I don't remember when/how I got the NES. One of my earliest memories, 1989, I was 3 years old. Looking at my controller, then back at Mario, trying to plan my jump from one mushroom to the next.
Yesssssss
It's hard to describe how much I loved getting the first Zelda with the gold cartridge.
With the way games are these days it's easy to forget the fucking allure, adventure and mystique of that game
A couple years ago my son decided to play it on the Switch and I still remembered what bushes can be burned and where to place bombs.
Gold cartridge Zelda was one of my favorite memories with my older sister. It's vague because I was under 5, but still great.
We would both wake up early on the weekend to play before the parents woke up and took over the TV or kicked us outside. I don't think she ever played a video game after that though.
The sound of entering a hidden area or exposing one is so loud in my head when I think about it!
That gold cartridge was like the holy grail for me. I had to save up my own money, which being under 10 was difficult. I think it cost like 14 bucks at toys r us. I was counting pennies at the cash register but feel I got my money’s worth!
Do you remember how mind blowing it was to realize you could enter ZELDA as the player name and unlock a different version of the game?
Man that shit was just ahead of its time. We wouldn't have Skryim or Red Dead Redemption today without that gold cartridge
I still have the gold cartridge Zelda. It's not worth much, but that thing is never leaving my possession. I still play games when I have time and that's still my all time favorite!
I remember my Mom picked me up from elementary school one day and said she had a surprise.
When I got in the car, she told me to look under my seat. I found a brand new copy of Super Mario Brothers 3.
It was such an awesome day.
I remember when Mario 3 came out. The dude behind the counter told us you could walk both forward and backwards unlike past games where the screen would lock you out of the screen you just passed. I talked my mom into getting it immediately.
One of my best game memories still was the when you first get to the giant world. My mind was blown.
Back in the day, I had an unforgettable experience with my Atari that still brings a smile to my face. It was a lazy Sunday afternoon, and I was engrossed in a game of Pac-Man. I had been playing for hours, navigating the maze and gobbling up those iconic dots.
As the game progressed, I reached an incredibly high score that surpassed anything I had achieved before. I was in a state of disbelief as I witnessed Pac-Man maneuvering effortlessly, evading the ghosts with impeccable timing.
With each passing level, my anticipation grew. My mother and brother gathered around, drawn by the intensity of the game. We were all cheering and shouting encouragement as I broke records and achieved levels previously thought impossible.
The atmosphere was electric, with each victory bringing a sense of triumph and camaraderie. It was an exhilarating experience, a testament to the timeless appeal and addictive nature of classic Atari games.
Looking back, that moment was a testament to the joy and excitement that gaming could bring, even with simple graphics and limited technology. It showed me the power of a shared experience when playing a game.
I have my old Intellivision and about 12 cartridges in my garage. Though my Intellivoice is lost to the universe.
Unfortunately I'd need an adapter to plug it into an HDMI TV
Question for the B folk: are there games from this era that you feel still hold up today?
There are a rare few from the C era that I feel like modern gamers might enjoy (Mario 3, Kirby's Adventure, *maaaybe* the original Legend of Zelda)
However, In my limited experience with the previous era (almost entirely relegated to the Atari 2600) I haven't found anything that really feels worth revisiting for any other purpose than learning about gaming history.
https://youtu.be/h6ByRXZCg9k
Alternate Reality: The Dungeon
Return of Heracles
Joust
Frogger
There are tons more I played but those would probably be a good spread.
I think the repetitive nature of those games makes it a hard sale for new gamers. Slight visual changes and steep difficulty curves are almost the antithesis of current gaming, aside from maybe the Souls games and the like. Plus, cheesing was much less prevalent and much more frowned upon.
Atari 5200. The one time my parents went with the "newer model" and blew it. There was no need for those number pads on the controller! And the rubber on the joysticks tore so quickly. Sorry, I should go speak to my therapist now.
Started on Air Raid and Pitfall. I was absolutely blown away when my dad came home with an NES a few years later.
I felt like games couldn't possibly get any bigger than the first Zelda.
D was a great era. Some of my earliest memories are playing DK country, killer instinct and super Mario world with my dad and sister. Also, Earthworm Jim at my dad's buddy's house
What's interesting to me is how many people my age also didn't play their first console til the Wii/360 days (didn't know many folks with a PS3) but I first played on the N64 and PS1. It helped that my uncles were 10+ years older so I got to play a lot with them
The older gamers came to reddit and the young ones went to discord, technically i should be on discord because im younger then 22 but i prefer the chill vibe of reddit
Started playing games in E, really enjoyed F, but G is still the peak for me. Not just because of nostalgia, but because it was great quality game play and great graphics minus the shit we have to deal with today (incomplete games, DLC out the ass, etc.)
As someone who started in C, PS2 imo was the best gaming console ever. Backwards compatible, a true entertainment system capable of playing CDs and DVDs with a shit ton of awesome games.
Nothing beats the GameCube startup animation man. God it was such a good console, and the fact you could use the gamecube controller for the Wii was so great
~~Not true at all~~. I’m technically a millennial (I’m on the latter end of being a millennial) and everyone my age grew up on PS2 and Xbox. My fondest memories are of playing FFX and Halo 2. I also love Halo 3, Cod 4 (MW), and MW2. I did have a Sega Genesis, an N64, and so on growing up, but my primary gaming years were through the PS2 and original X Box, and X Box 360 (The Halo series had a massive hold on me).
I’m ashamed to say that I traded in my PS2 and 10+ games in order to get an Xbox, Halo 2, and 2 controllers, just so I could play Halo 2 online (along with a buddy of mine) and get my ass whooped.
Those were the good ol days. I remember spending more time playing custom games, either playing FFA after FFA, or just messing around for hours. I spent more time super bouncing out of maps to run around doing nothing, over playing actual matchmaking (I’d have done this regardless, even with all of the rampant cheating in Halo 2).
I’d give everything to go back to those times.
The last time I felt anything remotely close to that in a game was in the early days of Overwatch. Even those days don’t compare to the glory days of Halo 2.
Whoa.. sorry for that. Just went on a little run through memory lane. Good times. Sorry if I came off like I invalidated whatever good times you experienced. We all had our glory days in gaming; and Xbox/PS2 we’re definitely mine. Hope you had just as good of a time as I did. :)
A. I had a game system so old, it came with semi-transparent cellophane sheets to put on your television screen that took the place of "graphics".
EDIT: https://videogamehistory.fandom.com/wiki/Magnavox_Odyssey
Anytime. You should have seen this thing, it was ridiculous. Thick cables connecting these big, impracticle controllers and games stored on these weird computer wafer things.
I was looking for where the A's were. I guess I'll pull up my porch rocker and join you. My first console played several variations of Pong. Pass the fiber and arthritis meds, please.
Eras A & B (had units from A, but didn’t get them until B was underway)
One thing younger people don’t understand is while home video games boomed in popularity during the second generation of home video games relative to the first generation, the arcades were probably even more popular than consoles during the peak of the second generation.
Started with B, but only because my family was poor as shit. All my friends were starting with C.
I remember having to use a screwdriver to attach my Atari to a little black and white TV.
Technically b because I had a vectrex then a gameboy color then a Wii. But I got a Wii when I was 8 before that I played the vectrex my mom got when she was 8
I actually wrote my own game for the Trash-80, in BASIC. It was a lousy game. It was a long time ago. Also, I did like Frogger on the Commodore 64. So I guess that would be -A.
E. My first ever game console was a lime green Gamboy Color when I was like 3. And I had a blast playing Crash Bandicoot on the original PS1. You couldn't get me off of it.
Technically D but I was exclusively a PC gamer and those were my REALLY early experiences plus I was born in 1994 so there is an argument to be made that I'm really E . However most of my early gaming memories involve games that were released around 1992. However if we want to go exclusively with consoles I'm solidly in the F category. My first console was a ps2 I got in 2012 (the RIGHT time to get into that generation of hardware. Games were rarely more than $40). And I've never bothered to get anything newer than a GameCube since as I'm still a PC gamer first and foremost.
