So one wanted to play a game, a pretty old game, some 20+ years old but available through one of these new modern game launchers. A couple of hours free, let's have some fun! What can go wrong one would say?

So one starts the game launcher, immediately greeted by the prompt that the launcher needs updating. Ok, that should be quick, one thinks.... A couple of minutes, clicks and confirmation dialogs later the launcher is updated! Yay let's play! Oh wait they have new EULA and that needs confirmation too, ok. Then you are probably guessing a shiny new privacy policy (one could bet AI related) click... Click... CLICK... Accept... Whatever ... One is getting impatient, one wants that game... Done! No more prompts!

Finally let's start that shiny game with retro graphics! One clicks the game launcher icon.... Oh game needs updating too... But it is 20+ years old... Whyyyy..... Ok click download... Wait... And wait... And wait... Game download finished and installed... One is hesitant to click the game launcher again... Is new EULA for the game next? Or privacy policy....? Or...

One remembers the days when he first played that game... 25 years ago... On a hardware that was a fraction of one we have today... No internet connection needed... You take a single shiny CD, you place it in CD drive, drive spins happily adding to your excitement, autostart does it's magic and the game starts in all its glory without any icons clicked, updates or distractions... Just fun and simplicity... Happy days...

#oldmandreams #flashback #gaming #graybeard