You just stuffed your face with turkey, ham, and all the fixings. A nap is definitely in order, but make it a power nap because Christmas is around the corner and DEALS! If you can manage to lose some sleep, why not go to your local department store on Black Friday and score some sweet gifts! Several stores have even gone as far as to start the festivities early…that’s right…some deals are live as you are reading this! DON’T PANIC! We’re here , and we’ll get through this together. We’ve made a list and checked it twice/ let’s hope you enjoy our geeky advice!

I suppose we should start with the bad news first.

The Nintendo Switch will not be sold at a discount this Black Friday. Nintendo’s got one of the hottest, if not the hottest item out this holiday season, and consumers are still biting. The good news is Switches are now more readily in stock, and should’nt be as hard to find as they were a few months ago.

Now….on to the deals!!

Nintendo

You went for it! bit the bullet and got a Switch! You most likely paid full price, and still need a game to play right? Here are some great choices for you, your kids, and your wallet!

Zelda Explorer Edition

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is destined to be Game of the Year amongst many critics, and Nintendo has decided to rerelease this Gem as a special edition just in time for the holidays. Although there isn’t anything added by way of in game content, this time around there’s a physical map of Hyrule packed in to better familiarize yourself with the game’s world. Zelda is basically a must play for any switch owner, and it’s currently available for 10 bucks less on Amazon, and at Walmart!

1-2 Switch

Though not at the top of my personal favorite switch games list, 1-2 switch is a great way to introduce the entire family to everything Nintendo has jammed into their new console. Showcasing just about every trick in their book, you and your family are sure to have a hilarious time. Find it for as low as 25 bucks at WalMart

E-shop card

There are a handful of great games to be found at retail store shelves, but one thing the Switch is also doing right is their inclusion of incredible downloadable games available at the Eshop! You’ll be hard pressed deciding between classics like Rocket League, Sonic Mania, and Shovel Knight…you really can’t go wrong!

2DS Zelda edition

And speaking of Zelda! if you’re ready to introduce your child to the world of gaming, but aren’t quite commited to a full blown console just yet, This Zelda edition 2ds is the winning ticket. it’s a no brainer when you consider it’s only $79.99 and includes a preinstalled download of one of the greatest games ever: Zelda Ocarina of Time!

Playstation 4

Playstation 4’s can currently be found online for $199.99…that’s a hundred bucks more affordable than usual! If your child has been asking for one, now’s a good time to jump in! Some great games are also selling for great prices. Here are my personal picks:

Crash Bandicoot: Insane Trilogy

Remember Crash? He’s back…in HD form! all three games from the original Crash Bandicoot trilogy have been rebuilt from the ground up! Show those kids what gaming was like back in your day!

Nier: Automata

2017 was jam packed with stellar games, and many high caliber titles were left under the radar as a result. Case and point: Nier Automata.  Oozing with style and action at every turn…pick this one up for your teen and get ready for a wild ride!

Uncharted Series

The Uncharted series as a whole will go down as a classic, and lucky for you just about every title is available for the ps4. play through the original trilogy via the uncharted collection, or jump into Nathan Drake’s newest adventure, Uncharted 4. Been there, done that? Pick up Uncharted: The Lost Legacy, a spinoff starring fan favorite character Chloe Frazer. All Uncharted games can be found at a discount this Black Friday!

Xbox One

Okay guys…I know this may come off as harsh….but Microsoft just didn’t do it for me this year…but if your child is asking for an Xbox One and there is no exception, they are priced at $199.99 just like the PS4. hey kid….ya’ sure you don’t want one of those instead? Here are the games I’d pick up for it!

Cuphead

A visual wonder, and perhaps the biggest draw to purchase an Xbox One.

Assassins Creed Origins

Ubisoft came back strong for one of their best assassins creed games in years!

That does it for this year’s list!! But don’t wander off too far….cyber Monday is only a few days away! 0__o

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve discussed my upbringing as a gamer alongside my siblings, and the real world traits it has helped me in developing. So far we’ve touched on hand/eye coordination and sharing via the tried and true “Pass and play” method. This time around let’s talk teamwork!

The original Nintendo entertainment system gave us Contra.

me and my brother used the famous Konami code to get 30 lives and beat the game. We hit “continue” an endless amount of times to finally complete Double Dragon and the Ninja Turtles games blah blah blah…

Sure those required some teamwork. Let’s both shoot at that big alien together and try not to lose a life…big whoop…but there is one childhood game that truly redefined co-op play for me.