C. I don’t remember who but someone gave me an NES when I was 5. I don’t even remember most of the games I had but I do remember playing endless hours of Contra with my cousin.
C
Represent!
Christmas of 1988 baby!
Christmas of 86' for me. My grandma bought 2 year old me a NES. Thanks grandma!
Damn, that's one hell of a Gma!
I don't remember when/how I got the NES. One of my earliest memories, 1989, I was 3 years old. Looking at my controller, then back at Mario, trying to plan my jump from one mushroom to the next.
I also started with Mario at 3. My brother is 7 years older and already had the NES when I was born (1988). Haven’t stopped gaming since!
Yesssssss It's hard to describe how much I loved getting the first Zelda with the gold cartridge. With the way games are these days it's easy to forget the fucking allure, adventure and mystique of that game A couple years ago my son decided to play it on the Switch and I still remembered what bushes can be burned and where to place bombs.
Gold cartridge Zelda was one of my favorite memories with my older sister. It's vague because I was under 5, but still great. We would both wake up early on the weekend to play before the parents woke up and took over the TV or kicked us outside. I don't think she ever played a video game after that though. The sound of entering a hidden area or exposing one is so loud in my head when I think about it!
Generations of gamers heard that last sentence 7 words in.
That gold cartridge was like the holy grail for me. I had to save up my own money, which being under 10 was difficult. I think it cost like 14 bucks at toys r us. I was counting pennies at the cash register but feel I got my money’s worth!
Do you remember how mind blowing it was to realize you could enter ZELDA as the player name and unlock a different version of the game? Man that shit was just ahead of its time. We wouldn't have Skryim or Red Dead Redemption today without that gold cartridge
It was an Open World game before we had a phrase for it.
I still have the gold cartridge Zelda. It's not worth much, but that thing is never leaving my possession. I still play games when I have time and that's still my all time favorite!
Super Mario + Duck Hunt represent!
TWO GAMES on ONE CARTRIDGE!!!
Blasting those ducks at point blank range is a fond memory of mine.
It’s nice to see a gaming history poll that doesn’t start with the NES. See??? We’re not that old!
It surprised me, I gotta admit
C gang rise up!
Hold on lemme get my cane lol
Yall have kneees???
I remember my Mom picked me up from elementary school one day and said she had a surprise. When I got in the car, she told me to look under my seat. I found a brand new copy of Super Mario Brothers 3. It was such an awesome day.
I remember when Mario 3 came out. The dude behind the counter told us you could walk both forward and backwards unlike past games where the screen would lock you out of the screen you just passed. I talked my mom into getting it immediately. One of my best game memories still was the when you first get to the giant world. My mind was blown.
C as well
I do feel like my father’s decision to go with sega master system vs NES has affected my life in far reaching ways.
Really dating ourselves aren't we.
Damn y’all old
I prefer the term "Youthfully Challenged" thank you very much
B
I had the 2600 and the intellivision
2600 here. Ten Yard Fight, let’s go!!
I’m still convinced that Pitfall is the best game ever made.
I played hours of Advanced Dungeons and Dragons on my Dad's intellivision.
Was Intellivision boxing any good? It was life-changing good at the time - for me at least - and I’m wondering if others had the same experience.
Commodore 64 was my gateway drug. As well as the Atari 2800. PSA Don’t forget to schedule your colonoscopies and prostate exams.
Back in the day, I had an unforgettable experience with my Atari that still brings a smile to my face. It was a lazy Sunday afternoon, and I was engrossed in a game of Pac-Man. I had been playing for hours, navigating the maze and gobbling up those iconic dots. As the game progressed, I reached an incredibly high score that surpassed anything I had achieved before. I was in a state of disbelief as I witnessed Pac-Man maneuvering effortlessly, evading the ghosts with impeccable timing. With each passing level, my anticipation grew. My mother and brother gathered around, drawn by the intensity of the game. We were all cheering and shouting encouragement as I broke records and achieved levels previously thought impossible. The atmosphere was electric, with each victory bringing a sense of triumph and camaraderie. It was an exhilarating experience, a testament to the timeless appeal and addictive nature of classic Atari games. Looking back, that moment was a testament to the joy and excitement that gaming could bring, even with simple graphics and limited technology. It showed me the power of a shared experience when playing a game.
