Crazy good video/computer game kids
Julie Bogart
I just have to boast a bit.
My 11 year old son plays War Craft (a certain version of it called
Footman Frenzy) and he just beat this one team that is considered one
of the best in the world. In fact, when he plays games, usually guys
team up (sometimes as many as 11 to one!) to play against him. He's
just gotten crazy good!
My 13 year old son is becoming better and better at Halo 2 and is in a
tournament today. He's been so cute this week, working to get his
responsibilities done so that he can devote more time to training.
He's been downloading strategies off the Internet, printing them,
studying them, and then using them in trial sessions with his buddy
who will be his partner. This friend spent the night last night and I
got such akick out of their discourse - how they worked together, how
they determined who would be the boss, what codes theya re using to
cue each other into where their positions are (so that the opponents
at the tournament won't know what they're saying).
It's been a high stakes week for both of my boys who spend a ton of
time online gaming.
What hit me this a.m. is that sometimes we just don't realize how
powerful all this gaming is. We think that it is somehow not as good
as sports or music. Yet look at all those skills my boys are learning
just from hours online?
And the sense of pride they have in becoming really good reminds me of
kids who are stars on their soccer teams. I just don't get the same
level of insight because I'm not a gamer.
Just had to share. I'm way proud of them.
Julie B
My 11 year old son plays War Craft (a certain version of it called
Footman Frenzy) and he just beat this one team that is considered one
of the best in the world. In fact, when he plays games, usually guys
team up (sometimes as many as 11 to one!) to play against him. He's
just gotten crazy good!
My 13 year old son is becoming better and better at Halo 2 and is in a
tournament today. He's been so cute this week, working to get his
responsibilities done so that he can devote more time to training.
He's been downloading strategies off the Internet, printing them,
studying them, and then using them in trial sessions with his buddy
who will be his partner. This friend spent the night last night and I
got such akick out of their discourse - how they worked together, how
they determined who would be the boss, what codes theya re using to
cue each other into where their positions are (so that the opponents
at the tournament won't know what they're saying).
It's been a high stakes week for both of my boys who spend a ton of
time online gaming.
What hit me this a.m. is that sometimes we just don't realize how
powerful all this gaming is. We think that it is somehow not as good
as sports or music. Yet look at all those skills my boys are learning
just from hours online?
And the sense of pride they have in becoming really good reminds me of
kids who are stars on their soccer teams. I just don't get the same
level of insight because I'm not a gamer.
Just had to share. I'm way proud of them.
Julie B
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/24/05 10:24:56 AM, julie@... writes:
sharing it! I hope it causes some mom (or five or ten of them, eventually) to see
her boys without the filters.
[LOOK what I just wrote up there! I left it because it strikes me that I do
still think of those games as boy-things, which just shows my own filtration
system at work. Holly plays Halo 2 for hours every day, and last weekend she
played with Kirby, who declared her "really not bad." In the context of
their gaming lives, that was quite a compliment and she beamed for half a day.]
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> -=-He'sI have deposited that story in public-access testimonials. Thanks for
> just gotten crazy good!-=-
>
sharing it! I hope it causes some mom (or five or ten of them, eventually) to see
her boys without the filters.
[LOOK what I just wrote up there! I left it because it strikes me that I do
still think of those games as boy-things, which just shows my own filtration
system at work. Holly plays Halo 2 for hours every day, and last weekend she
played with Kirby, who declared her "really not bad." In the context of
their gaming lives, that was quite a compliment and she beamed for half a day.]
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Liza Rose Gottlieb
Have you read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card? This just reminded me of it... it's been a looooooong time since I've read it but I was blown away by Card's acknowledgement of children and their abilities at the time. Yay for your kids!
Liza Rose
Julie Bogart <julie@...> wrote:
I just have to boast a bit.
My 11 year old son plays War Craft (a certain version of it called
Footman Frenzy) and he just beat this one team that is considered one
of the best in the world. In fact, when he plays games, usually guys
team up (sometimes as many as 11 to one!) to play against him. He's
just gotten crazy good!
