I've gone though each year of my life, and listed ONE game/platform that I loved that year.
It won't always be the "best" game that year, just something that grabbed me.
Hopefully there's a few surprises...

Part 1: The 70's...

1972: "McGrath 1972" (Electronic Arts) Platform: The Ground

The first in the long running "McGrath" series of sports sims by EA Sports.
The game featured many customisable aspects.. including weather conditions
and crying volume ("whimper", "minor whinge" & "top of voice").






1973: "Eating Sleeping Simulator" (Codemasters) Platform: Cot

The aim of this game, is to care for a 1 year old Gabe McGrath,
accompanied by a high-tempo David Whittaker soundtrack.
"This game is absolutely brilliant!" (David Darling)






1974: "Fingerpaintingshop" (Adobe) Platform: Butcher's Paper

This software is the industry standard for image manipulation
in the under 4's market.
Fingerpaintingshop's tools include "smudge", "smudge", & "unsharp smudge".






1975: "Lego City" (Maxis) Platform: Bedroom Floor

This game consisted of spreading Lego pieces onto the bedroom floor,
and trying to build various items within a strict time limit. (called "bedtime")
If a parent stands on the Lego, the player earns an "expletive bonus".






1976: "Dancing Queen Revolution" (Konami) Platform: HMV Stereogram

I pioneered the "Rhythm Action" gaming genre, when I was 4 years old.
My cousin had left her 45rpm single of Dancing Queen at our place.
and I worked out how to play it... over & over & over...






1977: "Sprint 2" (Kee Games/Atari) Platform: Arcade

The first "real" game on my list, and one I only played once or twice.
I'm sure this was the first video game that ever earnt "20 cents" from me.
Real steering wheels 'n' pedals! Race round 'n' round 'n' round!!






1978: "Primitus diei Schola" (Rockstar games) Platform: 9 & 3/4

The player has to turn up at school each day, and "learn stuff".
"Hero Status" can be gained if you bring your baby brother in for "show & tell"
and he vomits on the teacher. (true story)






1979: "Space Invaders" (Taito) Platform: Arcade

Yes, I know this game was released in 1978.
But being just 6 at the time, it was another year before I discovered
that big menacing machine that went "whoomp.. whoomp.. whoomp.."

Scroll down for... Gabe's Gaming in the 80's...

My first ever game is the retro remake Operation Block.

It's a tribute to both Operation Wolf
and the world's favourite building toys.. Lego.

Find out (slightly) more at the Operation Block GGE page.

Or - find out MUCH more in the Operation Block WIP Thread at Retro Remakes.

I've gone though each year of my life, and listed ONE game/platform that I loved that year.
It won't always be the "best" game that year, just something that grabbed me.
Hopefully there's a few surprises...

Part 2: The 80's...

1980: "Laser Blast" (Atari) Platform: Atari 2600

This is probably the first "home game" that really got me excited.
Played it on a friend's 2600 at his birthday party.
Gameplay: Move saucer, unleash devastating laser at tanks below, repeat.






1981: "Galaga" (Namco) Platform: Arcade

Long before emulation using programs like MAME, long before "retro releases"
on consoles, there was Galaga. It may be an arcade game from 1982,
but smart operators can put one on location today - and it still earns money.







1982: "Auto Chase" (Creativision) Platform: Dick Smith Wizzard

The first of our more obscure listings. The DSW (aka "Creativision")
was made by Vtech, now known for "V-Smile" kids computers.
Autochase is 'heavily inspired' by Namco's Rally X.






1983: "Xevious" (Namco) Platform: Arcade

Xevious was one of the first games where the enemies & landscape
looked like "real things". eg: Forests, tanks driving on roads, etc.
Pity that giant spaceship SMITED me 9/10 times.







1984: "1942" (Capcom) Platform: Arcade

1942 may look similar to Xevious, but there's enough differences to make it
onto my gameography(tm). Simple powerups, fun "barrel roll" loops,
and excellent enemy design make it a real work of art.







1985: "Dig Out" (VTech/Dick Smith Electronics ) Platform: VZ-300

Another computer from Dick Smith (what a patriotic Aussie kid I was!).
The VZ-200 & 300 had incredibly chunky graphics & arcade clones galore.
This one was an addictive version of Dig-Dug.







