During this weekend's podcast, we talked a bit about playing games with family and friends. It's pretty easy to find a friend or two to play games with, but finding a family member that is actually interested may be a tough thing to come by. It all depends on how open-minded your family is.
I really lucked out when it comes to my family's interest in video games. While my Dad doesn't really play anything on his own, he does play game with us from time to time. He'll at least try his best and enjoys games that are easy to pick up and play. If it's a virtual board game or a mini-game collection, he's in.
My Mom and sister are the big gamers in my family. They both have played games as far back as I can remember. I am pretty sure I got both of them into games, but they each have very different tastes. My sister likes the big franchises and that's about it. My Mom is up for anything. She really is what you'd call a 'core' gamer in the truest sense of the term. She'll give any game a try and loves a lot of what's out there.
I never really stop to think about how lucky I am with my family's take on video games. A lot of people out there don't have parents that enjoy games. Even worse, some parents think games are just a waste of time. I sure hope you're not in that type of situation. Leave a comment and let us know what your parents and other family members have to say about video games.
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My mother gets irritated often when I'm playing games, especially MMOs. She doesn't understand that once I start something in a group, I can't pause it.
As for my father, he really can't play games thanks to his epilepsy. Even though he had surgery a long time ago that essentially got rid of it (hasn't had a seizure ever since), we'd rather play it safe than sorry.
My dad had a NES when he was in high school and pretty much passed it down to me since he doesn't play it anymore. He doesn't play games anymore, but occasionally he'll watch me play. As for my mom, she has played Brain Age 1 & 2 (Pretty much for the Sudoku puzzles), but that was the last 'real' game she has played. Me and my sister played the hell out of Mario Party and other N64 games while growing up so she likes games.
As far as outside family goes, almost every single one of my cousins under the age of 25 plays videogames on a weekly basis. Actually when I think about, there's probably only about 3 people in my family, that I can think of, hates video games.
The story behind what got me into gaming is practically luck. I had to be no more than 5 years old when one of my cousin's gave me his Gameboy Pocket, along with Link's Awakening (go figure). Then somewhere along the lines, my dad and a cousin of mine went out and when they came back, they were carrying a N64 and a old fashion TV in their hands. I still remember that day, too...pretty awesome. Came with Madden 64 (I think it was based in 1999?), if you anyone was wondering. Every since then, I've been playing video games like crazy. Luuuuve them.
My parents aren't really into video games at all - although my little sister managed to play the star game in NSMB DS with my dad for quite some time. All 3 of my siblings are into video games though, and we all live together, so it's not hard to find someone to play with over here, and it's not hard to fill up the usual 4-player max for some games. I've been thinking that I was lucky like that for quite some time.
My parents were interested in the NES days, including 'buying it for me' and then playing it after sending me to bed, but that interest has long since past. My mum has a Wii at her house but as far as I know it was bought pretty much for Wii Fit, and she hasn't touched it in over a year.
My old man watches me play occasionally and couldn't be less interested. Although, he used to play games like GTA 3 and Timesplitters 2 with me just as an activity we could do together when I was younger, so I have to respect him for feigning enthusiasm in my formative years just to spend time with me. He's done his time, so to speak.
My dad used to play a hell of a lot of Mortal Kombat, and even games before that, I've been gaming as far back as I remember, and I somewhat got my sister into it too.
My Ma' however used to think games were a waste of time to play, but loved watching people playing them, such as Banjo Kazooie (her personal favourite) until she got a GB, somewhat liked it, but not much, and then moved onto the GBA which she fell in love with.
Overall I have an entire family who plays games, yet only me and my sister actually play them together frequently, it's a shame so many games lack offline splitscreen these days, considering most of my gaming with others is splitscreen
Even though my both brothers play vgs, they give me the most grief about my gaming habits. They excuse me of being "collector", which is true to some extent.
I have to sneak in game purchases into the house and if I buy a new portable handhels, God help me! I have to hide those for months and keep it a secret.
So yes, I get guff from my family about vgs, from the same people that waste hours and hours watching TV. *I do not watch TV like I used too, far from it!
My mom is the only one in the house who never really played any video game. I think she gets overwhelmed with action games and all the buttons. She'll even gets startled while watching me play Zelda. I think she gets intimidated by the enemies and has a hard time understanding how I get enjoyment from something so stressful. I try to suggest other games, like Professor Layton and Dr. Mario, but she just doesn't have any interest to pick up and play.
My dad really enjoyed playing games, his favorites were Mario and Tetris. I would watch him play for hours and help him look up stuff in the cheat manual. When he would go into the hospital I'd bring my Gameboy and 'forget' it there. He liked to get high scores in Tetris and I'm sure it helped make the hospital less boring.
