Great updates above and all down to your great thread @Spacedeck.
My gaming started far earlier than the days when I was bought my first PC (see my OG post in PPR for that) but I think my first ever online experience was on a dial up talktalk connection with Delta Force. It had a help guide that went over your keyboard so you knew which buttons to press and I managed to get a few sniper kills from afar with connection lagging all over the place. I used to keep playing offline with PC games like Hitman, incredibly hard and got past about 5 or 6 levels whilst playing Championship Manager (PC) and Super Mario Kart (SNES) round @Findmartin's house.
The next online experience that pretty much solidified my console love as the beautiful Xbox and Xbox live. Having to live with an amazing Grandad most of my life that was just like my Dad meant he got a better connection with Sky and I ended up on a couple of games initially - Rainbow 6 (yes, the one where your team would listen to set commands) and Halo 2. Both games were incredible online, the trolling was an experience to hear, especially when I could hold my own and won games regularly in TDM and Control. Xbox Live was possibly the best thing to happen to me. It doubled my games overnight as back then, games would have fantastic offline modes and then an incredible online experience. Links 2004 (golf game) was possibly the best one I was for being really good. I could race through 18 hole courses in minutes scoring birdies and eagles on every hole.
The connection meant I stayed loyal to Microsoft and got a 360. Played even more online. Then met the wife and going from a gaming front room with 4/5 TVs, all my consoles everywhere to nothing was...strange. but it's what I needed to grow up a little.
Come 7 years later, family created, house owned, mum bought me a PS4 after not ever having to buy me anything expensive over the years. I cried my eyes out, played for about a year with work peeps and then Destiny happened. Seen Stretch play it via a Facebook like. And then it's been FG ever since. Best. Ever. Place.