One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming - Kotaku Comments

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

yashichi8bit — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:53:27 MDT

When I was around 4 or 5 I spent time at a babysitter's house who had a pinball and an arcade cabinet in their basement.

I was amazed at the time and told myself if I ever was in a position to have something like that in my home that I would do so.

Now, I do.

Well, the arcade for now...pinball will be in the near future.

yashichi8bit

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

rawg — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:37:15 MDT

Cute baby picture... :)

rawg

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Spectre_J — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:52:41 MDT

My parents owned and played Nintendo before I was even born. I was playing Zelda at age 3, which is one of the first two games I can remember, the other being Mario Bros./ Duck Hunt.
My Dad is a pretty enthusiastic Racing gamer to this day, and my Mom still loves long marathons of Pac Man.

Spectre_J

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

rainofwalrus — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:46:14 MDT

nice pic, maggie.

first game I ever played was Pong in '77. it's been downhill ever since.

rainofwalrus

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Elvis_Himselvis — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:33:14 MDT

That's one hell of an afro your mother (?) has in that photo!.

My first gaming memory is Pong, way back in the stone-age.

Elvis_Himselvis

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

ion1626 — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:11:01 MDT

First was coin-op machines at pizza places, movie theatures etc playing pacman, galaga, simpsons, etc. Then I got an NES and loved it.

ion1626

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

ohayou_kun — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:46:13 MDT

Like many teenagers these days, it was the good old Super Nintendo. Mario and duck hunt. I think i was like 5 or 3, i dunno.

ohayou_kun

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

DTJAAAAM — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:34:35 MDT

My uncle introduced me to gaming. He bought me an NES Deluxe Set when I was two.

DTJAAAAM

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Bakachan — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:59:19 MDT

Well, my parents being fairly hip and-- at least in my father's case --fairly geek-oriented (Without being 'geeky'), I got into computers on the ground floor... Apple II, VIC-20, Commodore 64, Macintosh... My father was showing me how to crack Mac shareware games downloaded off Compuserv when I was 6-7.

Got me into console gaming too, my parents had an Atari. (Though I continued to much prefer computer games until the NES really gained market in the US.)

I was basically born into it, which was pretty damn progressive for 1981. My folks are just cool like that. My old man still plays games and occasionally watches anime with me to this very day.

(He's probably wasting his afternoon playing ShotOnline right now...I wish I could get him to play Pangya, which I vastly prefer to ShotOnline.)

Bakachan

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Mort — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:58:00 MDT

First time I gamed must've been with Super Mario Bros., when my dad brought home a NES. I think I was about 2 or 3 years old... I still have that NES, and I tend to bring it with me when I come to visit him. He can still beat that game in 15 minutes flat...

Mort

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

onikuwagata — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 10:22:02 MDT

Intellivision, Advanced Dungeons and Dragons.

onikuwagata

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

MerlynNY — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 08:09:53 MDT

I definitely remember my first big experience. I remember way back, when I was about 4 years old, my parents stopped off at a Radio Shack in Queens NY. I sat in the car with my mom, and my dad ran into the store.

Low and behold when he came out, there was this thing called the "Intellivision" on my lap. This was my first experience with home game consoles, and from that moment on, I've pretty much owned a majority of every console ever released.

MerlynNY

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

codesurgeon — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:51:52 MDT

Choplifter on an Apple II - a little more detail via my blog

It is fun to read how diverse (age-wise) the Kotaku commenters community turns out to be :)

codesurgeon

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Jamaces — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:34:57 MDT

@lumpy108:

old people still do not understand video games, I was playing ds at work and this old guy that I work with stared at me and was like "fck if you keep on palying those fcking things your going to go blind looking at something that small" and I was like "i have been playing these things since I can remember, I don't wear glasses now, so I don't think that this is going to hurt me anymore"

Jamaces

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Thorax — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:28:47 MDT

Super Mario world for the SNES. I remember our dentist had a few old consoles for the kiddies, and I loved every second of that game.

Thorax

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Word Man — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:38:31 MDT

@Maggie Greene: My first introduction to gaming was when I was five, my brother was teaching me how to hook up the nes to play the mario, I forget which one. But they were telling me in spanish (its all I spoke at five) and my brother said "enchufalo" sp?)plug in the adapter and I heard (chupalo)(suck it)....so did and I got the shit shocked out of me. I've loved games ever since

Word Man

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

onomeister — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:21:26 MDT

1981 or 1982: Mine was Mickey & Donald Game&Watch game in the shape of a phat DS (you all know the G&W series... Has anyone seen this one I'm talking about?)
[www.gameandwatch.com]

onomeister

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

jiSh — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:38:37 MDT

Started on PC with a spelling game named Spellbound! and went on from there, to things such as Tie Fighter, Descent, Commander Keen, Catacomb Abyss, Wolf3d, Doom, etc and just continued on. Here I am now awaiting things like GTA4 and Mario Kart. Man it's been a long ride!

jiSh

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

bigdonthedj — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:35:50 MDT

Oregon Trail on the Apple II at school and getting the first release of Pong to play on my black and white tv.

bigdonthedj

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

psychobaka — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:14:34 MDT

I grew up playing the Atari and NES. My parents didn't condone it, but they didn't discourage it either. Then I started getting obsessive over my games, so my parents limited my playtime to 30 precious minutes a day. Still didn't stop me from loving my video games all the way through childhood. : )

psychobaka

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

jrghoull — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:11:10 MDT

i've always had video games and computers around...but was slow getting into it. the only video games i think i've ever really played are quake 3, halo 1, and fallout 2. thats it. i've picked up a controller on a whole series of other video games..but never really played them.

i read kotaku pretty often...or at least skim through it...for interesting articles...which are usually pretty easy to find.

jrghoull

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Marlor — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:04:41 MDT

A Commodore 64 when I was in primary school.

It came with a bundle of arcade games, like Space Invaders and Frogger.

Marlor

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Perky Peanut — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:22:25 MDT

My older brother got an NES for his birthday. He was probably 4 or 5, so I was 2 or 3. My parents would play Zelda so that we could watch. I so vividly remember all of it. From there it just became a thing. I guess I was lucky that my older brother let his little sister play all his games.

Perky Peanut

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Passa — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:21:24 MDT

My parents discouraged it. At the age of 6, I downloaded NO$GB and the Pokemon Blue rom so I could be like the other kids.

One time my grandmother saw me playing FEAR, I had to spend a good half hour consoling her, explaining that I was not going to become a crazy murderer.

God forbid when they find out I want to develop games.. my sister has already said she won't tell her kids what my job is.

Passa

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Magnum_PI — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:15:34 MDT

I'd have to say it was back in about 1989 after begging my parents for months and months for a Sega Master System, they finally relented. Loading up for the first time the built in gaming duo of Hang On and also Duck Hunt with Gun included was the start of a beautiful relationship with me and gaming.

I'd have to say the game I was most fascinated with at that time was Wonder Boy III and being turned into a badass green dragon that shot fireballs was just plain awesome.

Those were the days........

Magnum_PI

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

VixDiesel — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:10:31 MDT

TI-99 with munch man and parsec and ambulance to name a few and the Commodore 64 as well. Good times man.

