Tag: Video Games

“You must construct additional pylons.”

From: Starcraft

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Protoss VO

The story behind the quote: The quote comes Blizzard’s incredibly successful Starcraft. The game is about a war between the colonizing Terrans, the xenomorphic Zergs and the highly evolved Protoss races. The general goal of the game is to build up resources to enable your chosen race to amass an army to wipe out the opposing group. Each race has different strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Protoss forces are generally strong but it takes a long time to build a unit. The Zergs are the opposite; it takes a short time to amass a huge army but they generally have low health. The Terrans provide a nice middle ground between the two.

The quote comes from when you control the Protoss and you attempt to construct additional units or buildings without having the required number of “pylons,” which the Protoss need to power up their buildings and units.

Geek wisdom: There are going to be times when you think you have enough of something. Whether it be money or security or anything, you may suddenly realize that you lack it when an emergency arises. It’s always a good idea to “play it safe” and have a little extra just in case disaster strikes.

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“Winners don’t use drugs”

From: Classic Arcade Games

Genre: Video Games, Internet

Who said it?: William S. Sessions

The story behind the quote: This is a pretty weird entry as this didn’t come from any particular game. Rather, the quote was shown in practically every arcade game released in the United States from the late 80’s until the end of the 90’s. The slogan was the brainchild of William S. Session, then the Director of the FBI.

The quote was posted prominently in a lot of arcade games’ “attract mode” (the “preview” of the game, if you will). The FBI logo and the quote (with Session’s name at the bottom most of the time) would be plastered before the game shows off a demo.

winnersdontdodrugs

Geek wisdom: Life can be hard and sometimes we feel a great need to escape from the trouble life gives us. However, using drugs is not the answer. Drugs may be a temporary escape but that’s all it is: temporary. It’s not a solution. The only way to resolve a problem is to take it head on.

“My body is ready!”

From: Youtube (More specifically, the 2007 Nintendo E3 Press Conference)

Genre: Video Games, Internet

Who said it?: Reggie Fils-Aime

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from, of all things, the 2007 Nintendo E3 Press Conference. During the reveal of the Balance Board for the Wii Fit, Reggie Fils-Aime was called out on stage to demonstrate how the accessory works alongside Shigeru Miyamoto. As Reggie stepped on the Balance Board, he awkwardly delivered the quote.

The quote has since become an Internet meme of sorts.

Geek wisdom: In this day of age, it’s extremely easy to have a sedentary lifestyle. From the prevalence of fastfood and easy to prepare snacks to the ability to order things online and have machines do the heavy lifting for us, a lot of us have fallen into the trap of laziness. However, when we least expect it, we may need to actually do some manual labor. But we may not be able to because we have become of this unhealthy lifestyle.

Take some time to exercise once in a while.

“Rise from your grave.”

From: Altered Beast

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Zeus

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the “classic” sidescrolling beat ’em up, Altered Beast. The original game was actually an arcade game but Altered Beast only reached prominence when the Sega ported the game over to their 16-bit Genesis console. The game’s plot has Zeus resurrecting two Roman centurions and charge them with rescuing Athena from the Underworld. The game’s main gimmick is the characters transforming into different beasts like werewolves, dragons and tigers.

The quote actually comes from the 16-bit port of the game. When the game starts, Zeus commands the player to… well, you know.

Geek wisdom: We are not immortal and we all have to pass away from this world some time. However, we can still become “immortal” in a sense if we manage to leave a legacy before our time in the world ends.

Don’t let your time in this world be a waste. Make yourself be remembered.

“I used to be an adventurer like you. Then I took an arrow in the knee.”

From: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Lots of NPC guards in the world

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. The game is a massive game that has many people to talk to and many places to explore. However, the game’s most memorable quote doesn’t come from any of the main characters. Rather, it comes from the lowly town guards you see throughout the your time in Skyrim.

The guards have a lot of stock dialog but the most popular one is regarding their past before they became guards…

Geek wisdom: As we grow older, it becomes harder to do the same rigorous activities we used to be able to do in our youth. We also tend to outgrow all of the ridiculous and dangerous activities we did in our younger days. But that doesn’t mean that these days should be forgotten. These are important parts of our life and actually help form you into the person you are now.

There’s nothing wrong with reminiscing about the past. It’s only a problem if we get stuck in the past.

“Look to La Luna”

From: Mortal Kombat

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Reptile

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from the first Mortal Kombat. The arcade fighting game stood out from the rest of the other Street Fighter clones as it used digitized actors instead of sprites. Oh, and you could murder your opponent if you beat him!

