Making the Switch

So I think I'm going to buy a Nintendo Switch.

I've held off for a couple years, and that's mostly because a.) I still have a system with a stack of yet-to-be-beaten titles to work through, and b.) I don't have time to play the systems I already own.

That being said, I think I'm going to buy a Nintendo Switch.

I haven't really spent a whole hell of a lot of time playing video games over the last couple years, sure, what with Adulting and everything, but friends (and students) of mine are continuously singing the Switch's praises.  Being an original NES fan from the Golden Age of Gaming, I've grown up with Nintendo's various flagship titles throughout the formative years of my life.  Older generations might not understand the rationale behind a grown man playing video games, and younger generations probably think it's weird.  But for we Generation Y'ers - those born after the Gen X'ers but before the Millenials - we were the first to grow up with story-based video games, and those titles had a profound impact on our generation.

The Legend of Zelda: Windwaker

I view franchises like The Legend of Zelda (my favorite) the same as I do my favorite books, movies and LPs.  They're an indistinguishable part of a generation that really hit its stride following the fading of Atari, and grew into puberty while simultaneously saving Hyrule.

Of course I sprung for this version.

Back in 2014, our Wii stopped reading discs and instead of purchasing a new one, I decided upgrade to the newly-released Wii U, which could play all my existing Wii titles with improved graphics and a tablet controller (I explained all this before, if you'll recall.)  This system has held up insanely well over the years, despite the negative press it has thrown at it, and it's still the main system our family utilizes today.  The girls have grown up with it, and with its off-TV, separate screen-play mode, Yours Truly can play video games while the girls watch whatever bullshit they're currently into on Netflix.

So now that the Switch is out, I find myself having to finally address all the Wii U games that I bought over the years and never completed.  Many of these games I haven't gotten around to starting yet, others I started and never finished.  I'm reluctant to pull the trigger on a brand new gaming system until I get some degree of closure with these remaining titles:  I have dozens of Wii games that I shelved without playing more than a couple times, having set them on the backburner when I upgraded to the Wii U.  I don't want to do the same thing when I upgrade to the Switch.

Homeboy's going to feel that in the morning.

With that in mind, I've recently - like, since Christmas Vacation, thereabouts - started to readdress these neglected Wii U titles, and put in serious time towards beating them.  After years of on-again, off-again quasi-playing, I finally beat Windwaker, back in December.  The girls were home with me and watched the ending unfold over the course of a couple hours (towards the end of some of these longer adventure games, the cut-scenes and cinematics get pretty lengthy.)  I'm not going to lie:  it's really awesome having a cheering section on hand when you finally drive the Master Sword into Ganon's skull.

Pirates in LoZ.  I don't get it, either.

And this heroic victory of mine inspired Abby to start her own game save in Windwaker - as an old school gamer, it's pretty rad seeing your offspring take up the torch.  Setting off into the sun with a bunch of pirates.

You meet your daughter at the end of the game.  Which is random.

Speaking of pirates, I also beat Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag last month.  This one, too, was an on-again/off-again love affair, and one that I poured hours of gameplay into the summer I bought it (that summer, down in Florida, was basically devoted to playing Black Flag and floating in my pool working on my tan - I love paid summers off.)  Anyway, it had been sitting on a shelf, about 80% finished, when I finally decided to check it off the to-do list.

Drinks with the guys. Hornigold, Vane, Tew, Blackbeard, and Calico Jack.

Like Legend of Zelda and any other game I pick up, I like to think of myself as a completionist.  I buy the player's guide, I collect every last item and uncover every last secret in a game, I beat every side mission, every miscellaneous quest, everything before I head to the last level, boss, whatever.  It's the Hough OCD in me, I guess.  Anyway, while it's immensely satisfying, it's also insanely time-consuming, and that's why it's taken me years to beat some of these games.

My trusty shuttle, the Normandy.

But, last month I did.  And then I moved on to a third long-neglected gem:  Mass Effect 3.  This one was also pretty in-depth, but didn't require nearly as many hours to get through - the side content wasn't as extensive, but it was still a rip-roarin' ride, fighting alien assholes throughout the galaxy.  It was more combat-centric, but with an emphasis on conversations throughout the game that steer the narrative of the story, so the element of diplomacy and strategy was a welcome change.  Beating that one was a punch in the gut.

A few people died.

