In the mid-to-late 1970s, handheld electronic games emerged, marking the start of my collection beyond comic books. While console systems like the Fairchild Channel F and Atari 2600 were introduced in 1976 and 1977, their steep prices – $250 for an Atari console plus $30-$45 per game – were out of reach for many families, including mine. Despite my father’s good job, my parents operated on a strict $100 per child limit for Christmas gifts, so asking for an Atari was not an option. Instead, I enjoyed playing on friends’ consoles like the Atari 2600, Intellivision, and Odyssey 2.

My two best friends had Fairchild consoles, which I played whenever I could. However, the advent of handheld games changed everything. These smaller, portable games priced between $25 and $40 became attainable gifts for birthdays and holidays, even for a “poor” kid like me. Handheld electronic games became a significant part of my childhood gaming experience.

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