The Video Game Generation Grows Up

MarchingAnts writes "The Gaming Generation: Once A Gamer, Always A Gamer has interviews with Gabe from Penny Arcade, best-selling science-fiction author John Scalzi, veteran games journalist and founder of gamerdad.com Andrew Bub, futurologist Dr. Michael Zey, and sociologist Dr. Steve Jones commenting on the phenomena of how video gamers are coping with balancing their hobby with marriages, careers, and how video games might affect families in the future. 'Mike Krahulik, better known to his legions of fans as Gabe, one-half of the team behind the gaming webcomic Penny Arcade, says that time is the biggest challenge in blending gaming and parenthood. "You just don't have as much time for gaming," he says, "when you're getting up every 30 minutes to change diapers and get thrown up"'"

There is the other side of the coin, though.

[Shados]

While you don't have as much time for gaming, it is still more convenient than the more...traditional ways of entertaining one self.

If I have a kid, and want to go see a movie, go to the restaurant, etc, I either need to find a baby friendly place, or find a baby sitter. Both can cost me extra (if you have a kid and go to the restaurant, well you have to feed the darn thing...).

If, instead, i'm playing an online game with my friends, the only thing I need to be worried about, is that I play a game that can be paused (let say Warcraft III), or a game where I can go away for a few minute at any given time (these are harder to find but still). Or even better, I can simply play solo. All around, its a form of entertainment that has tens of thousands of hours worth of amusement, and is within reach of the kids: going back to take care of diapers is only a hit of the pause button away.

Definately more convenient than, let say, going to a bar and coming back home drunk, then having to take care of the kid once the baby sitter is gone.

Rated R for Retarded

[telchine]

The problem I have is that most games these days seem to be targeted at kids and lack real depth. Games such as GTA may have R-ratings, but I doubt that many older gamers find such titles appealing.

Word

[everphilski]

My wife and I play MMO's for this very reason. We only play when our son (soon-to-be 2 sons) are in bed. It's much cheaper than a bar/dinner and a movie and its a lot of fun playing together. And it is something progressive we can come back to again and again ... but yea,I used to play (Everquest) hardcore in college, it was a transition once that kid comes along to playing less and just at night and naptime on the weekends ...

only on slashdot.

[Anonymous Coward]

I find it amusing that people would rather invest their time and money into a video game instead of their personal endeavors. Video games are meant to help pass the time from the boring reality that most get stuck in because of either social disabilities or lack of money. I've seen marriages collapse because of W.O.W. and friendships. It seems that the interaction among online games has decrease the value of real life conversations.

Re:There is the other side of the coin, though.

[Dadoo]

the only thing I need to be worried about, is that I play a game that can be paused

I've discovered it's much easier to play games where it's possible to play just a few minutes at a time. I can't even start a game like Unreal, or Civilization, or Sim City, anymore. Sure you can pause them or, in the case of turn-based games, walk away for a short while, but when kids are involved, that "short while" invariably becomes a long while. By that time, you've completely forgotten what you were doing and the game is ruined.

Nowadays, it's games like Stinkoman and Super Monkey Ball, for me.

Re:Cold Turkey

[syphax]

And then I RTFA:

Mike Krahulik's 2-year-old son, Gabriel, is still a little young to play videogames, but the elder Krahulik makes sure to spend time with his son and talk about whichever game Dad's playing. He even gives little Gabriel his own controller so that he'll feel included.

I initially wrote a screed to end all screeds when I read this. To the tune of Put down the controller and pick up your freeking son. Then I realized that I do stuff like exercise that takes the place of time that I could spend with my kids. But I spend 80% of my waking, non-work, before-their-bedtime time with my kids, easily. I hope, hope, hope that this (dad gaming, son just kinda watching) situation is kept to a minimum.

Just my nosy parenting advice for the day.

Re:it's called...

[Cheap Imitation]

Sadly, when the kids are in bed is the best time to do the dishes, the laundry, pay the bills, clean the house, or most of the other daily chores that need to be done.

By the time those are complete, it's often too late, or I'm too tired, to fire up a game.

I miss gaming. I used to love strategy and role playing games. But the small snippets of time I now get make it almost impossible to maintain continuity in anything deeper than driving games or 3D shooters. It's like trying to watch a movie in 10 minute per day chunks. It loses something.

Re:Rated R for Retarded

[HappySqurriel]

This is actually one of the more interesting things I noticed with the Wii ...

I, and most of the gamers I know who are between 25-40, really wanted to get a Wii as early as I could; my Sister-in-Law's nephew (14) and most young teenage boys (13-17) say that the Wii is "Too Kiddie". It seems to me that, in general, what teenagers (and teenagers at heart) think of as 'Mature' most adults think of as immature.

Re:Cold Turkey

[drinkypoo]

I hope, hope, hope that this (dad gaming, son just kinda watching) situation is kept to a minimum.

Uh, this is clearly time spent with his kids, and we don't know anything about the quality of said time without observing him.

Save your reactionary attitude for your own household.

Re:If /. is a game...

[flink]

The only winning move is not to play.

- /. Loser

Re:Cold Turkey

[feyhunde]

Yes he plays with his kid. But this isn't pure entertainment to him. This is work for Mike, screwed up as it sounds. He has to play games and keep on top of them. Although there are going to be plenty of /.ers that will make a joke, his work is video games.

He's successfully integrating his work with his homelife. Although you know he enjoys it greatly, Mike is like millions of other parents whose work comes home with them and their kids get interested. I had a physics Prof who would tell us about her child that would ask questions about the papers she was working on, and she'd try to give the best explanation she could and let her child help sort papers.

Yah, if he was a normal Joe working 9-5 and coming home ploping on the couch and having the son just watch, I'd a bit concerned about that. But this way he gets to spend time with his son while doing work related gaming.

Re:get thrown up?

[geekoid]

hahaha... yeah make her stay up all night while you sleep, and then deal with it all day while you work.

Man, please never , ever, copulate.
.

Re:Rated R for Retarded

[McFadden]

It's the same with everything. I teach high school kids but I used to teach adult education. The games and fun activities I used in adult ed. to brighten up the classes, the kids hate because they say they're too childish. But the adults used to love 'em.

I've tried explaining to my kids before that they're being even more childish by having tantrums about being 'grown up' but it's a waste of time.

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