1986: "Dangar-UFO Robo" (Nichibutsu) Platform: Arcade

Wow - a transforming robot! Imagine THAT in the late 1980's! </sarcasm>
Seriously, this great "shmup", just beats Slap Fight into this coverted position.
It's an unofficial sequel to Terra Cresta with awesome powerups.






1987: "Bubble Bobble" - (Taito/Software Creations) Platform: C64

Another Taito classic. One of the greatest 2 player arcade games EVER,
and one of the Commodore 64's best conversions.
My sister & I played it to death, and patiently waited for the cassette to load.






1988: "Bad Dudes vs Dragon Ninja" (Data East) Platform: Arcade

Now let's just set things straight. Double Dragon was crap.
The animation had about 2 frames, and "rescuing your girlfriend" was passe.
On the other hand, Dragon Ninja had style, flair & great level design.







1989: "Midnight Resistance" (Data East) Platform: Arcade

I love Data East! This game is the sequel to Heavy Barrel
and again features a specialised "rotating joystick" for each player.
Run & shoot independantly! Rescue your family! Save the world!

*List 1 game for every year you've been alive. No more, no less.
*For any "pre-gaming" year, you need to create "fake games"
(relevent to your life) in the style of real ones. (see my "70's" listing)
*For each game, include screenshot, name of platform,
useful link(s) & 3-4 lines of text.

I've gone though each year of my life, and listed ONE game/platform that I loved that year.
It won't always be the "best" game that year, just something that grabbed me.
Hopefully there's a few surprises...

Part 3: The 90's...

1990: "Nam 1975" (SNK) Platform: Arcade

What's this? An arcade machine with 4-6 different games?
Neo Geo was amazing back in 1991 - and I spent too much money at Uni
playing this game - a greatly improved clone of Cabal/Blood Brothers.






1991: "Turrican 2" (Rainbow Arts) Platform: Commodore 64

I got my C64 pretty late (about 1987) but kept playing it into the early 90's.
The Turrican games were inspired by one of my favourite coin-ops (Oscar)
and are incredibly playable, stretching the C64 to it's limits.






1992: "Wolfenstein 3D" (id Software) Platform: PC
GGE page: Wolfenstein 3D

For some years, my Gameography rules (1 game/year) make things hard.
But 1992 was easy. This was the first PC game that got me excited.
Even with sound through a crap PC speaker, it was an amazing experience.






1993: "In the Hunt" (Irem) Platform: Arcade

Long before the Metal Slug series came to rescue 2D arcade game lovers
from the depths of despair, many of the same team worked on this game.
An underwater horizontal shmup - with great graphics & bosses.






1994: "Doom" (id Software) Platform: PC
GGE page: Doom

Yeah, I know. Cliche! But no other game had a bigger impact on me in '94.
Who could forget their first encounter with the final boss?
And playing my brother on 2 home PCs (networked) was amazing.






1995: "Pulstar" (Aicom) Platform: Arcade/Neo Geo

Neo Geo (SNK) kept making games I loved. This is another horizontal shooter,
much inspired by R-type, with loads of beautiful touches.
And it's 0.0001% less frustrating than Irem's classic - hooray!






1996: "Quake" (id Software) Platform: PC
GGE page: Quake

Yep - the id Software trilogy dominates my 90's gameography.
How could anyone forget the first time they reached that part of area 1,
where 2 blocks levitated... and that THING lunged at your throat!






1997: "Ms Pacman" (Namco) Platform: Arcade/PC
(Emulated with MAME)

Throughout the 80's, I was frustrated that home arcade conversions
either lacked the power to do it properly - or were simply rubbish.
In 1997 - that didn't matter any more. Real arcade action at home. No BS.






1998: "Half Life" (Valve) Platform: PC
GGE page: Half-Life

Duke Nukem 3D was first with you exploring "places" rather than "levels".
But Half Life added "moments" - ie "oh my god, what about when ..."
You'd talk to a fellow gamer, but try to avoid giving away major plot points.






1999: "System Shock 2" (Irrational Games) Platform: PC
GGE page: System Shock 2

I wasn't sure about an FPS with RPG elements. (I'm an action gamer)
But this had so many great elements, and a central character
you couldn't see, who kept taunting you. Unforgettable stuff.