I love this thread. I started with a C128 (which I primarily used in C64 mode to play games). I remember weird knock-off games like Shamus and Kung-Fu and some Mario Bros. look-alike with really strange sound effects. Shortly thereafter I purchased a 2600 for 49.99 during the 'Under $50' campaign and loved Dig Dug and Enduro, among others. I remember playing Zelda with my cousin for entire weekends, drawing the dungeon levels on graph paper (before there were cheat books and sites). I absolutely loved Bionic Commando for the NES and played it so much that to this day the music from it takes me right back to being a kid.
Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy my PS3, and am continually amazed by the graphics and gameplay, but it'll never be the same.