Shiny & New In '82

ColecoVision ad from a 1985 Sears catalog

I don't have a photo of myself on Christmas Day 1982, but it's probably because I wasn't still long enough for one to be taken. I was 13 years old when I received my first video game console, and it was the "Arcade Quality Video Game System", the ColecoVision.  And it was love at first sight.

I had never seen anything like it before - to my eyes, it was perfect.  It had sleek symmetrical lines, it was jet black with cool brushed silver labels, and it used game cartridges that were visually pleasing on the outside as well as on the screen.  It was shiny and new, and it was mine.

It fit perfectly on a shelf under my 13" TV set and it made my room look sophisticated and technologically impressive.  It was the gift that kept on giving - at least for a couple of years - as I saved my money it would be a thrill to bike over to the Consumers Distributing store near my home to buy another game.  It may sound lame now, but it was exhilarating to take that tiny little pencil and fill out that request form and wait at the counter for someone to appear with the object of my desires. I collected a new game whenever I had the funds, and built up a modest stockpile of maybe 7 or 8 cartridges.  I was so excited when I bought Turbo that with the help of my father I built a rough wooden stand for the wheel and foot pedal so I could sit on my bed and play that game like I was really driving.  I wasn't really aware of any other toys - I loved my ColecoVision.

Unfortunately when life pushes you into new directions, you change.  By 1985 I had forgotten about my favourite toy.  I don't even remember what happened to it, but it was likely sold at a garage sale.

Fast forward thirty years. Thanks to a teenage son, some fond memories and the ability we have now to find just about anything we're looking for via the internet, I find myself going through a second childhood.  In May of 2014 I started buying back my old treasury of ColecoVision hardware and games, and now I have many times more than I ever had as a 13 year old.  I found that the desire is still there for my favourite toy and it's as strong as ever, I just got a little distracted.

Of course I look at it a bit differently now.  It's cheaply made and the controllers are terrible.  Most of the games are dated. The thing is, I couldn't care less.  I still think it's the coolest game system ever made.  Nothing is ever going to match it because in 1982 it was shiny and new, and it was mine.  My son doesn't understand my attachment to this cheap hunk of plastic - he probably won't get it for another thirty years.

- J.S.