What is it like to visit a real location from your favourite childhood video game?

Seeing video games as an art form can easily be overlooked given how much we expect them to entertain us in an interactive manner. Even in past decades where games had lower resolutions and polygon counts, they would still have visual figures that could leave a lasting impact on people who experienced the game.

YouTube content creator Tom Scott provides one of the finest examples of this; In the video linked below, Tom talks about the fond memories he had playing Need For Speed II during his childhood for hours on end, and it wasn't even the full game! Nonetheless, he was able to drive a Ford GT90 in a recreation of Vancouver and some of the landmarks have turned into core memories. Fast forward to the present day and he has been able to visit Vancouver in real life and been able to create this amazing vlog detailing the similarities between the game's representation of the landmarks and the real-world counterparts.

Tom also goes on to explain some more emotional impressions the trackside details left on him, including the desire to ride the train passing over the track and witness the view from the seawall. As a result of playing Need For Speed, he discovered he had a sense of nostalgia for a place he has never been to - An odd but amazing feat!

For anyone who shares a passion for video games, especially creators, this should serve as a heartwarming reminder to not underestimate the lasting impact these virtual experiences have on people. To summarise, Tom Scott advises us to "Make Nice Things. Try to give people something they'll be nostalgic to, not something they'll flashback to." This could serve as a life lesson to all of us who are responsible for creating content in one way or another - It is best when we use our creativity to cultivate favourable lasting impacts.

Who knows, maybe this blog could be fondly remembered by someone 25 years from now too!