Back to School...Let the games begin!

I read an article awhile back and was amused at that point where we are in entertainment. Back to school still carries a certain “Blech” feeling when I hear it. Now that we are at that point or past it and school has changed the summer schedules and activities, there is always that helpful advice we get on helping our “mini-me's” survive the transition. The past few weeks, day time TV has been riddled with the helpful hints from snacks to homework, too rest and recreation. It was always a struggle for everyone to balance what's needed.

"We're going to make this short and sweet, parents: You probably shouldn't try to dodge a back-to-school gaming tuneup. Sure, talking about responsibilities and setting screen time limits is no fun. Kids hate rules, and parents hate having to play traffic cop. But back-to-school time means re-balancing languid, lazy summer schedules -- and if you're going to help your kids develop time management skills and a head for how to balance their own activities and schedules, this is the perfect teaching moment."

MMO Family is your resource for leveling a gaming-specced family, from tips on balancing gaming with family life to finding age-appropriate online games for everyone in the family.

Gaming has grown over the years and has taken its place among the “R&R” portions of our life. This is evident in several ways, but really gives notice when your local TV news mentions gaming along with other entertainment outlets, when offering the helpful hints entering the school year. For me, in the dark ages, it was a black and white TV with three channels. No real competition there, it was three channels.

I don’t have to worry about battle plans for a back to school tune up, I'm just waiting on grand kids. Those of you that do, I wish you the best, do right by your mini-me, because children are cool and deserve our best. Of course this means that Mom and Dad have to set the example and make sure they are showing restraint for the school season, it's only fair. Since I don’t have to worry about setting any examples, when asked “you played games for 6 hours?”, my retort is “I'm grown, I can do what I want”.

I remember family nights when “Alone in the Dark”, a survival horror game developed by Infogames was played.

Image via Wikipedia

"In 1925, Jeremy Hartwood, a noted artist and the owner of the Louisiana mansion Derceto, has committed suicide by hanging himself. His death appears suspicious yet seems to surprise no-one, for Derceto is widely reputed to be haunted by an evil power. The case is quickly dealt with by the police and soon forgotten by the public. The player assumes the role of either Edward Carnby – a private investigator who is sent to find a piano in the loft for an antique dealer - or Emily Hartwood, Jeremy's niece, who is also interested in finding the piano because she believes a secret drawer in it has a note in which Jeremy explains his suicide. The player, either as Carnby or Hartwood, goes to the mansion to investigate. As the player enters the house, the doors mysteriously slam shut behind him or her. Reluctantly, he or she continues up to the attic. In that room, the action begins."

With the lights off and the sound turned up, everyone would take their turn playing either character. Hours were spent working through puzzles, getting scared and generally laughing ourselves to tears. We played the game through to the end and when asked what shall we do on family night, “Lets play the Dark game dad.”, so we visited mansion Derceto on several occasions.

 Our family night wasn’t the norm, gaming was the majority vote. Through Monkey Island, Indian Jones to Willy Beamish and Quest for Glory, we were gamers before gaming was cool. So naturally, these days, getting ready for the new school year has to include game time adjustments. No more playing games with dad until 1am.