Re-connecting with a vintage video game console has been exciting and a lot of fun.  In addition, it has brought back a flood of memories from when the console was new and each game was full of excitement and wonder.  The Intellivision video game console by Mattel Electronics came out in 1979 and was introduced as the rival to the Atari 2600 console system.  The graphics were something that had not yet been seen and the controllers much more interactive.  The system game with “Las Vegas Poker and Blackjack”.  The graphics were indeed better than the Atari and the system as a whole seemed just a bit more sophisticated.  Additional games followed with a final library totaling 27 titles.  Hours upon hours were spent exploring each game and playing it to the maximum level. Several games stick out in my mind.  ASTROSMASH was by far my favorite.  A very simple game where a land based weapon destroyed descending asteroids and satellites.  Hours upon hours of practice led to winning an ASTROSMASH tournament at the U.S. Tech store in Mesa Mall/Grand Junction in 1982.  The prize was a brand new game.  Exciting beyond words.  TRIPLE PLAY was a game where my best friend Bill Pleau and I would spend hours mastering.  Flying the plane perfectly through the barn was the highlight.  George Plimpton was the spokesman for the game and seeing the old commercials brings back fond if not very cheesy memories.

In addition to dusting off the old Intellivision console I recently fired up the hand held DONKEY KONG dual screen NINTENDO game from 1982.  The orange color of the game is very distinctive and brings back great memories of playing the game on the way to California on family vacations.  I became so good at this game that I literally never lost.  The score would go from re-set itself over and over and over.  Jump the barrels, climb the ladder, flip the switch, jump on the hook, advance to the point where the structure would fall.  Repeat. Repeat.

Pure nostalgic fun.