Home Gaming Father conducts experiment– makes son play old school games

Father conducts experiment– makes son play old school games

2 min read
70

NOTHING LIKE THIS

I’ve often wondered what it’d be like to raise a child in this generation of gaming. Would they sneer at the blocky visuals of Final Fantasy VII, or the simple visuals of something like the first Contra? I think in most cases, yes – children couldn’t care less for the games the rest of us grew up on. Would you, if the first title you got your tiny hands on was something like Dragon Age or Call of Duty? What would happen though, if you made a modern day child start their gaming career with titles from yesteryear? One father decided to find out in a lengthy experiment spanning several years.

Andy Baio wanted his son Eliot to love and appreciate gaming in the same way he did back in 1977, during the golden age of arcade gaming . He decided to expose him to titles from the very beginning. He planned an experiment, long before Eliot was even born. We’re not talking thumb screws and laser beams here! His hypothesis was simple actually:

“what happens when a 21st-century kid plays through video game history in chronological order?”

Andy detailed his findings and put them in a blog post (via Kotaku), sharing the journey he had with his son. I genuinely laughed at this extract, because as a gamer, I think I’d have the same nightmares (if I ever had kids).

In the days leading up to his birth, I’d jolt awake in a cold sweat from nightmares of raising a six-year-old athlete, begging me to go outside to play football or baseball or some other dreaded physical activity.

Not that I’d stop them of course, but I share the same dream Andy does – I want my kids to be gamers too.

Anyways, Eliot really did start his gaming career right from the beginning. He worked his way from Galaxian through to the likes of Mega Man and the Legend of Zelda. He proceeded to Super Mario World and eventually titles like Shadow of the Colossus on the PlayStation 2. There were these, and everything in-between. As Andy puts it, he compressed 25 years into just 4.

The result? One freaking talented gamer who appreciates games with an old school aesthetic! Eliot may well be Keanu Reeves from The Matrix. At the age of eight, Eliot beat Spelunky – on its hardest difficulty. In fact, the game’s creator believes he may be the youngest person to have ever done it!

Be sure to read Andy’s full post. It’s a trip down memory lane and packed with awesome.

What do you think? Would you do the same for your kids? Or was Andy wrong to limit Eliot’s exposure to modern day gaming until many years later? Personally, I think Andy has done something spectacular. He wins my brand new award for coolest parent EVER!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to procreate and raise the worlds next best Dota 2 player. At the age of 1, he will be able to ward effectively. At the age of 5, his APM will be over 9000!

(Header Source)

Last Updated: December 11, 2014

70 Comments

  1. That’s actually a cool thing to have done. Too many young kids are spoiled with todays games and only want it easy and with good looking graphics and too often only play FPS games.

    Reply

  2. Admiral Chief BellatorMachina

    December 11, 2014 at 14:09

    Matty + procreate = DOES NOT COMPUTE

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      December 11, 2014 at 14:11

      Sure it does, he could feed starving children with all those cabbages.

      Reply

    • Reid

      December 11, 2014 at 14:12

      This is how cabbages procreate

      Reply

      • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

        December 11, 2014 at 14:26

        We don’t allow porn on this site. Banned.

        Reply

      • hairyknees

        December 11, 2014 at 14:27

        Wtf man? THIS IS A CHILD-FRIENDLY SITE!

        Reply

        • Reid

          December 11, 2014 at 14:47

          Sorry. I added a NSFW to it if that helps

          Reply

          • hairyknees

            December 11, 2014 at 14:51

            Crisis averted 😛

  3. Hammersteyn

    December 11, 2014 at 14:13

    Yeah, everyone should start with the NES at least. Or Snes/Genesis. I’ll get the emulator for my kids up and running but I’ll be damned if they learn to play games on a phone or tablet. Controller and then later moue and keyboard.

    Reply

    • Kensei Seraph

      December 11, 2014 at 14:27

      I don’t know about ignoring phones or tablets… I’m sure I remember hearing something about being able to use your touchscreen smartphone as a controller for your PC.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        December 11, 2014 at 14:28

        I meant fruit ninja,angry birds and candy crush wont be the first games they play.

        Reply

        • Kensei Seraph

          December 11, 2014 at 14:36

          Maybe consider FTL or Hearthstone for tablet but as for most other games, I agree with you.

