Pixels of the Past - Chapter 3: Games I Loved in the 1990s, Part 2

A warm, personal and nostalgia-rich chapter exploring the Windows 95/98 PC games that helped define the second half of the 1990s — from LAN battles and dial-up multiplayer to 3D acceleration, DirectX and unforgettable classics including Command & Conquer: Red Alert, Jedi Knight - Dark Forces II and Aliens Versus Predator.

Windows Games of the 1990s:
This is a long-form retro gaming memoir about the moment Windows PC gaming finally came into its own. Covering the late 1990s, this chapter looks back at the games, hardware, university years, friendships and technological shifts that turned the humble home PC into a serious games machine.

Written in a reflective, conversational style, this eBook blends personal memories with accessible technical context. It recalls the transition from DOS to Windows 95, the rise of DirectX, the arrival of 3D graphics accelerator cards, the thrill of early LAN gaming, and the first tentative steps into internet multiplayer over 56 kbps dial-up.

The chapter focuses on the games that made the biggest impression on the author during that period, including real-time strategy classics, action RPGs, space combat simulations, first-person shooters, grand strategy titles and story-rich fantasy adventures. It is aimed at readers who grew up with PC gaming, fans of retro technology, and anyone interested in how games evolved during one of the most exciting decades in home computing.

What’s Inside:
• A personal introduction to university life, shared student housing and late-90s PC gaming culture.
• An accessible overview of the shift from DOS to Windows 95/98 gaming.
• Memories of DirectX, Direct3D, 3dfx Voodoo cards, Matrox graphics cards and early 3D acceleration.
• Detailed retrospective sections on eight favourite Windows PC games from the 1990s. These include Diablo, Baldur’s Gate and Homeworld.
• Additional honourable mentions covering memorable games that narrowly missed the main list. These include Quake II and Star Wars: Supremacy.
• Reflections on LAN gaming, modding, online deathmatches, dial-up internet and the social side of PC gaming.

Who This Is For:
• Retro PC gaming fans who remember the transition from DOS to Windows.
• Readers who grew up with Windows 95, Windows 98, CD-ROM games and early 3D graphics cards.
• Fans of 1990s strategy, RPG, shooter and space combat games.
• Gamers who enjoy personal essays, memoir-style writing and nostalgic reflections.
• Technology enthusiasts interested in DirectX, LAN gaming, dial-up internet and the changing PC landscape.
• Readers of long-form Medium-style articles who want an expanded, polished eBook edition to keep and revisit.

Why You Might Enjoy It:
If you remember installing games that came from chunky CD-ROM boxes, hauling PCs across rooms for LAN sessions, battling with BNC network cables, upgrading graphics cards or wondering whether Windows could ever really replace DOS for gaming, this chapter should feel like opening a drawer full of old memories.

It is not just a list of old games. It is a nostalgic journey through the author’s university years, early working life, friendships, technical discoveries and the games that turned the late 1990s into such a formative era for PC gaming.

About the Series:
Pixels of the Past is a five‑part journey through four decades of gaming history, tracing the author’s life from early home computers to the golden age of PC gaming.

Each chapter blends personal reflection with cultural and technological insight, exploring the games, hardware and moments that quietly shaped a generation.

Together, the series offers a nostalgic, narrative‑driven look at how gaming evolved — and how those eras left their mark on the author.