VixDiesel

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

DONAR — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:56:50 MDT

Heh. C64. Trashman cartridge, which was in no way like Pacman, really.(/sarcasm)

I was 9. It's my parent's fault too.

DONAR

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

floppylobster — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:40:49 MDT

I can't really be sure if this was my first encounter, but I think I came across two arcade machines (Phoenix and Missle Command) in a tent at a farming show when I was around 8 years old.

I remember the tractors, some cows, and returning to the arcade tent several times just to watch the demo screens over and over and over...

floppylobster

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Fallible — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:37:32 MDT

My Grandfather bought my Grandmother a spectrum for the kids, and then their kids inherited it. Being that I played with it the most, I inherited it.

Being raised in the Sega generation I was very much not cool, playing with my console that looked like something out of sci-fi B-movies.

I've been playing it since the early nineties. It still works to this day, which is more than I can say for some of the more recent consoles I've purchased.

Fallible

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Thumper71 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:34:17 MDT

My first memory would be my father holding me high enough so I could see to play T2: The Arcade Game at an airport. I can still remember how good it felt to blast those evil robotic overlords to wherever the hell they came from.

Thumper71

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Bluetom — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:29:39 MDT

I was lucky enough to have a Grandmother that played video games. And not just like those wannabes on the Wii. I'm talking real, hardcore gaming. At least for RPG's anyway. So pretty much for my whole life I got to see the early generations of RPGs, straight from Final Fantasy to Final Fantasy X (which she couldn't complete before passing away.) My Grandmother lived next door to me, so the majority of my childhood was a mixture of Breath of Fire, over Sugared Iced-Tea, and Lays potato chips.
Though she passed away a few years back, I still hold onto her PS2, handed down like some over enchanted family sword from one of the games she raised me on.

Bluetom

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

elronathon — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:25:51 MDT

my mum was big on gadgets and tech - still is - so when we found I could buy shareware games in little card sleeves off the shelf back in abot 93 I was away. That's when it got serious anyway.

My first game would have been either on the Apple IIe or the Dragon 32 (many a summer day spent programming games from a book only to find that there was some bug cause of a misprint!)

elronathon

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

cremmler — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:54:56 MDT

i am in no way as old-shool as most people here. my first gaming experience was on a friend's pc, playing fifa 97 (you could still use a mouse in that game !!), and then begging my father to buy a pc. I, or we the family, got one, 166 mhz :) and from then on i bought fifa every year from 97 to 2005. I regret that.

cremmler

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

dunetiger : one of the naerds — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:46:41 MDT

*slides out the ol' rocking chair and gathers the chilluns by the fire*

...Innnnn West Philadelphia, born and raised...

Sorry.

Mmm, my first first gaming experience was probably on an Apple IIe that I wasn't really allowed to play. I remember playing a game called Microwave, not understanding it at all, but loving it nonetheless. Still, at that time, it wasn't my Apple IIe (and for the record, I never had one) and I was still more interested in toys at the age of 4 or 5.

I then had an Intellivision and it was a nice distraction, but that was still a side thing. I DID however, master the game, Snafu. Still, I had not quite submitted and was interested in chasing girls (for serious) in school... Grade 1 or 2, I think?

Then I had a passing interest in King's Quest 3, but I still didn't have a good grasp of the parser interface. I just wanted to play, but never understood, so that kind of put me off.

Then, my friends, THEN, I got me a VGA monitor and Police Quest II. HOLY CRAP, COLOR! I forced myself to learn how to play Police Quest II because it was in full color and was so awesome... hell, I type at 100wpm (when I try) because of that game.

That was the beginning of the end. I gave myself to the dark side, foregoing regular sexual escapades and parties for journeys into digital landscapes. Thankfully, I never became socially awkward - I'd just rather play games than surround myself with people.

dunetiger : one of the naerds

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

wage — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:44:40 MDT

It's something on the Game & Watch. Might be Manhole or Octopus.

wage

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

bialia — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:29:00 MDT

colecovision. that dates me a bit i think. spyhunter, lady bug, root beer tapper, mr. do, cabbage patch kids (ugh), smurfs rescue in gargamel's castle (ugh ugh ugh)- good times. however, my brother and i got an nes for christmas in 86 or 87 (i think) when i was in first or second grade- the bundle with the zapper and power pad- super mario brothers really changed everything for me... the colecovision in retrospect was more of a precursor to the nes if that makes any sense. video games weren't so playable on the coleco. ;)

bialia

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

mferrari — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:20:32 MDT

At 4 years old I got a Game Boy pocket and a Game and Watch Gallery cartridge. That lasted 'till I was 5 and got and N64, Mario Kart, and Super Mario 64 (I couldn't beat level 1 for about 6 months tho). By the time I got the N64, I had gotten Pokemon Red and played about 150 hours. That is still one of my all time favorite games. I even bought a 2nd copy so I wouldn't ruin the original save.

mferrari

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

deathtastic — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:06:33 MDT

lol If i remember it was the original doom on my dads old ass pc..... good times.

deathtastic

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

SG79 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:04:49 MDT

My grandmother in 1984 (I was 4). Did anyone encourage me? Actually, my parents view it as "evil". You know the type. I've had a couple of life altering mistakes in my late teens, and they blamed it on games instead of the real problems.

SG79

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Maltose — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:57:26 MDT

I was either 4 or 5, and the year was probably 1995 or 1996. My father had a computer, an old Pentium I, if I recall correctly. We had a CD with, like, 3 shareware demos on it. One of them was Doom, which I loved. I was also pathetic at the game, since I kept getting lost on the 2nd level. The 2nd shareware game was a puzzle game where you arranged the pieces to make a clown picture. I remember hiding under the desk every time my Dad played that. I can't remember what the 3rd shareware game was.

Maltose

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

ostartero — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:53:00 MDT

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

I taught myself how to play that game. I was either 3 or 4.

ostartero

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Mr. Pie — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:50:31 MDT

uuuuuuh, I remembert Qbert, and an brand new Spectrum+ 2 (yay!) But as it was my older brother's it can't be propered called 'introduction'...

My real introduction was in.... I don't know.. around 1987 when I went to visit my aunt in NYC. There it was, a shiny, brand new, white,black and red (yeah, some red too) NES to play with, and a hockey game my brain has learnt to block deep inside my subconscious mind for some reason relating to how much that game sucked. My thumbs still sore from time to time when I remember the lacerations produced for SO MANY hours of pixels and sprites gaming. HOLY GRIAL OF GAMING, that NES was. I still thank my aunt when I speak with her :)

Mr. Pie

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Zak Canard — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:49:06 MDT

Surprisingly it was at pre-school. The year was 1984, and my teacher needed someone to play Granny's Garden on the only BBC Micro that the pre-school, reception and year 1 classes shared, just to see if it was any good for use in class. For some reason they picked me! I hardly remember the game itself, I mostly remember being shown how to start the computer and run the game. It would be another three years before I got my grubby mitts on a computer of my own (a ZX Spectrum +3) and a further two for a Gameboy. It was seriously worth the wait though.

I still have my original Gameboy and despite it being about 18 years old it works as well as it did on day one.

