A Love Letter to the 80s

This is a love letter to the best decade ever happened to mankind.

As a geek dad born in the late 70s, I have a deep love for the 80s and all things nerdy. I grew up during the heyday of arcade gaming, and spent countless hours playing classics like Pac-Man and Space Invaders and will never forget the day I saw Star Wars, War Games, The Goonies or Back to the Future for the very first time. This is a love letter to the best decade ever happened to mankind.

The 80s was a time of great cultural significance, with a plethora of iconic movies, music, and video games that continue to captivate audiences to this day. From the advent of the personal computer to the rise of synth-pop, the 80s were a time of great innovation and creativity. In the realm of cinema, the 80s saw the release of numerous now-classic films. From the epic space opera of Star Wars and the time-traveling adventures of Back to the Future, to the dystopian future of Blade Runner and the coming-of-age tale of The Breakfast Club, the 80s were a golden age of storytelling. And let's not forget the horror genre, which was dominated by the likes of A Nightmare on Elm Street, The Evil Dead, and Friday the 13th.

The 80s were also a time of great musical innovation, with the emergence of new genres like synth-pop and hip hop. Bands like Depeche Mode, The Smiths, and New Order took the world by storm with their catchy melodies and electronic beats, while artists like Run-DMC, LL Cool J, and Public Enemy helped pave the way for the rise of hip hop. The 80s also saw the rise of the music video, with iconic clips like Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf" becoming instant classics.

And of course they were a time of great technological advancement, with the personal computer revolutionizing the way we live and work. The first Apple Macintosh was released in 1984, and the advent of the World Wide Web in 1989 laid the groundwork for the internet as we know it today.

But perhaps the most enduring legacy of the 80s is the explosion of video games. The release of the Atari 2600 in 1977 kicked off the golden age of arcade gaming, and by the 80s, the industry was booming. Games like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Space Invaders became cultural phenomena, while the emergence of home consoles like the Commodore 64 and the Nintendo Entertainment System brought gaming into the living room.

Growing up in the 80s, I was surrounded by the magic of Lucasfilm. The first time I played Maniac Mansion on my Commodore 64, I was hooked. The clever puzzles, the quirky characters, and the hilarious dialogue – it was like nothing I had ever seen before. And when I discovered Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders, I was equally enthralled. The interdimensional travel, the ancient alien artifacts – it was the stuff of pure geeky bliss.

All in all, the 80s were a time of great fascination and nostalgia for many people. From the epic sci-fi movies to the catchy synth-pop tunes, the 80s were a truly unique and unforgettable decade. And with the continued popularity of retro gaming and the resurgence of 80s-inspired music and fashion, it's clear that the fascination with the 80s will never truly fade.

As a geek dad, I am grateful to have grown up in the 80s, surrounded by the amazing creations of Lucasfilm and the talents of Spielberg and Lucas. And now, as I share these beloved adventures with my own kid, I am constantly reminded of the timeless appeal of the 80s and the power of imagination. Long live the geeky goodness of the 80s!