At present, I've got about three old Wii U titles (well, old in the since they're from 2014 - 2016) that I'd like to work through before I ultimately pull the trigger on the Switch.  Assassin's Creed III (which takes place during the American Revolution, which is totally badass), Watchdogs (think Grand Theft Auto), and Xenoblade: Chronicles (a sci-fi RPG that's incredibly open-world.)  Since I'm only half-way through one of them at the moment, I think it's safe to say that's more than enough content to get me through the rest of the school year, for sure.

I wouldn't want to lunge in to Breath of the Wild (the Switch's debut Zelda title) until Summer anyway - from what I hear, you can lose hundreds of hours playing that one.

And, as you guys know now, I'm somewhat of a completionist.

- Brian

Across Three Christmases

Merry Christmas, nation!

I don't know about you folks, but I'm really, really tired.  We survived yet another go-'round with the Christmas Beast, and, as always, it was an exhausting affair.

Like I've mentioned before, nobody in this house gets much sleep the night before Christmas.  Kris and I wait until after the girls go to sleep - and are asleep for awhile (we do check, yes) - before placing last-minute bows on gifts and setting them out around the tree.  We then set out stuffed stockings, crumble up the cookies left for Santa, dump his milk down the sink, and basically 'prime the house' for Christmas morning.

After all that crap is over and done with, we have some Holiday cocktails and watch one of our all-time favorite Christmas movies, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Christmas Morning.  The house primed and cameras ready to roll when kids wake up.

Generally we're in bed by 11pm or so, but Yours Truly tends to stress out over the 'big reveal' of Christmas morning:  making sure all the lights, candles, and TV fireplace footage is lit and the cameras rolling for when the girls get around to waking up.  This worrying tends to cut in on my sleep, and last year was so bad I had to take a nap halfway through Christmas.

This year I decided to cut myself a break by locking the girls' bedroom door in the middle of the night, thereby preventing them from rushing out into the living room at 4:30am and finding an unlit tree and no camera to catch their reaction(s).  Kris wasn't sold on the idea (fire hazard and all), so I got up around 3:30am and did it.

Yes, these are the things I lose sleep over.  Don't judge me.

Anyway, this year went off without a hitch - everything was in place, the girls were heavily recorded throughout the day, and we all got some pretty sweet shit for Christmas.  Couldn't ask for a better day, honestly.  Later on in the morning, after the dust and wrapping paper settled around our house, Chris and his new wife Nicole swung by for gift-exchanging and mimosa-drinking, and for some of Kris' Holiday breakfast.  After over-indulging on everything, we sluggishly loaded our offspring into a van and drove over to Mom's house, where we celebrated a third Christmas with our greater Congleton/Hough family.

And so, in closing, I leave you with a yuletide offering of a pictures.

Enjoy. . .

Alayna woke up first this year (as always), and bum-rushed her stocking.  We had to remind her to check out the cookies and milk left out for 'Santa,' and to hold off on her stocking until her sister was up and around.

Abby had a very Star Wars-ish Christmas this year: nearly 9 out of 10 things she got was somehow Star Wars-related.  Not that she was complaining.

Abby really got into the spirit of giving this year:  she made every person in the family at least one present (usually a drawing on notebook paper covered in wrapping paper), and crafted a few items (such as the glazed ceramic snowman shown here) in art at her school.

As mentioned before, Alayna was really wanting Shopkins this year (that's what she asked Santa for), so we made sure to stuff her stocking with a crapload of those stupid things.

Stockings having been looted, kids moved on to some of the presents from Santa. . .

Whatever they ask of Santa is wrapped up and labeled as "From: Santa" (so Alayna proceeded to open a bunch of Shopkins toys, and Abby opened more Star Wars crap.)

(Abby really wanted Darth Vader pajamas and slippers this year)

The Millenium Falcon

I'm willing to bet she loses half of these stupid things within the week. . .

One thing Kris and I started years ago was to give each of the girls $5 to spend on the other parent.  This kinda reinforces with them the 'giving' aspect of the Holidays.  The Cannonball, apparently appreciating my love of booze and pirates, got me this skull-molded shot glass.  I'm not complaining.

These Star Wars comics are pretty well written and illustrated, and Abby's really taken a liking to them recently.  Only downside is that she won't let Kris read them to her, as Kris can't do the multiple voices like I can.  Switching back and forth between Darth Vader, Jabba, Admiral Ackbar, and Chewbacca utterly destroys your vocal chords.  Take my word on it.

An hour or two into gift-opening, showing no sign of slowing down any time soon. . .

