My random video game memories:
I was born in 1982. Older brother born in 1976. Younger brother born in 1988.
My first exposure to video games was my babysitter in 1987. She(!) played Super Mario Bros. When she shut off the NES, I was bound and determined to find "the game channel" (I never did)
My older brother got an NES for Christmas in 1987 from Grandma. My dad hooked it up, and my dad & old brother played 2-player SMB. My dad got to level 1-2 before getting a game over, which is better than my brother did.
My brother got a 1-year subscription to Nintendo Power in 1988, starting with issue #1. I "read" Nintendo Power since before I knew how to read.
Some of my (well, technically my brother's, but he didn't play them as much as I did) earliest games were SMB, SMB2, SMB3, Legend of Zelda, Golf, Commando, Metroid, RC Pro-Am, Ghosts & Goblins, Mike Tyson's Punch Out, Pac-Man, TMNT2.
Eventually I was the only one in the family who still played Nintendo. Although, sometimes my dad & I would play Golf together (the only game he liked).
I learned how to read about the same time as I played Legend of Zelda. "It's dangerous to go alone! Take this."
My favorite rentals of the era were Zelda 2, Mega Man 2, Double Dragon. Our local rental place offered free rentals for good report cards!
Once I traded Commando to a girl at school in exchange for Double Dragon II. My brother wasn't amused when he found out. You know, she was cute... for a third grader. Where are these video-game-playing girls now?
In 1993 my brother sold the NES & all the games for cigarette money. I think he got about $50 for the works (rip off!) I tried to prevent it by stealing the NES and games and storing them at my best friend's house. That didn't work so well.
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OK, I think that's enough for now. To Be Continued!...