Wii Sofa King

Yesterday  on Twitter, I mentioned,

“I am not completely sold on gesture gaming like the Wii being the future. It definitely is changing the scope of gaming, but not for me.”

Having recently sold my Wii, I had been reflecting on my motivation for purchasing it in the first place — because I had bought into the idea of interactive games, believing it to be the future of gaming.

I should mention, I am an avid (read: hardcore) video game enthusiast and like a large number of fathers my age (or expectant fathers like myself) — I have been playing for most of my life.

All of which is to say that any technological advance in the video game industry is quite likely going to pull at my game playing heartstrings with some level of success.  But with motion and gesture gaming as part of the mainstream, where children, parents, and grandparents alike are now active gamers, I find myself dissatisfied with the prospect of this new frontier being acknowledged as the future of gaming.

Especially where children are concerned.

Photo by Scott Richard’s Photography

Continuing my rant online, I followed-up by suggesting that,

“Many parents would argue to the contrary — but i’d guess they are allowing video games to replace the power of imagination for their kids.”

While I am just over a month before leveling-up to full-blown status as a father, I feel compelled to highlight the fact that parents would argue that gesture and motion gaming like the Wii or Microsoft’s Project Natal for the XBOX 360 are the future because it raises their activity level by putting them in motion.

Concluding my entitled and unsolicited opinion slinging on Twitter, I declared,

“The argument that gesture/motion gaming gets kids off the sofa (to me) implies that parents weren’t doing it right in the first place.”

I did receive some honest commentary that suggested,

“Here’s what many parents don’t like to confess; you let kids play video games b/c it buys peace and quiet. Uncomfortable to admit.”

I don’t doubt that what was mentioned is true for a large majority of parents whose children actively play video games.  My contention is with the fact that this passive escape could be the reason parents agree that gesture and motion gaming is the future; because it gets them off the sofa (and affords the parents a brief reprieve from, you guessed it — being a parent).

As a professed hardcore gamer, and someone who is likely to allow my own son to play later on in his life, that notion is one I have difficulty understanding and agreeing with 1) because it still somehow implies that playing video games are bad unless 2) they get your kid off the sofa and 3) it removes accountability for the parent, normally charged with encouraging an active lifestyle for their child (out in the world).

I am sure there are many of you who struggle with the same thing.  It is an interesting conversation I hope to see take place here on Digital Dads.  There is nothing wrong with your child being a sofa king.  A little hand/eye coordination never hurt anyone.

There is something wrong with parents, however, who allow their children to forego a little imagination off the sofa, away from the console, and out in the world.  Perhaps you disagree? If so, why?

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Clarence Smith, Jr. draws inspiration from Ralph Waldo 'Petey' Greene, Hemingway, Ernest Shackleton and Muhammad Ali. His passions include comics, riding fixed-gear, documentaries and limited edition sneakers. He writes and tells stories, some of which appear at DoYouKnowClarence.com. He lives with his wife, affectionately known as 'Planet Wifey', in New England.
  • Video games, like comic books target the 18-35 age group primarily. Shunning game developers isn't the best angle for me -- better to educate and inform parents (the real consumers) about what it means to encourage and expose your children to games (especially of certain game types).

    I think the Wii is perfect for kids -- I just don't believe it is the future (and I still contend that the type of 'early gamer' you have largely depends on you, as many have stated in the conversation so far).

    Two points I am really hoping get across from my end of the conversation is that 1) gaming isn't hardly bad -- and most games are for adults, but the ones that are for kids, don't believe for an instant that getting them swinging their arms and legs is any different than what I do from the sofa! and 2) I still think that interactive games with gestures/motions would never be on the same level of immersive play as say, a bark fight in the park :)
  • What a great discussion.

    I'm a dad of an almost 2 year old girl. I assume that the video gaming industry has her in the target, but hopefully not as strongly as the boys. But I wonder how she will do with technology. I certainly want her to be technology literate and savvy.

