19 JulThis Grandpa Has His Own YouTube Gaming Channel

This grandpa has his own gaming channel. You heard me. At sixty years old (well, nearly) I’m big into the computer gaming scene. Perhaps you’ve seen my name on the computer gaming leader boards. Well, probably you haven’t because I made that part up. I do have my own gaming channel, though.

Is it odd that a man from my generation has a gaming channel? It really shouldn’t be. Computer gaming started when I was a teen in the 80’s. I was playing Pong, Missile Command, and Asteroids when most of your parents were still in grade school. I played that graphical wonder, Wolfenstein, on wicked fast computers that ran more slowly than this teenage generation can imagine. I was present when Doom unleashed shooters on the world.  So why shouldn’t I have my own gaming channel.

I’ll tell you why. As computer games evolved in a quick succession of years into the amazing experiences they are now I was busy having children and working to support those children. I was on the sidelines watching as my children immersed themselves in one game after another: Mechwarrior, Thief, Monkey Island, Half Life, Grim Fandango, Final Fantasy series, Starcraft, Mass Effect, Psychonauts. The list goes on. They were kids. They could devote themselves to the games. As an adult I had to squeeze a little playing, and more watching, into the cracks in my adult schedule. I had eight kids, after all.

All but one of my kids have grown up and flown the coop, now. This last son, my baby, is fifteen. He has soaked in the gaming atmosphere of his older siblings. His body is covered with the metaphorical tattoos of game logos.  Interestingly enough, he is the only one who has expanded from just playing games to creating a gaming channel. When it comes to gaming he loves the video production associated with it. The seeds must have been planted when he followed Stampy on YouTube. Stampy specialized in Minecraft videos. His videos were entertaining, but surprisingly clean and wholesome.

So what does all this have to do with my gaming channel? My other children have left home. My baby, whether he wants it or not, is getting more of my attention. The pandemic has created more time at home for me. I have ventured into playing the games with my son that I have only ever watched before.

My son has been teaching me the ins and outs of Minecraft.  It turns out you can’t appreciate the logic, intricacies, and fun of that clunky looking game unless you play it. On my son’s gaming channel you can watch him teach me Minecraft construction techniques as he eagerly helps me build an esthetically pleasing home. I’m hooked. I spent three hours the other day in my own private world practicing the techniques he taught me as I built another home. I’m proud of myself.

My son has dug up another game all of his older sibling played years ago—Heroes of Might and Magic (HOMM). I remember laughing at that game when I watched my kids play it. I called it a “slap fight” game. When it comes to battle in HOMM you attack the enemy, then wait for them to respond. Then you respond to their response and so forth. I wondered why anyone would play a slap fight game when they could death match in real time in Half Life.

Guess what? I am now playing HOMM. My son is teaching me the ropes. I’m loving it.

I’m a writer. I love documenting and sharing my life experiences. I’ve subscribed to my son’s gaming channel on YouTube (Vidzstory) and appreciate his work. I also appreciate how live streaming a game captures the virtual experience and brings it to the real world. When I suggested that I get my own gaming channel my son was all over the idea. I think he spent four hours today setting things up. This includes channel name (Dadacity), logos, and verbiage. There is quite a bit of administrative work to create a channel to my son’s standard. Soon, thanks to all my children, but especially to my youngest, I will be sharing my gaming journey with the world. No one has to watch my experience to make it worthwhile. The act of playing and sharing is enough.

At fifty-nine years old I’m a little late to the game, but at my age I’ve learned that starting is as important as finishing. This grandpa has his own gaming channel. That’s something I couldn’t even imagine as a youth. The pandemic has changed the world, but I still find the world infinitely fascinating and worthy of engagement. See you in Minecraft. My home is up on the hill above the wooden bridge and carrot farm.

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These books by Tory Anderson are now available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback format: