I remember I was 8 years old, back in the 90s. I was visiting my brother in San Francisco, and while he and my mom were talking among themselves, they let me mess with the TV. I kept flipping through channels until I came across Pokémon (I think it was the episode where Ash's Metapod evolved). I remember being completely engrossed, regardless, and I insisted on watching all the episodes from then on. I got some VHS tapes as gifts, and I collected the TCG, even though I never knew how to play (and I still don't, really. Lol).
I remember I was super excited for my tenth birthday. I guess it was because my favorite cartoon (*cough anime cough*) character started a life-changing journey when he turned 10. And so I was expecting something similar to happen.
On the evening of my tenth birthday, my parents gave me one huge box. It was probably as tall as I was. Being the trolls they are, most of the box was filled with bubble wrap and newspaper. At first I couldn't find anything else in the box, and I started getting upset. But after I literally dove into the box to see what was at the bottom, I saw four cartridges taped to the bottom:
Pokémon Red, Yellow, Silver, and Gold.
Mfw.
I think I actually started crying out of sheer joy.
And so my love of the games has continued ever since. I watch the older seasons of the anime for nostalgia, but I'm starting to get interested in the newer X and Y episodes recently too. I'm glad I can be fully engaged in the fandom again. It might sound a bit corny, but getting those games actually
was lifechanging for me, seeing as how I met my best friends because of them. We all met during the Hoenn craze, and we still play together to this day.