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Liza Rose
Julie Bogart <julie@...> wrote:
I just have to boast a bit.
My 11 year old son plays War Craft (a certain version of it called
Footman Frenzy) and he just beat this one team that is considered one
of the best in the world. In fact, when he plays games, usually guys
team up (sometimes as many as 11 to one!) to play against him. He's
just gotten crazy good!
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Julie Bogart
Yes they have! In fact, this was the book of choice while we were in
Italy last summer. My 11 year old who "doesn't like to read" suddenly
couldn't put this book down after his brothers and dad talked about it
so much. The older kids have gone on to read the whole series, as has
their dad.
More on gaming. My dh and I went to watch the 13 year old play in his
first Halo 2 tournament yesterday afternoon. He and his teammate got
killed in the first round but went all the way to the finals in the
consolation round (and lost)! It was exciting. They had a great time
and I FINALLY understand how to watch Halo 2 on the split screen. Lots
I still don't get, but I'm learning and understood enough to groan
when they got hit or cheer when they got a kill! :)
I was the only mother in the whole place. There were only two dads
(including dh).
It struck me even more forcibly how much we adults don't understand
gaming. On this same Saturday, you can bet that there are droves of
moms and dads and grandparents out on soccer fields cheering their
sons and daughters on while they compete for their teams. These same
kids will not play soccer as adults (mostly) and their physical
exercise (which is a healthy use of time, I agree) will sustain them
for these few months while they are in soccer.
Yet in the meantime, some kids are learning so much stuff through
gaming and parents routinely criticize it as entertainment,
obsessions, worthless use of time, expensive and wasteful and so on.
This is one more instance, for me, of where "encounter" (really
getting inside what's going on, not just observing from a comfortable
distance) has changed me! I'm so glad I went to that tournament and
could share in my son's losses and wins with real sympathy.
Julie B
--- In [email protected], Liza Rose Gottlieb
<lizarosegottlieb@y...> wrote:
blown away by Card's acknowledgement of children and their abilities
at the time. Yay for your kids!
Italy last summer. My 11 year old who "doesn't like to read" suddenly
couldn't put this book down after his brothers and dad talked about it
so much. The older kids have gone on to read the whole series, as has
their dad.
More on gaming. My dh and I went to watch the 13 year old play in his
first Halo 2 tournament yesterday afternoon. He and his teammate got
killed in the first round but went all the way to the finals in the
consolation round (and lost)! It was exciting. They had a great time
and I FINALLY understand how to watch Halo 2 on the split screen. Lots
I still don't get, but I'm learning and understood enough to groan
when they got hit or cheer when they got a kill! :)
I was the only mother in the whole place. There were only two dads
(including dh).
It struck me even more forcibly how much we adults don't understand
gaming. On this same Saturday, you can bet that there are droves of
moms and dads and grandparents out on soccer fields cheering their
sons and daughters on while they compete for their teams. These same
kids will not play soccer as adults (mostly) and their physical
exercise (which is a healthy use of time, I agree) will sustain them
for these few months while they are in soccer.
Yet in the meantime, some kids are learning so much stuff through
gaming and parents routinely criticize it as entertainment,
obsessions, worthless use of time, expensive and wasteful and so on.
This is one more instance, for me, of where "encounter" (really
getting inside what's going on, not just observing from a comfortable
distance) has changed me! I'm so glad I went to that tournament and
could share in my son's losses and wins with real sympathy.
Julie B
--- In [email protected], Liza Rose Gottlieb
<lizarosegottlieb@y...> wrote:
> Have you read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card? This just remindedme of it... it's been a looooooong time since I've read it but I was
blown away by Card's acknowledgement of children and their abilities
at the time. Yay for your kids!
> Liza Rose
>
> Julie Bogart <julie@b...> wrote:
> I just have to boast a bit.
