Age No Bar, No More

摘要

Before I start scribbling my head for thoughts about first person shooters (FPS) and their history, I'll start of by giving you guys a reminiscence of one of my earliest childhood memories. I used to be a regular arcade kid, cycling my way to those deserted game parlours almost every weeknight, hoping to beat my previous scores and records set on each and every machine laid on the floor. And my dad would have to forcefully drag me out of there by my left ear. But I used to find myself repeating the very same thing the next day, all for an old and pesky yet amazingly addictive FPS called Shoot the Clown. Sure, a lot of things have changed since 1992, but somehow I still find myself shooting clowns everyday; clowns with masks, clowns with rubberish super suits, clowns with tails, clowns from other planets, flying clowns, and even clowns that spit right back at you. The only difference visible to me is the new breed of weapons and fresh environments. FPS has come a long way since the days of shooting clowns and ducks, or even spider monkeys. The degree of complexities in gameplay, visual art, skills required, and the overall stakes have changed dramatically over the years. And with gaming now rapidly taking the form of a mainstream entertainment and media outlet, consumers of all ages have become integral parts of the stream.