First Video Game Adventures

We played Skylanders together as a family, particularly the first two Spyro's Adventure and Giants. This was usually in the sitting room with us rotating in to play the two players the game offers.

The game uses toy figures to unlock characters and store their progress. This was the best of the toys-to-life games for our family. So much so that we used the toys in other ways as well, like the made-up game of Skylanders Chess you can see below.

Skill

Learning Basics of Adventure Games

TRANSFORMATION

Ellen learnt the basics of moving around a game, working together and solving simple game puzzles.

Activities: Ellen found that the following related activities worked alongside playing Skylanders:

Invented Skylanders Chess

MAKING AND DESIGNING

Andy and Ellen used the Skylanders figures to invent a version of chess. Using the portal to make figures glow in certain places.
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Discovering Adventure Stories

We played Knack together. This offered a deeper story than the Skylanders games we were playing previously. The first Knack game let a second player join as an assistant to the main player. This worked well playing with my daughter and we took turns being the main player.

We revisited the game when Knack 2 came out some years later. This offers stronger multiplayer modes but the kids were by then a bit old for this kind of game so we didn't play it as much.

Skill

Learning How to Battle

TRANSFORMATION

This developed Ellen's skill at fighting enemies as well as some more in-depth puzzle-solving.

Taking on Combat Adventures

Having played many games as a family, Ellen had started to play less. I wanted to find a game that we could play together and had really enjoyed playing through the Uncharted games a few times on my own.

I suggested the game to her, and she was initially reluctant because of the need to shoot and deal with combat. We gave it a go and I handled the shooting sections while she did the exploration. But she soon took on the combat as steadily improved.

Skill

Learning To Shoot

TRANSFORMATION

Ellen got to grips with shooting and using cover in video games. It took a while but she steadily became proficient.

Deepening Combat Adventures

After the success of playing the first Uncharted game together, we moved on to Among Thieves. This not only upped the production but took us back to spending time with the characters we got to know from the first game.

Our playtime became a regular feature of the evening. I particularly enjoyed revisiting these games with Ellen's eye for story and character. While I sometimes missed what exactly was going on, Ellen could always offer a helpful account of the proceedings.

Ellen could now handle the characters well and fend for themselves in combat. We now took turns more based on time than whether shooting was required as we had the previous game.

Disposition

Handling Uncomfortable Violence

TRANSFORMATION

Ellen got used to dealing with violence in video games, although at first was a little reluctant.

Adventuring with Old Friends

Into the third game of Uncharted series, it was clear we both wanted to complete these games together. I was glad we had chosen these games as it meant we had lots of playtime ahead of us before they were over.

We increasingly set aside regular time to play in the evening. We now knew the main characters pretty well and would discuss what we thought of the plot points and whether they were believable.

Identity

Becoming a Gamer

TRANSFORMATION

Ellen embraced the idea of being someone who enjoyed playing video games. She followed games online and suggested what to play next.

Finishing Our First Big Adventure

After a few years, we made it to the final game. Finishing the series together felt like a real achievement. Over the years the game had cemented itself as part of our lives, as well as making game time something that would now continue into other games.

Relationships

Connection Through Play

TRANSFORMATION

Ellen and Andy's relationship benefitted from time spent playing together. We had a reason to spend time on the sofa and loved progressing the adventure story.

From Adventures To Thrillers

After the success and enjoyment of Uncharted, we needed to find our next game to play. There was a bit of a gap as we struggled to find something to scratch that itch as well as Uncharted.

I suggested we try a game from the same developer, The Last of Us. Ellen was initially reluctant because of the older age rating, more pressured combat and scary zombies.

We gave it a try together. As with Uncharted, to begin with I looked after the combat encounters and Ellen dealt with exploration. This worked well and as the game proceeded she increasingly contributed to the combat encounters.

Behaviour

Taking The Controls

TRANSFORMATION

Ellen became accustomed to the fear of zombies and started to relish the thrill of these kinds of stories in games.

Activities: Ellen found that the following related activities worked alongside playing The Last Of Us:

First Steps Painting Heroes

CREATIVE ARTS

Ellen enjoyed using the characters in the game as inspiration for A Level art work.
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Embracing Thrillers

By the time we had finished The Last Of Us, Ellen was enthusiastic about the characters, stories and setting. I had by then moved on to play The Last of Us Part II on my own. Ellen had walked in now and again and was intrigued by how this played out, but not sure she wanted to take on the more realistic combat.

By the time I had finished the game myself, Ellen was ready to give it a go with me. She researched the game and engaged with the wider community as we played.

We took our time to play through it in around 6 months. This was the time Ellen was working on her A Level art and she became fascinated by the setting and characters. This led to her creating a number of pieces of artwork based on characters and moments in the game.

I loved seeing her creative response to the game. She found that sharing the artwork online got an enthusiastic response from fans of the game and the game art community.

Skill

Proficient Survivor

TRANSFORMATION

Ellen was now proficient in shooting in video games, as well as navigating the different worlds and spaces efficiently and managing resources.

Behaviour

Becoming a D&D Player

TRANSFORMATION

Ellen got into playing D&D role-play games with friends and took the lead on setting these sessions up, even persuading her younger brother to run the games.

Activities: Ellen found that the following related activities worked alongside playing The Last Of Us Part II:

Critical Role D&D

PODCAST AND MUSIC

Ellen enjoyed the D&D podcast with overlapping cast from the game's voice actors.
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In-Game Photography

CREATIVE ARTS

Ellen spent regular time with photo mode in the game. Both as a source for artwork, but also to grow understanding of photography.
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Last Of Us Inspired Painting

CREATIVE ARTS

The game inspired Ellen's art in a number of different ways.
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