the school playground like a suitcase full of cash. It represented guaranteed victory, success, wealth, and health.

As games were beat and the Game Genie made its way through friend’s collections, there was one emotion that I was not prepared for.

BOREDOM.

As I delved into why this was happening, it had occurred to my young mind that the puzzles, enemies, and bosses were PART OF THE GAME. When I removed being vulnerable, trying to survive on low resources or health, and needing to learn an opponent’s weakness, I removed all challenges. All the suspense. All the fun.

There was nothing at stake. The outcome was known before I even started the game.

When winning becomes as easy as a cheat code, the only thing being cheated is the sweetness of a hard earned victory. If you think having it all is the answer to your problems, you may need to think deeper. And when you think about what your life struggles have given you, embrace it. No one can take it from you. A tough childhood, asshole teachers, fucked up parents, a breakup, a job loss, a death of someone close, an injury, a disability. Whatever it may be, toughness, grit, and resilience forms. They are unique to your past and yours alone. How will the story play out?

That’s up to you.

So keep on playing. Keep on pressing. You’ll figure it out. I guarantee you it will taste better at the end.

Mac & Cheese!

What situations have you been through that you have risen up from or WILL rise up from?

Fuck yeah, it's Friday!

Game Genie for Super Nintendo