Reed Rothchild | 9,543 Editorials Team · Posted November 12, 2023 Share Posted November 12, 2023 So, something that came up recently, that I've never heard anyone else do. Maybe because it's so brilliant. Or so stupid. Or both. My kids love two things right now: videos games and football. So for Xmas they are getting decked out in NFL gear: jerseys, ball caps, winter hats, shirts, balls, the whole deal. And my dad always gets them ski shit and other "responsible" presents. New ski coats, gloves, etc. That's out of the way. So that leaves one major thing: of course the boys also want a video game for Christmas, but we basically already own all the good ones already. And I'm not going to buy a Nickelodeon racing or a How to Train Your Dragon Platforming Adventure because we'll just ignore those and play the better games anyway. No point in scraping the bottom of the barrel for no reason. So I had an epiphany: Each kid can pick one game from my collection, to keep for their own. Now, in a way this is a partially symbolic gesture. At this point we all play together anyways, so it's not like this would make any real difference to how gaming goes. But they are all psyched. They have thousands of choices, so it's like being in the world's biggest GameStop, and the price is free. Their tentative choices at the moment? Owlboy, Mario Rabbids, and Darksiders Genesis. Hardly breaking the bank I'm also planning on including a surprise bonus game wrapped with each of those. I also told them we'll figure out a shelving solution so they all have a section to display their trophy games. Anyway, I can't tell if I'm a trailblazer or a monster. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richardhead | 2,813 Posted November 12, 2023 Share Posted November 12, 2023 You’re a monster. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reed Rothchild | 9,543 Editorials Team · Posted November 12, 2023 Author Share Posted November 12, 2023 41 minutes ago, Richardhead said: You’re a monster. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackVega | 583 Posted November 12, 2023 Share Posted November 12, 2023 Can we get a poll?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reed Rothchild | 9,543 Editorials Team · Posted November 12, 2023 Author Share Posted November 12, 2023 2 minutes ago, BlackVega said: Can we get a poll?? Oh shit... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richardhead | 2,813 Posted November 12, 2023 Share Posted November 12, 2023 Can you add “I’m a monster” to the poll. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabonga | 2,320 Posted November 12, 2023 Share Posted November 12, 2023 Do y'all have this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabonga | 2,320 Posted November 12, 2023 Share Posted November 12, 2023 And this place has some unique Christmas items - I am sure they would attract attention at school. https://store.hplhs.org/search?q=christmas&submit= Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reed Rothchild | 9,543 Editorials Team · Posted November 12, 2023 Author Share Posted November 12, 2023 17 minutes ago, Richardhead said: Can you add “I’m a monster” to the poll. Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gloves | 11,783 Administrator · Posted November 12, 2023 Share Posted November 12, 2023 Can you be my dad? 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fox | 1,667 Posted November 12, 2023 Share Posted November 12, 2023 Hey kiddo, you can pick any game… (hides Samson and Flinstones) …any game you want! 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reed Rothchild | 9,543 Editorials Team · Posted November 12, 2023 Author Share Posted November 12, 2023 46 minutes ago, fox said: Hey kiddo, you can pick any game… (hides Samson and Flinstones) …any game you want! Some day the oldest may remember me showing off Hagane to him 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murray | 2,449 Posted November 12, 2023 Share Posted November 12, 2023 3 hours ago, Reed Rothchild said: So, something that came up recently, that I've never heard anyone else do. Maybe because it's so brilliant. Or so stupid. Or both. My kids love two things right now: videos games and football. So for Xmas they are getting decked out in NFL gear: jerseys, ball caps, winter hats, shirts, balls, the whole deal. And my dad always gets them ski shit and other "responsible" presents. New ski coats, gloves, etc. That's out of the way. So that leaves one major thing, and of course the boys also want a video game for Christmas, but we basically already own them all. No point in scraping the bottom of the barrel for no reason. So I had an epiphany: Each kid can pick one game from my collection, to keep for their own. Now, in a way this is a partially symbolic gesture. At this point we all play together anyways, so it's not like there's any real difference to how gaming goes. But they are all psyched. They have thousands of choices, so it's like being in the world's biggest GameStop, and the price is free. Their tentative choices at the moment? Owlboy, Mario Rabbids, and Darksiders Genesis. Hardly breaking the bank I'm also planning on including a surprise bonus game wrapped with each of those. I also told them we'll figure out a shelving solution so they all have a section to display their trophy games. Anyway, I can't tell if I'm a trailblazer or a monster. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfreakofkorn | 282 Posted November 12, 2023 Share Posted November 12, 2023 my friend kid(s) wanted game(s) for their birthday so i got them , connect 4 n uno am guessing it was nt something they excepted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackVega | 583 Posted November 12, 2023 Share Posted November 12, 2023 Guess there is an advantage for having Everdrives and "digital copies" of games... