What's your first video game memory?

[Zelden]

I love nostalgia threads, thus I think we need more of them.

I think my oldest memory also happens to be a video game memory.

I was my brother's birthday (4 years older), my family was sitting in the living room next to the couch and the coffee table. The amber light from the lamp shown down on as our shadows danced on the floor.

A present.
The present.

It sits in my brother's lap.

"What could it be?" I think to myself, the anticipation building. My heart pumping and palms becoming clammy.

He opens it slowing, trying to find the title of whatever awaits in the box before us. Red letters. I couldn't make sense of it. What do these letters mean?

The wrapping paper unsheathes the remaining box, and that's when I recognized the picture of gray and white. My brother and I looked at each other and spoke in unison.

"Nintendo"

So ya, that's my story. I'm not really sure if that's how it all went down as my memory of the moment is really quite fuzzy. I do remember sheer excitement though. We also may have gotten the power pad at this time as well.

*sigh...good times.

[stizz]

man, i cant remember anything as in-depth as that. the furthest my gaming memory goes back is playing pacman on atari with my mom, she played that game more than i did, lol

[Zelden]

Ha, well I have only about a 3 second memory of it, so I had to fluff it up a bit. The whole picture is accurate, but the small details may be a bit off.

[DungeonMan]

I love all my nostalgic memories of video games. I remember the first time I rented Megaman X and Chrono Trigger, it sounds wierd but I loved the music especially Chrono Trigger, still do in fact. I remember my older brother always showing me the secrets of what to do on all the games he played. After we took those games back I remember searching for years to get Chrono Trigger for my own. It wasn't til my sixteenth bithday that I finally got it. I truly love that game.

However my very first memory of playing a video game is kind of stereotypical. I remember going over to my dad's friends house and that was the first time I ever seen the marvelous machine known as the NES. The only game I played that day was Mario Bros. 1 (that's why I said stereotypical). I knew at that moment I would love video games for the rest of my life (funny how I'm not into the newer systems, only about up to the Dreamcast, still play the newer ones sometimes though). Soon after this I remember playing Mario 2 and 3 and many other classics. Wow am I ramblin', I think I might take a liking to these nostalgia threads. I just wish more people were into the older games more, what do you guys think?

[Zelden]

Ah, megaman x...what fond memories. I rented it so many times, yet I never did buy it.

My one and only regret in life. However, I did pick up the MegaMan x compilation for my GC, the controller just doesn't do it for me though.

My best memory with my brother was watching him play through Earthbound. I would read through the strategy guide and tell him how to kill enemies and where to get secret items...*sigh..

[schwa.]

I was five. On Christmas morning, I had opened all my presents... I got assorted toys and board games, but my parents then pointed out a present behind the tree... It was a Game Boy Color, complete with two games: Game & Watch Gallery 2 and Godzilla: The Series.

My pudgy little thumbs mashed the buttons for a long time afterward. I spent a long time playing the games that came with it, and I even began to buy my own games.

Sadly, my game boy died when I dropped it last year. Even though I had already bought an SP and a DS, I still felt somewhat saddened by my own mistake.

But anyway, I'd like to thank Zelden for having me share this story.

[Zelden]

I spent many hours with the game and watch galleries. So simple yet so consuming.

I lost one of my gbc's and just about all of my games a couple years ago. I pretty convinced they were stolen, but I just don't know when. It is awfully depressing considering how many great games I had .

[Xellos]

playing one of many games on the atari 2600, such as commando, enduro, joust, or pole position, or even rampage... yes, i'm old school, i still have them all

[Pochitos]

I remembered getting my NES with the SMB3 included. It was so freaking sweet. Even though now it freezez at various points, I still enjoy it a lot.

[DungeonMan]

Yeah it's too bad that all most the older systems mess up easily, but I still use them a lot.

I remember getting such a good deal on an Earthbound box set around Christmas once. I played that game so much and it was truly the one game that got me into rpg's. Of course I couldn't have beaten it without the strategy guide. Anyone remember the part where you have to get into a waterfall using a password, and the password was to stand there for like three minutes. Who the heck would've got that?

[schwa.]

I never had the chance to play Earthbound. I want to, because it has a devoted fanbase and that it's great, but I can't get my hands on a copy.

I really want Super Mario RPG. I rented it a couple times before the place went out of business. A few days before they closed, they had a sale that any game in there was just $10.00. I rushed over there as quick as I could.... but it was gone.

[alphachimp]

In reference to any video game: Space Invaders at the (long since defunct)drive-in theatre n Gloucester, MA

In reference to NES: Seeing Athena at my friends house. Yes, the much maligned Athena. One of my personal faves. Just so damn quirky! And I have beat it (twice!)

[Zelden]

Originally Posted by DungeonMan

Anyone remember the part where you have to get into a waterfall using a password, and the password was to stand there for like three minutes. Who the heck would've got that?

Heh, I remember playing through it again after numerous times and still not knowing what the hell to do there.

Did your strategy guide have those scratch-and-sniff things of the characters? I think I still remember what Ness smells like.

[Faruk]

Oh geeze, my first video game memory has to be Crystalis. My mom would play that game so much that there was no chance but for any one of us to be hooked on it.

[DungeonMan]

Originally Posted by Zelden

Heh, I remember playing through it again after numerous times and still not knowing what the hell to do there.

Did your strategy guide have those scratch-and-sniff things of the characters? I think I still remember what Ness smells like.

Yeah. Man did that kid smell funky! The others too, I remember thinking to myself "this Eagleland must be a very smelly place".

I really want to find another strategy guide, but to find it in good condition is only plausible on the internet, and the prices are enormous.