Since we're cranking out two big video game challenges in May, we thought we'd share our memories of the simple, blocky boxes and graphics of the past: Atari, Commodore 64, Pac-Man, Frogger, and more. Here's Part I of employees' tales of sibling wars, unfortunate liquid spills, and picking up cute girls in the arcade.

Denise L, Bookmans Grant Admin Assistant
My first game system was an Atari. I'd play Ms. Pac-Man until it was burned into my eyeballs. But once I played Super Mario Bros. on my friend's Nintendo it was all over. I couldn't get enough of it, but my parents would not buy us an NES system. Instead we rented it occasionally from the video store. I still have a special place in my heart for the Donkey Kong games on Super NES, especially the first one with the mine car level. That was the BEST!

Valarie M, Bookmans Speedway Event Liaison
My younger brother, Vince, and I got a Nintendo for Christmas the year they were released. When our mom went to work, we carefully took the tape off the wrapping to see if that's what we were getting. Yup. We got it. We tried to wrap it the way we found it, but she could tell. Our parents asked us if we had been messing with our presents and we totally lied. I guess we thought we could never, ever, ever get caught. Our favorite games then: Marios Bros. (especially where you can jump on the turtle steps and get a million men - I think it's World 5, Level 2), Kid Icarus, The Legend of Zelda, Anticipation, Bubble Bobble, Mike Tyson's Punch Out, and Castlevania (the first one). I still have a scar on my face from some "who gets to go first" fight I had with Vince "Cat Claws" Mariscal.

Cal C, Bookmans Grant Electronic Supervisor
Super Nintendo! Not my first, but my favorite. I played Cal Ripkin Jr. Baseball until my eyes bled.

Dale McD, IT Manager
Probably Asteroids. I was a mallrat at the Parmatown Mall video game arcade back in the '70s, dropping quarters like mad. Met my first girlfriend at the 8-person race car game. The purple car was always the fastest. When I told her about that magic car, she invited me to a party across the street in the woods. Seventies mallrat parties in the woods RULED.

Tamara J, Tucson Community Relations
Atari 2600. My parents bought me a lame Strawberry Shortcake game, but my true love (and still my favorite game to play) was Space Invaders, followed by Asteroids, Centipede, and Frogger.

Ryan S, Bookmans Flagstaff Cashier/Customer Service Supervisor
The Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves game for NES! Truly epic, and it doesn't get better than Costner incarnated in 8-bit.

Lindy H, Bookmans Ina Admin Assistant
Pong!

Jacob H, Marketing Project Manager
I've only played one video game in my entire life: Pac-Man. Does that make me a freak?

Marshall H, Bookmans Grant Store Manager
Before my brothers and I spent hours throwing Nintendo controllers at each other (I was innately better than he was), we had a Commodore 64. I should say my parents bought one and then a couple of weeks later I spilled some kind of disgusting medicine I was being force fed all over the keyboard. It didn't work after that. The only game I remember playing for that brief period of time was Defender.

Donna C, Bookmans Grant Facilities Manager
I had one of those paddle games, like tennis.

Sean F, Executive Vice President
My first - and only - video game system was the Atari. I think they now call it the Atari 2600, but back then it was just plain Atari. Games played? The holy trinity: Asteroids, Missile Command, Centipede. Which ones did I love? None! I found them all frustrating because I sucked. I soon learned it was more fun to go outside and play actual sports or go sailing, so that's what I did.

Jon H, Systems Admin
Does Zork count as a video game? Back-door to the U of Colorado mainframe system had it...D&D game. (Text only.)

Bob, Owner
Pong.