Video Game Program Conclusion
***Warning: This Post Will Be Sappy***
So Video Game Program: Librarystock was today and with it's mild success (success in my heart, not in amount of people) comes the conclusion of my 2+ year run of having Video Game Programs at the library. Before I get all weepy and shit (or rather helping me get all weepy and shit), here's a brief history of Video Game Programs
The Beginning
It all began at the end of sophmore year. I can't even remember how that idea was spawned. All I know is somehow I had the community room at the library booked for 'Video Game Program' during finals. I can picture that it came up in some bullshit conversation with Andrea when I mentioned how cool it would be to have video games at the library and she probably was like 'Well, do it' and I did. It was fun but I had no idea what I got myself into.
*EDIT* At the reminder from Billy, I remembered where the idea was spawned from and there's a post in itself for the details of that event. See, during sophmore year, some frosh tools made a Video Game Club that was udderly retarded and very much a failure (no offense to them, but it did crash and burn like Operation Dumbo Drop).
I went to a meeting, and realized it sucked and that I could easily make a better one if I shit in a cup and called it Mario.
So I shit in a cup and put it in the library with a mustache drawed on.
Needless to say, that failed.
So then I had a video game program during finals.
Summer 1
School ends after finals and I'm working at the library over the summer. My then boss, Ed, comes up to and comments on how the Video Game Program was kinda successful and if I wanted to do them over the summer. I probably replied with something along the lines of 'Shit yea!' Luckily I mentioned nothing about how I'd do it for free, because when it comes down to it, money is pretty fucking cool. So, for the inaugural summer, I scheduled it with a different generation each week. At the time, this sounded like a good idea. Another thing in my life that sounded like a good idea was not doing my immigration project in 8th grade and trying to hide it. In conclusion, I'm a fucking idiot.
At the first program (NES), 5 people showed up. Joe, Sean and me who were 'running' the program. Amy from the library who came in and played Tetris on her lunch break and Steph Chapin, who stopped by because she's a good friend.
The numbers grew as the week went on, but that first week set the tone for the summer. It was basically the occasional kids and the poor sap friend and much fun had by the 3 'OGs of dat shit' as Sean put it in my yearbook. I'd say this was the summer that Shelf Life was born. It wasn't until I started doing these programs that Shelf Life even stirred in my head.
Junior Year
Nothing's happening...Nothing's happening....
Until Mid-Terms, Mid-Terms this year were off the fucking hook. I believe on the two days we did it, we had the staggering numbers of 50 people on both days. While there are no record books, I'd have to say we had to set one, cuz I don't think I've ever seen more than 30 people in the library at one time before. It was at this point where I was given my dues that the VGP (sadly, the abbrievation never caught on) was the real deal.
Summer came, and we had a few programs...they were chill I guess. Nothing of note really happened except they were consistently successful. We learned that the only game anyone ever really wanted to play was Super Smash Bros Melee. So Gamecube was the center of the universe.
Senior Year AKA We're Weekly, Bitch!
So the library got the liscensing to show movies. There was a Kids Movie Afternoon, A Young Adult Movie Afternoon and an Adult Movie Night. I believe in the first month, negative 3 people attended.
So being the slacker, I mean entrepreneur that I am, I asked Andrea if I could tack on video games to these so-called 'Young Adult Movie Afternoons'
And with a touch of my nose and a shake of my hat, the Video Game Programs were weekly!
We had consistent numbers of like 20 people a week, which was earth shattering for library standards. Our climax was in November when we had X-Box 360 there on launch day. I can't recall how many people were there. All I know is that when I brought my 360, I had to sift through people to get to the table I set up for it. I didn't care that PDZ and Kameo were actually kinda shitty. I enjoyed all that was the 360.
Ok, there's really no more kind of inside poop about the video game programs. It continued to be weekly and kind of faded out into non-exisistence by the end of the year. Not many people cared as our numbers were relegated to less than 10 and they were the 'regulars'.
This brings us to today. The last video game program I will most likely ever host at the Hopewell Library. I'd be a fool if I said this doesn't have some kind of profound effect on me. It finally cements the whole 'going to college' thing. I'm leaving this safe enviorment and moving on.
I'm kind of at a loss for words.
I guess...thanks to everyone who ever took the time out of their day to come to the programs. Even if you were there just to take pizza and run. It doesn't matter, you still came to one of the few things I've ever done that is distinctly mine and no one else's.
A million thank yous to the people who helped out with these things over the year(s) (I can use plural, there were 2 solid years). I might be missing people, but I'll name the ones that stick out like a sore thumb.
Joe Patnick, for his appearance at almost every program and for being the only person to ever get any at a Video Game Program.
Sean Slover, for being there in the beginning and for bringing his much-needed distaste for new systems and his love for old systems with him. Along with his humor, which brightened many a slow early day.
Billy Brown, for bringing TVs on occasion and donating a TV (that didn't work) and for being there to set up and take down.
Pete Krasucki, for being a dedicated weekly go-er who also helped with set up and take down often.
People at the library who put up with this bullshit, namely Ed, Andrea and Hope. Mainly Andrea. Without Andrea, there would've never been anything.
This is a stupid post that most people won't get, but I think there's a few that kind of get what I can't put into words, and that is what makes this shit worth it.
No Prize goes to Glenn, who managed to be shot down by almost every female Video Game Program attender and for being witness to one (and hopefully only) car accident because he 'had to be driven home because it was rainy'...fucking a, man...
