"Video-Game Challenged"
Video-Game Challenged 10-27-10 CLT
By Allan Olson
Wii-challenged I am. I admit it. Video games and I are not a good mix. Many kids who have never played video games could probably beat me, or close to it, the first time they played.
Nearly a year ago, I played the Wii for the first time at my nephew’s birthday party. I know, what’s my rush, it’s only been out for a few years. The brief time I played it, I had so much fun, and it was even better watching the kids do it, since they made it look easy.
So my wife and I bought one, along with some games and extra remotes. Man, does that add up quick! We figured it would it be fun for us and the kids, especially during the winter.
Like with any new toy, we all enjoyed playing it frequently for the first few months. And now, nearly a year later, it has turned into a couple times a week, largely used for Netflix instead.
This past weekend, the kids wanted to play, so we set it up and all of us played against each other in a variety of games.
A couple of the favorites were speed slice (or, as my four-year-old daughter calls it, food-slice), table tennis and bowling.
It was the girls’ turn to play table tennis, so we set them up with their little characters and let them have at it. Bear in mind that neither of them have a clue how to play the game.
The remotes start swinging, the ball went back and forth, and somehow they got an exchange of volleys going. The whole time they were playing they switched sides, danced around, climbed onto something, and turned completely around – all while swinging their remotes, until somehow, one of them won. Okay, we said, that was too funny! The girls got to play again, so the whole process started over again.
I played against my wife, who beat me soundly; against my seven-year-old, Nikolai, who beat me and my wife; and against my four-year-old son Marcus, who somehow managed to beat me as well (he nearly beat me in speed slice, too). Did I mention that I’m video game challenged?
On Sunday evening, I set bowling up for the three little ones, but soon the girls were bored and started playing house or something and gave up their remotes. Marcus was left, and I was going to finish the girls’ games for them. He decided to play all three players himself, so I let him. “Yes!” “I did it!” Those were just a couple of the exclamations from him while playing the remaining seven frames with three players.
Then it was time for a new game. He wanted to try golf. So with very little instruction or coaching, I let him go at it. It was just a three-hole game, with two par threes and one par five.
He gave a mighty swing, and the ball somehow stayed on the green; another swing and he was up even with the hole. Keep in mind, this is a four-year old with no knowledge of golf. The next shot I coached, “Just a little swing, not a big one.” A moment later, “Par” appeared on the screen. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it. My kid made par on his first hole, on his first try at the game. Beginners luck, perhaps. The next hole, he ended with a bogey. Still, come on, he’s four! The next hole was the big challenge. Facing a 10 mph wind, he struggled getting the ball to where it was supposed to go. I assisted him a little and got him on the green with a shot at the hole. “I said just a little hit.” So he swings, perhaps a little too hard, and it goes careening off into the rough. Eventually, he did sink it before it told him to “give up,” and overall, he ended with eight over par on three holes. I was impressed. Of course, this is the same kid that can bowl a strike from the kitchen while not even looking at the TV.
We won’t talk about my first time golfing on Wii, and I’m certain it would be worse if I were to go on a real course. And yes, those words “give up” – I’ve seen them a few times. Did I mention, I’m video game challenged?
I could talk about how the Wii Fit reminds me that I’m not very fit, and how a video game wants to make me “give up” after biking across an island, stepping in sync for 10 minutes, or any of the other various torturous techniques to which I’ve subjected myself. I think I’ll stick with Wii bowling. At least I’ve figured out how to do that from the couch.
Thanks for reading, and I hope everyone has a great week. Don’t forget, we appreciate your comments and feedback as well as your photos, so drop us a line or a pic at cltimes1@arvig.net.
By Allan Olson
Wii-challenged I am. I admit it. Video games and I are not a good mix. Many kids who have never played video games could probably beat me, or close to it, the first time they played.
Nearly a year ago, I played the Wii for the first time at my nephew’s birthday party. I know, what’s my rush, it’s only been out for a few years. The brief time I played it, I had so much fun, and it was even better watching the kids do it, since they made it look easy.
So my wife and I bought one, along with some games and extra remotes. Man, does that add up quick! We figured it would it be fun for us and the kids, especially during the winter.
Like with any new toy, we all enjoyed playing it frequently for the first few months. And now, nearly a year later, it has turned into a couple times a week, largely used for Netflix instead.
This past weekend, the kids wanted to play, so we set it up and all of us played against each other in a variety of games.
A couple of the favorites were speed slice (or, as my four-year-old daughter calls it, food-slice), table tennis and bowling.
It was the girls’ turn to play table tennis, so we set them up with their little characters and let them have at it. Bear in mind that neither of them have a clue how to play the game.
The remotes start swinging, the ball went back and forth, and somehow they got an exchange of volleys going. The whole time they were playing they switched sides, danced around, climbed onto something, and turned completely around – all while swinging their remotes, until somehow, one of them won. Okay, we said, that was too funny! The girls got to play again, so the whole process started over again.
I played against my wife, who beat me soundly; against my seven-year-old, Nikolai, who beat me and my wife; and against my four-year-old son Marcus, who somehow managed to beat me as well (he nearly beat me in speed slice, too). Did I mention that I’m video game challenged?
On Sunday evening, I set bowling up for the three little ones, but soon the girls were bored and started playing house or something and gave up their remotes. Marcus was left, and I was going to finish the girls’ games for them. He decided to play all three players himself, so I let him. “Yes!” “I did it!” Those were just a couple of the exclamations from him while playing the remaining seven frames with three players.
Then it was time for a new game. He wanted to try golf. So with very little instruction or coaching, I let him go at it. It was just a three-hole game, with two par threes and one par five.
He gave a mighty swing, and the ball somehow stayed on the green; another swing and he was up even with the hole. Keep in mind, this is a four-year old with no knowledge of golf. The next shot I coached, “Just a little swing, not a big one.” A moment later, “Par” appeared on the screen. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it. My kid made par on his first hole, on his first try at the game. Beginners luck, perhaps. The next hole, he ended with a bogey. Still, come on, he’s four! The next hole was the big challenge. Facing a 10 mph wind, he struggled getting the ball to where it was supposed to go. I assisted him a little and got him on the green with a shot at the hole. “I said just a little hit.” So he swings, perhaps a little too hard, and it goes careening off into the rough. Eventually, he did sink it before it told him to “give up,” and overall, he ended with eight over par on three holes. I was impressed. Of course, this is the same kid that can bowl a strike from the kitchen while not even looking at the TV.
We won’t talk about my first time golfing on Wii, and I’m certain it would be worse if I were to go on a real course. And yes, those words “give up” – I’ve seen them a few times. Did I mention, I’m video game challenged?
I could talk about how the Wii Fit reminds me that I’m not very fit, and how a video game wants to make me “give up” after biking across an island, stepping in sync for 10 minutes, or any of the other various torturous techniques to which I’ve subjected myself. I think I’ll stick with Wii bowling. At least I’ve figured out how to do that from the couch.
Thanks for reading, and I hope everyone has a great week. Don’t forget, we appreciate your comments and feedback as well as your photos, so drop us a line or a pic at cltimes1@arvig.net.
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