I bought the Nintendo 64 system for my kids in 1999 for $99. I can't believe that it is two years later and they still love using it. Game systems usually have a short lifespan around our house and the kids have always tired of different systems soon after they came out. There is a Game Console Graveyard in the closet of one of their bedrooms where older and less-used Nintendo, Sega and Super Nintendo systems and all their trappings have been abandoned. This is not the case with the Nintendo 64.

When all the hype about the Dreamcast started, I was prepared to be hounded to buy one. But, I was shocked to hear them say that it was not the Dreamcast they wanted. They wanted more games for the Nintendo 64. This was fine with me but I was curious as to why this system was different. I could see that the system was durable, the controllers came in umpteen colors and didn't seem to break as easily as the others. Also, whenever something went wrong, it seemed that the kids easily figured out ways to correct the problem themselves. Up to four people could play some games at the same time and extra controllers were easy to find at about $20 each. The game cartridges themselves were easy to find at most department stores, although some could be very expensive. In comparison to the prices for some game systems today, the price of the Nintendo 64 seems cheap.

But, the reason the kids wanted to keep adding to their collection of games was that they simply enjoyed playing the 64 more than the other systems. After a little coaxing, I found that even I liked quite a few of the games! Even though two of the kids have grown up and left home, when they visit I sometimes find them pulling the old Nintendo 64 out and playing the old games. This past Christmas, my oldest son gave my youngest ten older Nintendo 64 games that he had found at an internet site. They have made an agreement to add games whenever they can until they finally have them all. I did buy the Playstation system for the kids as a surprise and they seemed really excited about it--for a while. Then, it was sent to the closet with the other abandoned systems.

I am certainly not an expert on game systems and I cannot explain the attraction of the Nintendo 64 but I can say that even after playing the newer games-internet included-- with better graphics, sound cards and everything else available, my kids still play the "old 64".