My son and I were finishing up our third dungeon of the night when we stumbled upon something totally unexpected. In this dungeon, we'd already found a trove of weapons and some cool new armor, but there was one treasure chest left that was just waiting for us to find a key for. Unfortunately, when we opened it, it seemed to have a different purpose. I have rarely screamed that much in my adult life.
AC day
Nick Sutrich, Senior Content Producer at Android Central, delves into all things VR, from new hardware to new games to upcoming technology and more, in his weekly column.
In fact, it turns out that the latest update to Dungeons of Eternity has added the Mimic, a fantastical creature that disguises itself as a chest filled with valuables and hides itself in the deepest dungeons it attempts to raid. Once opened, the Mimic's fanged face is fully revealed, making anyone who attempts to loot its safe very deadly.
Finding this chest was cool enough, but there's something special about quality father-son bonding time that makes it that much better. I cheered for my son while dodging the fireball that shot from his chest, and when we both tried to deliver the finishing blow, the high fives that erupted from the room were something you could only experience in the stands of a stadium.
Moments like these and countless others have helped strengthen the bond between my son and me. I encourage other parents to do the same. Even if it's a game you don't normally enjoy, doing things together, especially immersive VR games, is something I used to do when my son was younger, playing with action figures and Legos on the floor. It creates a childlike sense of joy and unforgettable memories.
Friday Night Lights
Playing games with your kids is something special that helps bridge traditional generational gaps in interest and understanding. Gaming breaks boundaries, but it can also be an unhealthy way to increase your time on the couch. That's where VR comes into play.
Most VR games are inherently more active than traditional games on a flat display because they force you to move around more, even if it's just by moving your head or arms. This is good for your body and mind because you're not spending your Friday night sitting on the couch.
While traditional games can encourage unhealthy habits, VR games encourage movement and physicality in new and different ways.
But VR games are more than just standing up and moving around a bit. This is a way to create lasting memories in a way that is unique to our brain's ability to capture spatial information.
Traditional flat-screen games can evoke emotions and create memorable moments, but our brains are built to experience more than just our eyes and ears: they're built to explore with our hands, walk with our feet (or navigate in a wheelchair) and experience the magical sensation of being there.
When my son asks me if he can play “Dungeons of Eternity,” he talks about it the same way he talks about it when he's outside playing with his friends or exploring the forest. That's because he's about to go Genuine Adventure with your father, slay actual skeletons and undead wizards with any weapon you can hold and see, explore new places you've never been (and can never return to), and, of course, find nuggets of treasure.
We love spending time outdoors, and we do a lot of it, but VR allows us to go on authentic adventures that we wouldn't be able to in the fully explored real world.
It's fun because we can experience romantic life together. It's impossible to actually embark on a “medieval quest” (the kind spawned by fantasy books and movies, not plague-ridden serfdom). Because, frankly, almost everything has already been discovered or done in some way and is usually then recorded and recorded. Rebroadcast on YouTube to experience it in a cheap, second-hand way.
So instead of just watching or reading about other people doing these things, you can actually do the following: do And create lasting memories from the experience. It's not just about watching someone do something cool. actually Do something cool yourself.
My son and I have been playing games together since he was 4 or 5 years old. I can't remember exactly when we started playing together for more than a few seconds. We've spent a fair amount of time playing a variety of games on a variety of systems. Whether we played cross-platform Minecraft on different devices, leveled up Minecraft Dungeons on our living room TV, or took turns passing the controller in Breath of the Wild, we both made memories we'll never forget. I made it.
I cherish all the time we spent together, but there's something really special about being able to play the same games together in a virtual world – being able to see and understand the other person's body language makes it a more personal experience.
Playing games like Dungeons of Eternity makes my son feel like he's 4 years old again. I sit on the floor with him while he plays with stuffed animals and action figures, making up stories and creating memories.
When you play VR, you're not sitting side by side on the couch. Games like Dungeons of Eternity make my son feel like he's 4 years old again. I sit on the floor with my son, playing with stuffed animals and action figures, creating memories and stories. Age doesn't matter in games, so it feels like a way to preserve your childhood.
Of course I love being outdoors with him and we spend a lot of time there. There's a reason I live in a mountainous area where I can explore nature. But it's satisfying to feel like you've had a physical adventure without having to go outside.
If you haven't tried VR with your kids yet, we highly recommend giving it a try. If you only have one VR headset at home, check out our Meta Quest 2 deals to buy an additional VR headset for under $200. You'll eventually need to upgrade to keep playing the latest games, but the most popular VR headset of all time will likely be around for a few more years.
Think of it as an early start to your summer vacation and go on completely different adventures throughout the week.
Or, if that's too difficult, play with what you have at home. Whether it's crafting or mining on two phones or passing a controller back and forth, we encourage you to play more games with your kids. It's tremendous fun, helps build relationships, and creates lasting, active memories. Plus, there's always something to suit every interest, so it won't be hard to find a game that at least the two of you can enjoy together.
