As I walk past the empty shell of my old local GAME store, it’s hard not to feel a pang of nostalgia. I remember the thrill of trading in my worn-out cartridges for cold, hard cash, then spending hours debating which game I’d use that money to buy. The days when I could step into a store and be greeted by walls stacked with physical games, each one promising a new adventure, seem like they belong to another era now.
Back then, the store was more than just a shop – it was a hub for gamers like me. It’s where I made friends who shared my passion for gaming, and where hours spent discussing strategy or swapping tips seemed to fly by. The rules about screen time seemed less important when there was a new virtual quest to embark on.
Closing the doors of that store feels like losing a piece of myself as a gamer. It’s more than just a place I used to shop – it was a part of my gaming identity, a tangible link to the memories and friendships forged in those golden days of gaming.