Win an Custom SHAZAM! Xbox One X for You and a Friend

You can enter the SHAZAM! Contest from Microsoft for your chance to win a custom SHAZAM! Xbox One X and controller for you and one for a friend. You enter the contest on either Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram by answering the question “What super power would your best friend have?” See the offer for details. Entry ends April 09, 2019.

Gaming has sure come a long way since I was a kid, when “gaming” meant picking up sticks, chucking a marble at some jacks, or flipping dominoes. The games for these new consoles like the Xbox One X are so lifelike it’s almost hard to tell the difference between watching the game and watching a movie. It’s not hard to see why so many kids, and even some adults, are so completely smitten with them.

I’ve got grand kids and I’ve given video gaming a try. Mostly to entertain the rest of the family with my mishaps. I’ve always been told I’m “all thumbs” but that apparently isn’t what they meant when they said you needed hand-eye coordination to excel at modern day gaming. A computer game with the keyboard and mouse is more my speed, but the joysticks and buttons on an Xbox controller seem to escape my abilities.

Even though I have my misgivings as to if gaming is creating a less social and less personal environment, I do have to admit it’s amazing for sharpening up ones dexterity, and does provide some problem solving. I would say it’s good for the imagination too, but these new games are so realistic, it doesn’t leave much for it.

While I still prefer to get out the card table and set up a puzzle or a board game, I can understand how video games are such a huge part of modern childhoods. I can even understand the allure for adult gamers. But please for the love of pete, don’t ask Granny to be your wing man in a rousing edition of Fortnite unless you’re just looking for a good laugh.