video games

A couple of days after my last post, On the subject of video games and prison lingo, this conversation took place with Bryce about another video game.

Bryce: Mommy, will you watch me play this game? It’s pretty cool.

Me: Sure, I can watch for a few minutes.

Bryce: Let me show you the characters first.

He starts flipping through these pages of characters on the game. The graphics of this game are also cartoons, but I realized right away that it’s more of an adult cartoon style. At least the detailed pictures were. When the game is in play the characters all compress down into innocuous looking little people and they appear child-like. But when you peruse the actual game roster the characters are all sexy fantasy creatures…who are well endowed and wearing very little clothing. I saw picture after picture of female characters with their breasts hanging out and wearing small bikini style costumes to match their persona. I was shocked, but Bryce didn’t seem to notice how exposed these characters were and the conversation continued…

Me: I’m surprised daddy let you pick this game.

Bryce: Why? It’s fun.

He then shows me a picture of an exceptionally racy looking character and I almost choked on my tongue.

Me: Who is that character?

Bryce: She’s a Succubus.

Me: For fuck’s sake! (said quietly to myself so Bryce wouldn’t hear)

When I mentioned this little conversation to my husband, he had the decency to look embarrassed before he started laughing his ass off. And when I mentioned writing this post to him he said, “What’s the big deal? It’s a mythological creature……that could be painted on the hood of a Camaro.”

I rest my case.

Last week Dan downloaded a new game to the ipad for Bryce. The graphics of the game are cartoons, but the game is still a bit scary because all the enemies are monsters, like vampire bats and werewolves.

This was the conversation I had with Dan about the game last week. Keep in mind that Bryce is only four years old, but because he has an older sister who loves video games, he’s more adept than most four year olds at playing them.

Dan: I got this new game for Bryce. At first you only had to shoot enemies with a bow and arrow, which didn’t strike me as being overly violent. But now you have to defeat your enemies with a dagger, and that just seems too violent.

Me: You think? He’s four, and he has to defeat enemies with a dagger? Is that the same game he asked me for help with the other day? He told me he was in a “creepy situation” with a game and needed help getting out of the level. I saw the vampire bats and told him to shut it off.”

(I want Dan and Bryce to have their own activities, you know, father/son stuff, so I don’t want to interfere. Although I am a bit concerned, I’m trying to trust Dan’s judgment).

Dan: Yeah, I’m not sure we’ll be keeping this game.

Two days later….

Dan: Bryce, tell mommy what you did to the werewolf.

Bryce: I shanked him with a shiv.

Me: (epic sigh)