Goof Troop for the Snes

Let me just start by saying this game is totally underrated.  Me and my brother would rent this gem once every couple of months to try and conquer it. Although it has the option of being enjoyed solo, you’d be doing yourself a huge disservice to not play it alongside someone.

Goofy and Max are on a Pirate inhabited island trying to rescue Pete and his son PJ. every stage has enemies to defeat, but the Genius of Goof Troop lies in it’s puzzles.

Sure, there’s a second player in control of another character on screen…but that’s almost just a ruse. What Goof Troop really wants is another person in the room helping solve  puzzles. two heads are better than one, afterall.

“Okay, what if you stand there and push the block against this button. when the gate opens I’ll use the grappling hook and we can both walk across to get the key” conversations like these were common practice while making our way across that pirate island. In the end, I actually don’t think me and my brother ever finished the game, but we earned something much more valuable. Trust in each other. JK I’m being dramatic, but still we had a ton of fun!

Here are a couple games available now that are incredible at showcasing teamwork. Grab a controller and play along with your kids!

Overcooked

You, and up to three other players are tasked with managing a kitchen within a restaurant. chop/stew/cook, and plate dishes together, and make sure the clientele is satisfied. Don’t forget the dishes!

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime

Gather some friends or family over , and explore the depths of the universe together! Your team’s spaceship always has more stations than it does players, guarantying multitasking and chaos will ensue. “Asteroids to our left! someone pull up the shield! enemy’s below us, MAN THE TURRETS!” It’s a frantic good time.

Snipperclips

I’ve mentioned this one before , but with a deluxe edition releasing soon, it’s worth mentioning again! Work together and get creative to solve hilarious puzzles with up to 4 players!

Last #throwbackthursday I detailed how Videogaming as a child has aided my hand-eye coordination as an adult. Today we’ll go into how gaming as a kid may have subliminally helped me in yet another aspect of my day to day life: Sharing!

It’s a Friday afternoon in 1994, and me and my older brother have been waiting patiently for our dad to get home to take us to the video store, as he had promised last week he would let us rent a game. He gets home and after some settling in is finally ready to deliver on his promise, and so off we go to our local movie/videogame rental spot: Video USA! We skim through the racks of games, uncertain of what to take home when suddenly, like a beam of light shining in the dark….

The choice was obvious, the transaction  complete and we hurry home. STEP ON IT DAD!!

But Megaman is a one player game…a system must be implemen-“I’M FIRST!” Welp….rules are rules. I guess my brother goes first. -__-

He makes his way through the introductory first stage, but misses a jump and falls into the abyss. one life down….after a brief pause he passes the control. I encounter a robotic bumble bee and get blown away…I pass the control. My brother conquers every obstacle and completes the level, we’re off to the next stage! again, a pause…perhaps even some hesitation.. however even in victory, the controller is passed. It’s humble, it’s selfless, it’s unspoken, and it’s concrete!

Implementing this new method, my brother and I manage to defeat Sigma and the robot masters over the course of the two day allotted rental period. Although Megaman had to return to the video store…the “Pass and Play” method was to remain for years to come.

I’m not saying videogames entirely taught me to share, But I’m a firm believer it played a role.  Maybe the next game you play with your kids can be a one player game. Practice sharing the fun in victory, and defeat!

Next week we touch on a related topic. Teamwork!

So you managed to score an SNES Classic despite the odds ,and it’s time to show your kids what gaming was like in the prehistoric age. You’re in luck! The SNES Classic does not disappoint, and there really isn’t a bad choice in the bunch, but below are my picks for my five best introductory games to the world of Super Nintendo. It wasn’t easy omitting some of my favorites in favor of user appeal (Sorry super Metroid!) However, this is a list of games I feel invite players right in, be it via the visuals, gameplay, soundtrack or all of the above! Let’s get to it!

   Donkey Kong Country

 Graphics have come a loooong way from the 16 bit era, but Donkey Kong Country’s visuals were downright revolutionary for it’s day! The kids will come for the makeshift 3D graphics, but they’ll stay for the challenging, and varied gameplay!

   Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

viewed by many as not just one of the greatest Zelda entries of all time, but one of the greatest videogames of all time. Kids can play through the story and defeat Ganon, or wander about Hyrule at their own pace exploring the land for secrets.

                                 Super Mario RPG

Square and Nintendo teamed up once upon a time, and delivered this little role playing gem. Charming story and characters, along with simple yet fun gameplay make this a must. It was the RPG that got me interested in the genre to begin with… maybe it’ll do the same for the next generation!

