I could use a Kirby hug

I think I can find an illustration or lesson in just about anything: a song, a story, an experience, even a video game.  Hey, they’re there if you’re lookin’!

My daughter, Krissy, and I just finished playing a Wii game called “Kirby: Return to Dream Land.”  It is cute and hilarious at the same time.  As Kirbys, little round guys who can fly as well as suck up enemies and then take on their powers/traits, you travel through all different sorts of lands fighting enemies, gathering stars and treasures.  Of course if you bump into the enemies or they shoot you somehow your health goes down and if it gets really low, your little Kirby starts panting and looking sad, like he can hardly go another step.

The fantastic thing about playing with a friend, or with my girl, is that Continue reading

Sometimes video games imitate life

I don’t know about you but I can really get worked up playing video games.  Whether it’s frustration over dying for the 372nd time or tension over getting through a tough level or even fear in facing a threatening enemy, my emotions are definitely involved.  This even happened when I was playing Atari as a teenager and my character was simply a square moving about a grid that was supposed to be a castle.  I suppose my vivid imagination doesn’t help.

You may think it’s crazy, but I realize that as far as I’m concerned, video games tend to imitate life – or at least my style of participation in life.  When faced with a task that looks incredible and impossible, I actually can get a faster heartbeat and have to sit on the edge of my seat while I give it a try.  This anticipation or fear can actually make it harder to accomplish the task at hand because I’m not thinking as clearly – I’m reacting – actually I’m flailing around hoping that by some miracle my crazed movements will accidentally slice or pop or defeat my foe.  Continue reading