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            December 11, 2014 at 14:41

            Must have FTL

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 14:58

            Yes you must

        • Guild

          December 11, 2014 at 15:39

          Ok well I failed then. My daughter was playing Fruit Ninja and Angry Birds from about 2

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            December 11, 2014 at 16:03

            I’m not criticizing,hell I’m still single. If I were lucky enough to have kids that would be my route. Apologies for any offense

  4. Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

    December 11, 2014 at 14:16

    APM. Sounds like an illness. 😉

    Reply

  5. Quo Vadis?

    December 11, 2014 at 14:16

    Who remembers Contra? that game, among many others of the day, were hellishly difficult.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      December 11, 2014 at 14:17

      Wasn’t that hard as long as you picked up and kept it. Also the bosses had a pattern you could learn. After a while we breezed through it. (Games were scarce)

      Reply

      • Quo Vadis?

        December 11, 2014 at 14:21

        too frustrating. So I got stuck with elevator action. and excite bike :/

        Reply

        • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

          December 11, 2014 at 14:21

          ELEVATOR ACTION!!

          Reply

          • Quo Vadis?

            December 11, 2014 at 14:24

            The ONLY game I managed to beat. *hangs head in shame*

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 14:25

            I don’t think I managed to beat it actually.

        • Reid

          December 11, 2014 at 14:23

          Elevator action! I had forgotten about that. I spent a lot of hours on that game.

          Reply

        • Aries

          December 11, 2014 at 15:24

          Elevator action is still my favourite, got it on my mame

          Reply

          • Quo Vadis?

            December 11, 2014 at 15:33

            it was a lot of fun 🙂

    • Reid

      December 11, 2014 at 14:24

      Try Broforce. It’s similar and just as fun or the free Expendabros. That was awesome.

      Reply

      • Quo Vadis?

        December 11, 2014 at 14:28

        Never heard of it. Doubt I’ll be able to find it now either 😉

        Reply

    • hairyknees

      December 11, 2014 at 14:33

      Me! That’s why I mentioned it 😛 was tough, but so much of fun!

      Reply

      • Quo Vadis?

        December 11, 2014 at 14:34

        I must have been a glutton for punishment. Kept trying and trying and failing 🙁

        Reply

    • J_Joestar

      December 11, 2014 at 21:15

      up up down down left right left right B A START

      Reply

  6. Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

    December 11, 2014 at 14:17

    I think it’s excellent what this man has done. If I ever procreate I would try to do the same (though it will probably mostly be pc games)

    Reply

    • Quo Vadis?

      December 11, 2014 at 14:20

      By that time, games will be dull and androgynous. Zero violence, zero foul language, zero males or females, zero creativity.

      Reply

      • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

        December 11, 2014 at 14:21

        I have some faith that there will still be countries where creativity is allowed. 😉

        Reply

        • Quo Vadis?

          December 11, 2014 at 14:21

          probably in Russia, yes 🙂

          Reply

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 14:22

            Haha. That’s what I thought too.

          • Quo Vadis?

            December 11, 2014 at 14:24

            well have to learn to “praat die taal”. I know Da, and nyet. so I’m sorted. Whats your excuse? ;P

          • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

            December 11, 2014 at 14:26

            I’m afraid of the artifacts and weird stuff in the Zone and don’t know how I feel about living in the Metro. 😉

          • Quo Vadis?

            December 11, 2014 at 14:27

            Nyet! not for me! But Ruskie chicks are HOT!

      • Reid

        December 11, 2014 at 14:31

        So my steam backlog will have another purpose as well. Someone will eventually complete all the games. My kids and his kids after that.

        Reply

        • Quo Vadis?

          December 11, 2014 at 14:32

          If ever. From what I have heard from this Steam thingy, you will be busy for YEARS to come.

          Reply

        • Kensei Seraph

          December 11, 2014 at 14:32

          I wonder how many generations it will take with each one adding to the backlog.

          Reply

      • Rags

        December 11, 2014 at 14:42

        Yup, Mario is a gateway drug to misogyny. Don’t give in to patriarchy!

        Reply

  7. cr1t

    December 11, 2014 at 14:19

    Just got my 4 yr old son a old school T V games console. He’s rocking super Mario at the moment.

    I was surprised that he did not complain about the graphics.

    Reply

    • Reid

      December 11, 2014 at 14:28

      Yeah I don’t think kids are born expecting great graphics. It’s how they are raised. Start them out with the latest COD game and that’s all they will expect. Pretty graphics, no real story and also probably learn some new words playing online.