I used to play games with my sister and brother. Some of the best times we had were spent playing the NES and SNES. My brother would often suggest to go down a hole for a secret.
I play games mostly by myself now, but sometimes I get my nephew to play. He's too young to play anything too complex but I'm training him early to be a Zelda fan!
Im the only one who plays console games often at home and its me the only one who buys them.
We all may have played wiisports thrice at most but thats pretty much it for family play, thats why I dont care for those games. There is mario kart when either me or my brothers hang out with friends though.
My great-grandpa got me started on his collection of SNES games back when I was five or six years old and he still plays those games to this day. I have a cousin and a brother who both exclusively play shooters and nothing else. I have a few gamer friends, but a lot of them are people you really don't want to talk to about games.
My mom and her sister were huge Super Mario Bros. fans back in the day. Back when I was too young to play games on my own, I used to love watching them play--they weren't the best at it, of course, so my older brother would often jump in and show them how it's done!
Nowadays my mom still likes to play side-scrolling Mario and Donkey Kong games when she can...though she certainly hasn't gotten any better all these years
My dad, on the other hand....is just way too shy about playing games. Always has been. We've gotten him to play Wii Sports a couple times, but that's about the extent of his gaming experience. Occassionally he'd come into my room and watch me play Zelda, though!
But thankfully, no-one in the family sees gaming as a waste of time. They may not play games as much as I do, but they all enjoy them in their own way.
Yep. Dad's side completely hated it. Before the divorce he'd consistently tell me how'd rot my mind, make me a violent psychopath etc. Not a bad guy, he just worried about me with something he didn't understand. His father on the other hand would completely berate me for it, while simultaneously buying videogames for more liked cousins.
My mom was the one who got me into them, she doesn't play them but it doesn't mean she hasn't at all. She purchased me a Genesis because she thought it'd be fun for me and a Gameboy. I didn't have many games, and most probably weren't classics or anything (save for Sonic). I never owned anything Nintendo until the 64, and despite what heresy it is, still feel no need to experience any NES/SNES games (outside of Donkey Kong Country/Mario World) due to having grown up with none of them.
On my mother's side... well, those people just think I am a waste of space little kid because I spend my time playing games rather than drinking or smoking my life away. I'm not adult enough.
My dad used to play games. He doesn't really have a problem with them, but to him they are nothing more than a casual pastime, not what you should consider a "hobby".
My mom, on the other hand, thinks games are rubbish.
Fortunately, they are fairly intelligent people, it's not like they think games are going to ruin my life or turn me into a criminal, or anything like that. They just think I should have other priorities. In a way, they're right. But only a bit.
@OprahFTWinfrey
It's official, you have THE raddest great grandfather.
@MrAwesome23
'I spend my time playing games rather than drinking or smoking my life away. I'm not adult enough.' Hahah, I can understand the sentiment. I'm sure the irony of that statement isn't lost on you, or anyone here
I was born in 1996. But I started playing video games probably around 2000. I remember having a PS1 that was bought for my brother. We were the only ones who would play video games. We kept on playing together on the PS2. But a few years later he started to lose interest. Then I had the whole console to my self (which was awesome). When I got the Wii the only game I had was Wii sports. My family saw me playing and got interested. Then all of a sudden they got in to it and we were all playing. But when I got more games and put the Wii in my room, I was the only one playing, which I did not mind. Its easy to say I am the only gamer in my family. Even though my older brother occasionally talks about a certain game he likes, he never plays anything. And my parents never mind me gaming. They just want me to not spend too much time playing and do homework before and stuff. But I am able to play video games anytime
i want.
My dad plays some games on the PC, but just some FPS'. Sometimes he rags on me for playing too much, but I'm still gonna play.
My mom just doesn't care about games, or what I do with them. Just as long as it doesn't interfere with life or anything.
My sister used to play a lot with me, but she grown up and rather go out and party. We play Mario Party sometimes.
I don't get much about criticism/guff/whatever about playing games. My family don't generally play video games or anything, they just don't seem to care much that I do play them.
I have no trouble getting brother, sisters, and cousins to play. When I see other older family members, we play Rock Band. With my younger family members, we play whatever else (fighting, wrestling, racing, action, etc.).
Because of the Army, many of us aren't together, and online multiplayer means much more to me and why I heavily disliked that way Wii games are handled. I don't understand why Nintendo isn't making New Super Mario Bros. Wii U and Pikmin 3 online co-op games, and I fear that they may treat other games, like F-Zero, Star Fox, or my dream come true, WAVE RACE WII U IN HD, just as badly.
