Having kids who are deeply into online games like Farmville can be a bit weird. The insistence of "I can't let my crops wither" seems a little disconnected from reality from time to time.
Now, I get computer games. I enjoy them. So I'm not about to go on a "you kids need to get outside into the real world" rant. Although that's not a bad idea. Just stay off my lawn. Farmville I avoid - I'm more of a Zombie Farm kind of guy:
- Double Rainbow - so intense!
My recent trip to the UK with my partner had many high points but one of the fun surprises was seeing a play set of hers from about 40 years ago that showed the more things change, the more they stay the same. This play set involves dozens of tiny plastic pieces that you put together to make and decorate a farm - Farmville before the internet or home computers!
Just like Farmville, with this toy you got a basic set that is designed to get you hooked so you spend money upgrading to more features and pretty things. You can move the components around as much as you like for many different looks.
They even provide a custom tool for inserting the flowers and other decorative items into position.
After playing with it for a few minutes we both wished you could still buy this in shops. I guess the addictive nature of this and its similarities to Farmville shows the more things change, the more they stay the same.
And just for a sense of perspective and scale, here's my massive head next to the farm:
