So you’ve rolled your year. You’ve picked your game. Youāve dug into the feelings, the memories, the personal archive. But hereās a new twist in the Save State method:
Can you actually play the game you just rolledāusing the gear you have (or are willing to collect)?
This subroutine is part scavenger hunt, part improvisation challenge, and part love letter to the weird and winding paths of retro gaming in the modern world.
š² The Setup
After completing your Save State year + game roll, enter this optional side quest:
- Try to play your chosen game.
- First ask: Can I play this right now?
- Then ask: What would it take to make it playable?
- If you already have a way to play it, greatāgo for it. If you donāt:
- Be creative: look through your existing consoles, emulators, cartridges, flash carts, digital libraries, collections.
- Or be inspired: sometimes this is the perfect moment to intentionally add something to your collectionāwhether itās a ROM, a controller, or a long-lusted-after cart at your local game shop.
- Log the process. Was it easy? Was it convoluted? Did it involve strange cables, clever hacks, or an excuse to finally dust off the GameCube?
š§ Why This Matters
This isnāt just about nostalgia. Itās about resourcefulness, creativity, and honoring your connection to play. Finding a way to revisit The Legend of Zelda in 2024āwhether through Switch Online, a CRT in your garage, or a newly acquired Analogue Pocketābecomes a meditation on access, preservation, and intention.
Sometimes the game boots right up. Sometimes it sparks a side quest of its own.
āļø Reflective Prompt: How Did You Play It?
Write a short note or journal entry answering:
- How did you make the game playable?
- What did you use, borrow, or buy?
- What was the feeling when it finally booted up?
šļø This Subroutine Has a Name
Call it:
Save State Subroutine: Can You Play It?
It’s a small, analog challenge in a digital age. A way to connect past and present not just in memoryābut in action.
Let us know how you played yours.
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