For those of us who grew up in the 90's and early 2000's, boredom was a way of life. I can personally attest to this. Internet was but a fleeting dream that was only available when your parents didn't need the landline (cue the annoying modem sound emitting from your computer).
When we did get computer time, the Internet wasn't always available, and so boredom once again ruled.
This gave rise to a lot of creativity on programs and games we now consider ancient, like Microsoft Paint, Pinball and others.
And this is where our story begins.
1. The simplicity of MS Paint
Ah, the many countless hours we spent on MS Paint, trying to create something worthy. For me, it was a challenge I loved taking on. This is one of my favorite depictions of Hatsune Miku, Japan's premiere virtual idol.
If my memory serves me well, this took me about 40 minutes to complete.
Impressive, no?
2. Pinball all day, everyday
3D Pinball Space Cadet -a pinball video game developed by Cinematronics and published by Maxis in 1995- was basically among only a few other games that were available to us at the time. I remember when this came out, you were either playing it or terribly flunking (places L shape on her forehead).
This game evokes a certain agony one only feels when the ball is just about to fall straight into the middle.
Dramatic, I know.
3. Badass Word Art
Bro, if your party invitations were printed with Word Art? Coolest person ever. Coolest birthday ever. Khalas.
You knew who the popular kid was when the invitation used MS Word. And you knew you were cool-adjacent by being invited to said party.
4. Caught in a web of spider solitaire
Spider Solitaire was the best game. I mean those fireworks at the end when you win? They don't make them like that anymore.
5. Do we even know how to sweep for Mines?
I'm gonna be honest with you guys, once I actually did learn how to play Minesweeper and I did really well at it.
But it was only that one time. I totally blanked on the instructions the very next day.
Oh well. *proceeds to click and right-click with slight precaution*
6. Patience is virtue... for chess
I'm not a chess person (I don't think anyone is at a young age) but that did not stop me from opening chess, move the horsie around for a bit, try to understand the logic behind the computer's moves, and then quitting and doing something else.
It was just a pastime. It had to be done.
7. Changing the background to fit your emotions
We were deeply in touch with our emotions as children. Sometimes we didn't feel like that green grassy hill, sometimes we felt like a beach.
And so we would change the background to the beach. And consequently explain our creative and deeply methodic choices to whoever had to use the computer next (usually baba).
Cue the screaming when dad changed it back to the grassy hill or worse, the WINDOWS.