Zak Canard

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

JP_Neptune — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:46:04 MDT

I suppose my introduction to videogames came around 20 years ago when I was 5, thanks to a couple of arcade machines that were available in a sort of restaurant in front of my house and where I could play Hogan's Alley, Shinobi, Double Dragon and a couple of other games that rotated every few months. Those are my oldest gaming-related memories. The NES came later.

JP_Neptune

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

KM91 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:21:21 MDT

Awww....

Well my my first introduction to video games(that I can remember) was when I got a Sega Genesis when I was 3 years old. Soon after, I got my SNES, and original Gameboy respectively.

KM91

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

geekgrrl — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:57:06 MDT

one of my first memories - not just of video games, but, like, ever - consists of my cousins, who were all much older than me, playing atari at their house. i played at one point, but i was so bad they all laughed at me. i think i suppressed it sufficiently enough to play atari back home later on.

geekgrrl

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Nest — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:53:13 MDT

When Altered Beast was new at the arcades!

Nest

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Alex_Mexico — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:51:27 MDT

My first intro to videogames was probably some Atari 2600 game like Pitfall, Cookie Monster or Baseball which my dad bought with my mom before I was born (im the oldest son). But the very first clear memory of me playing a videogame and enjoying it was Super Mario Bros. in 1988 on my cousin's NES. I remember being in awe to the NES' graphics in comparison to my Atari and very clearly remember saying to my dad "I wish there was Mario in Atari".
Some time later he bought us a NES and a year later gave "me" as a present for my 5th birthday Super Mario Bros. 3 with Nintendo Power's Strategy Guide and all. Truth is that that game he bought for himself. He played it to the death and I have fond childhood memories of watching and playing with him and taping his first encounters with Bowser over my Betamax Mary Poppins video, lol. He was THAT excited.

After that I pretty much continued on by myself, SMB3 was my dad's Mount Everest, he had conquered pretty much everything and he lost interest after that. Sometimes he would play TMNT 2 and 3 with me though. Now Im 22 and still going strong with my hobby :)

Alex_Mexico

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Angryrider — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:31:38 MDT

My friends had the video games, I would play with them. I wasn't long until I got my first, a Game Boy with Pokemon Red. God, I played that thing to death. Then came the SNES and N64. I never got most of the good games, but what I had sufficed. I wish I had that state of mind like I did back then.. Sigh... I play games too much and I rarely finish them...

Angryrider

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Tizlor — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:25:10 MDT

In 1988, at the age of 2, my Dad brought home a NES out of the blue. I haven't stopped gaming since.

Tizlor

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

devilgoku — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:19:11 MDT

I don't know how i feel about her shirt being see-through, but you look pretty cute trying to play a game =]

devilgoku

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Shiryu — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:02:08 MDT

My dad introduced a Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48k in 1986 in our home. I was 8. the only competition it had was my piano. When the Commodore Amiga 500 arrived in my home in 1990, I was already lost to videogames. The rest... is history.

Shiryu

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Erwin — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:01:47 MDT

I saw my older sister playing SMB3 and I just sat there for hours watching the game. She got stuck at the final world map, which she called "Hell" (I was shocked at this vulgarity at my young age). I declined her offer to play but took her up some later date when she showed me Legend of Zelda. It was so hard for my underdeveloped fingers, but I did okay I guess. The first game I beat was Super Mario Bros. I may sound like I'm only naming classics but we did have about 15 other games too (Fester's Quest! Can I get a hell yeah?).

Erwin

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Siye — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:36:33 MDT

You're nanny looks SO KOREAN. I could tell right from the picture this was taken in Korea.

Lol.. looks like one of my Korean aunts!

Siye

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

demonknightinuyasha — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:32:46 MDT

i was clutching an atari joystick while in the womb (how it got up there is a story i never really inquired into to >.>)

in all seriousness though, when i was born my parents were still gamers and as such pretty much cemented me as a gamer for life. my first personal system was me getting a NES at 5.

demonknightinuyasha

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

yowanda — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:30:26 MDT

Aww, that's too cute! Reminds me of how I had to take the Wii nunchuk away from my 11-month old just this morning.

My parents had Pong. I also remember there being a pac-man game at the YMCA. In 2nd grade, I got my own Atari 2600.

yowanda

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

kingme — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:29:05 MDT

My first introduction to video games was with the Super Family Computer. The Game back then was Bomberman...ahh yes!!! The Almighty Bomberman in which my dad was the master!!!

Afterwards, I got into a lot more PC Oriented Games like Doom, Maniac Manstion 2: DOTT, and Duke Nukem...but my parents stayed away from it until Tiger Woods PGA Tour came out.

While me, well I was trying to kick everyone's ass at Tekken!!

By then my Dad would stay up for hours playing it from morning till night.

And now, well my Dad is still on Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08, I am gaming on Rock Band and Guitar Hero, while my brother is playing GT5:P.

My Sister also uses my PSP to play classic NES Games from before including our almighty Bomberman, Circus Charlie, and B-Wings!!

kingme

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Eclipse5 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:21:26 MDT

Straight up Duck Hunt was the first game I ever played, but the first real memory I have is of my dad buying me Mortal Kombat 3, my mom being upset about it and now cringes anytime she hears the word fatality.

Eclipse5

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

OldManGaming — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:05:47 MDT

When young I was always attracted to pinball and the arcade games (pong, crash). I saw the Sears Telegames and I conned my parents into buying the Atari VCS by the next week. Circus Atari and Space Invaders on the 2600 with Mom, Dad and sis. Good times. We got the Intellivision after it broke, too.

My son vaguely remembers MGS and Powerstone2. It's cool he's had access to cutting edge games all his life.

OldManGaming

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

stranger — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:03:51 MDT

For me it was the Intellivision. River Raid & Burger Time ftw!

After that it was a Master System, then a Genesis, Sega CD (no 32x crap), a Snes, and then everything that's come since (except for the Neo Geo and the 3DO).

stranger

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

87th — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 14:02:19 MDT

My parents had always tried to dissuade me from gaming until they learnt that I might make money from it some day, but I was lucky enough to grow up in the British 80's in a middle-class family, so we had a home computer (an Atari ST). I played Bubble Bobble and New Zealand Story when I was 3. It's been around 18 years and I haven't stopped.

87th

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

crashlanding — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:52:15 MDT

I was six and my father brought home an Odyssey (that was 1974 people). Cutting edge for its day, the included game was actually 6 in one. Sure there was Pong and its many variations, but this box had something special: Vinyl Screen Overlays! There was one set for 4 different games, each in three sizes (and you could order your size if it wasn't there). There was one game called Haunted House- find a few dots in a maze and avoid the "scary" bats. By itself it was neither "scary" or even a "house". Add the vinyl overlay with it's "amazing" graphics and suddenly you're battling to survive the Haunted House! At least when you're six, and it's 1974.

Three years later we graduated to a Fairchild System F. It was in color! But that is another story...

crashlanding

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

ccin — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:48:50 MDT

Oh my God.
I was born in Choonchun too lol.

ccin

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

artofwar420 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:47:14 MDT

I was introduced to console gaming (NES) by my aunt, she had one of those "counterfeit" NES's (I lived in a 3rd world country at the time) and it actually came with a cartridge with 100+ games, now I regret not having played most of them. At that time I was 8 years old and liked Super Mario Brothers and that Power Rangers game with the weird pong knock-off mini game (was never able to beat it past the blue ranger level).

