Danger: Old School Warning!
In 1977 I discovered a little game called Dungeons and Dragons (Fling your Geek insults now) D&D was outlawed in my small Rural Tennessee Community, so it was an act of Rebellion for the kids in my area to keep our cherished mail ordered books. Dice and priceless pewter playing pieces well hidden. D&D lead to AD&D which begot the love of Warhammer, which begot the love of Battletech, which begot Bloodbowl, Parinoia, a plethra of complex hexegon battlefield games..
In 1982 the school got our first shipment of TRS80 computers and a few Apple computers. For the South in this era, this made us cutting edge even above the large private schools in metropolitin areas. The game Zork soon followed, along with Under the Root, Hitchhickers Guide to the Galaxy... needless to say the possibilities of computers was a fantastic leap forward.
By the late 80's I had my first PC, and my first blazing fast 1200bd modem, this lead to BBS games, which soon gave way to MUDS, MUSHES and MUXes. Then I got the beta to The Sierra Network and NWN Online.
The Beta to Yserbius came soon after and the disease had full hold. Due to a combination of wildly erratic work hours, friends who had moved, married or just were not available, the addiction to using a computer on off days for entertianment grew*. This was soon added due to quiting drinking, and a growing health issue and more and more hours spent in front of computers for work and play.
Now I am fully addicted and patiantly waiting for the promised Star Trek Holodeck to be perfected.. When the next revolution comes, I will be ready.
* easy access to porn also helped some
BC