Video Game Day!

I openly admit (on a regular basis) that I am a child. I LOVE video games. My house would be cleaner, my yard would look better if I didn't spend a certain part of my free time on video games.  However, today is VIDEO GAME DAY! So let's pump the brakes on adulting and celebrate video games for today... maybe longer.  :)

Video games are a part of our culture for decades now.  Who hasn't played Pac-Man in the arcade or on a home system?  Our first home videogame system was the Odyssey.  It came out the year before Atari.  My sister and I were THRILLED when we got it for Christmas.  In that time frame, being able to play bowling in all its 8 Bit glory was enough for hours of fun.  Sadly, the next year produced Atari which made the Odessy the Beta-tape to Atari's VHS.  We never owned an Atari.  I'd play it at my friend's house, but my turn on Burger Time lasted 2 seconds and hers lasted 20 minutes, so I never got too good at Burger Time.

I HAD to have a PS2... you know for my daughter, Mackenzie.  She was four when it came out, but it was totally for her. LOL... ok, a little bit me.  Still, we played a ton of games together.  Two of my favorites, Scooby-Doo Night of 100 Frights and the Sly Cooper series.  They are both awesome games for kids.

Back in 2016, Niantic launched Pokemon Go.  Six years later, I still play with my daughter and my sister, Mary.  My son, Jake used to play, but these days, he's patchy at best.  Pokemon Go is one of the best apps out there for encouraging the exploration of your community and interaction with others.  We love it, obviously.  I posted a pic of my Gyarados with my face air freshener in my car. SO FUNNY!  Did I mention that I am a child?

Most recently, we went to the arcade when we were in Texas visiting my sister, Mary.  They have a really nice movie theater/arcade combo.  It's not easy to find activities for a 22-year-old female and 12-year-old male to BOTH want to do, but video games are on the shortlist.

This past Friday, Nintendo released a new version of my favorite game, Splatoon.  I played the hell out of the first two and Splatoon 3 is the most complex and best of them all, in my opinion.  Splatoon 3 has multiplayer options, story mode, and more.  It offers tons of character and gear personalization.  I actually made my first TikTok video in honor of Splatoon 3.  It's... not good, but ya know.  The Splatoon series revolves around "Inklings." They are squids whose job it is to paint stuff.  Turf wars and similar games depend on who paints the most.  My favorite part of the Splatoon experience is Grizzco.  You work together in a game of four (live players) to try and defeat their monsters and meet the egg quota.  The monsters had different ways to be destroyed.  When you destroy them, they leave behind three eggs.  Get the eggs to the basket before the timer runs out and don't let your whole team get wiped out or it's game over.  Check back soon and I'll post a video of the in-game play.  It will make more sense.  In the meantime, enjoy a couple of pieces from my video game scrapbook.

Did I take a picture of my Fall Guys win? You bet your a$$. I unlocked this mechanical bull but the only time you see it is if you win! I don't win often. LOL  Fall Guys is now "free" but they charge you for skins, battle passes, etc.  It's similar to Fort Night in the money-making end of things.  Fall Guys is a fun group game.  The nice part is that you can have up to four people on your team and they can play from wherever they are.  We recently  played with my daughter's

This is my first (could be last) TikTok video.  I didn't really know what I was doing and it shows.  :)  I bought light-up squid hats for my daughter and myself in honor of the release of Splatoon 3.

OK, ONE MORE TIME cuz I find this picture hilarious.  I am friends with several people that listen to WCSX.  They heard me talking about it and sent me their friend code!  I'm posting mine here in case you play and would like another friend.  I go by PokiDoki on Pokemon Go.  No, you shut up!  I love TokiDoki bags, so I chose this name thinking myself clever in 2016.  Here's my trainer code: 5439 5169 6238  Gotta catch 'em all!

Here are the most popular video game characters according to a recent poll I did on social media :)

Are you a gamer? Who would you name as the "Most Popular video game characters?" I have a LONG history with video games. Our first console was the Odessy. It came out just before Atari (which is why my parents wouldn't buy me an Atari, dammit). The Odessy sucked next to Atari, but when we first got it, my sister, Mary, and I were SUPER EXCITED to play bowling and basketball in all its 8 BIT glory. I played Tapper on the Commodore 64. Loading games took FOREVER. The games loaded into the computer off of CASSETTE TAPES, I kid you not children. Then came floppy discs, so it all only took NEXT TO FOREVER for games to load.

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My first true love of video gaming platforms was the Playstation. South Park Rally got me through some winter months and early motherhood when my daughter was a baby and still sleeping a lot. When the PS2 came out, I knew we NEEDED it. My daughter, Mackenzie, and I played Scooby Doo Night of 100 Frights. It's still one of my all-time favorite games. We liked the storyline games... I still do, but since the introduction of multiplayer online games, the storyline games don't seem to be as popular.  I asked people on social media to "Name a famous video game character."  Here are the top 5 responses.

"Journey to the kingdom of Hyrule and discover the timeless battles between good and evil and the secrets of the all-powerful Triforce." There are (naturally) a TON of different Zelda adventures.  I found it interesting that while the game is "The Legend of Zelda" more people actually answered "Link."  Link is the silent hero. He is reborn throughout history always with the aim of defeating Ganon and his minions. Zelda's role changes from game to game.

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The OG VILLIAN. There would be no Mario without Donkey Kong. The first Donkey Kong was released in 1981. Fun fact: the princess that Donkey Kong captures isn't Princess Peach. It's actually Pauline.

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A blue hedgehog that zips around collecting gold rings.   Even Fall Guys got in on Sonic action with a play mode called "Gotta Go Fast" where players earned Sonic gear for their Fall Guy. But, don't get me started on the original movie Sonic. That hedgehog was a disgrace.

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Eat all the dots and avoid four ghosts... unless you eat a piece of fruit first. Pac-Man was released in 1980.  Asteroids and Galaxian were released first, but Pac-Man was the first game that had a true cultural impact.

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He is the man. Mario's history is crazy.  Peaceful mushroom people are invaded by black magic turtles who turn them to stone.  Only Princess Toadstool (Peach) can undo the spell but she's being held by Bowser, King of the Koopa.  Mario finds out and goes on a quest to save Princess Toadstool and return the mushroom people to normal.  Shrooms are clearly an integral part of this story development.  Having said that, my family 100% LOVES the Mario Games, especially the Mario Party games.  Mario has been a huge cultural influence as well.

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Fans of Halo 100% know about this guy.  Master Chief is the main character raised to be a soldier and kick some a$$.  Clearly, Master Chief has some serious fans.

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Q*Bert is actually the third most successful video game icon (behind Pac-Man and Donkey Kong... sorry, Mario!)  Q*Bert, you had ONE JOB... turn the pyramid blocks the same color.  Q*Bert was also a fantastic part of the movie, Wreck-It Ralph.  You're never too old for Q*Bert.

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South Park Rally - Playstation

Scooby-Doo Night of 100 Frights - Playstation 2

Sly Cooper series - Playstation 2

Ribit King - Playstation 2

Mario Party - Wii

Rayman Raving Rabbids - Wii

Splatoon - Wii-U

Splatoon 2 - Switch (Grizzco is my jam)

I can't wait for Splatoon 3!  I love this game series, obviously.