Growing up in the 70/80's was an amazing experience; so much technology dawned during that period. And as soon as the first computer was mainstreamed I was hooked! My parents never found value in video games or computers but as a kid you have friends... and those friends have parents... and those parents have .... VIDEO GAMES!

It was probably a bad sign when I was hooked on the stupid ski game of an old Texas Instrument. I also loved the fact that you could type some code in and the entire screen would fill with your phrase and scroll it over and over again. So you can imagine how happy my friend's dad was to find the computer scrolling over and over again; Colleen and ________ or Mrs Colleen __________ (fill in the blank) I had a lot of serious crushes at that time.

This wonderful vintage ad can be found in ETSY shop: FromJanet

My passion for games moved to the big quarter fed Pac-man, Centipede, Astroids... But since I was 10 years at that time there wasn't enough money to feed that monster so Atari was my next love. Then there was Nintendo... Oh Nintendo how I loved thee. I do feel very guilty that I had such a strong addiction that my friends could be completely tuned out in their own home. I always found it strange that the rest of them didn't become so crazy for these glowing beacons but alas it was my addiction and mine alone.

From ETSY shop: ArcadeSpecialties I'm in <3

Even as an adult I still love my video games and if I had my way there would be a giant Pac-man game sitting in my living-room right now but I do have much better control. So for my game addicted son (apple doesn't fall far from the tree) I say "I understand son" and "embrace it don't fight it." Note we are both very gainfully employed and can focus on family, but man do we love our games :)

I didn't have a picture of anyone playing video games
but this one of Ashley 3 and Jr 1 is just too cute to pass up :)

Gifts for Gamers

Centipede Video Arcade Game by Atari 1981 ArcadeSpecialties $2999.00	Pac Man Decals, Atari Wall Decals, Pac man Wall Murals Boys Room , Video Game Wall Stickers, Pac-Man DecalStyles $22.99	vintage marquee art Pac Man Atari Chase Fade Dim Flash Remote Control Aranacci $800.00	Old School Atari Shirt, Ladies Gamer Shirt, Techy Geeky Gift, Atari Game Lover Gift, Vintage Gamer Shirt, Unique Geeky Gift, AppleCopter AppleCopter $20.00
Nintendo Controller Mario Silhouette RetroGameSihlouettes $250.00	Pokemon Mug Nintendo Gameboy Inspired Customized 11oz Coffee Mug - Great Gift for Gamers, Ash Ketchum, Nerd, Geekery MozaGifts $10.99	Pac-man Atari Video Game Travel Mask SKOOZZZ $12.00	Super Mario Bros Earrings Piranha Plant Nintendo Red/Green Hand Made 3D SpektroDesign $9.90
Video game controller necktie. "Control Freak" video game tie. Geek chic gamer gift. Retro gaming console joystick screen print. Cyberoptix $36.00	Nintendo Pixel Pillows - Made to Order SerenaBeanQuilts $40.00	Custom NES Nintendo Controller Coffee Table GeekSense $100.00	Nintendo Love Card, NES, Romantic Card, I Love You, Happy Anniversary, Video Game Nerd, Card for Boyfriend, Card for Husband, Greeting Cards YeaOhGreetings $4.00
kirbys dream land game boy retro nintendo light up room sign IncredibleInnovation £18.00	Video Game Ceiling Fan Blades SlingshotCreative $65.99	Custom Donkey Kong Amiibo KainsKrafts $32.00	Recycled Sony PlayStation 1, PS1 retro video game console wall and table, desk clock for men - gray CreativeFunny $45.00

