(Been a while, but I felt compelled to write a legit blog.)

Growing up, I had my fair share of single player gaming. Endless hours of Sonic and countless other Genesis games solidified my gaming spirit. However, I didn't always play alone. My Father and Brother were always in the mix. Whether it was passing the controller when you lost a life in Raiden III or competing in Mario Kart for hours, there was never a dull gaming moment.



My Fathers' gaming resume goes back to the early 80's. Arcade games such as Dig Dug and Burger Time kept him occupied for years. To this day his still brags about his top scores in Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga when he was a teen. Of course, he doesn't remember what they were... If you get a relatively high score in "Namcomuseum" or any other compilation package of old school games, it will NEVER be high enough. It wasn't just arcade games he had a fascination for though. Breakout the original Playstation and pop in R-Type Delta or Crash Bandicoot and be prepared to miss a show on television, because the entertainment room was locked down for hours.

Gaming in my family isn't limited to just my Father, however. At an early age my younger brother was involved heavily. Once we purchased a Nintendo 64, Mario Kart 64 was never turned off. "I'm Toad!" my Brother would always exclaim as we rushed to pick characters. Usually he never got his ways, but somehow managed to place most races. As I watched my Brother mature over the years, I've seen him game library increase in size and his competitive nature grow stronger. He is the Call Of Duty stereotype these days. Hopefully though, it is just a phase. It is just a phase, right!? (Oh god, he just asked me to post his PSN. How do I get this to stop.)

Do you enjoy a nice hidden object game? Me either, but don't tell my Mom. She is fairly new to playing games. She never really gave them the time of day when I was younger, but since last year she has been all about casual games. Bejeweled is among the top of the list, which is something I'm not to ashamed of. I have yet to introduce her to Peggle, simply because I don't think she will be able to stop... Also it may crash her AOL 9.1 that she refuses to get rid of.



Since my younger years to now, gaming with my family never ceases to amaze me. It has really brought us together over the years. From late night Mario Kart action (I still am the reigning champion) to pulling up a chair and helping my Mother beat her silly hidden object games, I find myself surrounded with the people I love the most doing the one thing I see myself getting involved in for the rest of my life.. It feels good.