Mirror’s Edge Catalyst — So Much More Than a Video Game
I grew up loving video games. The Atari 2600 was launched when I was 5 years old, and for the next 15 years I pretty much fell in love with everything from Pac-Man to River Raid to Asteroids (and who can forget Pole Position?).
Electronic Arts (EA) was even kind enough to launch NHL Hockey my second year of college, making sure everyone who lived on the 17th floor had an immediate bond.
Video games not only helped define my generation but also expanded our minds and laid the foundation for what the Internet is today.
Very few people understood the true importance of video games then and many still don’t understand the importance today. However, they are critically important, especially for children who have social challenges, eye-hand coordination issues and other special needs.
This article is not about allowing your child to become a couch potato. This is about widening your perspective about an incredible learning tool. A tool that allows children to learn, dream, compete and even cry.
Almost everything in life is good, in moderation. And video games are, well, awesome.
What if I told you that playing a video game can help your child:
- Celebrate achievements
- Learn the value of practice
- Become inspired to participate in sports
- Interact socially
- Share the joy of playing
- Improve eye-hand functionality
- Expand the desire to learn
- Laugh more
- Learn to overcome frustration
- Build patience
- Introduce sportsmanship
- And so much more.
The right video game can do all this, and more.
For my son, it started with Angry Birds. The joy of watching him get five stars for the first time said everything. Sure, it was somewhat addictive, but instilling guidelines and rules about when/where to play is part of the skills a parent needs to learn. Once those parameters are set, sharing and watching the joy of playing is a pretty great thing. You not only get to see your child enjoy but also, if you are lucky, get to participate.
Today (and for the last year), my son’s favorite game is Mirror’s Edge, from Electronic Arts’ DICE studio. About a month ago, the second installment — called Mirror’s Edge Catalyst — was released. My son was looking forward to this new release about as much as the collective joy of all kids on Christmas morning. Yes, every single one of them combined.
Then came game release day, and it exceeded all expectations.
We purchased the Mirror’s Edge Catalyst Collector’s Edition Set, which contained a copy of the game and some pretty cool stuff, including Alek’s favorite — a sleeve tattoo.
Not only was this second Mirror’s Edge installment full of incredible game play, it also inspired my son to show interest in parkour.
Wait. What.
Interested in a sport?
This is coming from the kid who, when he played softball, hit the ball, ran to first, and then ran back to home.
The same kid who has hearing sensitivity so big crowds do not work well.
The same kid who got kicked out of gymnastics. (Seriously, he was told never to come back.)
The same kid who has social challenges. The same kid who has Autism.
I will never forget the moment my son looked up to me, armed with this new sleeve tattoo, and said, “Daddy, let’s go do some parkour.”
Stop everything.
Google “Parkour Gym/Place” right now.
BOOM.
Fifteen minutes away and we were going.
I think I was more excited than he was.
For the next couple of hours, I watched my son become involved in a sport, listening to instructors and high-fiving with other children. For one of the very first times, he was not the special needs kid in the class. He was just another kid having a blast in a parkour gym.
So, after having a Daddy moment where I was filled with pride, what did I do?
Naturally, I told him how amazing he was and how he did such a great job.
Then I spoke to a few people, explaining how Mirror’s Edge and Mirror’s Edge Catalyst were my son’s favorite games.
One week later a box appeared.
Holy Moly.
When I say a box, I mean a box.
I mean it was almost half the height of him.
Who was this from?
What.
Electronic Arts and DICE.
You have to be kidding me.
Well, time to open it up and get this party started.
Hats, t-shirts and more. My son even went so far as to call it “The Mirrors’ Edge Experience” — he does love his words.
A Big Thank You to EA and DICE .
There is no doubt in my mind that the people behind these two great companies understand gaming is so much more than selling video games.
It’s about connecting and creating memories for people all around the world.
It’s also about creating products that appeal, expand and inspire minds.
So, on behalf of my entire family, and from one parent to many more, to everybody at EA and DICE: Thank you.
Thank you for helping people all over the world create incredible memories that last a lifetime.
You all rock.
A warning though — Need for Speed is picking up speed in the household. So, if anybody from Ferrari is listening, my shipping address is…