Gameboy

Nintendo Gameboy Wario Land Super Mario Land 3 Game Art Print - Fan Art KenimationArt $8.00	Gameboy Advance (GBA) Multi cartridges - Several variations available. CoolSpotGaming £15.99	Red Gameboy with Case, Extra Battery Pack, 4 Games - Paperboy, Tetris, etc. TheRustyTortoise $75.00	Custom Nintendo Gameboy Pokemon Red Blue Yellow Green Cartridge with New Save Battery by 8bitAesthetics 8BitAestheticsCom $59.99
Nintendo Gameboy Advance SP Minish Cap Bundle (Mario Red) GoldenEraGames $84.00	GameBoy Color Vinyl Sticker JAZZIllustration £0.55	Pokemon Parody, Soapemon Gameboy Cartridge Soap Set, Retro Video Game Geek Gift Digitalsoaps $26.00	Gameboy - Gameboy Advance - iPhone & Samsung Protective Phone Case RiverCityPrinting $11.99
Ren & Stimpy Space Cadet for GameBoy 8bitbrentendo $5.00	Gameboy Nintendo phone case, iPhone 6 6s 6Plus gameboy case gameboy iPhone 5 5s 5c 4 4s case Samsung Galaxy S3 S4 S5 S6 printed gameboy case CaseOcean €15.00	Pokemon Grass Type Starter (Gen 1) Evolutionary Line - 48" x 36" Three-Piece Canvas Wrap Mural RetroArtDecor $129.99	Pokemon Light Platinum Version for Gameboy Advance - Available Game Only or Game in Box! TheCartridgeArcade $19.99
Dr. Mario Themed GameBoy BACKLIT and BIVERTED (Red Backlight) with High contrast buttons 8BitSpirit $89.00	Vintage Dr. Mario Gameboy Game VintageShopArt $16.50	Custom Gameboy color! Pokemon, ninetails inspired DevidedPursuits €58.80	In Case Of Fire SHIRT ShopGeekly $24.00

Nintendo

a nintendo shaped and inspired bottom base for a coffee table that is unique and functional. GeeksWithWood $150.00	Andrew Jackson Jihad - The Game LeeThompsonArt $50.00	11" x 14" Mario and Yoshi Shadowbox ThePaperPonyPlace $85.00	Super Nintendo Console (with Hookups & Controller) WolverineResaleShop $45.99
Nintendo N64 end labels (free shipping to US) SzabosArcades $27.00	Rare Vintage 1985 Mario Brothers Nintendo Cassette VintageCollateral $25.00	Vintage Nintendo 64, Nintendo 64 Console, with 7 Games, Video Game Bundle, Rumble Pack, Transfer Pack, Retro Games, 90s Nintendo Games, N64 CommonCentsThrift $180.00	Super Mario Invitation - Nintendo themed Birthday Invite from Super Mario Party - Customizable with Photo and FREE Thank You Card! Printadorable €10.00
Nintendo History Decor Shadow Box Framed Woody6Switch $170.00	Bubble Bobble Nintendo Gameboy NewtonsTreasureChest €15.00	Super Mario, video game poster, Nintendo poster, geek print, classic game, kids room art MicrowaveDesigns $27.00	ORIGINAL NES SYSTEM, Nintendo Console, Nintendo System - With controller and all cables NintendosForSale $119.99
Nintendo 64 Custom Zelda Console SpaceNTraders $229.99	Nintendo 64 Controller Pillow, Game Room Decor, Nintendo Pillow, Gamer Pillow PatentPrints $23.99	Donkey Kong 64 Nintendo 64 N64 legendofgamers $35.00	Video Game Print - Duck Hunt - Nintendo Tribute arcadecache $9.95

Atari

Keep Calm and Pew On (Retro Gamer Series: Asteroids) 8 x 12 Keep Calm and Carry On Parody Poster TheCalmPress $11.60	Vintage Classic Atari Frogger Game, Complete Set 1982 TheRemains $14.00	Vintage Games Inspired Coaster Set ForEveryFandom $20.00	Mini Atari 400 - 3D printed! RabbitEngineering $8.00
Pac Man for Atari 2600 OvertimeCollectors $15.00	Atari Punk Console Deluxe "APC2600" - Circuit Bent Analog Noise Synth w/ Theremin (Light / Motion Sensors), C.V. & Touch Sensitive Controls! DrBlankenstein $145.00	Berzerk cartridge Atari 2600 TkoVintageShop $7.99	Atari - Game Canvas - Custom Canvas Print - Gamer - Wall Decor - Free Shipping TotalPrintHC $25.00
Atari 7800 Arcade Mini-Stick (also works on Atari 2600) RetroGear1985 $59.99	Vintage Atari 2600 Brain Games CX26664 with Box and Manual RetroJasmine $9.50	1979 Atari Advertisement Video Computer Game System 80s Cartridges Play TV 70s Monitor Games Retro Wall Art Decor fromjanet $7.00	5 vintage Atari games bargainsanddeals $11.99
Personalized Atari Boys Room Art 8x10 - Kids Atari Print - Keeping It Old School - Choose Background Color & Name TheLemonPeel $22.00	Atari joystick - The Classic Amigascene €10.00	Atari QBERT Video Game Cartridge with User Manuel / Instructions Book from Parker Brothers ©1983 PardonMyGames $9.00	Atari 2600 System - Incomplete TimOfTomorrow $60.00