They spent $2 on each other this year, too (Abby bought Alayna the box in her hair, shown here.)

Abby modeling the flower beret Alayna got her for Christmas.

We actually bought this for the girls last year - wrapped it and everything - but it fell behind a box in my closet and was consequently forgotten about until I was packing up my old Study for our move to Michigan.  I kept it wrapped for this Christmas, but had completely forgotten what was inside it; needless to say, Kris and I were both looking forward to the girls opening it so we could figure out what it was.  As it turns out, it was a twin-pack of Nerf Rebelle blasters. . . which Abby didn't really approve of.

Rollerskates (they've gone to the Roll Arena here in town a few times and really enjoy it. . . despite the fact that they suck.)

Guess how frequently they fell on their asses doing this?

. . . aaaaand another pirate-themed gift from a child.

My kids know me well.

The Rise Against the Empire Star Wars set for Disney Infinity.  As I mentioned before, I bought Infinity 3.0 back in October, along with a Han Solo figure, so that I could unlock all the content for them ahead of time.  Abby really wanted this set, as it came with the play set piece - the clear-ish Death Star, shown between the two figures, that allows you to play through the original trilogy movies - and her favorite Star Wars character, Princess Leia.

Fester's Quest for the original Nintendo.  Yes, that game exists; I had never heard of it, but apparently Kris grew up with it. 

Waterproof Blu-tooth speaker?  Showers have just gotten a whole hell of a lot sweeter, folks.

This game terrifies everyone in the family.

I don't own a fire poker, so I have to make do with an Iberian falcata.

Kris' office on Christmas morning. . .

We had two fireplaces going this morning.  Gotta stay warm, folks.

A whisky-filled candy cane.  Thanks, "Santa."

Nicole and Chris brought over a bucket of adoptable stuffed animals from the World Wildlife Foundation (or Fund? - I forget) for the girls.  They gave them a set of three stuffed animals - a dolphin, an ocelot, and some kind of a fox.  Basically how this works is that you donate to their fund, and in return you 'adopt' three different species that are endangered, threatened, or near extinct.  As part of your 'adoption kit,' they send you a wooden bucket with three stuffed animals, their fact cards, and certificates of ownership.

The girls really liked this, and not only 'cause of the trio of stuffed animals, either: they were happy to be 'saving' three different species from extinction.  Or however that works.

. . . and Chris surprised me and Kris with these add-ons for that Nightmare VHS boardgame we played back in early October.  Three, new games that work with the existing boardgame and pieces.  Three new 'nightmares' to adventure through (over cocktails, of course.) 

After a cholesterol-raising brunch - and more than a few mimosas and egg nogs - Chris, Nicole, and our family caravanned over to Mom and John's house for our family Christmas with them.  Since the earliest days of our parents' divorce, Chris, Jeff and I have always attempted to celebrate Christmases at each parent's house at the same time, so it was cool to actually make it work this year (this being the first time since 2011.) 

As a family, we decided to stay in our pajamas this year.  Screw it.

Grandma and Grandpa Chinery came out to, shortly after lunch.

One of Abby's presents was a remote-controlled Strawberry Shortcake car, which she didn't put down the rest of the day.

One of the gifts we gave Mom and John this year was an iPhoto calendar, which I put together over the last few months.

Chris and I also threw in on a camera, to replace the archaic thing Mom had been shooting with for the last few years.

Queen of Photobombs

Showing Grandma and Grandpa Chinery the calendar

'Tis the Season, folks.

 

Playing with Shopkins.  SOOOO much fun. . .

This can't be that fun, operating a remote controlled car on such a small surface.  To each their own, I guess. 

Nicole looks thrilled.

The girls got a lot of arts and crafts stuff, which was cool because it's one of those things that they never ask for, but ALWAYS play with.

Carnage

Jeff and Annie showed up an hour or two after everyone else. . .

I can't believe Mom still has this stuff. . . this was in our house growing up back in the '80s. 

Uncle Chris poops his pants.  Either that, or else Scarlett just landed on something she shouldn't have.

Alayna attempts introducing Scarlett to the horrific world of Shopkins. . .

We ended up going home around 6pm, and everyone (Kris, the girls, the dog) was asleep by 8pm.  Yours Truly stayed up until about 9pm, watching TV, until I could no longer stand it.  And THAT, dear readers, is how the Hough Family celebrated Christmas Day 2015.  But more is yet to come - stay tuned. . .

- Brian