>
> My 11 year old son plays War Craft (a certain version of it called
> Footman Frenzy) and he just beat this one team that is considered one
> of the best in the world. In fact, when he plays games, usually guys
> team up (sometimes as many as 11 to one!) to play against him. He's
> just gotten crazy good!
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
jwvastine
> I hope it causes some mom (or five or ten of them, eventually) tosee
> her boys without the filters.This is exactly what I came to the list (again) for help with and
>
>> Sandra
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
there is Julie's message jumping off the screen at me.
Thanks, Julie
Judy
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/25/2005 10:58:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
julie@... writes:
gaming! With us, its the complete opposite-I am lost when it comes to a soccer
game... just barely know the basics (ball in net is a score), but Dave and I
have always thought we would play games with out kids-granted, we thought they
would be much older, but that was before we decided to homeschool, and before
we came across unschooling... I was SO excited when, at 4, Wyl started getting
interested in them and I realised how VERY educational they really were! I
have a huge stockpile of games that we've bought over the years, figuring we'd
either get to them when the kids got older or 'way later when the kids were
gone... we could probably learn for the next 6 years in every subject on the games
we have stockpiled now! LOL I just kind of thought that since we were the
"Atari generation", that more people our age would "get" games, and even still
play... I guess I should feel like a dinosaur... LOL
Peace,
Sang
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
julie@... writes:
> It struck me even more forcibly how much we adults don't understandWow... I had no idea that the general population of adults didn't/don't do
> gaming. On this same Saturday, you can bet that there are droves of
> moms and dads and grandparents out on soccer fields cheering their
> sons and daughters on while they compete for their teams.
gaming! With us, its the complete opposite-I am lost when it comes to a soccer
game... just barely know the basics (ball in net is a score), but Dave and I
have always thought we would play games with out kids-granted, we thought they
would be much older, but that was before we decided to homeschool, and before
we came across unschooling... I was SO excited when, at 4, Wyl started getting
interested in them and I realised how VERY educational they really were! I
have a huge stockpile of games that we've bought over the years, figuring we'd
either get to them when the kids got older or 'way later when the kids were
gone... we could probably learn for the next 6 years in every subject on the games
we have stockpiled now! LOL I just kind of thought that since we were the
"Atari generation", that more people our age would "get" games, and even still
play... I guess I should feel like a dinosaur... LOL
Peace,
Sang
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
soggyboysmom
--- In [email protected], Sanguinegirl83@a...
wrote:
good thing because he can help DS with them (they're learning Age of
Empires and DH has already helped DS with StarCraft). But, there are
those of us who are just slightly ahead of the 'Atari generation'
curve - I was 12 when the first Atari came out, whereas DH was 4.
--Deb
wrote:
> LOL I just kind of thought that since we were theYou're not a dinosaur - DH is the main gamer in our house which is a
> "Atari generation", that more people our age would "get" games, and
>even still
> play... I guess I should feel like a dinosaur... LOL
>
> Peace,
> Sang
good thing because he can help DS with them (they're learning Age of
Empires and DH has already helped DS with StarCraft). But, there are
those of us who are just slightly ahead of the 'Atari generation'
curve - I was 12 when the first Atari came out, whereas DH was 4.
--Deb
Julie Bogart
Must be generational.
I never played any games (I'm almost 44). Never Atari. I was an adult
when computers were finally in offices.
But even with that, my husband plays Starcraft and Warcraft and it's
because of him that I've learned to relax about gaming.
What I've noticed in the homeschooling world that I inhabit is that
gaming is considered a waste of time or mere entertainment at best or
dangerous at worst.
So it's been cool for me to discover otherwise. (I still don't like
playing myself, though I will get on there to play fusion frenzy or
Rayman. I see it like golf - I love to watch golf on TV, but don't ask
me to go golfing. <g>)
Julie
I never played any games (I'm almost 44). Never Atari. I was an adult
when computers were finally in offices.
But even with that, my husband plays Starcraft and Warcraft and it's
because of him that I've learned to relax about gaming.
