Growing up I always had a computer but my computers were always behind the curve, significantly. I think I was 3 or 4, (~1994ish) iunno, but I learned my ABC’s on an Amiga using a program called ABC Talk. Basically you hit a key on the keyboard and it’d scream it. AAAAAAAAAAAAAA. BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB. CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC.
got a 286 and a family friend had a bunch of software because he was waaay into computers . I tought myself enough DOS to load Doom ~5. Put in disk, type INSTALL, follow instructions, shoot stuff. Accidently found map editor, loved it. Dad installed custom WADs.
Timeline is hazy, but a year or two after, got a 486, **** was fast. Got Quake. Put in Quake. Would not load. Disappointed.
Another year or two, got a Pentium 1. Put in Quake, it loaded, awwww yiss. Found in-depth console commands and basic modding. Loved it.
Few years later, got Half-Life 1, no 3d card, still worked. Loved it.
Friends talking about Counter-Strike in 6th grade, went to cyber cafe, loved it. First map ever played, fy_iceworld
Year later after begging, Pentium 2 with a 3d card. Found Metamod/AMX Mod which allows server side scripting of mods for CS 1.5. Decided game dev is my life.