As to PC gaming, two of my uncles contributed, one lived right by where I did, and really loved it, it had Windows 95, loved the sounds, sure, I didn't even know how to change the wallpaper but still. He had three games that I remember to this day, though their names scape me, one was a 2d "horror" platformer, with shooting, the other was a sort of CoH but you actually aimed all the shooting, and it was in space and it had "sick" sounds (as I remember) AND, I remember he had installed Winamp and I could play with his 80's pop music playing, awesomeness.

Last, my other uncle "Rich", he, well let's just say in retrospective, he puts most geeks I know to shame, he didn't JUST play table top games, he MADE his own along with the little CUSTOM made game pieces, his games were gigantic and awesome, and I never understood how to play them. He also had a PC, had Diablo, Civ, and Starcraft/Broodwar. He freaking had his PC linked to his neighbors' PC's and had crazy LAN parties, I was sort of oblivious to this at the time.

I tried Civ, Diablo, and Starcraft. Now remember that it all was in English so I missed out on a lot, but the game that stuck to me the most was Starcraft, I played the shit out of that game, starting with the campaigns.

I also would get out of school with my friends to play PS1 (Smackdown anyone?) and PS2 (Twisted Metal) in places where they rented them for 50 cents to a buck.

When I came to the states, the first game I owned was Starcraft/Broodwar, and I haven't looked back, until now. Thanks Kotaku.

artofwar420

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Absent Blue — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:45:03 MDT

My parents supported gaming actually. Most of the day I would be outside, occasionally my friends and I would play video games during the day though.

I do ask them about it though and they attribute my brother and I's problem-solving and memorization to having played games like Zelda at such a young age. My brother beat Zelda all by himself when he was four after all. They think this was a big reason why we did so well in different academic areas that they were never so good in, and my sister who didn't play wasn't good in either like math or science.

Absent Blue

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Solid_Psycho — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:31:30 MDT

NES ftw!

Solid_Psycho

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Desertwolf — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:30:02 MDT

This is way too weird for a coincidence, 3 hours ago me and my mom were talking about how i got into gaming.. damn kotaku is watching me (i know you are now, dont try to hide it)..

Well anyways it goes a little something like this:
Uncle buys me NES, i fall in love with NES, SNES comes out, since my mom spoiled me rotten (not to worry i turned out fine now) she took me to the store and let me choose between SNES and Sega. The store owner gave me a free game with each system, Sega came with Sonic, SNES came with a vertical shooter, i was like 5 i saw sonic, i loved sonic, i baught sonic. Then i get home and go to my friends house (since hes a spoiled bastard too) he chose the SNES, but his store owner gave him Super Mario.. i was so disappointed... ever since then I have hated Nintendo , because i was never able to play Super Mario....

Desertwolf

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

feobahamutz — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:30:01 MDT

My parents weren't into videogames, and it was through my cousin's NES that I was first introduced to Punch Out, Duck Hunt and Mario Bros. From them on, it took me 2 years to save up for my first console at the age of 6.

feobahamutz

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Hostile — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:26:53 MDT

There's two memories that pop up in my head when I think of my earliest gaming memory. It was either playing a Frogger-esque game with a chicken in it on the Atari 2600, which was owned by my dad and/or uncle or it was playing my NES. I'm not sure they ever encouraged me playing video games (all the time) but they were always willing to buy me games so I guess that counts.

Hostile

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Wubbytoes — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:20:42 MDT

I probably played my first game at the local pizza place. They had a really cool, really dark game room back in the 80s.

Wubbytoes

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Kiwi Kamikaze — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:20:14 MDT

I grew up with three older brothers so video games have always been there. Earliest picture I remember with me and a video game was me and my brothers playing Megaman 2 on the NES. I think I just got out of the bath too. Don't know why I remember it either.

Kiwi Kamikaze

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Konatsu — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:17:28 MDT

I remember having an NES and playing Super Mario Bros. as early as 2 or 3, and now that I think about it, when I was a little older, we used to rent games from this tiny rental place in a strip mall just near my house. Later on in life, we would get an SNES up through all the other Nintendo systems. Around that time, my dad quit playing games with me as much until he quit altogether, later.

My parents never had a problem with it. I always did well in school. Hell, Secret of Mana was my reward for a whole year of besting everyone else in these timed arithmetic quizzes in 2nd Grade.

Someday, if I have kids, I want to introduce them to video games, but I don't want them to have a narrow mindset (graphics are all that matters, etc.). I want them to have a varied taste in games, kind of like I do, and I want them to be able to play and enjoy games that I used to enjoy, like the earlier Final Fantasies, old and new Zelda games, the Megaman series and even a few random ones like Tetris Attack, Bomberman or Puyo Puyo. If they don't take to video games, that's their choice, too. I want to be interested in whatever they're interested in, and I don't want to force them to like what I like.

Konatsu

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

jjpember — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:16:11 MDT

So apparently in 1982 (looked up release dates and versus other things that were happening in my life) I started playing video games. My first exposure to video games was either at a parents friends house on a 2600 playing Frogger and Combat, or at a bowling alley playing Tron, Poll Position, Q*bert and pinball (if you want to include that). I was 3 or 4 years old.

jjpember

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

mooseman721 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:11:57 MDT

My youngest told me only the other day that he could remember me playing resident evil on the ps1. Which would have made him about 3 years old at the time. I am such a bad parent :(

mooseman721

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

olion597 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:06:56 MDT

In 1994 (age 3) my parents bought me a Sega Genesis, and I've been hooked ever since. My dad was originally against buying one, saying that it would be all I would ever do in the future. Guess he was right...

olion597

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Shevin — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:03:42 MDT

I was 2 years old when my dad got an NES. He was a psychologist and got really into Super Mario Bros and would give me the controller to let me play with him as Luigi. After playing the game every day with me after work for months he finally beat Bowser with 99 lives and max points and declared himself "King of Video Games." He stopped playing games shortly after to "keep his title" jokingly saying I would always be runner up to his video gaming superiority. I became a much better gamer after that and after telling him I was the new master he finally played 1 more game with me and subsequently kicked my ass at Wii Bowling.

Shevin

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

CockroachMan — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:57:10 MDT

My aunt showed me Alley Cat on her PC (a 286 if I remember well)..I was 4. That opened the Pandora Box!

CockroachMan

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Super_Otter — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:51:55 MDT

My first memory of gaming must have been watching my older brother play Space Quest II in 87 or 88.
I didn't have any console when I was young (except for a gameboy actually), so I really started of with the classic adventure games on the PC, King's Quest, Hero's Quest, etc.

Super_Otter

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Intruder — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:51:13 MDT

As for me I was introduced to the world of video gaming and computing with the C=64!

My dad came in one night in 1982/1983 with the the whole setup, he had bought the C=64, Vic-1541 drive (the C=64 specific version wasnt out yet) and Vic-1525 printer (this was a hell of a noisy printer).

