It happened innocently enough. I somehow acquired a game called Civilization. I started playing it. It seemed neat enough. About a day later, I found myself staying up all night playing games, unable to pry myself away from my Macintosh LC for much longer than the length of a piss or a bite of pizza. My adoration for the game, obviously, was shared by a large amount of people.
When I got to college, I met a fellow named Aaron Voyles, who also loved Civilization. He played it on an old 386 in Damin Wellenstein's room, and he played it with such skill that even I was amazed. I always fancies myself the grand master of the game, but he was doing things I hadn't even thought of before. I learned a few things from him, and we engaged one another in several challenges, seeing who could master their world more effectively. I'm not sure who won those battles, but the point is, we were completely sold on the game.