My Parents Love Rock Band

Pardon the pity party, but in high school, I really had no one to talk to about video games. My gender and my aggressive personality set me apart from the real nerds who were the gamers back then. Of course, in the days before I discovered the eternal, in-depth conversations taking place on internet message boards, the main people I subjected to my strongly specialized opinions were my very patient parents.

They were as befuddled by the gaming phenomenon as everything else, but they were smart and possessed of enough universal curiosity to listen attentively while I heaped praise on Final Fantasy and Devil May Cry, while obsessing over gold skulltulas, which probably saved my sanity. Being who I am, I tried occasionally to get them actively involved in my hobby, which never really ended well as you can imagine, and after college, gaming clubs, and message boards saved me from my solitary rants, I stopped trying to make gaming companions out of my parents.

Fast forwarding to this year, I come home for the holidays and find that my parents have given each other a few early Christmas presents. Namely, a Wii and Rock Band. Since then, scarcely a day has gone by without either Mom or Dad saying, “Hey, you got time for some Rock Band?” and subsequently slaying a few hours in front of the TV living the plastic rock-star dream.

How did this happen? Well, it’s partly my fault; a friend of mine bought Rock Band and I subsequently became addicted, coming over frequently to play (ok, mostly sing, because I couldn’t really play back then) in their band. I dropped hints to the folks that I’d enjoy it intensely if I got Rock Band for my birthday, I actually got it, set it up, and since none of my friends were around I invited my folks to play.

My mom had talked about wanting to go for a walk on what was a beautiful day; her tune changed when she saw the drum kit assembled. She named her female drummer “Starr” after Ringo. We must have killed three or four hours that day as my folks failed even the simple songs, but wanted to keep trying again and again. I should have guessed it was only a matter of time before they’d be shelling out for their own game, but all the same it still surprised me. Rock Band has made my parents into gamers. While trying to label them as “gamers” may not be exactly applicable, it really depends on your definition of gamer. For me it means someone who takes an active interest in the hobby of gaming and is informed. I’m expecting my parents not even to try and research any games for themselves and just ask me for the relevant information, but nothing changes the fact that my folks are playing a video game for their own enjoyment.

I’ve been trying to imagine what kind of future awaits these late blooming game-playing people, and for all the power of my imagination, I can’t picture it. Maybe some of them will become enamored enough of the game that when they finally get tired of it, they head online and look for something similar, but better. Is there anyway that gaming’s business interests could take advantage of this unintentional demographic? I don’t know. I just don’t.

Excuse me, but I have to go. Mom needs me to show her how to set up a drummer’s solo career…again.