I have been hook since that time, even working in computer (in IT, but my dream is to develop my own games).

Ohhh and my dad also introduced to the world of disk swapping ;-). He used to go meet other C=64 people to copy disk, or they were coming to our house.

I miss the '80 when the world of computing/gaming had alot of interesting thing going on. I was too young at that time, just in primary school (10 years old).

Intruder

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

DrunkenTrom — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:50:26 MDT

My father bought a ColecoVision For me when I was 2 years old(at least he told my Mom it was for me so she'd let him but it). Once a week when we went grocery shopping at Meijer my Dad and I would separate from my Mom and head over to the toy section were he'd let me help him pick out a new game. This weekly game buying tradition continued on through the NES years but by then I had a younger brother that I had to let help with the selection process. By the time my brother and I got an SNES to share for Christmas the weekly new game turned into more like the monthly new game. And my brother got more say over the choice as I was expected to pay for my own gaming habits with money I earned delivering newspapers. Needless to say I've been hooked on gaming early in my life and will probably be hooked until the day they have to pry a controller from my old wrinkled lifeless hands...

DrunkenTrom

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Moonshadow101 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:49:20 MDT

My early gaming memories are a wierd jumble. I played NES at a friend's house, I play SNES at my own house, I played Doom on PC, but I can't really put any of it before or after anything else. Not old enough to have touched anything pre-NES, or even early NES.

Moonshadow101

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Flawless101 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:46:54 MDT

1995, coming home from school and there it was, A sega mega drive... wow, I played a console, a SNES I thought damn I want one of these console things... months went past, but finally one was mine... spent the rest of the day playing sonic and desert storm

Flawless101

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

dcdeveloperx — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:43:45 MDT

@lumpy108:

Haha thats badass.

-Anyway technically it would be with some text based game on the computer but one of my first memories was when I was 8 years old playing Doom online against my fathers co-workers. Good times.

dcdeveloperx

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

slikz21 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:42:58 MDT

The original GameBoy and Kirby's Dreamland 1. You remember, the purple buttons, gray case, and super HD green screen :D.

slikz21

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

TrekVogel — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:42:09 MDT

We had an Atari 600XL in the mid 80s when I was 3 or something, never played it much though. My cousin had a 2600 and that's when it started. We loved playing Missile Command and Pitfall. Later my parents got me and my brother one.

TrekVogel

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

MelodyKitn — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:41:52 MDT

I can't quite remember my first intro to gaming.. could be the atari that my brother and sister had.. or the games of Oregon Trail and Carmen Sandiego at my elementary school...

Or the arcade machines my sis and bro took me to while they waited for my parents to get down with their bowling league or dog racing betting...

Could be the Game N Watches my parents acquired for the sibs to play too!

I do remember also winning my family's first Nintendo and having my mom force me to go up and play in a crowd when they had some kind of intro to gameboy contest going on. Tetris owned me. Then again, the dozens of people staring at me as I tried to play a little box I'd never seen before could've been the reason...

Oh.. there were games... I've always been surrounded by it at least.

MelodyKitn

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

RoboPeaches — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:41:23 MDT

I still remember going out to the minimall to get my first Gameboy brick and Super Mario Land. It was the first game I ever beat... *sniff*

RoboPeaches

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Legion329 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:39:54 MDT

My eyes didn't work. Doctor said that playing video games would help a lot, so my parents got me an NES, circa 1989.

I've been playing ever since.

Legion329

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

jacksonmc — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:37:46 MDT

I dont even remember it having a starting point. They just were always there. It was always on the pc though, The names of the early titles wont come to me must of them platformers, scrambling down ladders jumping over spiders. All holds fond memories. With a family of 6 its quiet surprising that everyone played, i can picture sitting in my dads lap with a bunch of graph paper drawing him maps while he played Zeliard so we wouldnt get lost. The came the first Realms of Arkania game brought back for us from europe, iv been in love with good RPG's ever since, and never really found something to compete.

Consoles only came latter as I live in Africa, I have memories of 50-in-1 cartridges but no idea what system. Most likely NES knockoffs. Start of consoles for me was the 64, every one had a PS and I just couldn't understand why. Hadn't these people played Golden Eye or seen Hyrule? There just wasn't a comparison to me.

And the gaming's continued ever since for the whole family, mostly on the PC but there is a PS2, 360 and all the handhelds in the household so were becoming more excepting.

jacksonmc

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

breakblossom — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:36:38 MDT

Sega Gen... my parents were addicted, must have been genetic. lol.

breakblossom

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Kavatar — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:34:03 MDT

My introduction to video games was from the son of family friends who is a few years older than me. He had an NES, and I loved watching him and others play. I rarely wanted to play though, largely because I was afraid of dying in the games. I did play tons of 2-player Contra and Double Dragon II though.

Kavatar

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

fuchikoma — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:31:04 MDT

When I was about 3, my parents visited one uncle who was into video games/computers/robots and I played the infamous ColecoVision Smurf game. I thought it was pretty awesome having never gamed...

Then around age 5 or so my dad bought an 8088 clone with a CGA monitor and 40MB hard drive. Most of the games were little downloads from a local BBS (Moon Bugs, Digger, "David's Kong", Jet (Microprose?), Pinball, etc,) but he was also into the Space Quest series so I got into those. Eventually I got into more Sierra and Dynamix games, Commander Keen, Duke Nukem, etc...

I remember when I'd see an ad for the NES I always wanted it but my parents told me I'd get bored with it right away. Finally I got one around 1988 I think and loved it. Even if I only had Mario/Duck Hunt, Mario 3, and Dr. Mario I rented games whenever I could.

Got into SNES and did the same thing but that's getting away from the start... that's about when I started playing TONS of games though. I spent so many weekends playing Street Fighter 2 with friends all day and all night...

fuchikoma

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Kuroomu — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:30:08 MDT

I think my parents mostly got it because it made them have to worry less about where we were at any one given moment...

Kuroomu

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Klappstuhl — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:25:35 MDT

The NES was my introduction to gaming when I was 5. True story.

And it WAS AWESOME!

Klappstuhl

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

InsolenceAndHeresy — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:19:18 MDT

@Maggie Greene:
Ah, very cool.

InsolenceAndHeresy

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Palladium — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:17:01 MDT

My first introduction into video gaming came from my Parents wanting me to learn how to use the computer.
Age two, they pick me up, sit me in the chair, and say "turn it on, put in your game, and play."
I eventually got "Put-Putt" working, but man, that was harsh.

Palladium

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Dishwasher — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:14:48 MDT

My older brother is 10 years older than me so when I was a kid I got all the hand-me-down games so even though games like 'tecmo bow' 'zelda 2' and 'river city ransom' were coming out when I was just a baby those were the first games I got hands on with.

Dishwasher

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

lumpy108 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:14:33 MDT

my first intro to a home console was when my crazy godfather that threatened to flush my head down the toilet brought over a ps1 and we played a star wars game for hours and hours.

lumpy108

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Maggie Greene — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:13:38 MDT

@InsolenceAndHeresy: No, I'm as white as they come. My dad was stationed in Chuncheon, so I was born in Seoul (we came back when I was still very little). That's my beloved nanny in the picture with me.

