by Dylan Banning
Next to Mario Day (March 10, aka Mar10=Mario), National Video Game Day is this gamer’s favorite nontraditional holiday. This year, it falls on a Wednesday, July 8, which is perfect because I can play during a weekday, which I don’t normally get to do.
This day gives us an opportunity to show our appreciation to all of the video games—new and old. My parents grew up with a joystick console—an Atari and the Nintendo NES, and even though the Nintendo Switch has better graphics, I prefer to play on my Nintendo 3DS because it is closer to my heart—probably because it was my first video game experience. And I’ve always been more into the racing games genre, my personal favorites are Mario Kart and New Super Mario Bros.
Here are some fast facts about the gaming world to get you excited about National Video Games Day:
– 2020 is the 35th Anniversary of Mario
– The average age of video gamers is 34
– 75% of American households have at least one gamer
Myth: Playing video games turns your mind into mush.
Fact: You can’t actually prove that. Video games actually require critical thinking skills, quick problem solving, memory work, and hand-eye coordination. Universities and libraries are forming eLeagues across the nation!
So if you are a beginner and going to talk the lingo this July 8, here are a few helpful acronyms that are important:
RPG: Role Playing Game
DLC: DownLoadable Content
LAG: This is a technical glitch or frame-rate issue between the controller and gamer. It means it is time to take a break and let it cool down.
Anyone can enjoy National Video Game Day! We plan to celebrate with a new game or two, marathon gaming tournaments, dropping some beats listening to my all time favorite music—Super Mario Galaxy CD, wearing gamer gear, and enjoy themed food and activities throughout the day—looking at you Mario Chess and Monopoly.
Grab your favorite controller or device and power up on July 8!
(Parent disclosure: Our son is responsible for buying all of his video games and electronics)