The game was also popular for having hidden secrets and one of those secrets was a computer controlled character named Reptile. It took a long time to figure out how to fight him but the green ninja would drop down and drop hints on how to do so. One of these quotes just so happens to be the quote mentioned:

Geek wisdom: Just a few decades ago, people had dreams to go to the moon. And we actually did. However, something happened between then and now. We stopped going to the moon and, in a way, we also stopped dreaming. In these modern times, we tend to look at the ground or look at what’s in front of us. We never really look up in the sky and wonder anymore. We tend to create short term goals and we don’t think of any long-term goals these days.

Once in a while, take a moment, go outside and look at the moon. And wonder and dream of endless possibilities.

“Would you kindly…” and “A man chooses. A slave obeys.”

From: BioShock

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Atlas and Andrew Ryan

The story behind the quote: The quotes comes from BioShock. The game takes place in an underwater utopia turned battleground called Rapture. You control Jack who crashes in Rapture and, contacted by the mysterious Atlas. Atlas claims that the leader of Rapture, Andrew Ryan, has incarcerated his family and he needs Jack to help rescue them.

The quote comes from near the end of the game. After numerous battles, Jack reaches the office of Andrew Ryan. Ryan has been waiting calmly for Jack. Ryan reveals to Jack why he has been so tenacious in following everything that Atlas told him to do…

WARNING: The clip actually reveals a MAJOR SPOILER for the game! Read at your own risk.

Geek wisdom: We all have the habit of following the crowd, not questioning whatever is put in front of us. We just accept what we are told. Like soldiers in a way following orders. We blindly follow what others tell us to buy, to wear and to use without question. Like in BioShock, the main character, we think we have free will. Yet, based on our instincts of just following what we are told, we apparently don’t.

Sometimes, we need to question authority. We need to break away from this pattern. We need to think for ourselves.

“The president has been kidnapped by ninjas. Are you a bad enough dude to rescue the president?”

From: Bad Dudes

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Random Army General?

The story behind the quote: Bad Dudes originated as an arcade side scrolling beat ’em up by Data East. The game was then ported to various home consoles, including on the PC and Nintendo Entertainment System (NES for short). Originally called Bad Dudes vs. DragonNinja, the game has the President of the United States captured by the terrorist (?) organization DragonNinja. You control either Blade or Striker in their quest to recover the President.

The quote comes from the introduction screen from the NES version where your commanding officer asks you if you have what it takes to get the President. The quote has become somewhat of a meme in recent times.

Geek wisdom: There will always be challenges to face in life. Some of these problems may even seem insurmountable to overcome at first glance. We even may be tempted to just give up against the adversity.

We have to think of these tests as something we have to take on. We have to at least step up to the challenge and try to overcome them. If we don’t even try, then we’ve truly been beaten. Try with all your might to conquer and solve adversity and problems. You may surprise yourself and find out that a difficult task may actually be easier to solve than you realize.

“The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world.”

From: Half-Life 2

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: G-Man

The story behind the quote: The quote comes from Half-Life 2. Developed by Valve, it is the second game in the Half-Life series and continues the adventures of scientist Gordon Freeman in a dystopian future. Both games have been met with critical praise due to the game’s deep storyline and excellent game mechanics.

The quote comes from the start of the game and delivered by the mysterious G-Man. During the introductory cutscene, G-Man wakes Gordon from stasis and delivers the quote.

Geek wisdom: Circumstances may put you in a terrible situation. You could have made an innocent mistake and the problem you were trying to fix snowballed into something bigger. Or you could have just been minding your own business when a crisis suddenly erupts. No matter the reason, you have to face the fact that you’re right smack in the middle of it. And hiding or saying it’s none of your business is going to be out of the question.

In fact, fate may have put you there because you are the one who will be able to resolve the situation. So, if you have a solution and you know how to resolve the problem, dive headlong and do whatever it takes to be part of the solution, not the problem.

“Do you think love can bloom even on the battlefield?”

From: Metal Gear Solid

Genre: Video Games

Who said it?: Hal “Otacon” Emmerich

The story behind the quote: Here’s another quote from the highly rated Metal Gear Solid. The game tackles a lot of weighty topics, such as genetic engineering, the evils of war and, for this post, love.

The quote is mentioned during one conversation between Hal “Otacon” Emmerich and the hero of the game, Solid Snake. After Snake managed to get up a huge staircase, Otacon shows up. Knowing that Otacon is good with machines, Snake requests for the tech genius to check what’s wrong with the elevator. However, before that, Otacon asks Snake a rather personal question.

Geek wisdom: Love is something that will appear when you least expect it. You may find your significant other when you least expect it. Or you may already know that person but never thought of him/her in a romantic fashion. Love is funny and unpredictable. But, when you do find it (or it reveals itself to you), be sure you’re ready to accept it wholeheartedly.