Maggie Greene

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

coasterjunkieX — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:07:03 MDT

For as long as I can remember, I had games, thanks to my father. I have no idea when we got that first NES, but I remember playing Rampage on it with friends since I was at least 6.

coasterjunkieX

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

theTOMSTA666 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:05:11 MDT

Mario Bros / Duckhunt on the NES.
I got that for about my 4th or 5th birthday.

Coolio.

theTOMSTA666

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

William "Killer" Shatner — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:04:25 MDT

My first experience was definitely Siper Mario Bros. on NES at a friends house. But, the one Ihold near and dear to my heart is my original Gameboy that I got on my fifth birthday at Lake Don Pedro. I got Kirby's Dreamland and Yoshi with it. I probably sounded like the 64 kid when I opened it.

William "Killer" Shatner

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

mexfreak86 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:03:30 MDT

Nice pic! I want to visit South Korea!

Anyway, I was introduced to gaming when I was about 4. My mom bought me an NES because she heard that it would improve my hand eye coordination. I love that woman!

mexfreak86

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

InsolenceAndHeresy — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:01:28 MDT

Whoa, Maggie, are you Korean or wasian or something?

InsolenceAndHeresy

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

MykalBloom — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:00:27 MDT

The Super Nintendo and Donkey Kong Country. I was five.

I miss the good ol' days when I didn't suck. No I get owned by pre-pubescent twelve year old boys.

MykalBloom

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Truepatriot — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:00:18 MDT

@Truepatriot:
crap that 3 is supposed to be a 2.i learned to talk at 3.parents thought i was gonna be mute XD

Truepatriot

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Truepatriot — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:58:28 MDT

ive been gaming since i was 3!that was before i could even talk lol.earliest memory i have is playing gauntlet on the nes that was bought for me i remember finishing kindergarten and getting a basket of games bucky ohare and some others.

unrelated note that makes me feel like those early years,OMG GTA IS SOOO CLOSE D:

Truepatriot

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Concretepiggy — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:58:02 MDT

DOS PC, Duken Nukem, X-Wing, Major Striker, great times. My Uncle's Megadrive with Sonic also contributed, though I always been a staunch PC gamer, even from that young age!

Concretepiggy

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Fyren — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:57:01 MDT

Heart of seoul. One kid on the block got the genesis and Michael Jackson the game.

I was still playing games from "101 games in one pack!" such as Antartica, Circus; and then BAM, 16 bit makes this kid the king of the county.

Fyren

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

RaepGoblin — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:52:55 MDT

My parents bought a NES for their 3 boys when I was 5 or 6. They had an atari when I was 1, but that doesn't count. They got me a GameBoy when I was 8 or so. Later when I was 11, they bought us a SNES, after that all the purchases were up to us. We got jobs and bought a Virtual Boy, N64, PSX, DC, PS2...

RaepGoblin

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

bosintang — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:49:11 MDT

when i was six or so (this was about the time Dragon's Lair came out), living in SF, we went to fisherman's warf, and entered a huge arcade there. maybe it seemed a lot bigger cause i was lil, but i was just mesmerized. all the bright flashing lights, bleeping sounds ...
to that lil boy, it was heaven that nothing else could compare to.

bosintang

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

VanFinale — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:45:19 MDT

When I was 3 my cousin got a NES I've been playing games ever since. As for parents who encourage video games well I'm going to university for game development and my parent's think I'm wasting my time, that answer your question?

VanFinale

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

VioletArrows — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:39:31 MDT

Sitting on my nana's lap while she played Intellivision, mostly Shark Shark, Tron, AstroSmash, Crazy 8s, and Night Stalker. She actually let me play (hit buttons randomly).

Dad had an Atari 2600 and I couldn't go near it, so I just either sat in my little chair beside his and watched him play, or if he was feeling generous, he would let me jump directly into the monsters on QBert.

I think na just plays PacMan endlessly now, and dad plays windows solitaire since he doesn't have time for anything else.

VioletArrows

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Owen Good — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:37:12 MDT

For the record, that is damned adorable Maggie. Good pic.

As for me, the Speedy Chef up the street was the first to get arcade games. Star Castle and Gorf were my introduction. Then Mom bought Dad a 2600 for his birthday, and we took it over.

Owen Good

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

somethinginnocuous — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:35:29 MDT

I was about one year old and the year was 1989. I was a precocious lad, a tad daring as well. By happenstance, I came across a NES and pointed it out to my mother who subsequently bought for me.

It's not that great a story.

I did learn to play with the controller upside down though. I continued to do so until the SNES introduced shoulder buttons and it became essentially impossible.

somethinginnocuous

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

lestat730 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:34:19 MDT

I remember when my parents surprised my brother and I with a NES bundle. It had a system, 2 controllers, running mat, zapper, and a cart containing mario, duck hunt, clay shooter, and track (I think that was the name of it) I didn't let go of that controller until my parents made me at the end of the day!

lestat730

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Barob — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:32:12 MDT

My parents bought me an NES for christmas, probably my 5th or 6th year in existence. And then they lost me forever.

Barob

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

SPhil64 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:27:43 MDT

It all started in the late eighties for me. My parents bought my brothers and I an NES with Mario/Duck Hunt to entertain us while my mom was in the hospital that year. They figured we'd outgrow it. Jokes on them, I'm still playing twenty years later.

SPhil64

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Brian Crecente — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:27:30 MDT

WOW, how awesome is that picture. I wish I had a pic of me playing PONG!

Brian Crecente

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Rivers — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:20:05 MDT

My dad hates VG, but when he saw Donkey Kong Country he said: "well, that's a decent game" LOL

Rivers

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Dude From Dubai — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:18:55 MDT

Sonic on the Genesis, at my friends house...

Dude From Dubai

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

rzac30 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:17:04 MDT

Ah my first gaming experience, being born in the Philippines in the late 80's we really didn't have much option when it came to gaming. However, I still remember the first time my Mom took me to an arcade when I was five years old. When my Mom gave me those tokens I immediately gravitated towards the Street Fighter II arcade cabinet. The good and simple times...

rzac30

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

neoraul20 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:16:23 MDT

I use to play the Atari2600 at a friends house. After that the NES came out and my parents bought it for me.

neoraul20

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

sono — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:15:47 MDT

Breakout console machine at the base bowling alley, 1973. But it was really Space Wars and later Asteroids that really sucked me into videogames for good.

sono

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

XanderSan — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:14:40 MDT

I have no idea what it was. I remember a really basic game on screen with 3 airplanes but I have no idea what it was. My first real games though were Alley Cat and Hugo's House of Horrors which I watch my brothers play. When I was able to kind of know what I was doing though was Red Baron on the PC, where my dad used to fly the plane and I'd press the fire button on the top of the stick. Ahh.. good times.

Actually probably the first time I ever really remember bonding with my dad. Hmm..

XanderSan

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

gulyman — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:14:04 MDT

*snes

gulyman

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

ChaosInTheSnow — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:14:03 MDT

It was 1986 and I was 3 years old. My grandparents owned a pub and there was one of those old coffee table style arcade machines. Don't remember the name of the game, it was kinda like Galaga in single player, but you could play a verus two player game where you shot at the payer at the opposing end of the screen. Awesome. My love of games hasn't let up over the past 21 years.

