I’m sure that most of us can remember our various pivotal gaming experiences, from the first game we played to the first time we beat a particular boss. With every new generation that comes into gaming these experiences will of course differ, for example the first game I remember with any great clarity was named Jet Boot Jack on an ancient Atari.

I’m certain, in fact I have been told by my parents, that this wasn’t the first game I’ve played. But it is the first one I remember, and thus has a special place in my heart. Obviously by today’s standards it’s hardly a memorable title, and I’m sure that there were better games out then as well, but it means something to me and will always hold the distinction of being my first true gaming love.

For my young nephew of course things are better, at least graphically, and he is being weaned on Disney tie-in games and Leapster (a console apparently aimed at helping kids learn, and certainly a step up from the old BBC that my school had).

I wonder though, will he treasure the memory as much as I have over the years?

For my part I certainly hope so, because when it comes to granting memories, and senses of achievement video-games are a very underrated tool.

To this day I remember the first time that I completed Robocop on the NES, and the first (and to this day only) time I managed to complete the underwater level of Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles, both of which left me with a high comparable with anything I have ever achieved since.

This has, I think, sadly faded for me though.

Recently I completed Assassin’s Creed, and rather than rejoice in the fact that I had finished the game I was more prone to lament the fact I’d spent so many hours playing through it. Now looking at them side by side I think we can certainly agree that Assassin’s Creed is a better game than Robocop ever was, but back then my critical faculties weren’t close to being as developed.

It never really would have entered my head to think of a game as being good or bad, the mere fact it was a game and I was playing it was enough.

We all tend now to get tied up in rating games, but I think ultimately a little reflection on how fortunate we are to be playing them wouldn’t go amiss.

At least from time to time.