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LHCGreg | 111 Posted November 13, 2023 Share Posted November 13, 2023 7 hours ago, Gloves said: Can you be my dad? I, too, would like the opportunity to claim @Reed Rothchild's Aero Fighters. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumez | 2,963 Posted November 13, 2023 Share Posted November 13, 2023 You're a monster, but not for this reason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearcat-Doug | 5,105 Posted November 13, 2023 Share Posted November 13, 2023 14 hours ago, fox said: Hey kiddo, you can pick any game… (hides Samson and Flinstones) …any game you want! It's like taking them to Funcoland back in the day and letting them pick any game from the $1 bin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.A. | 1,139 Posted November 13, 2023 Share Posted November 13, 2023 Now you are just going to have to re-buy those games. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacepup | 2,404 Administrator · Posted November 13, 2023 Share Posted November 13, 2023 I think it's a great idea. I honestly have no idea why anyone would say it is stupid or even a combination of great and stupid. I don't have kids, but I know if I did, and with the quantity of games that I have now, if I could gradually gift them some that they would really enjoy, I think it's a win win. I guess it depends on what your collecting goals are and if someone wants a fullset and doesn't want to break it up, for example, but I know for me, the games aren't doing all that much good sitting on a shelf, so if I could see my kids enjoy them and/or play with them, talk about games we all like, it sounds like a really cool thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a3quit4s | 4,102 Posted November 13, 2023 Share Posted November 13, 2023 (edited) Title is misleading! I was like who questions giving kids video games for Xmas lol?? But it’s more like hand me down games for Christmas? I went with is great, unless your kids really want games you don’t have. I would do the same, it’s win win unless my son really wants like Aero Fighters or Sculptors Cut lmao Besides nothing says merry Xmas like a shitload of Niners gear! edit: you should totally make like a big certificate or like a Wonka Golden Ticket they have to trade in to get a game Edited November 13, 2023 by a3quit4s 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumez | 2,963 Posted November 13, 2023 Share Posted November 13, 2023 17 minutes ago, spacepup said: I honestly have no idea why anyone would say it is stupid or even a combination of great and stupid. He said it himself. They are not getting anything "new" for christmas, just a game they already do have access to playing as much as they'd like, so as a present it seems kind of symbolic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Pac | 7,560 Graphics Team · Posted November 13, 2023 Share Posted November 13, 2023 @Reed Rothchild I guess I'm a bit confused - is your game collection not something your kids can just peruse and play at their leisure? I'm not a parent, but I guess I just always assumed that video games in a household like yours would be more of a communal thing instead of "this one is dad's game" and "this one is mom's game" and "this one is little Billy's game", etc. If your kids seem stoked on the idea, though, I see no reason not to go with it. The only problem is if they see it as a hand-me down (like @a3quit4s said) and that kills the excitement. [T-Pac] 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacepup | 2,404 Administrator · Posted November 13, 2023 Share Posted November 13, 2023 Yea, I mean, he literally said "But they are all psyched" Even if the games are in the house, it seems like they'll enjoy having their OWN collections and being like dad. I love the idea of giving them their own shelving system and everything. It also sounds like you are giving them other things as well and not ONLY 'hand-me-downs' for Christmas, so I really see no way in which this is 'stupid.' I think it's a great idea and it seems like it makes everyone happy, so why not?! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renmauzo | 1,201 Posted November 13, 2023 Share Posted November 13, 2023 I actually did this the other day with my son. He has his own personal collection of games he's received as gifts or bought with his own money, but of course has the run of the collection if he really wants. That said, the idea of ownership does seem to make a difference for him. Case in point, I bought Super Smash Bros. Melee w/steelbook for everyone to play, but have come to find that I really don't like Smash Bros. games. I sold off the N64 and GC ones (still need to sell the Wii U Controller bundle edition), but I kept the Switch games since he's been playing it a ton. He did a bunch of nice things around here the other day, so I decided to give him the game for his personal collection and he WAS OVER THE MOON about this; again, it seems that there is something about being the owner of the game for him (maybe it's the idea of control, I don't know, because they can always play whatever they'd like around here). I think this is a great idea, Reed, and it's great that the kids are excited about it; win-win as far as I'm concerned. *** Funny aside, my daughter had some friends over last weekend (bunch of 9 year old girls), and she was showing them around the house. Now, I've trained the kids to respect the games and ask me for help opening boxed games, so when she got to touring the game room, I overheard my daughter say about CIB Hagane, "...and that one up there is worth, like, $500 and we would need gloves!", followed by one girl saying, "Your dad must be rich" and a bunch of 'oh's and ah's'; I was cracking up, I never told her anything like that 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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