A strange little side quest
Postman Simon has plenty of company in a long tradition of players chasing timing, patterns and better decisions. Sonic the Hedgehog launched in 1991 and turned speed itself into a defining platform-game mechanic. And then there is this: Early computer role-playing games helped turn rules, inventories, exploration and character progression into systems that could support long-form digital adventures. That history is one reason familiar mechanics can still feel new when they are recombined well.