What I've noticed in the homeschooling world that I inhabit is that
gaming is considered a waste of time or mere entertainment at best or
dangerous at worst.
So it's been cool for me to discover otherwise. (I still don't like
playing myself, though I will get on there to play fusion frenzy or
Rayman. I see it like golf - I love to watch golf on TV, but don't ask
me to go golfing. <g>)
Julie
--- In [email protected], Sanguinegirl83@a... wrote:
> In a message dated 9/25/2005 10:58:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> julie@b... writes:
>
> > It struck me even more forcibly how much we adults don't understand
> > gaming. On this same Saturday, you can bet that there are droves of
> > moms and dads and grandparents out on soccer fields cheering their
> > sons and daughters on while they compete for their teams.
>
> Wow... I had no idea that the general population of adults
didn't/don't do
> gaming! With us, its the complete opposite-I am lost when it comes
to a soccer
> game... just barely know the basics (ball in net is a score), but
Dave and I
> have always thought we would play games with out kids-granted, we
thought they
> would be much older, but that was before we decided to homeschool,
and before
> we came across unschooling... I was SO excited when, at 4, Wyl
started getting
> interested in them and I realised how VERY educational they really
were! I
> have a huge stockpile of games that we've bought over the years,
figuring we'd
> either get to them when the kids got older or 'way later when the
kids were
> gone... we could probably learn for the next 6 years in every
subject on the games
> we have stockpiled now! LOL I just kind of thought that since we
were the
> "Atari generation", that more people our age would "get" games, and
even still
> play... I guess I should feel like a dinosaur... LOL
>
> Peace,
> Sang
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
elainegh8
I'm not sure if it is generational. I'm 41 and me and my daughters,
aged 9 and 19, all like to play on Neopets. My partner (36) plays
games such as Medal of Honour (Allied Assault). Me and my partner like
to play Diablo sometimes and dd aged 9 likes to watch us play Diablo 1
and 2, I prefer 1 but ex hubby (31) accidentaly broke the disc.
BWs Elaine (UK)
aged 9 and 19, all like to play on Neopets. My partner (36) plays
games such as Medal of Honour (Allied Assault). Me and my partner like
to play Diablo sometimes and dd aged 9 likes to watch us play Diablo 1
and 2, I prefer 1 but ex hubby (31) accidentaly broke the disc.
BWs Elaine (UK)
> Must be generational.adult> when computers were finally in offices.
> I never played any games (I'm almost 44). Never Atari. I was an
[email protected]
<<<<<I have a question about this. My d/s (9) LOVES playing games on his
computer but when he's finished is extremely irritable and rude whether
he was asked to get off or not. Does anyone else have this problem and
if so any/all suggestions please?
I encourage him to play because he has learned so much about strategy
and has taken one of his games way beyond what I even knew was
possible, but we are definitely having an attitude problem when he
signs off. Setting limitations just makes him more angry, but there is
life outside of the computer game and so much more that we could share
together...>>>>>>>>>>>>
*************
Can he play until he's finished? Setting goals is a big deal. If he has a
goal to finish a quest I would think that was good. In a way he is setting
himself a time limit (one to finish his goal possibly)
My son is 14 (as of this week). Sometimes he plays for hours. It is a
learning process for parents. If you watch the games a few minutes before and ask
what's going on you may find that you too will want to see the outcome. Just
yesterday my son was on runescape trying to solve a riddle. Once I looked I was
hooked until he solved it. I was quite impressed.
I would imagine it's frustrating to be told to get off the computer in the
middle of a quest or anticipating the next. Much like being in the middle of a
chat or half way through a digest and being told to get off.
The "life outside of the computer game and so much more that we could share
together" will still be there in a week or a month when he's done with his
current interests.
As far as being rude. Is he feeling stressed out during his play because he
knows someone wishes him off? What's he mad at? I would look at what's got him
angry and attempt to lesson that.
Laura
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
computer but when he's finished is extremely irritable and rude whether
he was asked to get off or not. Does anyone else have this problem and
if so any/all suggestions please?
