The Atari Video Computer System (also known as the VCS, and, in 1982 became more known as the Atari 2600) came out in 1977. I might have been 5 or 6 when I first remember playing this at home. I think my Father bought it around 1978, but I'm uncertain. It had this faux-wood trim on it. Every time I see old cars with that wood panelling it makes me hear Atari sounds in my head. Anyway, I've spent a lot of my life involved with playing video games. In the 90's I became a hardcore console video game collector and even spent 10 years attending the Electronic Entertainment Expo - a trade show that showcases all the new games and consoles coming out to retail.
While helping my parents clean their attic a few weekends ago, I came across a box that was filled with with our original Atari VCS with about 40 or so game cartridges and various joysticks and paddle controllers. And, amongst the games, was one of my all time favorites: Kaboom! with it's bright purple shell staring at me from inside the box.
Kaboom! was a paddle game. The mad bomber would drop his bombs and you had to catch them in the water buckets before they reached the ground and exploded.
Here is a video of the game being played. Those sounds are burned into my brain. Watching that video was like music to my ears.
Oh! Look! you can play it online in your browser! Yay!
I love stumbling across my old toys and stuff. I'm guessing that Atari console will still work if I can figure out how to plug it into newer televisions. My addictions started at an early age :)