I've been a gamer since before I can remember. I grew up with the Duck Hunt gun in my hand, laughing and playing with my relatives and father. Dad and I used to have huge, elaborate Mario Bros competitions. After awhile, it turned to Donkey Kong and Donkey's sequels. I can remember, too, playing simple games like Pong on his work laptop. In school, we played Oregon Trail and Where In The World is Carmen San Diego?

When I was thirteen, I started playing GemStone III, a multi-player MUD owned by Simutronics Corporation. I played that game for seven years, and quit in 2004. I played Anarchy Online, Star Wars Galaxies, EverQuest (I played for a very short time, I hated that game), and World of Warcraft for a combined six or so years, three in World of Warcraft.

We have a Playstation and a Wii (which I made sure to get the old school Zelda and Donkey Kong games on - those are classics!), which I don't seem to play very often anymore, but probably will again once school dies down a little.

I still play regular computer games, too, like Oblivion and Sims2. If something catches my eye, I buy it and play it until I wake up from my computer-induced coma.

My son (nearly four now) will not be allowed to have nearly as much gaming time as I did. I want him to experience life - baseball games, basketball games, art classes, language classes - whichever his little heart desires. And if it doesn't desire doing those things, I'll pick one for him to participate in. If he truly doesn't like it after a year, he can switch to a different activity. Does this make me really mean? Or supportive of learning different skillS? I haven't really figured that out yet. As Sammi gets older, she too will have to pick an activity to particate in.

For now, though, Nate watches Daddy play console games, and when he's been good, he gets some time wtih Jump Start: Preschool, Caillou Magic Playhouse, or his Cars game on the computer. He likes playing PBS games, too. They are his reward for being good in the day.

I want him to have a good imagination, and be able to immerse himself in other worlds. I also want him to have a good, concrete foundation and idea of the real world.

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