ChaosInTheSnow

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Pata-pwn(TM?) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:13:36 MDT

Oh how happy I was when my parents bought me a SNES. And then, the following Christmas, they got me an original Gameboy. Played the hell out of Tetris, Metroid, and Super Teenage Ninja Turtles :S . They were really encouraging, thoughh there were terms and conditions. For example, whenevener i wanted to get a new console i had to give up one. So goodbye SNES hello N64. Goodbye N64 hello PS1. Goodbye PS1 hello PS2, and so on. But that rule's been broken now since i pay for the consoles myself nowadays.

Pata-pwn(TM?)

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

gulyman — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:12:43 MDT

My first gaming experience was when my brother bought a nes. The only good game he had for it was shadow run. My eleven year old mind exploded when introduced to such an awesome RPG. Then came the N64 with Mario 64, Ocarina of time, and Mario party6. Good games all around. I some times miss those days were every game was a new experience. Every thing so innovative.

gulyman

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

SanjiX — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:12:04 MDT

They probably may of regretted for letting us get into gaming, but it is my life now. The first time I was introduced to gaming was when I was around 4 or so years old. My most memorable memory is when I was watching my brother play Super Mario Bros. 3. He went off to the bathroom, and I took over for him without his permission. He came back enraged, and slammed me against a metal part of a weight (you know the part you lift and the weights are on the side) and I lost my two front baby teeth and bled like crazy. Good times.

When the SNES and Genesis hit, I was about 5 or 6, and Sonic became the newest craze. I remember meeting "Sonic" and I think even a Tails at Toys R Us one weekend, and at the time, it was awesome. The day we got a Genesis for my brother was epic because the game included was Sonic 2. And wow, to this day the Genesis and the game still rock hard.

Although, 13 years later I finally bought my own SNES and a few games on ebay and wished we would of owned a SNES, because deep inside, we all loved Nintendo since we had the NES and we missed out on so many great games.

SanjiX

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

peAr_nectAr — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:11:26 MDT

@Jamaces: Me, too, in a way.

My dad bought an NES when I was five. At first, he was much better at Mario than I was (i.e. he could make it over the first couple of pitfalls). But when I got to the underground level (1-2), little did I know that my life would never be the same again.

peAr_nectAr

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Bernard McGraw — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:10:56 MDT

My introduction to gaming was at some friends' house, but I'd always watch rather than actually play. I remember watching them and my brother play one of the Castlevanias on the SNES.

Guy's dad had a Playstation as well, once offered me a go on Tomb Raider but I was too scared of the dinosaurs :P

First thing I actually played was my brother's N64. It was a good place to start ^_^

Bernard McGraw

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

illumine — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:10:42 MDT

1980 or so saw me and my pops hanging out in arcades all the time, playing pacman, galaga, asteroids and all the other classics. From time to time he would rent an Atari system for us to play at home. Pops isn't a big gamer anymore, but still plays flight sims on his pc these days. But he definitely got me hooked, and it never stopped.

These days I have a little girl of my own. She's only just turning three, but she's already a fiend just like her daddy. She has a leapfrog educational gaming system of her own, and seriously loves cracking eggs in Cooking Mama on my DS.

illumine

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Jerry Cola — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:10:16 MDT

Early 90's with the Sega Mega Drive.
Sonic, Gynoug, Mystic Defender, world cup '90. I still have them. They were some good memories!

Jerry Cola

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

invalid_user — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:09:37 MDT

@tectonicztr: Oh boy, 1942. I spent sooo much money on that machine. There was an arcade across the way from the local concert venue & I used to game before going to the punk gigs in the late 70's. I saw this week that there is an updated version due out soon on Xbox Live. Cant wait ^_^

invalid_user

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

bostonwolf — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:07:09 MDT

I'll thoroughly date my self by admitting that my first home gaming experience was on Intellivision (google that one kids) and next on and old Commodore 64. Yes, I remember the days when you HAD to hook up your computer to your TV to use it.

bostonwolf

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Fennrisulfr — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:06:19 MDT

Wow! Great photo!

My first memory is playing Atari 2600 with my older sister. When we got an NES I remember playing a ton of TMNT and that damn track game with the pad.

The first console that was "mine" was the SNES. Oh, what a glorious day in the neighbor hood that was! I remember running down to my friend's house and screaming at them while they were watching Ewoks: The Battle for Endor.

I miss those day :*

Fennrisulfr

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

invalid_user — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:05:57 MDT

On a summer caravanning holiday in 1978 (I think but it may have been 79) they had this game called Space Invaders. Nothing has ever been the same. Yes I am THAT old.

invalid_user

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

tectonicztr — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:04:12 MDT

I can't remember a time before I was hooked on the NES release of 1942. Guess I'd have more hardcore points if i got hooked on the original arcade release, but I can still play for maybe 5 or 6 levels on one credit whenever I go to Barcade. Great fun.

tectonicztr

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Ignatius — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:03:49 MDT

1992... My mother bought me a Super NES... and Super Mario World. Still my most favorite game to this day.

I was only 3. Sadly, I sold the SNES and bought a Genesis (biggest mistake I ever made.) However, I made up for it... now I own two SNESs and a boatload of games for them.

Ignatius

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Raziel Dune — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:03:01 MDT

first video game....Pong...

Raziel Dune

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

NeoAkira — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:02:29 MDT

My uncle used to own an arcade, so I would go and hang around there and play a bunch of the machines. I can't remember the name of this one game but it was vertical shooter where you can gain powerups that increase the intensity and magnitude of your bullets. And they had characters like a dolphin and a robot to pick. That was my first game.

NeoAkira

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

EnragedTemplar — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:02:27 MDT

back in 1996 when i was 5 years old, i wlaked down the road to a friends house, and when we got their he opened a brand new N64, we played Wave race for 3 hours and from then on i loved video games. the next interaction was in 1999 or something where my paretns rented a N64 for the week, and i was in heaven. a year or two later we bought a gamecube, and more systems followed.

EnragedTemplar

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Mesren_Makai — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:01:30 MDT

My dad was big on the NES, and every time he came home from doing military stuff when we lived in Germany, me and him would go crazy on Duck Hunt and Mario, and I remember sitting on the new gray carpet, watching my dad play The Legend of Zelda, when he killed Ganon with the Silver Arrows. His love for LoZ paved the way to me being not only a ridiculous Zelda craze...person... but also a gamer. So, Mario and Zelda hit the home at a young age....maybe 3/4/5 years old for me?

I still remember the battery acid going into my Gameboy Original, and it frying up like a grenade in a tiny metal box. I managed to save the game. Good ole Star Wars....

Mesren_Makai

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Grey Gecko — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:00:22 MDT

SNES, 9 years-old
do i need to say more?

Grey Gecko

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

TheDollHouse — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 11:00:22 MDT

My first video game I played was Duck Hunt on the NES. That was a long ass time ago. Look how far we've advanced since then! The one who was really addicted to game back in day was my mom. She just LOVED Donkey Kong Country. She had to quit because she was putting off housework. I wonder what life would be like if she still gamed??

