The Trials of Televisions and Technology: A True Tale

First of all, I want to congratulate myself on the awesome alliteration as the title for this post. <3

Secondly, let me actually tell you the story. It started off YEARS ago, when I first got my trusty Nintendo 64 gaming system for Christmas. I didn't want to have to play it in the LIVING ROOM where other FAMILY MEMBERS would often reside! No, this device was mine, and subsequently, I wanted to enjoy my gaming in the comfort and privacy of my own bedroom.

But alas, my parents denied my pleas for my own television. Even if I bought it with my own money, they wouldn't let me keep it in my room. "We want to see you sometimes," they would say with a laugh while I was dying on the inside.

Again and again the argument would be brought up, when I got my Gamecube, my Xbox and my Wii, but I was always met with the same opposition.
This changed slightly when we moved into our new house about a year ago- the family tv would be in MY room, so even though I didn't own a TV of my own, it was fairly irrelevant. I was happy for a while, free to game and never go downstairs except for dinner sometimes.

And then, school came. Specifically, college. I was going off away from home, and with no TV, I was forced to leave my games at home. I told myself bitterly that they would be "Something to look forward to" whenever I came home, but I could barely stomach my own lie.

I survived, though. I don't know how, but I did it. And then, over Christmas Break, something miraculous happened: I got a TV.

Nate, my youth minister, gave one to me. I was ecstatic! It had two AV plugs, so I could have my 360 and my Wii connected at the same time, without having to worry about the whole "I have to manually plug in whatever system I wanted to play each time I play it" deal that I was afraid of. I rushed home to test the TV (I didn't want a faulty television) and had all of those hopes utterly crushed when I realised that I needed a remote control to get the Video Mode 1 and 2 of the television, which was essential for playing games. After all that effort, I was left dejected and helpless.
That is, until I remembered a nifty invention called the Universal Remote.

Of course, I had no money, but it gave me hope. A dream of a time when I could have my cake and eat it, too! A wonderful vision of me and my television, playing games with my friends here at school instead of studying for that music test the next day... It was a glorious dream, and I knew the steps I'd have to take. Maybe, for once, I'd be able to achieve one of my dreams. (I gave up on being a Ninja Astronaut Chef years ago)

But, a mere three days later, it seemed as if all my worrying was unfounded- another gift, this time from my good friend Macey. It turned out that she had a universal remote control that she no longer needed. It was wonderful! I was all set to head back to school, with all my wonderful toys close behind me. It was going to be a wonderful semester.

I arrived at school yesterday afternoon, and started moving stuff up to my room. Within mere minutes, I had my gaming set-up... well, set up. And it was beautiful:





My TV facing my bed, so I could recline and play video games, BUT with enough room to angle it (Should friends come over).
My 360 placed in front of the television (Low enough not to block any screen) and plugged into Video Mode 1.
My Wii placed behind my television to plug into Video Mode 2. It's seemingly out of the way, but it can be turned on wirelessly, so that isn't really a problem.
My games nestled in one of the many cubbies just to the right of my desk, in a conveniently out-of-the-way, but still aesthetic location.
And, should I need it, more than enough room for a textbook or two on my desk (If I'm actually going to be doing work there, which I doubt- I always did my assignments on my bed. I rarely used my desk last term)

So there you go, the perfect gaming set up (relatively speaking).

But no, that's not the end. After setting it all up I realised a few things:
1) I'm only allowed to connect 2 things to the school's wireless network.
2) I have 3 (four if you count my DS, but psh) things I want to connect.
3) I don't have a wireless adapter for my 360 anyway, but I have an ethernet cable.
4) There isn't a plug for my ethernet cable in my dorm.

So, I was in a sticky situation. I figured that first of all, I'd set up internet on my computer. It's the most important one of the three things- schoolwork (email, assignments, Cracked.com) comes before gaming (360 and Wii).

Now, the obvious choice would be to connect my Wii in the second slot because I don't have a wireless adapter for my 360. But the problem with that is, I play my 360 more than I do my Wii, and if I get a wireless adapter in the near future, I'm SOL.

So here I am, stuck in a debate over what to do, when it hits me. I connect the Wii to the wireless internet. Problem solved.

"But David," you readers at home must be asking, "What about your ExBawx?"
Well, I realised that I could cheat the system using a computer with internet access (Check) and an ethernet cable (Check).

If I enable internet sharing over a Network on my computer, I can connect it to my 360 with the eternet cable, and my Xbox will ALSO CONNECT TO THE INTERNET, as long as the system is connected to my computer which is connected to the internet. I'm sure my dad would be proud.

So, my friends, THAT is the end of my adventure. (For now, at least)
It was long and hard, but at least it has a happy ending.



-David