Nifty Key - Video Games

I never thought that I would actually say this, but I am a gamer. I've been following the "Press and Hold Nifty Key" blog (http://niftykey.blogspot.com/) and it's been pretty interesting. And when I think about it, I realize I have some fond memories of gaming.

i.e. clever, cool, excellent, neat-o...

Many people from my generation can appreciate video games. I remember having the old school Nintendo and blowing into the games and the Nintendo to get them to work. I played Mario and Duck Hunt (with the gun pressed to the TV screen of course, I was 6 years old).


Then my dad sold Starcraft Vans and our favorite van had a Sega Genesis in it with Sonic 2. I still wasn't very good, but I loved to play. I am one of the younger kids, and a girl so it was a rare privilege when I got to play. To this day Sonic 2 is one of my favorite games, and I have yet to beat it. Although I did finally get all of the chaos emeralds and had super sonic.

My brothers bought our Nintendo 64 when we were older because my mom wouldn't buy us a new console. This launched the glorious days of Mario Kart, Golden Eye, and Super Mario 64. I remember being terrible at these games though. I wanted to play with my brothers so badly I would actually go to my friend's house and "practice" Mario Kart for hours. I always insist on being Bowser and Koopa Troop beach is my favorite.

He has three mushrooms, he can totally go for the secret.

Video games can break age barriers. My older brothers did not share the same interests as me so we didn't do much together, but we could all agree that Mario Kart was awesome. I can still hear my oldest brother Jeff taunting my youngest brother Jace saying that he had "The skills that paid the bills." Jace really hated that. I loved watching Jeff play Super Mario 64 as well and as he would run around the eyeball in the ghost house saying "wise eye huh." I laughed for a very long time.

The wise eye

I still can only rarely beat my oldest brother, but these skills paid off in college when I could stomp on the guys I was dating. Ah I can still remember the smug looks on their faces when I suggested we play, followed by the looks of shock and trying to hold on to their dignity. Sweet victory.

I never got into the X-box, but my little brother did leave me his modded X-box when he went on his mission. (I pretty much used it to play Sonic 2 and Mario 3). Gaming paid off in college once more as I was flirting with a cute guy when I stopped by his apartment and he was playing Guitar Hero. I watched for a while and then asked if he wanted to try out my modded X-box. He married me, literally.

Man Catcher / Woman Repellent

Needless to say, I married a gamer. My interest in video games might have otherwise tapered off, but my husband is not only interested in games, but he is a computer science major, and immensely clever. He knows me better than I know myself and is introduces me to games that he knows I will love, and so I am hooked. Now we each have a Nintendo DS, and we have a wii.

"I IZ PLAYIN A GAME"

I have heard arguments against video games, and I do agree with some of them. I think that they should be used in moderation, and I don't like violent games, but there are good qualities that get overlooked (mostly by older generations).

For example, games actually help my marriage. We could be perfectly happy without them, but Ken and I play interesting games together and communicate and work together far more than we do when we watch movies. Gaming is not our only family activity by a long shot, but it is one thing that we enjoy. (Besides virgin piña coladas and getting caught in the rain.)

We like to solve Phoenix Wright cases, have Mario Party battles, race in the new Mario Kart, be each other's wing men in Mario Galaxy, choose each other's workouts on Wii fit, complete a Strong Bad episode, or work together in New Super Mario Brothers Wii. (In case you can't tell I like Mario and he plays to my interests to keep me playing with him...Ken that is, not Mario). I could list many more because there are just so many things that you can do.

We played this game for obvious reasons.

I could go on, but instead I'll recommend you check out the "Press and Hold Nifty Key" blog. There is good that can come from games, and I think this blog does a good job at pointing out some of those qualities in an interesting, and entertaining way. After all, it is nifty.