Early 90's is when it started for me. I remember my dad coming home with a nintendo rip-off cartridge based station. 4 mil in one cartridges.
I remember the family fights as to what would be played and by who. I remember feeling closer to my parents and sister than ever before. Where has that gone? Now we choose to sit in a dark room with our headphones and ignore the ones outside the door.
Games then brought families together. It was a time to laugh at ones inability to climb a simple rope, or see who could blast the others tank while attempting to reach that silver eagle.
Games then, united family and friends. And while it's still there to a degree, the @#$& and, &^%$ outweigh the GL, an WPA messages.
I still reckon that this exists. Specially with the Wii, Kinect and PS Move.
Most of the games released for these platforms is family orientated. Maybe the problem is more with Gamer, preferring to play by them selves in a dark room. I know I do
The only games I really play with Friends / Family is Singstar and Buzz (And normally there needs to be some alcohol involved! )