My name is Tia, and I've been gaming since I was very young. My dad introduced me to gaming through educational consoles like the Leapster LMax, which I'll talk about later on this page, sparking my lifelong interest in video games. Over the years, I've explored various consoles and game genres, but my heart truly belongs to Nintendo and Sony. This blog is a reflection of my gaming journey, sharing my favourite consoles, games, and the memories I've made along the way.
Gaming isn't just entertainment, it's a way to learn, connect, and explore new online worlds. From puzzle games that sharpen your mind to epic adventures that spark your imagination, it's a hobby that keeps on giving.
My first ever console was the Leapster Lmax. It was a learning device created by Leapfrog that introduced me to gaming, through characters like Dora the Explorer and Alex and Marty from Madagascar. It wasn't just fun though, it helped me learn my alphabet, shapes, numbers and fractions!
Looking back now, it's funny to think how low and pixelated the graphics were, but at the time, I didn't know any different and I absolutely adored those characters.
Here's a video of Madagascar on the Leapster LMax, which was honestly one of my favourite games.
After my Leapster LMax came the Nintendo DS. I got it shortly after it was released in 2005 and dove into games like Brain Training Academy and Word Coach. My dad was all about educational gaming, and honestly? It worked!
In 2011, the Nintendo 3ds was released. I remember saving up and getting super excited about getting a newer model. I still remember the day I traded in my original ds for the new model. The 3ds only deepened my love for the brand. I loved the 3D feature and the improved graphics. I remember spending hours playing Mario Kart 7 with my friends who also had Nintendos, and other classic games such as Super Mario 2, whilst still playing some of my favourites from my original ds. The versatility of being able to play both at home and on the go was incredible to younger.
The other Nintendo console I recently acquired was a Game Boy Advance SP and even tried to reshell it. That however - I should have left to the professionals because it's still currently sat on the side waiting to be completed!
The PlayStation 2, released in 2000, wasn't just a gaming console, it was a cultural icon. For many people including my Dad, it marked the golden age of gaming, where storytelling, graphics, and gameplay took a massive leap forward.
I remember holding a PS2 controller for the first time, it felt like stepping into a retro world I hadn't explored before. Turning it on was exciting; it felt more “grown-up” than my earlier consoles, with cinematic, emotional, and even scary games I couldn't get enough of. However, thriller and horror are not my favourite genres.
The graphics were surprisingly good for the time, and the backwards compatibility was a huge win. This allowed me to play PS1 classics too. My dad also pointed out how impressive it was because it doubled as a DVD player, which was a big deal back then.
I got the PlayStation 4 just to see how the graphics had increased from the PlayStation 2 and boy was I amazed.
The graphics on the new games were beautiful, I was absolutely mesmerised. However, with these new scenic graphics came a downside. The camera angles and the speed of these camera angles started to make me feel sick, so I wasn't able to play the games for as long as I would have done on my PlayStation 2.
The PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 4 mark two distinct eras in gaming. The PS2 was all about making a diverse range of games accessible to all, with an easy set up that introduced many to 3D gaming. Fast forward to 2013, the PS4 elevated the experience with stunning graphics and strong online features, connecting players like never before.
While the PS2 was groundbreaking for its time, the PS4's advancements in visuals and community integration took console gaming to a whole new level.