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Best Holiday Gaming Seasons Ever?

Posted by simoniker on from the ho-ho-half-life dept.

Thanks to GameSpy for their feature discussing the best videogaming holiday seasons of all time, as they point out: "Most of the biggest and best games, and many of the best game consoles, have all come out during the final months on the calendar." Their nominations include 1982, in which "Ms. Pac-Man ruled the arcades, and the previous arcade king, Donkey Kong, could finally come to our homes, packed in with the snazzy new ColecoVision", and 1996, where: "With the introduction of Mario 64 in September, gamers discovered the joys of games in 3D. With the release of Tomb Raider that same month, gamers discovered their hormones." What was your all-time favorite gaming Christmas?

3 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. 2003! by PatrickThomson · · Score: 5, Funny

    Half-life 2!

    Oh. Wait...

    --
    I am one of many. My idea is not unique, nor do I expect my voice alone to sway you. I speak in a chorus of opinion.
  2. 1979 by gmhowell · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think it was 1979. Why so great? First 2600. You have no idea how long Combat and Space Invaders could keep you occupied when you're 6 years old.

    All the other things you have mentioned were mere set dressing. Evolution, not revolution.

    --
    Jesus was all right but his disciples were thick and ordinary. -John Lennon
  3. 1993 by FreeForm+Response · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I was 11, and the only game system I had was a NES that I'd purchased with my own money. My parents thought that video games were a waste of time and money, and so everything I had I'd bought myself.

    I'd recently discovered this incredible game in the arcades, Street Fighter II, and I fell in love with fighting games. Of course, there were no fighting games for the NES, so I just went to the arcade and burned quarters there.

    When I heard that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters was going to be released for the NES, I was ecstatic. Since it was due out right around Christmastime, I begged and nagged my parents to buy it for me. On Christmas morning, as I tore through my presents, I came across a suspiciously video-game-shaped one. I opened it up, and found TMNT: TF all right... but for the Genesis.

    I was heartbroken. I turned to my folks with what must have been a pitiful look on my face, and told them "Thanks guys, but you guys got the wrong one..." My dad just grinned, and without saying a word reached behind the couch and pulled out a brand new Genesis.

    Of course, TMNT:TF wound up being pretty bad, but that was still the greatest gaming Christmas ever. =)