    If I look back at my own life (which does not really count in todays tech times) I played outside a lot - certainly living in Africa as a kid, but for some reason I also didn't miss the train. After all I made technology my career as an audio engineer (I'm constantly surrounded with some of the greatest "computer games" in the real world). I think it is possible to find a very fine line between slow play and tech addict. Little A. (my daughter) barely watches TV (at home I must say, I think she does lots with her cousin), but for some reason when the TV is running she has almost no interest in it (again, just what I see from her here at home).

    So I'm not condemning technology, because I love it myself, but I think we need to demand of gaming makers that they have our kids best intentions in mind. Erin raises a good point when she wants the games to end within reasonable time. The gaming industry designs the games to be as addictive as possible and to never end. They know the psychological tricks to keep kids glued to the screen (I'm thinking off the Zen TV experiment here) and keep us in check through our kids temper tantrums. Maybe we as parents need to shun (is that too strong?) the game developers that work against our good intentions. Afterall, we are the ones that buy the games and therefor support the industry. Am I being to radical?
  • My problem with video games today is that the games never seem to end! There's always another level, another reward, another area to go into. This is why my kids act like angry drunks who have had one too many when the timer goes off and I have to tell them "time's up, game over." If my boys (who are 5 and 7) could play the game and exit it gracefully, I wouldn't have so many issues with it. I have had to set up all sorts of rules and policies surrounding their play. Full disclosure: I am not a gamer. Nor is my husband. Truth is, I'd prefer my kids use their own imaginations but the draw of the screen can't be denied. I spend plenty of time in front of screens myself and love to zone out in front of some mindless television. But gaming is different. It gets the adrenaline going in a way that nothing else around here does. And that's where as I mom, I get a bit concerned. When I hear my 7 year old yell at his little brother, "Damn it! You were supposed to protect me!" I immediately march in and push the power off. Game over.
  • They obviously aren't playing them enough because Dylan keeps finishing his games :)

    Also, you raised something that I actually think is a good thing with that last sentance. They are figuring out team work. Now, he shouldn't yell like that, BUT it is showing that they are trying to work in teams. I hear the same thing here and I actually sat them down and told them that just like in life you can't go yelling at people that you want to work with you. Talking is always better then yelling and it has actually worked (with some more reminders of course).

    And I'm ALL about getting them to use their own imaginations as well. I've gotten sucked into a video game for hours and know how it goes. It is a parents responsibility to set limits and kick the kids outside and away from all screens from time to time. It is also our responsibility to remind ourselves to do it as well!
  • It's all about moderation. We need to be able to control how long our kids play these games. Sure, we could let them sit there for hours on end, but if they do it's our fault. In moderation, games are great for kids. It strengthens eye/hand coordination, problem solving skills, and their imagination.
  • jaymartinez
    As a father to twins now 9 months old, I have always belived and will continue to believe, The parent must do their part in teaching the child good from bad and right from wrong. Past that I don't see a problem with kids and games. If the child has other problems, games aren't really the issue now are they. Many people will argue that you must consider all facts, thats all well and good but games are not to blame if you really do sit down and "consider" all the facts. games are but 1 thing.
  • It is a weird thing and something you won't fully understand until you are a parent, but things like video games and television shows ARE indeed great for a little quiet time away from the kids. Especially if you need some quality time away from them if you follow what I mean *wicked grin*

    But, at the same time I think gaming is an integrated part of kids lives these days just like it was when we were younger. I watch as my son's friends gather around the Xbox and play a game of Halo or Madden. They love it.

    I also watch as I kick them outside and have them run around the woods or play a game of Lacrosse in the front yard. They love both of them.

    We've got all three major gaming consoles in our house and like you thought the Wii was going to change the way games are played. I love using it for fun party type games like bowling and those sorts of things with other people. It is fun and casual. But, when it comes to really playing a game I'm all about sitting down and escaping rather then trying to remember the right hand motion to throw a pass.

    I think the parents who don't get why gaming is ok for the kids most likely don't play themselves. I'm far from the hardcore gamer you are, but I love to plop down on the couch and play a game of Madden or a first person shooter for an hour or so and unwind. The kids are doing the same thing.

    People thought the Wii would change the world and I do think a lot of people got their first video game machine when they bought a Wii. They don't understand, but hopefully they will come around.
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