Out Of Wallet Experience
So, CJ has his first video game that’s also a collectible. Disney has it figured out. This game is the biggest of pocket grabs, and I knew it before I let him get the starter set. Here’s the thing… it’s cool for the parent too.
After the kids went to sleep last night, I tooled around the open ‘Toy Box’ area to see all the stuff you can do. Not the least of which is the game creator. It’s not for the feint of heart. I don’t think CJ will even be able to understand it at first. Heck, I was searching for tutorials on YouTube, trying to figure it out. But this teaches kids how to make their own video game. It has Logic Arguments. It requires you to connect game pieces that are basically IF>THEN statements. This is the beginning of learning computer code.
That’s an awesome proposition. It’s also fun to play. Well, I say it’s fun to play, but partnering up with my son brought on frequent death. I’ve determined that CJ was as good at video games as I was at that age (read: not very). Some of this has to do with innate skill, but a lot is due to the fact I only let him play for short periods of time – and not every day. I’ve explained to him that I know other kids get to game all day. Kids that don’t follow rules and don’t deserve the privilege. It’s unfair. I get it. That’s still the way it is and he needs to get used to it.
Steve Jobs was notorious for limiting the time his kids spent online and playing with electronic devices. There’s been articles written about some Silicon Valley kids having less access to tech time at home, because the parents have seen the dangerous side of constant electronic immersion.
I hope he gets better at maneuvering in game… if only so I don’t die as often fighting bad guys solo. But I also want him to get something bigger out of it than a huge time suck, and Disney may have given his brain the tools to grow.
And hopefully we don’t go broke buying the characters. Man, that Hulk is cool. Pre-order on Amazon for October 28th you say? SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!