Throwback Thursday - Electronic Handheld Games

This Throwback Thursday I thought I would share some of the electronic toys from my childhood. With the exception of the first one, they are all handheld games. Hmmm, I wonder if that has anything to do with how much I like smartphones and tablets and such now? I was really born at just the right time because the early 80’s is when these types of games really took off and I was a tween then – perfect age. Thanks to my parents for getting me some of these great toys!

2-XL Robot

This was probably actually in the late 70’s. This robot was a trivia game that used 8-track tapes. The 4-buttons are what you used to answer and the tape would switch to tell you if you were right or wrong. I remember this little guy was expensive and I played with the display at the dime store (Woolworth’s) every Monday night for a long time. I was thrilled when I finally got one of my own! I can still hear 2-XL’s little voice and laugh even.

Merlin

I rocked Merlin! Honestly, this was one of those games that I just loved playing and the type of puzzle it is reminds me a lot of some of my favorite types of app games I still play now. I even could play a bunch of different songs on Merlin using the tones. Plus I loved the red color!

Simon

Simon is still around these days, but he came out back when I was a kid. Great memory game. After I had this for a while I just played by myself though because playing with others I would get to annoyed when they were slow or made a mistake (I’m a tad bit competitive)

Coleco Quiz Wiz

This was my most challenging game that I can remember. I had a whole case full of the book-cartridge game things. Some were easy, but some were pretty hard. The electronic part you plugged into the different book holder thingies. I remember the case I had them in even, it was an old black suitcase with a fake alligator skin and it had the initials H.H. on it which were my grandpa’s initials even though it was not his suitcase.

Bandai Gunfighter

This was actually my brother’s game. He got this and a tennis game one year for Christmas (I got Simon and Merlin that same year I think). Luckily, he let me play them pretty often. I liked the graphics (ha!) on this game because it had little pixelated cowboys on the display.

Tandy Baseball

This was my favorite sport handheld game because I actually know how to play baseball and how to keep score (yes, really). This one just had little red lights that lit up around the field, but it was still fun.

Radio Shack Arcade

I remember having this game and I want to say I may have bought it myself at Radio Shack. Sadly though, it was kind of disappointing. The best game to play on it was a memory game like Simon. Most of the other games were boring.

Coleco Electronic Quarterback

I never owned the handheld football game myself, but I think every single boy my age had one. They were everywhere! I really never completely understood how to play this game (I don’t know much about real Football), but I got excited when I got the “ball” to the end for a touchdown.

Did you have any of these games growing up? What others handheld electronic games do you remember?

Tagged as: meme, memory lane, Throwback Thursday, toys

Mary

I remember Simon.
Jane m

I do remember Simon, & Woolworth’s . My cousin had Alphie, and I had Speak &Spell and Speak & Math.
http://www.fotomacro.etsy.com angie

I am so in love with this throwback thingy you started! LOVE it! I remember ALL of these except the Coleco Quiz Wiz. I did not own any of them but played all of them at various friends’ houses!!! wow…so nostalgic right now! LOL Thank you!
http://brokenwon.blogspot.com Wendy T

Merlin?

I so remember it, but I don’t. What does it do…how did we play it? I think I played with a lot.
Roxanne Limon

Ohhhhh how I hated that Simon Says game. My cousins and I would stand around taking turns trying to one up each other. Sore thumbs, bruised egos and bitter, bitter tears would always be the end game for at least one person.
Deanna G.

I have never seen any of these before except Simon.
richelle bowers

i loved these games!!!! Oldies but goodies
Julie Davis

I loved my simon!
jessica walter

my favorite was simon, but I also liked light brite.
ellen

You are a tad younger than I am, so growing up I didnt much have handheld anyhting as far as games. My youngest brother had some football game he played.
http://sensiblysara.com/ Sara Phillips

The only one I remember is Simon. But I LOVED it!!
Margie

I remember Simon.
GlArthy

I don’t know any of the electronic stuff above as I’ve never seen them. Simon seems to be the most favoured and my recollection of that game is when we stood around waiting for ‘Simon’ to ‘say’, and, you better do it or you’re OUT. I think that’s how it went – don’t even remember now, lol
danielle

