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Coleco Made the Arcade Games you could take home with you
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Coleco Made the Arcade Games you could take home with you

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Retroist
May 27, 2014
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Coleco Made the Arcade Games you could take home with you
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Back when I was growing up, the allure of Portable Coleco Arcade Games was simply irresistible. Among them, their portable version of Pac-Man held a special place in my heart. The only downside was that I never actually owned one. Thankfully, my cousin did, and whenever I visited his house, my eyes would lock onto that magical device. The only trouble was, it had a voracious appetite for batteries, and I knew my constant need to play it was quite a hassle, considering how batteries weren't exactly cheap. Still, my cousin never complained, which I am grateful for.

I wish I could say that I eventually learned to restrain myself or that I saved up my money to bring batteries with me on my visits. But the truth is, the passion for playing Pac-Man on that portable arcade was unstoppable. Even back home, I struggled to keep a steady supply of batteries, and my Pac-Man mania showed no signs of being contained.

During a visit in the late 1980s, we stumbled upon Pac-Man at the back of my cousin's closet. Unfortunately, the batteries had not been removed, and they had gone bad, corroding the insides of the game. My Uncle tried his best to clean it up, but sadly, something went horribly wrong, and the device couldn't be revived. It's always disheartening to see such a wonderful toy meet an ignoble end, and to this day, I still think about that unfortunate incident. Nevertheless, the great memories of playing on those Coleco Arcade Games remain, and ads like the one featured here serve as a reminder of the good times they brought me.

Though I never owned one myself, the joy and excitement those portable arcade games provided during my visits to my cousin's house will forever be etched in my mind. They symbolize a simpler time when the wonders of gaming and the dream of Pac-Man captured the imagination of many young hearts, including mine.

Watch the Portable Coleco Arcade Games Commercials


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