Today is Christmas and many of us are spending quality time with relatives and excitedly opening presents. For some people, today is a day that will stick with them for the rest of their lives. Today while great is not exactly on the list of most memorable Christmases for me. However, I have been thinking a lot about the Christmases that were. So, here is my list of my top Christmas gaming memories.
Gameboy Color:
The year was 1998 and the hottest toy on the market was the Gameboy Color! My friends Josh and Jeremy already had the original Gameboy's and Pokémon Blue, I however did not and they never missed a chance to remind me. The moment that I saw a commercial for the Gameboy Color I knew that I had to have one, so when my grandmother asked me what I wanted I excitedly proclaimed, a Gameboy Color! I made sure to show her an ad and I repeatedly explained to her that it had to be a Color and that nothing else would do. Well Christmas of 98 came and my grandparents gave me some Barbie's, Barbie accessories and last but certainly not least an Atomic Purple Gameboy Color with Pokémon Blue! That Christmas would be the best of my life... until Christmas of 99!
Nintendo 64:
When I was a kid my mother and I would often visit some of our relatives in the South. One of those particular relatives was my dear sweet great grandmother. I always loved visiting her. She was kind, loving, interesting, and always gave great presents. This particular year she gave my mom and me our very first home computer and a bunch of games! It was great and I was happy but it wasn't exactly what I wanted. Christmas passed and I went home happy to get a chance to set up our new computer with my mom but I was a little disappointed that Santa didn't bring me the one thing that I asked for, a Nintendo 64. During the car ride home I came to the conclusion that Santa must not be real because why else would he not give me the one gift I truly wanted. My mother turned the key to our small apartment and to my great surprise there were tons of presents sitting underneath of our Christmas tree. My small child eyes lit up as I raced over to open my Presents. Neatly wrapped and tucked beneath the tree was a Nintendo 64 just for me. In that moment I knew, Santa was real!
Pokémon Crystal:
Christmas of 2001 was a special Christmas for many reasons. One of those reasons was that it would be the last year that I'd spend it with both of my grandparents. I never knew my mother's parents because they died when she was a child. But I was very close to my paternal grandparents. I spent almost every weekend with them and many of my holidays and school breaks at their house. My grandparents were my best friends in the world! My grandmother had been struggling to fight breast cancer for a few years now but it was never made clear to me just how bad the situation was. Little did I know she would die the next year shortly after her and my grandfather's 44th wedding anniversary. For whatever reason in the year of 2001 I decided to spend Christmas with my grandparents. The only things I wanted were a dog and Pokémon Crystal. My mother would never allow me to have a dog so my grandparents got me the next best thing, a robotic dog that responding to my voice commands. And in keeping with the tradition of never disappointing their only grandkid they also bought me Pokémon Crystal! As I mentioned earlier my Grandmother died the next year right before the holidays. The fact that not only did I receive Pokémon Crystal but that I spent my Grandmothers last Christmas with her made the Christmas of 2001 the best Christmas of my life only to be topped years later by the Christmas that I married my husband.
PlayStation 2:
After the passing of my grandmother my dad moved in to take care of my grandfather. I also started coming around more to keep him company. Back then my dad worked really crazy hours so when he wasn't home I would sneak into his room to check out his games. One week I crept into his room only to find a strange new device sitting in front of his TV, a PlayStation 2. I eagerly started it up and put in one of the only games he had, Shinobi. I was hooked! I had to have one of these things! So I bugged my dad and begged my mom but no one ever game me a definitive answer. Christmas of 2002 came and I unwrapped all of my gifts. To my dismay there was no PlayStation 2 under the tree. I didn't want to appear ungrateful so I put on my best smile and thanked my mom and stepdad for my gifts. Just as I began picking up all of the torn wrapping paper that lay strewn across the floor, there was a knock at a door. Standing on the other side was my dad with a gift! Could it be? Was I about to receive the PlayStation 2 that I had dreamed of for months? My dad walked in, greeted everyone and handed over my gift. Hungrily I tore open the wrapping paper and what lay before me was the last great gaming related Christmas gift that I've received to date, a PlayStation 2! I was so elated! All I could think about was hooking it up, but then I realized I had no games. From somewhere my mother pulled out a few presents that she had kept hidden for me, the games! Spiderman, Powerpuff Girls: Relish Rampage and a PlayStation 2 Starter Kit complete with controller, DVD remote, extension cord and a host of other accessories! That PlayStation 2 changed my life. It made me into the gamer that I am today, and as far as presents go no game or system that I've received for Christmas has surpassed it.
Well that's it, those are my greatest Christmas gaming memories. I've received newer consoles and better games since then but most were either not for Christmas or not proceeded by such great anticipation. Still I appreciate everything that I have but these are the moments that really shaped me. If you have some great Christmas gaming memories that you'd like to share feel free to do so in the comment section. Or if you'd just like to leave feedback I'm open to that as well. Anyway, thanks for reading, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!