      Reply

      • cr1t

        December 11, 2014 at 14:42

        Yea, he’s played newer games on tablets and phones and seen me play on the xbox so I thought he might compare them. In the end he just likes playing games with his old man.

        Reply

  8. Kensei Seraph

    December 11, 2014 at 14:24

    If I ever have kids I shall do this.

    Reply

  9. Alien Emperor Trevor

    December 11, 2014 at 14:30

    Move over Tiger Mom, here comes (hur hur!) CABBAGE DAD!

    Reply

    • Quo Vadis?

      December 11, 2014 at 14:36

      wonder if they’ll be collectively known as the cabbage patch dolls????

      Reply

  10. Viking Of Divinity

    December 11, 2014 at 14:33

    Father of the Freakin Century, right there!

    Reply

  11. Norman Pleasant

    December 11, 2014 at 15:05

    I couldn’t imagine anything worse than having a gamer son/daughter/other. I find it humiliating enough when the missus beats my scores/times/finishes something before I do, the last thing I need is my spawn doing the same.

    Reply

    • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

      December 11, 2014 at 15:16

      lol

      Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      December 11, 2014 at 15:43

      My wife beats me at Injustice…. I haven’t played since the day I downloaded it!!!

      Reply

      • Captain JJ glitterati fantasti

        December 11, 2014 at 15:44

        Haha. Luckily my gf sucks just a tiny little bit more than I do. So although I lose to everyone else, I at least beat her every now and again. 🙂

        Reply

        • Jonah Cash

          December 11, 2014 at 15:46

          My wife just bashes the remote, I try and do combos and moves and she just sits there and beats my ass!!! Not in a good way 🙂

          Reply

          • Deceased

            December 12, 2014 at 14:31

            Sound like domestic violence in yours and the Captains’ respective houses :/

        • Mossel

          December 12, 2014 at 07:58

          “Luckily my gf sucks just a tiny little bit more than I do”
          huehue

          Reply

    • J_Joestar

      December 11, 2014 at 21:11

      would it really be that bad? just means they must have inherited some good IVs from the parents.

      Reply

  12. Jonah Cash

    December 11, 2014 at 15:40

    Hahahahaha!! That is brilliant!! I have a 4 year old and I don’t think she would get the old games…. She is alreay better at my tablet and phone than what I am…. Also she likes to play Injustice, she knows how to change characters and press x to get on with things!!

    Reply

    • hairyknees

      December 11, 2014 at 17:01

      You need to take her back! 😛

      Reply

      • Jonah Cash

        December 12, 2014 at 08:49

        Too late, they only give a 2 year warranty for defects….. I am stuck with her and her mother…. 🙂

        Reply

        • hairyknees

          December 12, 2014 at 10:16

          Haha sorry, I meant back in time in terms of gaming 😛 for all you know she’ll love the old school stuff!

          Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      December 12, 2014 at 09:31

      get a refund, i think its broken.

      Reply

  13. Raptor Rants A Lot

    December 11, 2014 at 16:02

    Old school games ftw! More proof that our yesteryear was the golden age and not our current, half finished products on shelves nonsense* 🙂

    *yes yes, I know this only proves your base gaming dictates your future preferences

    Reply

  14. Guava_Eater

    December 12, 2014 at 08:11

    I have my laaitie playing all sorts of old games as well as new. He’ll happily play a game of Need for Speed most wanted and then pickup his PSP and play hours worth of SEGA classics like Sonic and Golden Axe. He even puts in a lot of time into some of the unlockable 8-bit games from the SEGA Collection. Most recently he just finished an Indie game on the PS3 called Brothers. If you haven’t played it I suggest you give it a try, it tickles your brain 🙂

    Reply

  15. Ozzh3D

    December 12, 2014 at 09:12

    I feel SNES games have such a beautiful aesthetic to them. Chrono Trigger in particular comes to mind. PS1 games for me are far harder to come back to. I tried playing FF7 recently, GabeN prying the money from my hands in a steam sale. I really struggled with the janky UI and those blocky graphics and ended up only playing like 1 hr of it. Anyone else experience something similar?

    Reply

  16. Matthew Holliday

    December 12, 2014 at 09:31

    i tried to do that with my sister, but all she does with the gaming rig i built her, is youtube, twitter and tumblr…

    Reply

  17. Xander Naudé

    December 13, 2014 at 16:42

    I planned something similar with my kids and Pokemon. They will start on Yellow and work their way up to Red, Gold etc etc until whatever game is available in 10000 year’s time because I’ll probably never have children and die alone.

    Reply

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