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Charle I just wanted to discuss our favorite Christmas memories. So, without any further ado, let’s get started.
Andrew
I would say my favorite Christmas memory would have to be the year we got the Wii. Ever since I was younger, I always would get a new system. Well this year specifically, in 2008, I opted to get the Wii. What do you think our first game was? You guessed it. Wii Sports!
The reason this specific memory has stuck with me for so long as how different the Wii was from the GameCube and how novel the feeling of bowling with the Wii remotes were. Even now, we sometimes gather around the TV and play, trying to beat our own high scores or trying to stay Pro. We also still use it for games such as (paid link) Fortune Street and (paid link) Wii Play. Heck, I even just bought a copy of (paid link) Mario Super Sluggers to play too. The point is, the Wii is a great console that has given me plenty of memories from day 1 and beyond.
Charle
Holidays bring a lot of feelings to people. Some of them are good, some are not so great. Christmas is a special holiday because it is the season to give, be grateful for what you have, spend time with loved ones, and most importantly, build memories. And what better way to remember Christmas than with video games. There are a couple of memories that come to mind when it comes to Christmas, but video games have created that bright spot for me when the time was less noisy, family was together, and the best way to unwind after school, work, or even the holiday dinner was to rack up as many hours as I could with video games.
Here are some memories that shine above the rest when it comes to my favorite Christmas gaming memories.
First Memory
The first memory that comes to mind is when I first got my original Xbox. It was launch year, November 2001 and I was looking to upgrade from my N64, that I recently just sold off in my dad’s work’s local garage sale paper.
It felt like a passing of the torch, but also an evolution of how gaming could keep pushing the envelope forward as well. So this was the console I was going to pick.
At the time, the PS2 and GameCube had dominance, and had iconic games, but I was still unsure. Luckily, my uncle from Thailand had told me to keep an eye out for something called Xbox that would be launching later in the US. I decided to give it a chance, and I don’t regret it.
This was a golden era of innovation, and all three of the consoles brought a lot of differences to the market that offered something unique. Xbox drew me in because it was a pioneering era to get on the ground and run with it.
Because of my interest in Xbox, I saved up all my money I could, doing chores, birthdays, Christmas money, etc. I put it all towards getting an Xbox, 2 controllers, and of course a game. That first game would be (paid link) Halo: Combat Evolved.
When I sorted out the money situation, we decided to go hunting around for different stores. At the time, Circuit City (now defunct) had a stack of Xboxes near the entrance. I was told to pick one and the rest was history.
Fast forward after about two weeks or so, my Xbox stopped working. Turns out, the disc drive was messed up, and though I could never confirm this, the console might have been accidentally dropped as the associate was grabbing it for us. I was disappointed, but I wanted to get another console and go with that. This was way before the red ring of death fiasco on the Xbox 360, but that will be told in a different story.
After that, I got a new Xbox and the rest is history. I kept that one until it finally died on me with a red ring of death. That Xbox gave me enough credit to get some stuff at GameStop. I didn’t get another console until the Xbox 360 was announced or was really close to being released.
Second Memory
The next memory I can recall is when I got my Xbox 360. I had researched all year about what stores would be getting it (Circuit City was defunct by this point in 2005) and I made plans to go with the parents to start hunting down where to go next.
Again, the same routine went on for me. I saved up whatever money I could, and eventually Christmas season hit and I was eyeballing everywhere I could to find out where the next shipment of Xbox 360s would hit.
The first time I would attempt to get an Xbox 360 was at my local Wal-Mart in my hometown. I was told they had a limited supply and not everyone would get one. I waited in line, with about 10 others, but it was suspected there were less than 5 in stock. When my turn came up, I was told they sold out and we were to try again later. I felt defeated, but I took the stumble, and planned my next action to continue the pursuit to get an Xbox 360.
Fast forward to around Dececmber of that same year. My family and I dropped off my brother for his college trip to Thailand and had some extra time while we were in the city. I used this opportunity to ask if we could stop by a Best Buy to see if they had any. Luckily, we stopped by a regular Best Buy that was also in a shopping center with Home Depot and got in line.
This was it. I finally had another shot at getting a console here. The same problem happened. I wasn’t guaranteed a console here because they only had a certain amount in stock. But I waited in line like the others, in freezing temperatures, and waited it out like everyone else. When those magical doors opened, warmth washed over me and we were given our opportunity to buy the launch Xbox 360s.
Not only was I and others in line to get an Xbox 360, we were on the local news channel. The news reporter was interviewing people that waited in line longer than my family and me, and we were seen in the background. It was exciting, and a memory I will treasure forever with my family and I.
I got my Xbox 360 and (paid link) Call of Duty 2. It was amazing.
That console gave me many years of memories and playtime, until it succumbed to the red ring of death. By that point, I was able to upgrade to a Xbox 360 slim.
Third Memory
Lastly, the final memory I have that is connecting to a gaming Christmas memory is my Christmas last year. There were many gifts exchanged, but I built a strong bond with the local game shop in town. And one of the workers there, I became good friends with. After I had a change in my life where I had to move out of my old house, I felt aimless, struggling to find meaning again. Visiting this game shop gave me a great sense of community, and helped me build a strong foundation again to expand again and focus on what my passions were.
The coworker I made friends with also strengthen the bonds I had with the rest of the team. They helped me build my collection of semi rare games, and I would do my best to express my gratitude with trades or feed them snacks.
This particular Christmas, I made the friend a custom drawing notebook made for him from my work. And he gifted me his older Meta Quest. It was in great condition and he got a newer model. I was speechless, as this was the first step I had in going into VR gaming.
That’s all I have for my Christmas gaming memories. It is the perfect holiday to slow down and catch up on completing quests, but also appreciating what I have.
Conclusion
That’s all for our favorite Christmas memories. What are yours? As always, happy gaming and Merry Christmas everyone.
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