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Wil Wheaton probably doesn’t recognize how big of a meme he could have started with this post, “nostalgia overload,” where he shares a great link to “video game experiences” from the early / mid 1980’s, an experience that frankly, most American kids will NEVER have. He then takes it one step further by throwing out his favorite four classic arcade games, and I can’t resist chiming in and taking it a half-step further. In no particular order, here are my fave four arcade games, and some context.

1. Ghosts ‘n Goblins” – I spent so much of the money I made on my newspaper route for the Asbury Park Press that it’s not even funny. As one of the kids who was able to “cross the street” – State Highway 79 – in Matawan, NJ, I got to fight for joystick time against the high school-aged dudes who worked there and the other teenagers – and this is where I spent my quarters.

2. Spy Hunter – I’m damn sure this would make a lot of the lists of children of the 80’s, too. It was simple – you see how fast you can drive, drop oil slicks, grab weapons, drive into the back of a semi, “Knight Rider”-style, all while trying to vanquish mobsters or something. Who knew? Who cares? It was fun, and a classic.

3. Joust – Yeah, that’s right – flying ostriches. Knights, lances, storks, and lava. Need I say more?

4. Gauntlet – I originally wasn’t such a fan, but some good friends were addicted to it, so I chimed on in. Soon enough, “red warrior is about to die” and “blue Valkyrie needs food…badly” were part of my personal lexicon.

I could take this on and on, but let’s save that for another day. How about you? Post on your own site or head on over to Wil’s and chime in.