So Video Game Program: Librarystock was today and with it's mild success (success in my heart, not in amount of people) comes the conclusion of my 2+ year run of having Video Game Programs at the library. Before I get all weepy and shit (or rather helping me get all weepy and shit), here's a brief history of Video Game Programs
The Beginning
It all began at the end of sophmore year. I can't even remember how that idea was spawned. All I know is somehow I had the community room at the library booked for 'Video Game Program' during finals. I can picture that it came up in some bullshit conversation with Andrea when I mentioned how cool it would be to have video games at the library and she probably was like 'Well, do it' and I did. It was fun but I had no idea what I got myself into.
*EDIT* At the reminder from Billy, I remembered where the idea was spawned from and there's a post in itself for the details of that event. See, during sophmore year, some frosh tools made a Video Game Club that was udderly retarded and very much a failure (no offense to them, but it did crash and burn like Operation Dumbo Drop).
I went to a meeting, and realized it sucked and that I could easily make a better one if I shit in a cup and called it Mario.
So I shit in a cup and put it in the library with a mustache drawed on.
Needless to say, that failed.
So then I had a video game program during finals.
Summer 1
School ends after finals and I'm working at the library over the summer. My then boss, Ed, comes up to and comments on how the Video Game Program was kinda successful and if I wanted to do them over the summer. I probably replied with something along the lines of 'Shit yea!' Luckily I mentioned nothing about how I'd do it for free, because when it comes down to it, money is pretty fucking cool. So, for the inaugural summer, I scheduled it with a different generation each week. At the time, this sounded like a good idea. Another thing in my life that sounded like a good idea was not doing my immigration project in 8th grade and trying to hide it. In conclusion, I'm a fucking idiot.
At the first program (NES), 5 people showed up. Joe, Sean and me who were 'running' the program. Amy from the library who came in and played Tetris on her lunch break and Steph Chapin, who stopped by because she's a good friend.
The numbers grew as the week went on, but that first week set the tone for the summer. It was basically the occasional kids and the poor sap friend and much fun had by the 3 'OGs of dat shit' as Sean put it in my yearbook. I'd say this was the summer that Shelf Life was born. It wasn't until I started doing these programs that Shelf Life even stirred in my head.
Junior Year
Nothing's happening...Nothing's happening....
Until Mid-Terms, Mid-Terms this year were off the fucking hook. I believe on the two days we did it, we had the staggering numbers of 50 people on both days. While there are no record books, I'd have to say we had to set one, cuz I don't think I've ever seen more than 30 people in the library at one time before. It was at this point where I was given my dues that the VGP (sadly, the abbrievation never caught on) was the real deal.
Summer came, and we had a few programs...they were chill I guess. Nothing of note really happened except they were consistently successful. We learned that the only game anyone ever really wanted to play was Super Smash Bros Melee. So Gamecube was the center of the universe.
Senior Year AKA We're Weekly, Bitch!
So the library got the liscensing to show movies. There was a Kids Movie Afternoon, A Young Adult Movie Afternoon and an Adult Movie Night. I believe in the first month, negative 3 people attended.
So being the slacker, I mean entrepreneur that I am, I asked Andrea if I could tack on video games to these so-called 'Young Adult Movie Afternoons'
And with a touch of my nose and a shake of my hat, the Video Game Programs were weekly!
We had consistent numbers of like 20 people a week, which was earth shattering for library standards. Our climax was in November when we had X-Box 360 there on launch day. I can't recall how many people were there. All I know is that when I brought my 360, I had to sift through people to get to the table I set up for it. I didn't care that PDZ and Kameo were actually kinda shitty. I enjoyed all that was the 360.
Ok, there's really no more kind of inside poop about the video game programs. It continued to be weekly and kind of faded out into non-exisistence by the end of the year. Not many people cared as our numbers were relegated to less than 10 and they were the 'regulars'.
This brings us to today. The last video game program I will most likely ever host at the Hopewell Library. I'd be a fool if I said this doesn't have some kind of profound effect on me. It finally cements the whole 'going to college' thing. I'm leaving this safe enviorment and moving on.
I'm kind of at a loss for words.
I guess...thanks to everyone who ever took the time out of their day to come to the programs. Even if you were there just to take pizza and run. It doesn't matter, you still came to one of the few things I've ever done that is distinctly mine and no one else's.
A million thank yous to the people who helped out with these things over the year(s) (I can use plural, there were 2 solid years). I might be missing people, but I'll name the ones that stick out like a sore thumb.
Joe Patnick, for his appearance at almost every program and for being the only person to ever get any at a Video Game Program.
Sean Slover, for being there in the beginning and for bringing his much-needed distaste for new systems and his love for old systems with him. Along with his humor, which brightened many a slow early day.
Billy Brown, for bringing TVs on occasion and donating a TV (that didn't work) and for being there to set up and take down.
Pete Krasucki, for being a dedicated weekly go-er who also helped with set up and take down often.
People at the library who put up with this bullshit, namely Ed, Andrea and Hope. Mainly Andrea. Without Andrea, there would've never been anything.
This is a stupid post that most people won't get, but I think there's a few that kind of get what I can't put into words, and that is what makes this shit worth it.
No Prize goes to Glenn, who managed to be shot down by almost every female Video Game Program attender and for being witness to one (and hopefully only) car accident because he 'had to be driven home because it was rainy'...fucking a, man...