I encourage him to play because he has learned so much about strategy
and has taken one of his games way beyond what I even knew was
possible, but we are definitely having an attitude problem when he
signs off. Setting limitations just makes him more angry, but there is
life outside of the computer game and so much more that we could share
together...>>>>>>>>>>>>
*************
Can he play until he's finished? Setting goals is a big deal. If he has a
goal to finish a quest I would think that was good. In a way he is setting
himself a time limit (one to finish his goal possibly)
My son is 14 (as of this week). Sometimes he plays for hours. It is a
learning process for parents. If you watch the games a few minutes before and ask
what's going on you may find that you too will want to see the outcome. Just
yesterday my son was on runescape trying to solve a riddle. Once I looked I was
hooked until he solved it. I was quite impressed.
I would imagine it's frustrating to be told to get off the computer in the
middle of a quest or anticipating the next. Much like being in the middle of a
chat or half way through a digest and being told to get off.
The "life outside of the computer game and so much more that we could share
together" will still be there in a week or a month when he's done with his
current interests.
As far as being rude. Is he feeling stressed out during his play because he
knows someone wishes him off? What's he mad at? I would look at what's got him
angry and attempt to lesson that.
Laura
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/25/05 10:58:51 PM, hbinkley3@... writes:
regular world, and for a while, around that age (9-11) I remember not thinking
to be nice about it. Maybe just point it out to him.
Kids are sometimes like that if they've been visiting a friend and having a
really good time, or they just got back from an overnighter. It can be a
relief to be home, but also disappointing. Maybe he's disappointed to return
from being a big powerful important character in a game to being a nine year old
boy where people are expecting him to be nice.
Maybe you could tell him he's making gamers look bad, and that's one of the
reasons some moms forbid games. He should at least have lots of input he
can consider when he thinks about how to act.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> -=-My d/s (9) LOVES playing games on hisWhen I was a kid I used to not like putting my book down and re-entering the
> computer but when he's finished is extremely irritable and rude whether
> he was asked to get off or not. Does anyone else have this problem and
> if so any/all suggestions please?-=-
>
regular world, and for a while, around that age (9-11) I remember not thinking
to be nice about it. Maybe just point it out to him.
Kids are sometimes like that if they've been visiting a friend and having a
really good time, or they just got back from an overnighter. It can be a
relief to be home, but also disappointing. Maybe he's disappointed to return
from being a big powerful important character in a game to being a nine year old
boy where people are expecting him to be nice.
Maybe you could tell him he's making gamers look bad, and that's one of the
reasons some moms forbid games. He should at least have lots of input he
can consider when he thinks about how to act.
Sandra
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Holly
1st - Julie, (I think), How did the tournaments end up? (I'm sorry to
take over your thread.)
2nd - Thank you to everyone who replied regarding my d/s attitude. I
think it stems from a combination of everything you all mentioned. I
will try to discuss this with the hubby and we will try to figure out
how to address this.
Thanks a Bunch!!
Holly
take over your thread.)
2nd - Thank you to everyone who replied regarding my d/s attitude. I
think it stems from a combination of everything you all mentioned. I
will try to discuss this with the hubby and we will try to figure out
how to address this.
Thanks a Bunch!!
Holly
Julie Bogart
--- In [email protected], "Holly" <hbinkley3@a...>
wrote:
friend lost the first round, ended up int he consolation round where
they won the next two games (beat those teams) and then lost in the
semi-finals of the consolation round. (Which is a correction to what I
posted earlier upon further discussion with said kids).
They had a great time.
Julie
wrote:
> 1st - Julie, (I think), How did the tournaments end up? (I'm sorry toI mentioned in the one thread buried somewhere that my son and his
> take over your thread.)
friend lost the first round, ended up int he consolation round where
they won the next two games (beat those teams) and then lost in the
semi-finals of the consolation round. (Which is a correction to what I
posted earlier upon further discussion with said kids).
They had a great time.
Julie