In our other Father's Day-themed feature, veteran animator Erik Van Pelt explains how playing video games with his own father, from
Asteroids to
Battlefield 1942 and beyond,
has improved their relationship.
Indeed, as Pelt, who currently works at Coresoft and has previous worked on titles for Electronic Arts and a number of other publishers, explains:
"We have all seen, heard, and read no end of press that focuses on the negative aspects of video games. Including quite a lot about how video games are isolating and anti-social activities that degrade real personal relationships.
Video games are the root of all evil. Brain softening, child-corrupting, hot coffee slinging purveyors of cop killing, pimp-handed avatars of loose morals and questionable character, engaged in all manner of congress.
Speaking of Congress, it seems that whenever a politician needs to strut, or as is more often the case, polish their moral credentials, video games are their social evil of choice to rally against in brandishing their family values.
Personally I'm a little tired of it, especially when my own experience has been exactly the opposite. If anything, killing people online with my dad has improved our relationship."
You can now read
the full Gamasutra feature on the subject, including lots more personal insight from Van Pelt on why Father's Day and games have an important connection for him.
