When I was a kid we had one of those old games consoles that plugged into the TV. It was the late early 80’s and at the time the Atari console was the big hitter. We didn’t have that one, we had a more generic brand which my school friends would delight in telling me they had never heard of. Nonetheless it played the all important games of Ping Pong, Space Invaders, and Grand Prix. Despite it’s simple blocky graphics and uninspiring sound, the “games machine” as it was known, kept us amused for a few years.
I remember spending hours in front of the TV playing ‘Ping Pong’ and ‘Breakout’ sometimes against the machine and sometimes against my siblings or friends.
Back then we used to have swimming lessons on a Friday evening and after swimming we would emerge from the changing rooms, buy a packet of Pacers from the vending machine then watch, with some degree on envy, older kids play Galaxian on the arcade game that was in the foyer of the pool house. I remember thinking that machine was cool. It had great graphics and would send the sounds of whooshes and explosions echoing through the foyer that humid and thick with the smell of Chlorine.
Perhaps it’s with this sense of nostalgia that I find I’m still amused by these games when I come across them every so often. Either way, it’s fun to waste a few minutes of the day when I should probably be doing something far more important!
I’m nowhere near as good as I once was, but then I don’t have my favorite turtle cushion to sit on and a plastic cup full of some Soda Stream concoction next to me, so maybe without that I’m a little off my game? I haven’t won a game yet, so if you fare better than me feel free to gloat. (Play the Flash game below.)
Wrote the following comment on Feb 4, 2008 at 6:57 pm
My mum wouldn’t buy the real Pepsi or Coke flavours for Sodastream. Even when it was home-made we had to do with supermarket own brand flavours. Apart from Tizer that is, she’d buy that for real.
Just remembering childhood.
Wrote the following comment on Feb 4, 2008 at 8:50 pm
I remember the Atari ST. We didn’t have one at our house but my friend down the road had one. We used to go over and play Sensible Soccer for hours and hours at a time. That has to be one of the most addictive games.
However that may be a bit after the era that you are talking about here. I remember the Spectrum playing ‘breakout’. I think it was called ‘The Wall’ on the Spectrum but like you say so addictive.
In fact it reminds me of Tetrus on the Gameboy for how addictive it can be. I once sat with Gameboy for three hours playing that and it seemed like about 10 minutes! It is funny how it is always the simple games that are the most addictive – Space Invaders!!
I have just played the game above and lost 9-0. It was 3 nil before I realised that you mouse arrow has to be in the flash frame for it to work!
Wrote the following comment on Feb 4, 2008 at 9:24 pm
9 to 21 really isn’t all that good…
Wrote the following comment on Feb 5, 2008 at 5:47 am
its all about the mouse. my track pad on the mac… not so good. wireless mouse at work on my pc- amazing. I was winning until i had to get back to work.
Wrote the following comment on Feb 5, 2008 at 6:32 am
Rubbish! I just got this post sent to me by email and for a heart stopping, “no way” of a moment I actually thought you’d found a version of galaxians, and embedded it in your site! Pong!? Who cares about Pong!
You want a really addictive game? Try this..
https://www.justicing.com/theauthor/zookeeper.html
Wrote the following comment on Feb 5, 2008 at 12:34 pm
I did lousy today, but I was always lousy at Pong. I used to like to play Tanks and, of course, Pac-Man. I spent many a late-night on Pac-Man, after everyone in the house had gone to bed, playing just one more, one more, one more until, all of a sudden it was 2:00 am and I was in for it the next morning.