I was born in 1976 and was playing E.T. when it first came out, not sure at what age, I wasn't ten yet - I know that. I remember it being "different" versus the other games I had at the time and actually liking it a bit more than some of the other games available at that time. I didn't know a crash was going on, I just knew all of a sudden my dad was bringing home several games for me and brother and sister to play when prior he was asking us what ONE game did we want. 

I don't think modern gamers that want in on the retro fun realize how obvious it is to people like you and me that they didn't grow up with these games.

I remember having one of the Swordquest comics taken away from me at school (probably first or second grade) and the look on the principals face when my dad told them he was the one that bought that stuff for me (if memory serves me correctly, there a few risqué pieces of artwork in them).

Man, it was a simpler time. I know that is ironic as we are discussing a super complicated game franchise but it really was a simpler time. Now everyone spends all day arguing over which console sold more units in the previous quarter rather than just enjoying the games available.