Cross Platform Discussion - Six Generations and Counting

[Ack]

You got your generations a bit wrong. Generation 1 starts with the Odyssey and Pong machines at the beginning of the 1970s. Generation 2 is the Channel F, Atari 2600, Vectrex, and so on, and 3 is the NES/Master System. I started with 3.

[Segatari2002]

Generation 1 - Atari, Colecovision, Intelivision

Generation 2 - NES and Masters System

Generation 3 - SNES and Genesis

Generation 4 - N64, Saturn, Playstation

Generation 5 - Gamecube, Dreamcast, Playstation 2, Xbox

Generation 6 - Wii, Playstation 3, Xbox 360

Due to the variety of ages across the board here many of us have come into gaming within different generations. So which generation did you first come into play? Or is there an obscure system like the 3DO that you put down $700 on and never recovered from, let us know.

Me, myself, my dad introduced me into gaming with his Atari 2600. But my first system was the NES so I came into gaming within Generation 2.

I would just like to point out that according to numerous Wikipedia articles on the subject, there are not six generations of consoles currently available, but seven. The breakdown is more appropriately done like this;

Generation 1 (1972-1977) - Magnavox Odyssey, Atari Pong, Coleco Telstar
Generation 2 (1976-1984) - Atari 2600, Magnavox Odyssey 2, Mattel Intellivision, Atari 5200, ColecoVision
Generation 3 (1983-1992) - NES, Sega Master System, Atari 7800
Generation 4 (1987-1996) - TurboGrafx-16, Sega Genesis, Neo Geo, SNES
Generation 5 (1993-2002) - 3DO, Atari Jaguar, Sega Saturn, Playstation, N64
Generation 6 (1998-2006) - Dreamcast, Playstation 2, Gamecube, Xbox
Generation 7 (2005-20??) - Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii

Granted, this listing isn't complete but rather the more notable and major players from each generation and it does not include any handhelds. As for me personally, I cut my teeth on the Atari 2600 and then really became a video game addict with Sega Genesis, so I guess you could say I'm a second-and-fourth generation hybrid.

[h8b1llg8ts]

You got your generations a bit wrong. Generation 1 starts with the Odyssey and Pong machines at the beginning of the 1970s. Generation 2 is the Channel F, Atari 2600, Vectrex, and so on, and 3 is the NES/Master System. I started with 3.

I was more thinking of the lines of mainstream and cartridge based gaming systems. I'm more of thinking in regards of marketing was less abrasive to really sway a gamer from one system to another. Mostly people bought them because they were newer then what came previous. Not what we see know where one company tries to beat out another by earlier release dates or beat them over the head with processing appeal.

[Anayo]

I had the fun and awkward experience of being sandwiched somewhere between generations 2, 3 and 4 (NES, Sega Genesis, and N64). I was born in 1990, so by the time I started playing games Playstation and such was popular, but my parents weren't inclined to spend $300 on one so a nice friend of my dad's gave me an NES. I got a Sega Genesis as a Christmas present a year later, maybe in 1996 or so. In 1998 I got an N64 for my birthday, but by that time I had been adequately exposed to older games for me to cultivate an appreciation for them.

[enderfall]

Gen 2 for me.

[andymol21]

I started with a Master System way after it was on sale, then a SNES just before the N64 came out. So I guess I'm a 2, but I really only got into games after the SNES/N64. So maybe a 3/4!!!

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Born in 92' raised on Gen 3, evolved onto Gen 5 when I got a 64 for X-Mas in 00', sort of drifted through Gen 6 and didn't really begin to appreciate it until 04'-05', currently own two Gen 7 machines, but never really play them as I'm still in a Gen 4/5/6 state of mind.

[onemanfilmcrew]

Well, technically I was in Generation Two since the Atari 2600 was prevalent, however thanks to being in a poorer neighborhood I remember being stuck with Pong before Atari made it to me.

Either way, compared to a lot of the people in this thread i'm feeling kinda old over here....

[Chickensuit]

I was born in 81 and i started gaming in generation 2. My dad bought a tandy 1000 when i was like 5 and i have fond memories of games like lode runner and digger on that old 8088!
I continued on with pc's up until today, but was in and out of the consoles. My first console was the Atari 2600.

[the7k]

I started with Gen 2, but didn't get a system until Gen 3. Basically, I just used to go to my friends' places to play Nintendo, then I got a Super Nintendo when that hit.