- 8:53 AM, Saturday,
September 23rd, 2017:
-
- Yes nearly 2 weeks
have passed. I'm in healing mode after getting the
record and truth be told - I'm just playing a bunch of
video games with my kids because holy shit I can play
video games with my kids.
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
-
- I'll be honest, I
owe it all to Nintendo's iPad/iPhone game: Mario Run.
Cam hadn't even turned 3 yet, but because of the
simple controls, he was able to play. And play really
well. It lead to some YouTube rabbit holes for him
where he just watched gameplay videos. I noticed he
could scan the screen and understand multiple things
happening at once. Games are no longer just
eye-hand coordination, you have to have the mental
ability to multi-task incoming information that is
faster than ever. Now that I've gotten back into
gaming with the Switch? I see that my skills in
that area have fallen off. I mean, I can still
beat the shit out of everyone in the house and even
playing Mario Kart online - I'm kind of a badass...
but whew. Rayman is giving me a run for my money. And
since Cam is already a music fiend - the fact that
several of the Rayman levels are timed to music? That
creates this awesome video...
-
-
- Cam is absolutely
MARIO CRAZY so this game is to hold is over until
Mario's new game comes out, but since you can dress
Rayman up in a Mario costume? It's close enough.
LMAO.
-
- What's weird for
me however, is that it's even time for this. I
literally put my games away when I got the
CBS gig in 2006. Kinda played the music/rockband
stuff - but those aren't really games. Had the wii for
a heartbeat and gave it away... I just didn't
have time and had too much to accompish.
I figured someday when I have kids there
will be a new Nintendo and it'll be fun through their
eyes. And, well, it really is 2017. That much time has
indeed passed. And he gets it! Like, he really
understands what's going on - can play a bit - and
we're having a LOT of fun. Like "really hard to want
to do anything else EVER AGAIN" kind of fun.
There are moments Cam is so happy he turns to me and
kisses me and then keeps watching. I know parents
freak out about screen time with kids but it really
does depend on how they're processing it. What they're
doing. I had the same arguments with my mom when
I was a kid and gaming taught me everything in
the world about accomplishing your goals, preparing
yourself for failing... it's a massive life lesson
every time you play. We're obviously not playing the
violent stuff (nor do I think he'd have any
interest), so it's pretty much about balance. The kid
goes to school every day, is always running around
doing shit - playing videogames after dinner makes him
happier than I've ever seen him. Almost to the point
that if I ever see Mario I might punch him in the
face. I mean, holy shit this kid talks about
Mario 24-7...
-
- ...but I love
him. And I love our bond. :-)
-
- Adam
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