TheDollHouse

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

metahgyear — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:59:22 MDT

when i was 5 my uncle introduced me to Super Street Fighter II Turbo for the Genesis. i havent been the same since

metahgyear

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

PSN: noliferuin — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:59:21 MDT

for me, it was my big sister teaching me pac man back in 1988 when i was 2. first console was a NES, with mega man 4 being my favourite.

PSN: noliferuin

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Trygle12 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:58:45 MDT

I was just a poor boy (from a poor family) so video games were easy-come-easy-go at the arcade only. I never had an NES until they were in the bargain bin, I never had a SNES...

Thinking back on it, It's the only reason I played the classics... It's all my family could afford!

I seek to change that for future generations, I just need to finish my schooling.

Trygle12

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

SpearXXI — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:58:29 MDT

My first run in with games was a Commodore 64, as far as I can remember. I played NES over at other people's houses, but I started owning Nintendo consoles, when SNES came out.

SpearXXI

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Kid-A — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:57:10 MDT

The first game I remember playing is Super Mario Bros. 3 but if I had to hazard a guess as to what the first game I ever played was... I'd say it would probably be Pong on the Spectrum.

Kid-A

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Destruction — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:56:59 MDT

It would be the lovely sounds of the ZX Spectrum loading! :)

Destruction

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Furious_Liver — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:56:46 MDT

Baby Maggie = SOOOOOO CUTE! ;~; <3

Furious_Liver

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Jekht — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:55:56 MDT

My parents mistakenly bought my sister an Amiga, and later bought me a Gameboy Classic oblivious to the massive effect it would have on my life.
My parents don't 'get' gaming and as I'm still at uni studying animation, I don't think they realise that I'l probably end up working in the games industry.

Jekht

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

DocHolidayVT — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:54:55 MDT

I remember my first experience with gaming. The year was 1988 and my mother had decided to pick up the NES console with Super Mario Bros and The Legend of Zelda. For a 5 year old, this was something to behold. From that day onward gaming has been one of my favorite hobbies. Of course, I wonder how thins would have been if I started on GTA.

DocHolidayVT

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

LeFishy — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:54:42 MDT

@Pombar: FFIX Is the first game I can remember really really wanting. I knew nothing about it and actually didn't enjoy VIII in the slightest but begods I had to own IX. I am so glad I spent £40 of my brithday money on it. Best FF game in the series.

I miss the good old days when £40 was expensive for a game :<

LeFishy

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

cravy — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:54:12 MDT

I came home from visiting my grandparents in Palm Springs, CA and my parents had bought me a Sega Genesis with Sonic 2 and Jurassic Park. Rest is history.

cravy

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

chemical_eng_mx — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:53:42 MDT

Well, my parents had an Atari 2600 for themselves before my brother and I were born (last console they touched until the Wii btw), I still have it in my room and it still works, I'm guessing that was my introduction. My first memories on the other hand come from the NES, the basics you know, Mario, Contra, Zelda, and Metroid, even though I had no clue how I did things on the later two, hey I was 4-ish. On and I clearly remember the first games I bitched about getting, they were 3, TMNT 2, Bart vs. the Space Mutants, and Super Mario Bros. 3, ah what good memories

chemical_eng_mx

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Grocerspride — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:53:12 MDT

Also, we used to play Mario Bros. for the NES and he would be Mario and I would be Luigi.

I guess we played a lot because my nickname from my dad was Luigi for the longest time. My middle name is Luis, so that has something to do with it... man... those were good times... When my dad gets home I'm going to give him a hug and thank him for playing games with me.

Grocerspride

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

RYAMATSU — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:51:25 MDT

Sadly for my I was the younger brother of the rightful owner of the Atari. I would always sneak in a few games before I got beat up and forced to eat his socks. *sighs*

Sad times for me until I got old enough to own my very own NES. HAHA! Brother, eat that you "Bantha Poodoo"!

When I was a little older my Father would "Attempt" to play Mario with me like everyone else in the world. However, when we made the jump to 3D my Dad said screw it. I think I was playing "Krazy Ivan" when he decided games got too complicated.

I guess my greatest accomplishment was I got my Wife to play video games. She was only familiar with Nintendo games and never experienced the fascinating world of violent gaming. She loves to play FFXI and the Civilization series with me. Good times.

RYAMATSU

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

bzr_wzr — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:51:15 MDT

My recollection may not be entirely accurate here, but I remember an Atari 2600 magically appearing out of nowhere in my living room one day when I was about 5 years old. This must have been about '87-'88. I played the crap out of it (mainly Pitfall, Combat [with my brother], and Pac-Man. The funny thing is, even then I knew E.T. was a horrible game.

Not too long after that, I made friends with some kids on my street who had NES'. First games I played there were Mighty Bomb Jack and Mappy Land. Good times!

bzr_wzr

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Grocerspride — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:51:11 MDT

I don't know how old I was when I was introduced to gaming, but my Dad had an atari 2600 and ever since I could remember, he was the best bomberman player I have ever seen.

My dad also used to play airwrolf with me on the NES and again, he was much better than I was, but I was only 3 or 4 so what can you expect?

He doesn't play games anymore, which is too bad because I'm sure there are some he would really enjoy; it's just that he doesn't understand why I just don't read stories instead of playing through them.

Grocerspride

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

dead_red_eyes — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:51:08 MDT

And my mother would play Duck Hunt with me, which I still think is cool to this day.

dead_red_eyes

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

dead_red_eyes — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:50:46 MDT

My mother bought the NES for my 5th birthday. I guess it had only been out for a month or 2 when she got it. I remember playing Super Mario / Duck Hunt like a madman.

dead_red_eyes

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Zolbrod — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:50:43 MDT

@amanohyo: "Mmeeeeemoriees...."

If that's a Ren & Stimpy quote, you win this thread ;)

Zolbrod

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

Pombar — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:50:36 MDT

Playing Sonic at mates' houses. Everyone had Mega Drives (or Segas, as we called them), bar a few who had Master Systems. My brother picked up a second hand SNES from somewhere with Aladdin, Street Fighter 2, SF2 Turbo and a region bypass cart so that we could play an American copy of Super Star Wars.
The graphics bugged out eventually and we had to toss it, by which time we'd moved onto the PS1, which we bought together, and then started buying games together... a tradition that ended 3 years ago when he left to go to university, and I soon after bought a 360. Good times, those early days.
I do remember both our gaming tastes being guided by our friends', who'd had those Mega Drives, and then hd PS1s. We bought FF7 in platinum because we'd spent so much time in awe of it at their houses, then the same with 8 when that came out. When 9 came out, we determined that we shouldn't wait this time, and were rewarded with my fave FF of all time.

Pombar

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

D Mitsuki — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:50:13 MDT

I was about three and got a sega genesis for my birthday, my mom says the present was the biggest mistake of her life, i say its the greatest things she ever done for me

D Mitsuki

One Kotaku Editor's Introduction to Gaming

nyaz — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 10:49:35 MDT

I started gaming on old Dos and Atari Games when I was 2. I got my first console, the NES when I was 4. Havn't stopped since. I don't have offspring to pass it on, but I do have my niece.

nyaz