Are you a gamer? I was first exposed to my first computer sometime around 1976. One of my friends, Michael Stanfill’s father worked for IBM and brought one home. It looked something like this.

IBM computer in 1976

I was mesmerized and loved playing some simple football game on it. I had only played electric football prior to that. Electric football was invented in 1948…..no I’m not that old, but it was around when I was a kid. I was born in 1963.

Electric football

Occasionally, my school would visit some university and I was exposed to better and faster computers. I was intrigued by them.

Then around 1978-1980, I played on my first Atari 2600. It started out with Pong, and then more sophisticated (at the time games).

Atari 2600

Then I splurged in about 1982 and purchased an Atari 5200. I purchased it myself for about the same price that people are paying for game consoles in 2013. I think I paid somewhere around 248.00 and the suggested list price was 270.00.

Atari 5200

I graduated from H.S. in 1981 and when I went to College, I think there was one dude on my dormitory floor with a computer at Oklahoma State University. They were the king of the geeks.

Punch cards were just going out of style as a programming tool.

IBM computer punchcard

I started out majoring in Engineering and I had a Fortran project requiring punch cards. I think the professors wanted us to see what we were missing. I don’t know why they didn’t ask us to communicate with a telegraph so we could see how Morse Code works. 🙂

I graduated with my B.S. in 1985 and then my M.A. in 1987. Some time in 1987 or so, I purchased my first computer which was an 8088, then a 286, then a 386. This year, I purchased a laptop for under 400.00 because I spilled a drink on my other one. It’s almost more expensive to repair one than to buy a new one.

In 2001, I purchased my first X box system in order to play the first version of Halo.

My first X Box

In 2008, I purchased a Nintendo Wii with the intent to use boxing, Wii Fit, and Wii Active to get in shape. I was 45 and it was time to get rid of that belly! I actually did the Yoga moves and stuck with it for some 100 plus days. I considered it a success. Even though I no longer use the Wii.

Nintendo Wii

I considered buying a new X box 360 this year, but I didn’t think I needed something else to encourage any more time wasting. Maybe, I’m finally growing up. I turn 50 in 3 days. I certainly hope that I’m not growing up!