Classic Video Games ; Monday ; Period 1

[1stinkinpercent.livejournal.com]

Riley thought about canceling class today but he actually found that he wanted to do something that wasn't thinking about the island and it's stupid weirdness. So, class was still on. Maybe video games would help the students out too?

"So, that was a heck of a thing, right?" Riley said, using that as a greeting. "I was dying of a mysterious illness before I sold my soul to someone who could cure me. Hope you all had a better time. Anyway, today we're going to be playing Centipede. Centipede was made by Atari in 1981 and is your typical shoot 'em up arcade game. In Centipede, you, the player, defend against centipedes, spiders, scorpions and fleas and you win a round by taking out the centipede that's winding its way around the screen. Sounds pretty simple, right? Believe me, once a ton of junk ends up on your screen, you'll be eating those words."

Riley smiled. "Centipede was pretty significant for being one of the first arcade games to have a big female player base. Girl gamers were rising and they were about to start kicking all our butts. Okay, so ready to play some Centipede? Let's get to it."

Riley was definitely going to be participating this time. He had to outlet his weird feeling somewhere.

Fun & Games, Monday, Period 2

[psychoticbiotic.livejournal.com]

Jack had no idea what to make of the weekend, and she had chosen the path of putting it in a locked box at the back of her mind and not thinking about it

Class met in the danger shop. There were piles of fitted but warm jackets, gloves and helmets at the door, and then the students could climb into an elevator that would take them to the top of a snowy track.

Once they were there, Jack held up a diagram. "Today we're doing luge," she said. "Which is like sledding down a hill except you can kill yourself. What you wanna do is lie down on the sled, grab the sides, and use your legs to steer the runners down the track. If that's too easy for you punks, you can also do it with two people on the sled. The idea is to go as fast as you can -- no sitting up or dragging your hands in the snow to slow your momentum."

"And remember, this is a simulation so you can't actually kill yourself. Or even break anything." A pause. "I think. Anyhow, go for it."