I'm recalling very fond memories of my first gaming system, my Gameboy Pocket[0]. I am also looking back at the history of the Mac OS because of similarly fond memories of my first computer, a Macintosh SE[1] with System 6[2].

It's amazing what sorts of creativity constraints eke from design. Cheap, powerful hardware is everywhere nowadays, but I don't see so much in the realm of interaction design that delights me the way these machines did. Some of it is the nostalgia factor, but I think it is also the serenity, simplicity and purity of the medium.

160x144 monochrome pixels on the GBP, and 512x384 on the Mac. But, if I think about it, there was so much that was accomplished there, and it makes me question just how much I really need.

I'm going to take the rest of my day to think about recreating the pure, simple, serene delight of what these machines made for me for the rest of my day. Thank you, friend. You have reminded me of some of my very favorite things.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpei_Yokoi#cite_note-8

[0a] http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f377/stadsport/000_0254.jp...

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh_SE

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_6

[2a] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_6#/media/File:Sys6scree...

You might enjoy the Pico-8, a simulator for a fictional gameboy-like console you can program using Lua: http://www.lexaloffle.com/pico-8.php

(you can play "cartridges"(=programs) others made in the browser here: http://www.lexaloffle.com/bbs/?cat=7&sub=2&orderby=rating)

That's great advice if your personal development is tied into artistic expression. Overcoming restrictive constraints is a good way to encourage creative thinking.

On the other hand, it isn't very good advice if you are an engineer building a creative project to expand your skill-set. In that case, you want to constantly be exploring new paradigms.