TThe weather was distinctly Scottish during the holidays, so instead of attending the planned party, my family and I stayed home to celebrate Hogmanay. Our youngest son’s friends and their parents joined us for dinner. As the kids in our group started getting rowdy around 9pm, we decided to host a mini midnight countdown party in Animal Crossing.
I hadn’t played Animal Crossing since lockdown. Taking care of my virtual island kept me sane while stuck in my small apartment with a baby, toddler, and teenager. Our guests brought their Switch, so we created avatars for the kids to enjoy new games together at our year-end party.
They had fun chasing each other with bug nets for a while, then gathered in the plaza with other island residents to watch a giant countdown clock while Tom Nook, the raccoon king of the island, wore party gear. On New Year’s Eve 2021, a memory struck me. Even though I was alone on the couch, I felt accompanied by my Animal Crossing friends as we watched the countdown together. My youngest son had just started walking and was unsteady on his feet. Seeing him interact with his brother, eager to stay up late, felt surreal.
It’s always surreal to watch kids discover and enjoy video games. Their presence changes the game, reshaping my memories of playing it alone or with new save files. Last year we all started playing Pokemon together, which added a new layer of enjoyment to a game I loved as a child. Super Mario 3D World feels like a completely different game when played with my kids, with their reactions and interactions shaping the experience.
Recently, my youngest son wanted to try a Zelda game, so we played Link’s Awakening on Switch. Despite my past difficult memories associated with the game, it was heartwarming to see my son navigate the game with joy and excitement.
To my parents, video games were unfamiliar and slightly suspect. Now, I act as a guide for my kids, introducing them to the worlds within the screen that fascinate them.
In the future, if our gaming interests diverge, I may become a tourist in their gaming world. For now, Animal Crossing remains a constant. I resurrected our family island for the kids to manage, pulling out my old Switch Lite. The island served as a refuge for our children during lockdown, a product of hours of labor that is now in need of revitalization. Despite my hesitations, my kids want to return and create something new.
Source: www.theguardian.com
