Are you Ready Player 2?
(Originally written May 19, 2015)
If you were a child of the console generations which began in the mid-1980s you emerged into a new world; you were raised as a gamer. You are part of a shared experience and perhaps bonded with your brothers and sisters as you took turns jumping, shooting, and running across the digital landscape. These memories are part of a cultural gestalt which defines us just as sports, music, film, and books create a shared consciousness.
My twins were born into a two player co-op experience. Since the beginning they have walked side by side in life and into the digital wilderness experiencing joys, beauty, and frustrations together. They laugh and scream and jump without ever being in doubt that there will always be someone at the other controller to share this life.
In contrast our toddler, Emerson, is a singleton and was born alone. From the sidelines he watched his brothers revel in their play without being able to join. It was clear that he wanted a chance to walk into the frontier he saw before him but how? It was a puzzle that needed an answer.
One evening he made his move as the twins were pulled away from a still warm console for a break. Emerson dashed to the controllers, grabbed one and then looked around. When I walked over he turned up to me and unexpectedly placed a controller in my hand with a look that was clear in meaning. Are you ready player 2? Then he grabbed his own controller and struggled to see what effect he could produce on the screen before him.
In that moment crystallized in a singularly perfect gaze of toddler hope was every father and son since the beginning of time. Will you be with me? Can we do this together? Daddy, will you be my player 2? It was a question filled with hope, trust, love, and uncertainty.
Yes, buddy I’ll try.
Select 2-player mode.