It’s on like Donkey Kong!

After church this past Sunday, my wife and I took the kids out to eat at Scott's Family Restaurant in Cedar Rapids.  Upon entering, all 3 of my kids were amazed at a video game in the entryway of the building.  Me?  I'd seen this game before....many times.  Donkey Kong.  The classic Nintendo original from the 1980's.  My son immediately began begging for money.  "Dad, it only takes a quarter!"  Somewhere that morning, MY parents smiled, knowing that payback for years of quarter begging was occurring.

What made the moment so poignant is that this month, Sony and Microsoft are both releasing their next generation gaming consoles.  Sony's Playstaion 4, and Microsoft's Xbox One.  The retail price for those systems are $400 and $500, and are sure to be on many Christmas wish lists this year.  Hey, I'll admit it.  If Santa drops one under MY tree, I wouldn't say no!  But for many families, including mine, the price tag this holiday season is just a bit too steep.  Remember when games were a quarter to play?  Now, a copy of the latest popular gaming title will cost you upwards of sixty dollars! 

Now, I admit, I'm a chid of the video game generation.  Let me list the systems that I've owned:  Atari, the original Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Nintendo 64, Playstion 1, 2 and 3, Nintendo Wii, and the Xbox 360.  I spent countless hours as a child, adolescent, and yes, adult playing video games.  But now, as a parent, I see my kids being drawn in by these new fancy machines, and enhanced graphics, and I too fear as my parents did about too much gaming, and not enough studying! 

So the next time your child, or grandchild begs for a quarter to play an antique video game....give in.  It's only 25 cents....and Donkey Kong deserves it anyway!