GamerParenting: Father's Day

6/13/2008 4:57 PM | 0 Comments | Page 1 of 2

Father's Day! A day to celebrate being a dad and to also, hopefully, be celebrated for the same. Too often this day means that mom gets to cook breakfast -- like usual -- and the kids hand dad a tie that he pretends to like. That's the old way. Today being a grown-up does not mean putting aside childish things; being a dad means embracing the child within and using it to bond with and pal around with your kids. Even if you're a non-gaming spoilsport -- or your dad is -- Father's Day is the perfect opportunity to bond by beating the digital crap out of each other.

If Dad Is a Hardcore Gamer

Then all you have to do is challenge dad to his favorite game -- whether online or in person. Just ask him what he wants to play. It's Father's day, it should be dad's call.

If Dad Is a Non-Gamer

No matter what system you have, you can find a game or two that will pique dad's interest. Even if your dad is the sort that only watches sports, every system offers football, baseball, tennis and other familiar sports. If you own a Wii, why not bowl with your old man? Challenge him to tennis or fall down laughing during a boxing match. Most EA Sports games have a one-button or "Family Mode" that makes the game more boring for a real gamer, but friendlier for a non-gamer. You can goof around with games like Wii Play, enjoy the simple fun of target shooting with Link, or take out the silly zombies of House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return.

All three systems have trivia games with the PlayStation 2's Buzz games being the standouts. The Xbox 360 has Scene It? for the movie buff as well. Rock Band and Guitar Hero have a lot to offer a scruffy oldster as well. Lots of that moldy rock n' roll was new and piping hot when he was only a lad himself. Just avoid The Killers "When We Were Young" and focus on the Stones "Gimmie Shelter" -- or for younger dads maybe "Wanted Dead or Alive." If dad likes war movies, maybe he'd enjoy Call of Duty or Company of Heroes, or perhaps you can hook him with something casual like Peggle.

Games to Play With Dad

LEGO Star Wars and the new LEGO Indiana Jones are perfect for dad. Given that the games let players jump in or out if you and a sibling are playing a game already, why not insist dad hop in for some blocks and shocks. Odds are your dad was a Star Wars fan once, not too long ago and in a galaxy not too far away.

Racing games are much harder but also, arguably, more fun with a steering wheel, even if the wheel itself is gone. The Wii lets you use the remote as a wheel whether you have that plastic doohickey or not. Take dad out with a red turtle shell in Mario Kart or, for younger kids, take Lightning McQueen and Chick Hicks out for a grudge match spin around Radiator Springs with Disney's Cars game from THQ.

For younger superhero fans I can't recommend teaming up with dad in Spider-Man: Friend or Foe enough. The game is mediocre, but the multiplayer makes it worthwhile. Your youngster can play as the webhead while you control his assorted enemy/allies or vice-versa. Godzilla: Unleashed for the Wii is a terrible game, but if you have a small child in the house, the punching and kicking controls on the Wii make for some very memorable videogame combat. For older comic fans, Marvel Ultimate Alliance is available on all systems and lets players switch characters now and again -- switch characters between the best and most obscure the Marvel Universe has to offer. Dad can star as Captain America while junior plays Wolverine and daughter dons the webbed boots of Spider-Woman, and mom, mom can be ... Storm! And ... I'm getting carried away, excuse me.