My father, the gamer

My first memory of gaming is sitting across from my dad and helping him set up Stratego. He patiently explained each piece and then the board. I learned about terrain and the importance of rank. I was 5 and my father, the gamer, had been waiting to play with with a worthy opponent since he played D&D by himself back in school. From there, I learned video games. My dad bought us an Atari and I rocked the Qbert. As did my very scary Korean mother. How she would cackle when she beat a level *tremble*. I used to sit near him when he bought new games and wish I had learned how to read in English (bi-lingual upbringing). I grew up on GI Joe: Real American Hero on the Commodore 64.(OH JEEZUS, my imagination was fantastic because I just watched the clip I linked and holy hell I don't remember it being that... :eek: It was awesome. The music was fantastic... the raphics... I don't understand. It's not nostalgic, it's terrifying how 8bit it was. Damn, good times.)

I loved Naval War and curse the day Avalon Hill went out of business. I would love a copy of this old, old game. Not a lot of little kids out there who could tell you about caliber and salvo, or the names of WW2 aircraft carriers. I devoured knowledge. I squirreled it away and used it randomly to break the ice as an awkward child of two racial worlds.

It wasn't until my father was transfered to England that my gaming appetite blossomed. In England, there were so many game shops and war game hobby stores. My dad took me everywhere. We went to museums, historical landmarks, parks, zoos, libraries. I was quiet, obediant and most of all insatiably curious. I had picked up several accents by then and people adored my oddness. (born in New York near Canada--so I had those accents, plus my Korean one, plus this newly acquired British accent)

I learned to pour molten lead into a mold and make my own 25mm figurines. I was 7 at the time, a very careful studious child. In 6th grade, I made a historically accurate castle, complete with moat and surrounding terrain and little figures scattered about in various scenes of battle. My dad helped me for a week on the castle and I could barely carry it on my own once he had mounted it on a heavy 3ft x 4ft corkboard. My artistic abilities soared under my father's history lessons. He left many books around for me to read and even now, he hands me games or books to try out and I'm 32, happily investing in my own gaming library.

My younger sister works for a very well-known video game company. I get random gifts of signed comics and premiere video game goodies. She's even met Tera Patrick at a Con, lucky bitch. Her company treats their people so so good.

Gaming is in my blood. My younger brother has beaten every video game he's laid his hands on and he can tell you in great detail the very few games that elude conquer. He's my source of all things anime as well. I love being able to call him up and ask him to recommend me a new game or anime. He's amazing. He also helps me get past some ridiculously hard levels. His epic gaming moment is playing Battlefield 3 and ranking the most in the world for the most Knife Kills.
(which, on a FPS game--is fucking insane)


Then there's the sister who is addicted to the Facebook games. Before you say a negative thing about it--she could kick your ass in some Parappa the Rapper. This sister has crazy eyes. She will cut me if I say anything untoward about her... She's my Mexican-Korean sister. :scared1:

I cope with gaming. I soothe myself with gaming. I immerse myself in other worlds and come back out shinier than before. I collect new experiences--thrive on them. I am very happy to be part of this sexual revolution of a community. :firedevil:

Comments

Haha, great blog.

I had one of those lead craft kits as a child. Still have the scar on my hand from it too. :17:

They would never sell such a thing these days. What were they thinking. :confused:
 
Outstanding post. I play video games with my niece all the time, and I've been thinking about how less and less video games are a "boy" thing, and just a regular passtime. Its a positive trend. This is a good bit of writing, nicely done.
 
OhWiseOne;bt103569 said:
Haha, great blog.

I had one of those lead craft kits as a child. Still have the scar on my hand from it too. :17:

They would never sell such a thing these days. What were they thinking. :confused:

I know, right?! I wouldn't let my OWN kid play with molten lead. What was my dad thinking? Heh, he taught me how to fire a gun at 5. He never let my mom know that, but yeah, he put a lot of trust in me. Lol.
 

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