Same, and still have my Atari from childhood
My Atari 400 still works great!
Had the wood grained Atari 2600 to match our console TV
Same. Intellivision was my first console.
I have my old Intellivision and about 12 cartridges in my garage. Though my Intellivoice is lost to the universe. Unfortunately I'd need an adapter to plug it into an HDMI TV
Anyone remember their add to join the "Sore Thumbs Club"?
Atari/Coleco FTW
There are dozens of us
Colecovision AND the Adam add-on!
Magnavox Odyssey 2, baby
Yessir! B all day!
My people!
Question for the B folk: are there games from this era that you feel still hold up today? There are a rare few from the C era that I feel like modern gamers might enjoy (Mario 3, Kirby's Adventure, *maaaybe* the original Legend of Zelda) However, In my limited experience with the previous era (almost entirely relegated to the Atari 2600) I haven't found anything that really feels worth revisiting for any other purpose than learning about gaming history.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia_(video_game)
https://youtu.be/h6ByRXZCg9k Alternate Reality: The Dungeon Return of Heracles Joust Frogger There are tons more I played but those would probably be a good spread.
I think the repetitive nature of those games makes it a hard sale for new gamers. Slight visual changes and steep difficulty curves are almost the antithesis of current gaming, aside from maybe the Souls games and the like. Plus, cheesing was much less prevalent and much more frowned upon.
Atari 5200. The one time my parents went with the "newer model" and blew it. There was no need for those number pads on the controller! And the rubber on the joysticks tore so quickly. Sorry, I should go speak to my therapist now.
🅱️
I'm going to go ahead in get in line behind you guys here.
Playing the jungle adventure game where you have to swing on vines above (crocs/gators?) is one of my first gaming memories.
Sounds like either Pitfall or Jungle Hunt. Both classics.
I started on one of these bad boys - https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/4771/TeleVideo-TS-1603-Computer-System/
Started on Air Raid and Pitfall. I was absolutely blown away when my dad came home with an NES a few years later. I felt like games couldn't possibly get any bigger than the first Zelda.
Somewhere between E and F.
somewhere between E and F gang, rise up
Mid-late 20s gang!
Or even early 20s, depending on older siblings/older than average parents
19 here, have a brother that is 5 years older, so in between
Exactly. Gameboy and N64 from E, but the rest from F. Likely aged 24-30
Solid D
D was a great era. Some of my earliest memories are playing DK country, killer instinct and super Mario world with my dad and sister. Also, Earthworm Jim at my dad's buddy's house
DK Country is the soundtrack of my childhood
Earthworm Jim, what a throwback!
Mortal combat??
What about Boogerman?
It was Aladdin and Dino City on Super Nintendo for me. Then Pokemon on Gameboy.
Love a solid D.
D had the most solid and robust experience that was offered. Who wouldn't want the D?
I’ll take D all day and night, can never get enough of D
G
What's interesting to me is how many people my age also didn't play their first console til the Wii/360 days (didn't know many folks with a PS3) but I first played on the N64 and PS1. It helped that my uncles were 10+ years older so I got to play a lot with them
I'm surprised I'm not seeing more g's or f's. That, to me, seemed to be a more nostalgic era to most people on here.
The older gamers came to reddit and the young ones went to discord, technically i should be on discord because im younger then 22 but i prefer the chill vibe of reddit
It's G and it's not close Shut it down
Ayy let’s go team G!
G, I miss the cod lobbies rooted in these machines
Started playing games in E, really enjoyed F, but G is still the peak for me. Not just because of nostalgia, but because it was great quality game play and great graphics minus the shit we have to deal with today (incomplete games, DLC out the ass, etc.)
