The '80s were a simpler time.

Polka dots weren't vintage. Scrunchies were cool. The mullet was acceptable. And the world met the Mario Brothers.

Today, it's almost impossible to imagine a world without video game systems. Xbox 360 and Playstations have seemingly established a permanent place in the hands of most adolescent boys. But for me, the Mecca of all video game systems lies in the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

Before I continue, I should establish that I am in no way a video game junkie. My eyes glaze over as soon as my boyfriend picks up the controller to play Madden.

I have no idea who Zelda is and, while I enjoy a little Mario Tennis now and again, I don't understand the thrill of Halo at all.

Despite this, I still find that to this day my Nintendo is one of my most prized possessions, and that should say something.

Introduced in 1985, Nintendo, the at-home entertainment system, quickly became connected to TVs across the country, and with that began the dawn of a new era.

Super Mario Brothers made Mario and Luigi household names, and neighborhood rat packs could now hold their own Super Bowls with the ever-popular Tecmo Bowl.

Not to mention California Games allowed every wannabe surfer to practice riding gnarly waves.

Then we come to my personal favorite, Duck Hunt, where one plastic red gun, a couple of flying ducks and a trusty hunting dog equals unending fun. The brilliance of this game is in the simplicity -- point and shoot.

Voila!

Of course, missing all of your shots means the stupid dog comes up to laugh at you, at which point I always feel compelled to aim at him for one obligatory shot.

And while today's video games have graphics so lifelike you can watch Shaq's sweat drip down his brow, there's something special about the jerky movements of the anonymous baller in Double Dribble.

Looking back, Nintendo's elementary graphics seem almost laughable, but at a time when Pong and Pac-Man ruled the world, the latest and greatest technological advancement made us believe we really were trekking through Donkey Kong's jungle.

One of Nintendo's true strokes of genius is that it has the simple rectangular controller. Want to jump? Press B.

That's it.

No need to hold down R2 while pushing X and pushing up the Z button with your thumb.

I'm not very coordinated -- basic is better.

If you're lucky enough to still have a working machine, old school Nintendo can provide a bonding experience for everyone. What could be better than enjoying a few beverages of your choice with friends and battling the Black Warriors in Double Dragon while reminiscing about "back then?"

Perhaps the best part of the whole system is the way everyone seemed to know what to do for a quick fix if the machine couldn't read the game.

Open up the top, remove the game, blow into the game, blow into the machine, try again, repeat if necessary a method still in practice by those who still believe in the brilliance of NES.

With its basic black and gray beauty, Nintendo parted the seas for what would become a video game revolution. Month after month, competitors strive to put out the hottest new game system on the market.

Christmas time means little old ladies get knocked over (by other little old ladies) on the hunt to get little Johnny and Susie a brand new console to add to the other seven systems they already have.

But I'm curious, why spend hundreds of dollars looking for the perfect game system, when a quick trip to eBay can provide hours and hours of cheap, vintage fun?