Went out last night to a gig in London, but spent an hour or so with the nipper at home before I left. He is 6, and loves his games, as all 6 year old lads are expected to. He has his own PS1, and a handful of games on the PC.
We have just moved to a bigger house, and have a huge garage. When I first laid eyes on that room, I saw an ideal place to finally realise my dream and actually set up all of my consoles and have my own little nook to call my own, surrounded by games. My boy doesn't often go in there, as it is also the only place where I can smoke, and he has his own games to entertain him. But last night I decided to get him into some of the old school games - and I had a right result.
Started out on Mega Bomberman, and within about ten minutes he was rather embarrasingly beating me about two times out of three. next up, I stuck Gunstar Heroes on, and in two player he managed to outlast me and got to the third level on his first go. Then I decided to get Street Fighter Alpha 2 out. Now, he is only young, and I thought it might be difficult for his to perform some of the joypad gymnastics - but after showing him only once or twice, he was throwing Ha-do-ken and Dragon Punches at me - and even managed to pull a few super moves out of the bag. I let him have a go against the arcade mode, and felt a glow of fatherly pride as he kicked Rolento's ass, finishing him off with a Yoga Flame.
My wife couldn't understand my excitement, but I feel I reached a milestone last night - teaching a little lad his vital first steps toward mastering 2D beat 'em up mechanics, and letting him in on the games his dad used to enjoy as a kid.
(brushes a wistful tear of pride from eye).
That was where my responsibilities as a dad ended last night, as I then proceeded to abandon my family, head up to London, have more than a few lagers and watch Slint. I got back at 1am, and stayed up til 3am playing Hellfire. Ho hum.
We have just moved to a bigger house, and have a huge garage. When I first laid eyes on that room, I saw an ideal place to finally realise my dream and actually set up all of my consoles and have my own little nook to call my own, surrounded by games. My boy doesn't often go in there, as it is also the only place where I can smoke, and he has his own games to entertain him. But last night I decided to get him into some of the old school games - and I had a right result.
Started out on Mega Bomberman, and within about ten minutes he was rather embarrasingly beating me about two times out of three. next up, I stuck Gunstar Heroes on, and in two player he managed to outlast me and got to the third level on his first go. Then I decided to get Street Fighter Alpha 2 out. Now, he is only young, and I thought it might be difficult for his to perform some of the joypad gymnastics - but after showing him only once or twice, he was throwing Ha-do-ken and Dragon Punches at me - and even managed to pull a few super moves out of the bag. I let him have a go against the arcade mode, and felt a glow of fatherly pride as he kicked Rolento's ass, finishing him off with a Yoga Flame.
My wife couldn't understand my excitement, but I feel I reached a milestone last night - teaching a little lad his vital first steps toward mastering 2D beat 'em up mechanics, and letting him in on the games his dad used to enjoy as a kid.
(brushes a wistful tear of pride from eye).
That was where my responsibilities as a dad ended last night, as I then proceeded to abandon my family, head up to London, have more than a few lagers and watch Slint. I got back at 1am, and stayed up til 3am playing Hellfire. Ho hum.
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