Video-games are a wonderful form of entertainment that many people use to relieve stress, get over anxiety and depression, and also escape reality. Video-games have ascended into mainstream media as one of the most, if not the most, dominating forms of entertainment in the modern world. Video-games are a form of entertainment that anybody can enjoy and interact with. Like any other form of entertainment, there are different genres of video-games. The many different genres of video-games include but are not limited to role-playing games (RPGs), fighting games, first-person shooters, action games, strategy games, platformers, hack-and-slash, adventure games, open-world games, puzzle games, action-adventure games, multiplayer games, etc. Each video-game genre appeals to different types of gamers with different tastes and preferences. For example, competitive gamers tend to gravitate mainly towards fighting games, first-person shooters, multiplayer online games, or even action games with high scores. Non-competitive gamers preferences may vary, depending on a variety of factors within their lifestyle and personality. Of course, anybody can play, enjoy and prefer a variety of genres in video-games. This article explains why many people have different tastes and preferences in gaming. Video-games are my main form of entertainment of choice and I will always be gamer, no matter how old I become.

Video-games have become a big part of my life ever since I was very young at four-and a-half years of age. Video-games have been such an integral part of my life as my definitive pastime and hobby that I cannot imagine living without. Ever since I was young, the very first video-game I was introduced to was the SEGA Genesis and the original Nintendo Gameboy. My cousin in New York City owned both of these systems. I had the privilege of playing games on these systems because my cousin was generous enough to allow me to play these games. The first games I had the opportunity of playing were Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2 for the SEGA Genesis, Donkey Kong ’94 for the original Nintendo Gameboy, and Pokemon Blue. These games were so much fun that at a young age, they ignited my interest in video-gaming and technology. Shortly before I turned 6 years old, my family moved from New York City to Buffalo, New York. It was then I had the opportunity of meeting and knowing my other cousin and best-friend-to-this-day. It was through meeting him that my interest in gaming really skyrocketed. He had gotten a Nintendo 64 several months prior to first meeting me and the first game he had for the system was Super Mario 64. This was my first real introduction to Mario, a supreme icon in gaming history. Playing Super Mario 64 was an adventure in itself as my six year old mind was amazed by the fact that I was controlling a character in 3-D with a controller in hand!! The sense of autonomy flowed through my veins as I controlled Mario’s movements with just button inputs on the controller. This forever solidified my opinion and ideology concerning gaming and put it as one of the forerunners as the premier source of entertainment in my life. About six months after playing Super Mario 64, Super Smash Bros. 64 came out and that further impacted my outlook to gaming. Super Smash Bros. opened my eyes to the fighting game genre ­- it was the very first fighting game I played and grew fond of. This game would inspire a series that play a big role in my life for years to come. This article talks about my Super Smash Bros. Dream and how I strive to achieve that goal. Other Nintendo 64 games that I had the opportunity of owning were Donkey Kong 64, The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask, Mario Party 2, Mario Kart 64, and Star Fox 64. In 2008 I had the opportunity of purchasing and owning a Nintendo GameCube and playing Super Smash Bros. Melee. This was one of the most awesome moments of my life.

Handheld video-game systems have been a huge part of my life. Ever since I was six years old in the fall of 1998, I have been intrigued by and had the opportunity to play the various Nintendo Gameboy systems countless times. I would always play both of my cousins' Gameboy Colors and Gameboy Advances until my mother bought me my own purple Gameboy Advance in summer of 2002 after completing the fourth grade along with the Gameboy Advance port of Super Mario World. Sadly, my purple Gameboy Advance broke in spring 2004 and it was not until late 2005 that I got a brand new silver Gameboy Advance SP. I have cherished memories playing Gameboy games. As a kid I was an avid Pokemon fan. I played all the Pokemon games and owned many of them. The Gameboy Advance games that I owned were Pokemon Yellow version, Silver version, Gold version, Crystal version, Ruby version, Firered version, and Emerald version. In Pokemon Firered version I had logged so many hours into the game and had completed the entirePokedex, catching every single pokemon available at the time. Other Gameboy games that I have owned are Iridion 3D, Final Fantasy 6: Advance, Super Mario Advance, Metroid NES Classics, Kingdom Hearts - Chain of Memories, and Dr.Mario + Puzzle League. I also have a plethora of games for my Playstation Portable as well as my Nintendo 3DS, both of which I bought years later. Because I was and am still an avid Pokemon fan, I purchased and owned the following pokemon games for the Nintendo DS or the Nintendo 3DS: Pokemon Pearl version, Heartgold version, White version, Black 2 version, Y version, and Omega Ruby version. I also have several other games for the Nintendo 3DS and also several Playstation Portable games, which could be on a relatively long list of their own. My favorite Playstation Portable (PSP) games out of all the ones I have are Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Phantasy Star Portable, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Gods Eater Burst. All my Gameboy games, Nintendo DS/3DS, and Playstation Portable games have allowed me to unwind, relax, and relieve stress. Furthermore, they allow me to take gaming on-the-go and to enjoy myself. Handheld gaming has played an important role in my life in shaping the way I see gaming as well as my appreciation for the form of entertainment that I enjoy to the fullest.

In late-summer of 2014 when I was about to begin graduate school, I had the opportunity of purchasing and owning a Playstation 4 (PS4). My PS4 is one of my most cherished modern game consoles to date. This was my first SONY console connecting to the television that I had the opportunity of owning. The memories that I have with that console are amazing. During my graduate school days I logged in many hours playing Destiny as well as some hours playing Metal Gear Solid V. I have a few games for my Playstation 4 that I am trying to complete. The games are Metal Gear Solid V, Dragon Quest Heroes, Bloodborne, and Dragonball Xenoverse. Having been a Kingdom Hearts a fan for almost six years now with my first game being Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, I wanted to go back and play Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2. Therefore, since they were not available on the PS4, which is not backwards compatible, I ended up buying a Playstation 3 (PS3) so I can play both Kingdom Hearts 1.5 and Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remixes, which are compilation games each contain three Kingdom Hearts games on one disc. My experience with the Playstation 4 and the Playstation 3 has been wonderful and I enjoy the games that SONY has to offer. Graduate school was very stressful for me, so to be able to unwind and enjoy the Playstation experience was a blessing.

Video-games have helped me to relax and unwind. They are extremely important in my life as a hobby as well as a source of passion to connect with people. Video-games have also allowed me to make new friends through competition via competitive Super Smash Bros. tournaments as well as through the amazing release of Pokemon GO. Overall, it is a pleasure to have video-games as a hobby and it is one of the things I will always be passionate about.