I originally posted this article on another site many years ago. Decided it was too good to go to waste, so created a new page dedicated to it. Hope you enjoy and it helps you get into the spirits. Comments welcome!
http://videogamecritic.com//extras/fun/xmas1982.htm
1982: A Christmas to Remember
- VideoGameCritic
- Site Admin
- Posts: 18181
- Joined: April 1st, 2015, 7:23 pm
- LuckyMan
- Posts: 108
- Joined: April 7th, 2015, 7:32 pm
Re: 1982: A Christmas to Remember
Very enjoyable article, Dave! I think my favorite Atari Christmas was probably 1981. My brother and I had gotten our Sears VCS the previous year along with quite a few games including Tank-Plus (Combat), Basketball, Maze Mania, Dodger Cars and Space Invaders, but at Christmas 1981 we received Asteroids, Pac-Man, Breakout, Circus Atari and Yars' Revenge. So we had quite a fun collection to play.
-
- Posts: 513
- Joined: January 16th, 2017, 8:10 pm
Re: 1982: A Christmas to Remember
Thanks for sharing. Absolutely terrific story. My best "video game" Christmas was when I got the C-64 disk drive (the year before I got the counsel) which of course increased my C-64 game library exponentially. The game I got on that Christmas was F-15 Strike Eagle and I played it for hours on end. Loved your article Dave. Merry Christmas and I hope Santa is good to you this year! Keep up the great work.
- scotland
- Posts: 2561
- Joined: April 7th, 2015, 7:33 pm
Re: 1982: A Christmas to Remember
newmodelarmy wrote:Thanks for sharing. Absolutely terrific story. My best "video game" Christmas was when I got the C-64 disk drive (the year before I got the counsel) which of course increased my C-64 game library exponentially. The game I got on that Christmas was F-15 Strike Eagle and I played it for hours on end. Loved your article Dave. Merry Christmas and I hope Santa is good to you this year! Keep up the great work.
First, my Christmas history parallels Newmodelarmy's. I too got the C64, weathered through tape cassettes for a time, but finally got the 1541 disk drive (which was often more expensive than the computer) for Christmas. I didn't get F-15 Strike Eagle, but I'm sure i had something.
For Dave, awesome story. In those days, buyjng a game for me too was rate. Like Indiana Jones, one had to pick wisely. While I missed Star Raiders, I played Activisions Star Master instead. While nowadays people may not care much, these games turn an earlier game called Super Star Trek into an actual action game. Super Star Trek was a staple of type it yourself BASIC games, with ASCII graphics and turn based gameplay. These games are essentially the same thing, but now its a FPS action game. It really was neat at the time.
- Retro STrife
- Posts: 2553
- Joined: August 3rd, 2015, 7:40 pm
Re: 1982: A Christmas to Remember
Great article. I always like reading about what it was like to experience games before my time, whether in the context of Christmas or otherwise. Even though I wasn't born yet, I can visualize that Christmas morning of 1982 by your writing.
Growing up, Christmas was about the only way that I could get new games. So I'd see a game I wanted, and then I'd wait until Christmas to hope to get it. Christmas '98 was the biggest video game Christmas for me, since that's when I got my Playstation. I had wanted one during the whole year, and with the price dropping to $130, it was a possibility...so I waited until Christmas, reminding my parents as often as I could along the way. Without that Christmas, who knows if I'd still be gaming or if I'd be typing this sentence right now. While my family had a 7800, NES, and SNES before that, the PS1 was the first system that was mine and went in my bedroom- it's the one that took me from just a kid playing video games here and there, to a serious gamer.
Growing up, Christmas was about the only way that I could get new games. So I'd see a game I wanted, and then I'd wait until Christmas to hope to get it. Christmas '98 was the biggest video game Christmas for me, since that's when I got my Playstation. I had wanted one during the whole year, and with the price dropping to $130, it was a possibility...so I waited until Christmas, reminding my parents as often as I could along the way. Without that Christmas, who knows if I'd still be gaming or if I'd be typing this sentence right now. While my family had a 7800, NES, and SNES before that, the PS1 was the first system that was mine and went in my bedroom- it's the one that took me from just a kid playing video games here and there, to a serious gamer.
-
- Posts: 2
- Joined: December 16th, 2016, 11:21 pm
Re: 1982: A Christmas to Remember
Great article. I remember the Christmas of 1982. I got Wizard of Wor and Mousetrap for the 2600. I still have the console and cartridges. It's funny to come home from work and have my 13yo son playing Super Breakout when he has a PS4 attached to the same tv. You had to have an imagination to play video games in the early 80's. The game manuals were as good as the game. I would read them cover to cover many times.
-
- Posts: 296
- Joined: August 14th, 2015, 5:16 pm
Re: 1982: A Christmas to Remember
Great article! My favourite christmas was when my older brother bought me a Sega Master System in 1987. I still have it and play it to this day.
One of my favourite xmas memories was actually from a few years ago. At the time I was 39 and my brother 47. Our city was hit by a big ice storm and my brother and parents both lost power so they stayed with me for a few days over xmas. It was the first time in almost 20 years that I woke up on xmas morning with my parents and brother.
Anyway, my wife bought me a Wii U that xmas, and my daughter, brother and I quickly went to the basement and hooked it up and played Super Mario U for a good part of the day. My dad would come down and watch us taking turns and playing this game, just like my brother and I would do when we were kids. It was just like old times!
One of my favourite xmas memories was actually from a few years ago. At the time I was 39 and my brother 47. Our city was hit by a big ice storm and my brother and parents both lost power so they stayed with me for a few days over xmas. It was the first time in almost 20 years that I woke up on xmas morning with my parents and brother.
Anyway, my wife bought me a Wii U that xmas, and my daughter, brother and I quickly went to the basement and hooked it up and played Super Mario U for a good part of the day. My dad would come down and watch us taking turns and playing this game, just like my brother and I would do when we were kids. It was just like old times!
-
- Posts: 328
- Joined: March 26th, 2019, 6:05 am
Re: 1982: A Christmas to Remember
I just read through this and thought it was wonderful. Most of us look back at past Christmases with a fond Nostalgic memory and it was really nice enjoying a slice of your own. You set the scene well.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Merry Christmas everyone!
- VideoGameCritic
- Site Admin
- Posts: 18181
- Joined: April 1st, 2015, 7:23 pm
Re: 1982: A Christmas to Remember
Bamakdx wrote:You had to have an imagination to play video games in the early 80's. The game manuals were as good as the game. I would read them cover to cover many times.
This is a great point. Not only were the manuals well written and nicely-illustrated, but they really got you psyched up to play the actual game!
I remember having to visit my aunt on Christmas so I took the manuals in the car with me to read.
-
- Posts: 1445
- Joined: November 25th, 2015, 6:11 pm
Re: 1982: A Christmas to Remember
I read it every year on Christmas Eve evening. Looking forward to it again.