by Abram Sauer

Life is not a game. Except when it is. And in honor of Labor Day, we thought we’d reminisce about a time when a job seemed somewhat fun, if only because we only understood “employment” through the lens of video games.

Painterboy: The 1986 game never really caught on, probably due to the fact that part of the gameplay actually involves commuting to your job. (Became wildly popular thought years later when it lost the painting and added carjacking as Grand Theft Auto.)

Paperboy: Who doesn’t remember playing this in a bowling alley in the late 80s? Despite being gruelingly boring, it was strangely hypnotic and rewarding. Version 2 in the 90s even featured zombies. Nostalgic already? Play an online version.

Hard Hat Mack: The best part of this 1983 Donkey-Kong-like game was that, along with vandals and fire-breathing furnaces, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) representative was to be avoided.

Lost Luggage: As dumb as it sounds, the game that probably kept hundreds of young men out of the baggage handler’s union. But 1982 did have another game…

Burger Time: Almost exactly as difficult as actually making burgers, it was the game that prepared many of us for our first non-console-based 3-D job. You can play it online here. (Warning: There may be pop-ups and hunger.)

I have a personal theory that the Internet boom and bust of the late 90s can be directly attributed to 1979’s Lemonade Stand. Think about it; Young Silicon (V)Alley entrepreneurs playing Lemonade Stand as kids, grow up and run their businesses as they did their lemonade stands.

I didn’t say it was an airtight theory. Happy Labor Day.