Kirby Superstar

I remember taking this game to a friends birthday party the weekend I bought it. He asked if he could borrow it, and I said no. He got sad. It’s that good! nine games in one,  plus 2 player co-op!

Super Mario World

The SNES launch title, and in my humble opinion…one of the greatest video games of all time. Simple and vibrant graphics, an unforgettable soundtrack, and way too much fun spanning many worlds and stages. This game is incredible, and I can’t wait to play it for the hundredth time!

I’ve been playing videogames for about as long as I can remember. In fact one of my earliest memories is running home one day from Kindergarten to play Super Mario Bros. on the NES, only to be shot down because it was Thursday (gaming was limited to Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for us.) from my time as a child all the way up to present day, gaming has been given a bad reputation from media outlets and grandmothers across the planet, but it’s very rare people talk about it’s benefits. No, I didn’t conduct any studies, and I’m no expert per se…I just grew up gaming, and I turned out just fine!……Right? For the next few weeks in correspondence with the all important #throwbackthursday I will go over an attribute I feel videogames helped me improve upon. Let’s start with an obvious one:

Hand-eye coordinationCould you maneuver through this gauntlet of saws? With practice, I’m sure you could.

I saw on the news once that a man just barely escaped death by ducking under a tree that had suddenly fallen. The entire top portion of his car was scraped clean off, and had it not been for his quick thinking…he would have seen a similar fate. When asked how he managed to react so quickly in such a dire situation, he gave the credit to videogames. Is this even feasible? I think so.

Things like reflexes, hand eye-coordination, and memory care not from where those attributes are developed. they carry over and are applicable throughout many facets of life.

Let’s take it to my high school years, where I made the decision to pursue music. My parents bought me a bass guitar and I started practicing away. I treated bass lines just like, you guessed it: a videogame. I just needed to identify a pattern, and move my hands to make the necessary inputs on time. Friends were sometimes surprised at how quickly I could learn a song, and I truly feel my time spent with videogames has greatly contributed to that. Again…not an expert, just my opinion.

Below is a quick list of some games I feel helped push my hand-eye coordination to their limits. Try some out!

Megaman 2

Classic videogames rarely pulled punches, and this game was no different. Jumping between the blocks in the picture shown above is hard enough on it’s own….but we have to defeat that dragon too!?

Amplitude

three buttons, your eyes, and your ears. Time presses in correspondence to the visual queues on screen. A stepping stone in what would one day become Guitar Hero.

Super meat boy

This game is only for the hardcore. The stage pictured above ranks amongst the hardest videogame stages I’ve ever played. May the odds be ever in your favor.

 Next Thursday I’ll discuss how games helped in teaching me to share!

A brand new installment in the classic Metroid series is releasing soon, and I couldn’t be more excited! I’ve played through and finished just about every entry since childhood, and I plan on doing the same with this one. Because it’s releasing on the 3DS (Nintendo’s handheld console,) I’ll have to get in touch with my 9 year old niece. I let her borrow my 3DS a few months ago, and she promised she would take good care of it and not lose it, so there shouldn’t be an issue of any sort. at all. whatsoever.

wait…

you can’t find….

but you said….

YOU PROMISED!

Okay so my 3DS has disappeared. Let’s discuss love, loss, and videogames.

When I was six years old I misplaced mine and my brother’s copy of Megaman 2. He didn’t let me live it down until Megaman 3 released. (Thankyou Megaman 3)

When my little sister was around that same age, she accidently erased our Mario 64 file. all 120 stars down the drain. We didn’t let her play our videogames for the following several years. Yeah….that was pretty mean.

The point I’m trying to make is applicable outside of videogames. We all make mistakes, and shouldn’t expect perfection from anyone…especially kids. Am I upset my 3DS has gone missing indefinitely? Yes…but my niece’s intentions were not to make me angry. I was once that kid, so I’m putting myself in her Velcro light up shoes for a moment to gain some perspective, and I’m doing my best not to give her that much of a hard time.

Cause you see…..dealing with kids can sometimes feel like a mazebut as we power through and overcome obstacles, we gain knowledge and new abilities.                 

Suddenly scenarios that were difficult (or even impossible) before are easy. We’re opening new doors!

Reaching new heights with ease.

Saving the planet?

well yeah, you get the point. Does anyone have a 3DS I can borrow?

