Super ABC (Remote Play)
I fondly recall jamming the Super Pac-Man joystick around it’s rigid casing while yelling at the screen with something from the potpourri of “Go! Go! Go”, “Faster!!” and “Oh crap. Not like that!”… The year was 2016 and I had had one too many drinks with my coworkers from my retail job, singing and drunkly playing along at a local barcade in Phoenix, Arizona. Whether it be due to the lack of alcohol or kinetic motion, I can’t say I felt the same level of connection tapping away on my keyboard while watching a bunch of ghosts blinking on an image one-tenth of the size on my 27-in monitor. Playing video games on a computer at your work/school desk using the handy Internet Acrcade, instead of playing at a dedicated arcade machine carries some differences, I guess. Aside from the additional eye-strain necessary to see, I also missed the responsiveness of jamming around on a joystick. We can blame Apple for the size of my keyboard arrow buttons but going up and go left are not the same and accidentally hitting one over the can be to blame for my low score. I’m mostly joking since I’m terrible either way! However, given the pandemic-induced anxiety that accompanies being in crowded areas, it is safe to say I will be visiting Internet Arcade instead of a local barcade next time I’m feeling nostalgic.