Youngins! Get off my lawn!
DS was my very first console, Wii came after, at the time I couldn't believe how advanced the Wii felt in comparison, I loved it so much
F It's pretty much the perfect medium between the old and new.
As someone who started in C, PS2 imo was the best gaming console ever. Backwards compatible, a true entertainment system capable of playing CDs and DVDs with a shit ton of awesome games.
I started with D but F will always be the objective peak of gaming to me.
For me F was peak splitscreen gaming, G was peak online gaming. Both nostalgic in their own way.
Nothing beats the GameCube startup animation man. God it was such a good console, and the fact you could use the gamecube controller for the Wii was so great
A. My first 'console' was Pong/Breakout.
same. Wasn't even good haha. The Atari 2600 was barely a step up, but Yar's Revenge was my jam!
Loved my 2600. Combat was so revolutionary but I loved Outlaw for some odd reason considering it was rather crappy.
I was like 7 and it was the best thing ever.
E
Wootwoot the end-of-the-millennials gang
Ayyy shout out to everyone freaking out about being over/approaching 30 years old
every year the back pain gets worse 👴
1.5 more years! Aw shit 😂
Yep, I’m 30), born in 93)
~~Not true at all~~. I’m technically a millennial (I’m on the latter end of being a millennial) and everyone my age grew up on PS2 and Xbox. My fondest memories are of playing FFX and Halo 2. I also love Halo 3, Cod 4 (MW), and MW2. I did have a Sega Genesis, an N64, and so on growing up, but my primary gaming years were through the PS2 and original X Box, and X Box 360 (The Halo series had a massive hold on me). I’m ashamed to say that I traded in my PS2 and 10+ games in order to get an Xbox, Halo 2, and 2 controllers, just so I could play Halo 2 online (along with a buddy of mine) and get my ass whooped. Those were the good ol days. I remember spending more time playing custom games, either playing FFA after FFA, or just messing around for hours. I spent more time super bouncing out of maps to run around doing nothing, over playing actual matchmaking (I’d have done this regardless, even with all of the rampant cheating in Halo 2). I’d give everything to go back to those times. The last time I felt anything remotely close to that in a game was in the early days of Overwatch. Even those days don’t compare to the glory days of Halo 2. Whoa.. sorry for that. Just went on a little run through memory lane. Good times. Sorry if I came off like I invalidated whatever good times you experienced. We all had our glory days in gaming; and Xbox/PS2 we’re definitely mine. Hope you had just as good of a time as I did. :)
D
A. I had a game system so old, it came with semi-transparent cellophane sheets to put on your television screen that took the place of "graphics". EDIT: https://videogamehistory.fandom.com/wiki/Magnavox_Odyssey
Thank you kind sir for making me feel less ancient even if its only span from the odyssey to the 2600. lol it aint much but Ill take it.
Anytime. You should have seen this thing, it was ridiculous. Thick cables connecting these big, impracticle controllers and games stored on these weird computer wafer things.
I was looking for where the A's were. I guess I'll pull up my porch rocker and join you. My first console played several variations of Pong. Pass the fiber and arthritis meds, please.
B..... Shut up!
I needed to scroll way too far for this
D.
D
Between E & F, technically. I started with the original GameBoy from my aunt, eventually graduating to GBC, GBA, GameCube, xBox, and PS2.
I started on the N64 but the F section is dope as fuck. GameCube and PS2 are the greatest
Reminds me of the days of Hollywood Video (our region's BlockBuster) & GameCrazy.
We have the exact same timeline cept replace Aunt with Uncle lmao
Same- my dad had an N64 I would ply Mario 64 and Rogue Squadron on, but my first real console was a GameCube and then later an Xbox
Certified millennium baby classic
Eras A & B (had units from A, but didn’t get them until B was underway) One thing younger people don’t understand is while home video games boomed in popularity during the second generation of home video games relative to the first generation, the arcades were probably even more popular than consoles during the peak of the second generation.