Simon and tandy baseball I definitely remember. They had a particular smell about them too. I think all that old plasticy stuff did once the batteries heated up.
Toundelea Johnson

Thanks for the walk down memory lane. I had Simon but wasn’t very good at it…kinda sad I know…
Michelle S

Phew! Glad I didn’t see any toys I recognized or that would have given away my age ;)
RoBin rakestraw

This post takes me way back. I haunt thought about playing these games in years. I spent many of hours playing Merlyn. I wish I still had that game.
Doctress Julia

OMG, the Quiz Whiz!! My neighbors had one and I used to go over to their house and play it for hours… much to the chagrin of the kid who owned it. I also had a Speak and Spell, Speak and Read, and Speak and Math, as well as my Atari 2600. :D
Michelle Tucker

I used to play the Simon game all the time. I vaguely remember some of the others. We didn’t get a lot of toys growing up so I don’t remember most of them.

michelletucker at baconnation dot net
Katherine

I still have Simon in my closet
http://historyinculture.wordpress.com Robin O

We had Simon growing up, but that is the only one I recognize. I guess my sister and I were more focused on non-electronic dolls when I was a kid!
http://www.tonjadeegan.com Tonja

My husband has a version of that football game and my son loves to play it. Cracks me up with the little beeps and bloops noises and the red dots!
Jodi J.

I had Merlin and my brother had Coleco Electronic Quarterback. I loved playing them both (when my brother would actually let me play his).
Alix Craw

I mostly had board games, but I do remember Simon. It was always so frustrating to play that game because I could never win. I don’t think I would ever buy that game again.
Meredith Harrell

I remember simon, I havent thought about it in years … looking at all these pics are making me nostalgic!!
http://www.dataentrydiva.com Stacey Price

I love these throw back Thursday posts. Simon was a favorite for me!!! Man how I miss those days. Life was so much simpler then.
Julie

Whoa! I remember all of those games. Simon and Merlin were definitely my favorites
Barbara Stapleton

My daughter had the Simon and we both played the Coleco Quiz Wiz. Looking at these pictures, they were the ‘primates! I still remember the ping pong (black and white), it was our first electronic game. Wow, memories… thanks. (This REALLY ages me!)
Ravzie

These were all after my time, LOL! The best “electronic” toys I had were Creepy Crawlers and the Easy Bake Oven. I was probably about 15 when Pong came out – woohoo that was something! For about 5 minutes….
Kenny F

This was a little before my time but this post was fun to read
Terry Cross

I remember the Simon and Coleco Electronic Quarterback from my childrens childhood. i don’t think we had much in the way of electronics when I was a kid. My kids also had Alphie and Speak & Spell and something that was kind of like the Tag reader but don’t remember what it was called.
Casey Johnson

OMG! I remember watching Nickelodeon and seeing the commercials for the Bandai games! Simon is OBVIOUSLY a classic! love it!
http://www.injohnnaskitchen.com Johnna

I had not thought about Merlin in years! Thanks for sharing these, what a fun thing to reminisce about.
Caitlin

I had a Simon growing up. Wow, total blast from the past.
Ashley

I don’t remember these but something as recent as a walkmen seems prehistoric. Technology has taken off.
Gianna

My husband does!
nannypanpan

i had a merlin!!!
and i definately remember playing simon with my sis…do you remember the professor looking calculator..it was yellow?
Linda

I loved the Bandai Gunfighter. I don’t know a lot of people that played it but I definitely had a blast with it
http://fadedginger.wordpress.com Ginger Kay

I had a quiz whiz! I remember playing Simon at the home of friends, but the others were unfamiliar to me.
Rachel V

I remember Tandy baseball & Simon.
Ashley Hughes

I had Simon! I can’t really think of anything else game wise. But I had that talk recorder that Kevin had in Home alone lol except mine was pink and purple.
http://www.twitter.com/delovely_m0mma Stephanie F

Love the arcade! Cannot think of a kid who wouldn’t love that.
Rishabh

I like it very much
@Wowkart