Been playing since Diamond. Not sure when I got it but I think it was a gift from my mother. It was for my 7th birthday in 2009 but may have been in January 2010, not sure. That would've been just under a year before the release of B&W.
There is actually a big chance that I wouldnt even be a pokemon fan by now. Before Diamond I had never been interested in pokemon in the slightest and the gift from my mother was actually one ds game of my choice to go along with everything else she got me, this was so I got to pick atleast one present for myself instead of them all being picked by mom. (The ones she gets me ar always amazing though)
When I went to pick my game I didnt instantly pick Pokemon Diamond as I wasnt sure I would like it (funny looking bat at it now considering Im a very big pokemon fan) however, I didnt like any of the games the store had so I thought Id just give pokemon a go thinoing I might like it a bit and the rest is history so if it wasnt for having such an amazing mother and that store having nothing I liked I may not be here on these forums today or even be a pokemon fan at all :0.