Another month is upon us, and with a new month comes new game releases! September typically marks the beginning of the holiday videogame rollout, so get that wish list ready… it’s full speed ahead! Below are some of my picks for September. Spanning across various genres, there really is something for just about everyone. Check it out!

Rated E for EveryoneMario+Rabbids Kingdom Battle

This one is making my September list even though it released late August. Why? Because it’s surprisingly great! When rumors spread that Mario was teaming up with these pesky Rabbid characters, the internet collectively shrugged…but the gameplay, level of polish, and charm are undeniable. A strategy based game where players can take their time  deciding the best solution for leading Mario and his team into victory. Great for all ages. If you’re a switch owner, I highly recommend it.

Cuphead

Three long years since it’s initial announcement, Cuphead is finally here! Pulling influences from 1930’s cartoons, this side scrolling game has a look all it’s own. Although rated E for everyone, early reports show that Cuphead is no cakewalk when it comes to difficulty. Also despite it’s rating, 1930’s cartoon villains give me the creeps. Releasing exclusively to Microsoft Windows, and Xbox One.

FIFA18 / NBA 2K18

The sky is blue, grass is green, a new 2k and FIFA release annually. With responsive gameplay and graphics that look eerily closer and closer to the real thing each year, these won’t disappoint. Although the switch version does take a significant graphical hit, both FIFA and NBA2K will technically be available on all three major gaming consoles.

Pokken Tournament DX

In most Pokemon entries battles are done on a strategic, turned based battlefield. Since the inception of this world renowned franchise players have wondered: What if we could take full control of our Pokemon when they fight? Wonder no more, Pokken Tournament DX is here! Simplified controls with a deep system mean anyone can pick up this switch exclusive and get straight into the action!

Rated T for Teen

Destiny 2

The second installment in the Destiny Trilogy releases this month. The original had some missteps, but developers Bungie listened to the fans and this entry seems to be improved in just about every way. Parents/gamers/gamer parents alike should all take note that Destiny 2 is online only, So it will not function without an internet connection. Also you’ll most likely have to deal with online brats from time to time.

Marvel vs Capcom Infinite

Your kid’s favorite heroes from the comic books and movies are here, duking it out with Capcom’s most popular characters! Ironman vs Megaman, anyone? Gameplay has been crafted with both rookies and seasoned veterans in mind, so anyone can jump right into this over the top action brawler and do some damage.

Don’t Forget…

          This thing.

Pre orders were a Nightmare , but on Sep. 29th this elusive console will hit store shelves. Wake up early and go to Toys R Us if you’re looking to score one. A great way to school the kids on gaming history 101.

E-Sports: a multiplayer video game played competitively for spectators, typically by professional gamers.

Just about a year ago Nintendo announced a holiday item known as the NES Classic: A nifty miniature version of the original Nintendo Entertainment System preloaded with 30 classic games for our gaming and nostalgia pleasure. Retailing at $59.99 the Price was right and anyone interested could pick one up….right?

Nope.

Marketed as a limited item, the NES Classic supply did not meet the consumer demand by a longshot. They can now be seen online regularly for up to 3 times it’s original price. As frustrating as the whole situation was…it was clear the market was clamoring for some retro gaming action, and analysts began to predict the next phase in Nintendo’s grand scheme to piss every single one of us off: the Super Nintendo Classic. The insiders were right, and here we are today. The SNES in many circles is considered the greatest gaming console of all time…surely Nintendo has accounted for all of this and learned from last years pre-order debacle…………..right?

Nope.

Pre orders would be made available at some point in time, that was as broad of a statement that consumers would get. From out of nowhere, with absolutely no announcement Wal-mart classics went up! The internet caught wind of this and acted swiftly. The Limited supply was sold out within 20 minutes, but those who acted fast enough could finally rest easy……………right?

nOpE.

Wal-Mart blew it big time and apparently put preorders out a solid month prematurely. all purchases were cancelled via their website.

Parents, If you’re looking to score an SNES Classic for the holidays here are some pointers:

1. Toys R Us has opted not to do preorders. Instead of hounding the internet, Take Sep. 29th off and get there early!
2. Wal-Mart also claims they will have more stock in store, and online on 9/29
3. Find a shooting star/4 leaf clover/birthday candles and wish real hard.

When it’s all said and done, it’s clear to me Nintendo has to make some changes to avoid these kinds of messes. Or maybe we should just stop obsessing over gaming relics of yesteryear. But will they? Will we?

Nope.