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Welcome to Playing Out of Control Gaming (POCG)!
Our story begins in 1999, when two friends, Adam (that’s me) and Dave, launched a gaming website called Playing Out of Control Gaming. At the time, gaming sites were few and far between, and we wanted to create a space to share our passion for all things gaming. Whether it was Sega classics, PC shooters, or console gems, POCG became a hub for gamers looking to connect. Over the years, we covered everything from retro classics to modern games, always striving to inspire others to play the games they might have missed.
In 2001, following the tragic events of September 11, we temporarily shifted the focus of our website to provide aggregate news links and updates about the unfolding events. It was an unprecedented time, and we wanted to contribute to keeping people informed. By October of that year, we resumed our normal gaming coverage, returning to our roots of sharing our love of video games with our community.
In 2012, POCG went on hiatus, and Adam started a new project, lvl30.com, where we expanded our focus to include not just games, but also hardware, tech, and everything geekdom. For over a decade, lvl30 evolved, providing on-and-off coverage of gaming and pop culture. Then, in 2023, it was time to bring it all full circle. We merged lvl30 back into POCG, returning to our roots with a renewed focus on video games and gaming culture, both old and new.
At POCG, our mission is simple: to celebrate gaming in all its forms and help gamers discover (or rediscover) the titles they might have passed up. Our content is personal—every game we cover is something we’ve played or tried ourselves. We aim to strike a balance between casual fun and informative depth, whether we’re diving into NES hidden gems, reviewing indie hits, or reflecting on gaming’s greatest moments.
Our audience spans seasoned veterans who’ve been gaming since the ‘80s and newcomers eager to explore the rich history of gaming. We lean heavily into retro content while mixing in modern and indie titles to keep things fresh. And whenever we can, we share personal stories, because gaming is as much about the memories as it is about the games themselves.
The name, Playing Out of Control, originated from Dave’s Quake clan, POC, which merged with Adam’s Sega-focused site in the early days. Now, over two decades later, POCG is still out of control, but it’s also a community built on celebrating the past and embracing the future of gaming.
Our tagline says it all: Play the Past, Level Up the Future – Gaming Lives Here. Whether you’re here for nostalgia or curious about what’s next, we’re thrilled to have you along for the ride.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]