Retro Joy Lab 레트로 즐거움의 활력소

[태그:] Work Life Balance

  • Ugh… Should I Just Burn a PTO Day?

    Hello, this is Super Asurada 77.

    I’m just a middle-aged guy surviving the daily grind by recharging my batteries with retro games.

    The very first thought that hits me the moment I open my eyes in the morning is: “I don’t feel so great… Should I just call out sick today?”

    But contrary to my mind, my body is already on autopilot—showering and eating breakfast.

    Next thing I know, I’m surrendering myself to the subway, clutching a retro handheld console in both hands.

    I’m right back at that boss battle I was stuck on yesterday.

    My soul is still at home, but I can see my physical shell sitting in the office chair, staring daggers at the monitor.

    Staring at the screen, the thought creeps in again.

    “Maybe I should take a half-day this afternoon?”

    But then reality hits. I have a client meeting with the director later…

    There goes my afternoon off, flying far away~

    Still, lunchtime arrives. Seeing the hot soup and the meat dish in the cafeteria…

    My HP gauge starts to rise. Lunch fills my HP to the max, but my magic gauge—MP—needs a different fuel: vending machine coffee.

    A fresh shot of caffeine fills my MP bar completely.

    Time flies, and suddenly, it’s already time to clock out.

    On the subway ride home, I ponder again.

    “Should I take tomorrow off?”

    Ah… We have a production deployment tomorrow afternoon…

    Taking tomorrow off is out of the question~!!!

    Dang it~!!! I guess I’ll just rest during the weekend~~!!

    Original article in Korean: [link]

  • A Day in the Life of a Modern Middle-Aged Retro Gamer

    Hey everyone, it’s SuperAsurada77.

    Standing in the “subway from hell” on my way to work, wearing my backpack on my front to make space, I naturally reach into my bag and pull out my retro handheld console.

    That commute, which takes over an hour, turns into precious healing time—a chance to bring out those childhood vibes, the tactile feel of the buttons, and memories from back in the day.

    The moment I step into the office and say “Good morning,” that retro vibe instantly shuts down. I have to tuck the game away deep in my heart for now.

    For now, the console goes into charging mode.

    The commute home is another ride on the subway from hell, squeezing in some retro gaming where I can. But the moment I arrive home, the “Infinite Loop Quest” begins.

    Dishes. Recycling. Taking out the food waste. Bathing the kids. Playing with them. Putting them to bed.

    Once this endless loop of quests is finally over, my own personal “Side Quest” awaits.

    Finally… is it my time? The wife and kids are asleep. I turn on the PlayStation to start my quest, but then…

    ⚠️ System Update Required

    The popup floats mercilessly on the screen. “Update 12%… 43%… 67%…”

    As I stare at the progress bar, my eyelids get heavier and heavier.

    My mind is already halfway to dreamland. Eventually, I fall asleep… and when I open my eyes, it’s time to head to work again.

    This is the cold, hard reality for retro gamers in their 30s and 40s.

    But still, to all the middle-aged retro gamers out there—hang in there! We’ve got this!

    Original article in Korean: [link]