Friday 28 January 2011

Theatre of dreams

I just heard a track from the last Dream Theater album and gaming was the first thing that came to mind. Christian at Destination Unknown recently posted on how playing again as an adult might be an attempt to recapture fleeting memories. I'd imagine he had the OSR most in mind, but it's a part of modern 40K too for example. Dream Theater have also been going 25 years. Are we doing it right? Listen and give it some thought.

There's also a portal theme going on to match the theme here of late.

6 comments:

Game Master Rob Adams said...

Of course it is! There's nothing wrong with that!

Porky said...

The question I suppose really ought to be how far we can move on, how much we can or want to leave the past in the past. We try to relive the past for many reasons, and we must enjoy that or we wouldn't do it. In that sense it's certainly not wrong.

Then again, the old was new once. I can't help but wonder how much we could achieve if we looked forward more. Maybe it's about the growing awareness of age, and different perceptions at different times in life.

I realise I'm thinking this now mainly because I still have Star Maker in mind, and it's drawing my thoughts on into that vast future. I don't feel impatient, but I am intrigued by all the potential.

That last thinking is a little unfair of course. Dwelling on the past might help us to understand better the nature of perception and the nature of change, and that meditation can only be a good thing.

??? said...

This is becoming a bit creepy. I loved Dream Theater about 15 years ago and then I totally forgot about them, until I came across my favourite song on YouTube last night and spend a hour of so rediscovering them. And here you are, posting a Dream Theater song.

As for recapturing memories: I do find some aspects of the games I used to play as a kid in my roleplaying, when it comes to the characters I create. And I also love it that I get the chance to do a bunch of stuff I will never ever do in real life which is definitely something that started in childhood games.

Porky said...

Maybe there really is something in this. Of course, it could be that what set me off is what set you off, even indirectly. Maybe that new album that's due is generating interest, and we each picked up on that independently, even unconsciously?

Re the roleplaying, it could be that we need that sense of what's possible even more as we get older, as the endless undefined possibilities of childhood are narrowed - or seem to be narrowed - by choices made.

I've made some progress at the portals list, but I'm still not out of the first outstanding comment. It's going to take some time...

??? said...

I agree that the new album probably makes them more visible right now, but you have to admit that the eerie synchronicity-theory is much more amusing.

Porky said...

Even exciting. Think of the possibilities!