Gaming has not always been the mainstream activity it is today. Over 10 years ago, it was significantly less widespread, and some gamers can still remember that it could be difficult to justify the hobby to their parents. This was also the case for MeinMMO Tech writer Jan Hartmayer, who has since been able to convince even his father of the opposite.
In the past, I often debated with my parents about spending too much time on the computer – as probably most of you have. Today, however, I know that my parents were only skeptical about gaming for my own protection. Now they also understand better what gaming means and, above all, how important it is for me and my job.
The reason for this is that my dad now games himself – and that’s thanks to me. However, it was a long process and not a given, but a combination of several factors: On one hand, my parents were open to new things and took the time to listen to me, and on the other hand, it also required a good deal of persuasion on my part. In the end, a hefty portion of luck certainly helped, and that I found the right bait for Dad.
Thanks to Nintendo
This bait came in the form of Mario Kart, as my dad loves to swing the steering wheel together with me, my brother, and my girlfriend in front of the TV.
Thus, I came up with the risky idea of buying my boomer dad a Switch 2 for his retirement, equipped with some games and plenty of accessories. Risky because my father could either understand me better and gain a new hobby, or the gift would just gather dust and I would have wasted a lot of money. Worse still, he might not even like the Switch.
But it worked! Just a few days after handing over the console, my dad proudly told me how he completed his first solo rounds in Mario Kart. The best part was how much enthusiasm and joy he shared about it. It was such a beautiful moment that I couldn’t help but grin.
Gaming brings us closer together
By now, it has become a tradition for us to regularly share our latest gaming achievements. For example, my father tells me how he masters the first sections of Batman Arkham Asylum, while I recount how I experienced the same sections for the first time 10 years ago.
The technical side also poses hardly any problem. My dad quickly got the hang of it and operates the Switch 2 without any issues. I have more trouble: I am used to the Xbox controller layout and often confuse the A and B buttons.
Thus, with this gift, I not only made my father happy, but I transformed him into a real gamer, with whom I can now philosophize about gaming topics for hours.
This has not only brought us closer together, but I also see how much fun and joy he has in diving into these new worlds. That’s why I couldn’t be happier. Thank you, Dad, for being there. You are the best! Yours truly, your son! But I’m not the only one who has had wonderful gaming experiences with my father: Father plays Minecraft for the first time with his 5-year-old son, becomes a hero when the creepers come.
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