My history with video games started in 1986 when my Dad who worked as an electronics salesman for Panisonic came home one night with a ColecoVision and it's entire library of games. You see Tony Hazapis, of Hippos Electronic store in Albany couldn't sell the things (ColecoVision was discontinued in '85) and was looking to unload on someone. It was a magical evening when my father came home with those games. The controllers looked like freaky telephones with a number pad that counted from 0-9. It even came with a steering wheel. I spent hours of my time playing Rocky and Dr. Doo. The fact that Rocky captured my imagination is hilarious in retrospect because the game offered only one fight - Rocky v. Apollo Creed obviously - and was just insanely difficult.
That same Christmas I received the NES system and had a freak out moment similar to the "Nintendo Sixty-FOUUURRRRRRRRR" kid. I loved my Mario and Duck Hunt but really didn't get hooked until I played The Legend of Zelda. The exploration in that game inspired me to march around my neighborhood woods with a card board sword and a back pack of inventory items. It resonated with me so much that in my early twenties I ended up getting the Triforce tatooed on my back. I was drunk and immeidately regretted the decision but after awhile it grew on me and I now wear it as a badge of (nerdy) honor.
In 1990, Nintendo Power Magazine, started teasing the Super Nintendo. Mind was blown. I couldn't comprehend the amazing graphics. In an act of desperation I started mowing ALL of the lawns in the neighborhood and sold ALL of my used video games... which I would also later regret in my twenties/thirties. As a kid, I couldn't understand why my copy of Mega Man 3 was only worth $2.50 when I had paid like $50 worth of chore money to buy it originally. Thus began my disdain for video game trade-ins.
The early 90's was a glorious time for video games. It was also a BAD time. It was an era that birthed fan boys (read Console Wars, http://www.amazon.com/Console-Wars-Nintendo-Defined-Generation/dp/0062276697). the playground was divided. The Sega kids and Super Nintendo kids would compete in every aspect to prove that their system was greater. We would play football, basketball, baseball, 4-Square and even physically fight each other for the rights of the BEST SYSTEM! History has shown that Nintendo eventually won but not without its reputation being severly damaged by Sega. The games were amazing - I played my first RPG (Final Fantasy IV - II in the US), once again Zelda inspired me... this time to start drawing out my own video game maps on graph paper.
In 1992 I went over to my cousins house and played Bonk's Revenge on Turbo Graphics 16. I was a spazzy kid and pretended to be a real life Bonk... I used my head to try to crush a coffee table. The coffee table won and I had to be rushed to the hospital for stiches. I carry that scar with me to this day.
In 1994, my father - now working for JVC - brought home a free JVC X'Eye. Which was basically a glorified Sega CD-Sega Genesis hybrid console that saw very limited release in the US. I secretly enjoyed the console while pubically continued to denounce SEGA. No one ever found out my secret but damn Sonic CD was incredible fun.
The late 90's came around and I was a "cool" high school kid. Crumbling to peer pressure, Nintendo was for lame-o's and PlayStation was for the cool kids. I got a PlayStation. During this time my interest in video games waned a bit. I was more interested in running cross country and track and driving my 1989 Volvo to places.
Then I went to college ... I got a GameCube and my social gaming renaissance began. Mario Kart, Mario Tennis, Smash Bros Melee, Gauntlet, etc and so forth. I was poor so I didn't buy games often but man we played those games every day between classes. We were convinced that we were the best smash bros players of all time. I later learned that we actually sucked. Whatever man!
i'll do a to be continued for more modern gaming - i don't feel like typing anymore
run away!
