Just now, if you feel like being a creep and stalking me, you'll notice i made a review on a PS2 Star Trek game I had bought a few years back.

It was Star Trek Encounters. Being a huge Trekker for all my life, I'm quite happy that the new movie seems to be received well by the public. Again, I plan on seeing it this Canadian Long weekend (Happy Birthday Queen Vicky!), so don't go and spoil it for me until then.

But what does this have to do with my title? Once in a while, my PS3 is humming away happily, processing 1's and 0's faster than I could ever blink, chew gum and think about what I would like to have for dessert, I notice my lil' PS2 in the corner of my entertainment unit. I do dust it off once in a while, and even consider firing her up to make sure she's still ok. (wow, was that a bad run-on sentence? Any grammarians, Please forgive me, or help me with grammar...). I haven't quite sold off my old PS2 games nor will I do so. I still like playing them once in a while on the PS3 (yes, mine is one of the 60GB babies that has a good Emotion Engine!!!) for old times sake. And it's nice to have a blast from the past.

As an aside, I loved in Metal Gear Solid 4 how they would sometimes reference the old game, or the old system, or even the old PS1 system.

Anyway, playing these beautifully crafted graphic-intensive games, it's nice to downgrade and play some old things. It's good to think about your past, and where you came from.

Even looking at Lara Croft, her Evolution has been incredible:

But I was thinking about the old Atari I first got when I was little. I remember my brother and I opening that package on Christmas day. We had this amazing game, and I remember my Dad trying to hook up the system to our old TV. This TV actually had a built in 8-track player on it (click the link if you're not sure what I'm talking about). We actually couldn't play it because our TV didn't have the right connection. We had to buy it later.

But when my dad came home with the right Video game adapter, he fired it up. The first game we played was a ****c. This game was Defender. And I'm glad that it's been recognized in a Beastie Boys song. (If you play Defender I could be your hyperspace

But to finally get to my point: I love these new games. I love my PS3. I would do things that in some countries would be considered illegal with my PS3. Even my friends who are huge Xbox 360 fans have traded them in for a PS3. (sure, they also got the RRoD) and have finally heard the message. (I'm sure I'll get flames for this one, but debate is healthy, even amongst us gamers!) But I do miss some of the simplicity of games like Defender. I loved the old Game Sea Quest. Even playing Berserk so long, praying that there was an escape, I finally gave up when my thumb cramped up and I lost my game privileges for a month. (sure, I couldn't for my Piano lessons, but It was worth it!).

I miss those games. I miss the old cartidges. I know my dad still has the Atari in his house, in a box, hidden away. I often contemplate getting that up and running to have fun.

But...

there was one game that really tied my knickers in a knot... even today when I think about it. E.T. The Extra Terrestrial. By far, that was the biggest disappointment I had in gaming since....well, it was my first disappointment, which I still remember. I couldn't, for the life of me (or little ET, which I shed many tears) that I couldn't get him home. This disappointment and frustration is what I felt with Star Trek Encounters. I couldn't believe that these feelings, locked so deep down, hidden away like my old 2600 could come rushing back.

So, my digital nostalgia was for crappy awful games that made me love the ****cs: Defender, Donkey Kong (when he was good, and Mario was bad!!), Combat (Tank Pong), Sea Quest, Frogger, Pit Fall...

[sniff, sniff]:cry: I have to go...

Vive le 2600 (less ET!).

Wow, did this entry take a few turns.