Super Smash Bros Brawl's online problems didn't help as at all one bit.
My family's the reason I was introduced to games. They may not play them as much as me now, but to give me guff for it would be really hypocritical of them.
My Dad played NES when he was a teenager
My Mom played Wii Sports Bowling... once.
My older sister played Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon and Zelda when she was younger but now just plays multi-player games like Smash Brothers and Mario Party on occasion
My two younger sisters on the other hand pretty much play and love every game that I do (except Metroid which one of them finds the isolation too creepy)
My wife gets on me for the money I spend on games.
Then again, I have 100+ games for a dozen or so system -- including 400+ for NES and Wii.
Mike from Morgantown
The best I ever got was playing Wii Sports and WarioWare: Smooth Moves on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, before and after dinner, sadly, since last year, we haven't played thanks to my broken Wii. Other than that, my mom or my sister often ask me if they can grab my DS to play some Tetris DS or New Super Mario Bros. minigames.
My story is going to be kind of depressing. There is a happy ending though, sort of.
My parents were the ones that got me my first NES. My mom used to play our Ms. Pac Man arcade cabinet at the store. She was really good. No matter how hard I tried, I could never get as far as she did.
People still enjoy watching me play though. Never truly understood why though. Is it because I try to build up tension while I'm playing? Cut things close? Who knows.
I help out my step aunt by taking her to eat out, get groceries, go see the doctor's, pharmacists and the temple even though I could care less for religion. My step aunt didn't genuinely appreciate me until I went on a road trip for about two months. She kept calling me to come back soon because nobody else would drive her wherever she wants to go. Most of the adults in my immediate and surrounding family still look down on me for playing video games, my parents and step aunt's family especially. My young nephew has almost every popular modern gaming console ever. Such hypocrites. Once I found out, things were never really the same.
This was during my fairly recent recovery of a medical condition, too. Don't worry, it's more embarrassing than anything else. *Sigh* I should take better care of myself.
During my recovery, she never came to see me. Before my step aunt used to call me to pick her up everyday. Now, it's just once a week.
My other aunt though, she's like a second mom to me. She spent more time with me while I was playing video games to help ease the pain. Even though she never did before, my aunt loves taking her time out of her day to watch me play now. It's like watching sports for her. She gets really into it.
Thank you Nintendo.
My parents always looked down on me for playing video games. They called them mindless garbage. My brother played games but not anymore, he stopped when he got married and had a kid. My friends always made fun of me for playing games when I was younger. I think most of this reaction is just because I'm female. So yeah, I never play multiplayer games, I have no one to play with. I just stick with single player games.
I always have my brothers when it comes to gaming. While they are both older than me, any kind of competitive game i play with either one or both. I can remember playing half-hour long games of 99-lives Smash Bros. Those can still spontaneously pop up from time to time. As for my parents, my dad usually doesn't have time for gaming with work and all that, but he doesn't mind that I or my brothers play, but will notify us when we've been playing way too long. My mom's gaming experience includes Animal Crossing on all systems and Zack and Wiki for the Wii. She really enjoys laid back games with not too much hassle, like puzzles or life simulations.
The real fun starts when we get to my extended family. My 2nd cousin, whom I do know very well unlike most 2nd, 3rd, 4th, blah blah blah family members, is a guy with a passion for gaming. He will host parties at his apartment with his girlfriend where we will try out new games and ALWAYS play a game of Pictionary on the Wii with his parents, my first cousins, my aunt and uncle, and my brothers. These can usually end with losing a pound or two from laughter alone. We'll also have Tetris tournaments that are understated when called hardcore. That is when my parents jump in on the fun, which I love to see.
Gaming is basically a part of my family because it brings everybody together. We connect to each other in multiple ways through gaming, whether it be laughing our butts off with terrible Pictionary art and Family Feud answers or good old rivalries through Tetris and Mortal Kombat. So overall, gaming is not insulted in my family. It is cherished.
At one point, everyone in my family played games regularly. My mom even played LOST LEVELS on our SNES for fun, although she loved playing NES Tetris on Lvl.9(A or B mode) and Dr. Mario on HIGH Lvl.20, with my dad playing Dr. Mario on SLOW Lvl.15 or so.
Now, I'm pretty much the only one who still games, and even I do it sporadically. But, even though I do it less often than I've ever gamed in past years, my family acts like it's ALL I do, and they kind of silently, passively-resist my doing it, and occasionally heavily imply that I shouldn't be doing it at all. So yeah... I've definitely got a lot of single-player games amassed over the recent years, and I still don't game as often as I used to. Art is my main hobby now, and Youtube is more or less my main passive/procrastination-hobby.
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