On Family Gaming Past Present and Future 23
blacklily8 writes "Armchair Arcade has just released the fifth issue of its retrogaming magazine." It features an involved look at Family Gaming, reaching from the past into the present and out into the future. From the Article: "Videogames haven't always been so exquisitely classifiable into nice, neat marketing niches, nor have so many of them been marketed exclusively at those lucky enough to own a penis. Indeed, as most of us know who grew up in the late 70s and early 80s, when videogames first appeared on the scene, we gamers had to wait our turn--and yes, sometimes grandma stole an extra one."
Don't want to meet your relatives (Score:4, Funny)
She owns it, that's for sure (Score:3, Funny)
Males and video games (Score:2, Interesting)
When I was a kid, my mom was the best in our family by far at games like Galaga, Centipede, PacMan. She later was the best player in the house at Tetris and Dr. Mario.
She can't play Madden 04 to save her life, or Doom, but all the older arcade games (she was 18 or so when they came out) she's still very good at.
I remember going to my friends house, and his mom would play for an hour before she'd lose, and we'd fall asleep waiting for her turn to finish.
Re:Males and video games (Score:2)
Re:Males and video games (Score:1)
A focused spam campaign (Score:2)
Gimmie back! (Score:3, Interesting)
Short of kids games and CDRom versions of board games and gameshows, games are not generally marketed for the whole family. But don't let that stop you parents! If you want to be responsible role models for your children, make EVERY game a family game! If your kid is reluctant or embarassed to have you join in on a gaming session, there's a missing link in your relationship! The family that MUDs together, hugs together!
Animal Crossing? (Score:1)
The only downside is that everyone can't play it at once, but this is fun for everyone from ages 5-95.
Re:Animal Crossing? (Score:3, Interesting)
Lucky enough to own a penis? (Score:1, Funny)
He's always trying to stand up on the bus when there are others around. He can be downright sensitive if he's not approached delicately, yet he demands to be played with several times a day. And sometimes, even within minutes of a bath, you look down and he's gone all sticky again, as if he's just come back from a sleepover.
Broader demographic appeal? Get a Gamecube (Score:2, Interesting)
I don't agree with this perspective. But, then again, I own a Gamecube. I am in my 30's with two kids and we have never had a problem finding games that appeal to us all. And that is to say that I have not had to resort to buying Disney games or the like. We own roughly 50 games for the GC and there are only 1 or 2 that I wouldn't
Re:Broader demographic appeal? Get a Gamecube (Score:2, Interesting)
I assume that you were a gamer when you were in your teens and thus know wha
I can just imagine.... (Score:2)
Mom (Score:1, Insightful)
Her other favourite game which she would play for hours on end was Othello/Reversi.
lucky enough to own a penis (Score:2)
I didn't know Jeffrey Dahmer was into video games.
Ah, memories! (Score:5, Funny)
My family and video games (Score:4, Interesting)
Then came Intellivision. Ohhhh...that was fun. I do remember playing "Burgertime" a lot with my parents, but to be honest I don't recall much else. My grandmother however was a "Burgertime" junkie. Good lord, she'd play that even more than me. I loved going to her house...she had Intellivision in her room, Atari 5200 (with the trackball! Ohhhh, how Ioved "Centipede") in another room, and Colecovision in the family room. My friends and I would play "Smurfs" (I know, it sounds cheesy but it was a fun game) and "Donkey Kong" a lot on that.
Then came Nintendo. Again, my grandmother was on the cutting edge and got it first. I played all sorts of games there with her. My parents didn't seem to get into Nintendo as much. I don't know if it was because they didn't like it or because at the time they had just started a new business.
Now however, my parents beat the absolute crap out of me. I've got the PS2 which unfortunately I don't get to play much (I have two companies I'm trying to run currently) and they've got their XBox. "Halo" junkies I tell ya. Every single night. When I call them and ask "what are you doing?", the reply is generally "blowing shit up". Every time I visit, that's part of our bonding experience.
Yes, video games have actually played quite a role in our family. We were one of the odd families that actually played games TOGETHER as opposed to me shutting myself off from friends, family, society and immersing myself in the games.