As little more than a brainstorming exercise, I've decided to start a "best of" series using only the powers of my memory (no Internet cheating, etc.) ... the obvious disclaimer is that there may be inconsistencies, but bear with me.

The idea is to capture an answer to the question "what's your earliest memory involving video games?" Or perhaps, "how have games positively impacted your life?"

Atari 2600:

I remember playing the vast majority of these games at my grandparents house on Holt street in Bellaire, a subdivision of Houston, starting around the age of 4 or 5 years old:

Combat (specifically Tanks)
Frogger
Pac-Man
Breakout
Space Invaders
Galaga
Pitfall

Excellent memories all-around ... my sister and I would sit together and take turns sitting in front of the old TV set. My most vivid memory is of Frogger ... I always hated to see the hero get crushed by oncoming traffic - then again, I've always loved animals. I'm not sure why my grandparents even had an Atari ... must have been just for us grandkids? In hindsight, that sure was a blessing ... I was a pretty lucky kid to be exposed to games at such a young age in the 1980's ... I wonder what that Atari cost my grandfather?