Introducing the kids to RBI

[BeefMaster]

Got the NES hooked up to the big TV and got my son to try out some RBI with me.  I'd had him mess with the game before, when he was 3 or so (basically all he did was hit A to swing the bat), but I haven't had it out in the last couple years since's been legitimately decent at video games.  At this point, he knows the basic rules of baseball and knows his way around a controller thanks to Xbox experience (although that will probably make "A" and "B" tough to keep straight), so he's able to pick up on the game much quicker.

We played three innings, with me using Houston and him using the AL.  Once he discovered the drop ball, he probably overused that quite a bit, but his pitching was otherwise fine (other than that he accidentally beaned GDavis, which he found hilarious), and he seemed to have a pretty decent grasp on the basics.  Fielding is still a chore, partially because he's not use to the fielders' locations and partially because he's not very quick at throwing the ball once he does get it.  He also needs to get use to switching context from outfielders to infielders, as he had a tendency to try and chase the ball to the fence with his shortstop rather than bring in the left fielder.  Most of the outs in our three innings were from me deliberately running into outs to prevent the innings from going on too long.

On offense, his timing was pretty good... I stuck with regular-speed pitches so he wouldn't have to adjust to changing speeds, but I was using Nolan Ryan, so the regular-speed pitches were still reasonably quick.  He managed three homers, one from Ripken and back-to-back ones from Bell and Canseco.  He also figured out the basics of baserunning way quicker than I expected - he stretched a ball down the right field line into a legitimate triple without me having to remind him how to run to second or third after explaining it initially.  He also managed to run himself into an easy out at second after forgetting that he had to hit "right" along with "A" to go back, but he got it right later in the game.

My daughter also insisted on batting before she went to bed, so I let her hit for an inning's worth of hitters using the Twins; she only struck out twice in five batters, which I found impressive.  She plays far fewer video games than my son, so I don't think she'll be at a point to be competitive with him anytime soon.

[fknmclane]

his pitching was otherwise fine (other than that he accidentally beaned GDavis, which he found hilarious)

I like this part.

[Turd]

Awesome post...I'm waiting for the day my son can play with me.  How old is your son? Mine is 5, so I think he's getting close...he's gone from nothing to being able to work the tv/netflix and working through his leapster like it's nothing...the day is coming.

[BeefMaster]

My son is 7, and my daughter is 5 (although they both have birthdays next month).  We've had a Wii for about five years and an Xbox for two.  5 is about the age when they get decent at being able to use a regular controller rather than just motion stuff, and it's in the last couple years, since we got our Xbox 360, that my son has reached the point where I'd generally describe him as "decent" at the games he plays.  We play Rayman together quite a bit, and while he's not as good as me, he's certainly competent, particularly given how difficult that game can be.

[ryno]

My son still thinks Nintendo baseball games are cool, but way too difficult. 

Yea, he's a pansy.

[VEGAS]

My son loved RBI at 8 but then fell in love with Tecmo Super Bowl. I guess I cannot be too disappointed, the kid's got great classic NES taste. I'm hoping to bring him back to RBI with Turd's 2013 hacked rom. This way he'll at least know the players

[ultimate7]

So far I just pitch straight pitch to the kids.  3 year old just started playing and is way better than I would have expected.

[BeefMaster]

So far I just pitch straight pitch to the kids.  3 year old just started playing and is way better than I would have expected.

My son was able to hit at that age, at least a bit - he'd been playing Wii Sports baseball, so he had an idea of swing timing from that, and you just had to tell him to push the button to swing.  He couldn't effectively use the D-pad for a few more years, though.

[ultimate7]

My son has made it through the 1st inning (gives up less than 10 in the 1st) against the computer and he doesn't know how to pitch yet.  He turns 4 in a few weeks, I hoping he can last 9 innings against the CPU before he turns 5.

[BeefMaster]

I haven't challenged Ben to try playing against the computer yet... that's a good suggestion.

[BeefMaster]

Bump... Ben actually suggested that we play RBI yesterday.  Only played a couple innings, but it was fun.  His fielding is still pretty terrible, as he doesn't react quickly enough to move his fielders to the right places (I think he legitimately got one out in two innings of defense, tracking down a shallow popup), but he hit and ran the bases well, and he figured out the quick throw immediately after I explained it, with probably close to an 80% success rate when he tried it out.

[Darky]

My son kinda liked RBI, but it was nothing he wanted to keep playing. He loved Tecmo Super Bowl, especially the ROMs I created and custom teams - I made the 07 Patriots pretty damn explosive. He did the whole season, stat inflating (receiving a kickoff and going out of bounds at the one-yardline) and resetting games that didn't go in his favor statistically. Punchout was okay for him, but he sorta gave up when he couldn't get past Bald Bull II...and the bull charge.

My daughter was all Mario Brothers. 

[Gantry]

I assume you mean Super Mario Brothers?   I'd say 90% of most female NES playing is SMB1, SMB3 and Tetris. 

[Brookensrules!]

What's wrong with Mario Brothers?

[Gantry]

Nothing that I know if, nor was I implying that there was

[ultimate7]

My 4 year old won his first game of TSB on Sunday beating the CPU Bengals 45-38 with the 49ers.  He apparently was able to have success passing despite not really knowing how to switch receivers.

[Brookensrules!]

My 4 year old won his first game of TSB on Sunday beating the CPU Bengals 45-38 with the 49ers.  He apparently was able to have success passing despite not really knowing how to switch receivers.

You probably should have video taped it.

[BeefMaster]

I assume you mean Super Mario Brothers?   I'd say 90% of most female NES playing is SMB1, SMB3 and Tetris. 

I would add Dr. Mario to this group as well.

[broiler]

My sisters only played pinball

[Gantry]

I assume you mean Super Mario Brothers?   I'd say 90% of most female NES playing is SMB1, SMB3 and Tetris. 

I would add Dr. Mario to this group as well.

DO NOT LET DR. MARIO TOUCH YOUR GENITALS, HE'S NOT A REAL DOCTOR!!!