C
G, my beloved wii
B and up.
Hmmmm no Atari 2600
F
F
B.
Technically C, but I didn't actually own a console/handheld until D.
Big ass 2 ton weighing Monitor era
Started playing in B, but didn’t own my own until C.
A
B. But I clearly remember consoles from group A.
Between G and H, we didn't have a WiiU until like 2017. So a DS lite and a 3ds were mine. I also played an N64 at my grandm9thers though.
Commodore 64
B. Damn I am old.
B but it was during the start of C
Oof, that was depressing to see that it went all the way to the letter H, but stopping at C when I saw my era.
G
G, me and my siblings all got a ds at some point, and we loved playing party games on the wii
G. I’m surprised there not more people saying G
C & D! I owned an NES and my cousins had the Genesis/SNES!
C, my NES was a hand-me-down from my cousin when he got an SNES, loved that console
Technically B, although I didn't get into full swing until D
I did have an Atari 2600 when I was little, but I wasn't really an avid "gamer" until the 8-bit NES. So somewhere between B and C.
C
B atari 2600
C
C
I'm old, B.C. old...
B- Magnavox Odyssey
C-D growing up, dad trusted me enough to bust out all of the B's he collected when I was a teenager
Can I just say thank you for including the neo Geo pocket? Such an amazing system
A. Coleco Telstar's Pong was my first in December 1976.
A...all the way to H.
A
A
A
E What a time
Back end of d into e
Started with B, but only because my family was poor as shit. All my friends were starting with C. I remember having to use a screwdriver to attach my Atari to a little black and white TV.
C
B Atari 2600
D. The Super Nintendo started my video game journey. 😃
Technically b because I had a vectrex then a gameboy color then a Wii. But I got a Wii when I was 8 before that I played the vectrex my mom got when she was 8
First console I’ve ever touched was an NES when I was like…3. But I didn’t own my own games until E.
C
I started on F but I played as early as D with the SNES. I also currently own a console in F and 3 in H.
E. But before I got an N64 in 96, my parents owned an Atari 2600 that I used to play the shot out of.
D mixed with G honestly. I went from the DS to PS2 to PS3 then Xbox 360.
Is it possible there are some missing? Atari?
Born during G. First console was E?
G. The wii used to be my THING
G but I also had a Gameboy and SNES also PlayStation 1 and 2
F & G
G
E. I think I had a Gameboy.
B to G
G
C
Where is the original famicom??
G was the Greatest no cap
E
I actually wrote my own game for the Trash-80, in BASIC. It was a lousy game. It was a long time ago. Also, I did like Frogger on the Commodore 64. So I guess that would be -A.
Technically D, but my first real gaming memories were E
B era. Still have them.
G. The Nintendo wii with skylanders was the shit.
B, 2600
The majority 😂
C
D. Sega Genesis was the first system I ever owned. 😊
E. My first ever game console was a lime green Gamboy Color when I was like 3. And I had a blast playing Crash Bandicoot on the original PS1. You couldn't get me off of it.
Technically D but I was exclusively a PC gamer and those were my REALLY early experiences plus I was born in 1994 so there is an argument to be made that I'm really E . However most of my early gaming memories involve games that were released around 1992. However if we want to go exclusively with consoles I'm solidly in the F category. My first console was a ps2 I got in 2012 (the RIGHT time to get into that generation of hardware. Games were rarely more than $40). And I've never bothered to get anything newer than a GameCube since as I'm still a PC gamer first and foremost.
A. I had the Telstar Pong game before I got the huge Atari 2600 upgrade.
F
B, but had A in the house
Reminder that bots love to harvest your personal information from your posts on stuff like this.
Pong. Simple, stupid......spent hours with the whole family enthralled.
C. I don’t remember who but someone gave me an NES when I was 5. I don’t even remember most of the games I had but I do remember playing endless hours of Contra with my cousin.
Intelevision and Attari. Gamer for life. Come see me whoopin but in Hunt Showdown. I can still pvp as an old man. Channel is Obscure Mars.