Oblivion Through The Eyes of a 3-Year Old and a 6-Year Old

[The Edgy Redguard]

A few months ago, I was living with my sister and my two female nieces. They were 3 and 6 at the time. I had brought my laptop and my copy of Oblivion to help pass the time, when one day, they sat next to me on the couch and watched me play. After a while, my eldest niece asked me if she could create a "girl". I agreed, and thus the Imperial female named "Miley Cyrus" was born. She had hot pink, shoulder length hair. Of course, my niece, being an average 6-year old wanted new clothes and jewelery for her character. I brought her to the Market District, and bought her some different outfits and jewelry. Once she was all decked out in gold rings and pretty dresses, she wanted something to eat. I brought her to the Merchant's Inn, where we had a lovely meal consisting of meat and potatoes, with a restore health potion that I told her was "fruit punch". When we left the inn, my youngest niece wanted to make some friends, so we proceeded to talk to nearly everyone in the market district. I was careful to shield them from the words and events that I deemed "too adult", but, the inevitable happened, and they wanted to go for a walk outdoors. I was careful to stick to the roads, as I wanted to spare them from the death of their character and the assailant. Of course, not long after we left the Imperial City walls, we were confronted by a wolf. Much to my suprise, as it was running towards us, my youngest niece yelled "KILL IT!". I carefully console commanded my way out of that situation, into Aleswell Inn. We were greeted by the Orc outside, to which the kids responded "MONSTER!!!". I ran away from there, and returned to the relative safety of the Imperial City. After several wardrobe changes, we settled down for the night in the Inn. We currently have 14 hours on that character, just us playing. Creatures Killed: 0. Now, whenever I see them, they ask if I have my Laptop, and if we can play "The Fun Game"

To me, this shows what a versatile game Oblivion really is.

[shadow_of_sithis]

so, you played a a pink headed miley cyrus? huh, you learn new things everyday

[KneelBeforeZod]

Dude, kid wanted to kill the wolf. Kill that sucker!

[Qwackie]

I remember the first time I played Morrowind when I was like... nine. When I was younger, like eight or so, I watched my brother play it, and then I wanted to.
So yeah. Now you've got two future PC gaming nieces. Lucky you.

[MoonRose]

My 4 year old watches me play all the time. I'm playing through the game for a second time, the first time she was only a baby so she wouldnt remember anything. Anyhow, at the beginning of this play through, before I got my strength up and before I found any good feather or fortify strength equipment, I would run around in my skivvies to be able to pick up the most amount of loot possible. I thought it was real funny that my daughter didnt like that at all LOL "Mommy! She should have some clothes on, she can't run around naked" we let her create her own character and run around for awhile until I heard her say "I learned out how to save mommy" luckily I caught her before she saved over one of my game saves...

[Spiney]

You effectively imported Miley Cyrus into Oblivion....

Next them blasted ponies will be in there.

[Mindrifter]

sounds pretty wicked to me. 'have to try it sometime.

[Vendetta]

Miley cyrus should not be in oblivion! GRAAAHHHHHH

[lostlast]

I like it... Only downer is the fact they probably won't remember it. I mean seriously, who remembers much under the age of ten.

[MARS]

Amazing Truly amazing.

[DeathByScribb]

LOL great story, I got a chuckle outta that... 12 hours of shopping and 0 creatures killed.

[The Edgy Redguard]

LOL great story, I got a chuckle outta that... 12 hours of shopping and 0 creatures killed.

The only quest we completed was the tutorial! haha

[H8Ball]

It's like I've always been fond of saying, we should keep our savegames so they can be handed down for the next generation to enjoy. I'm toying with the idea of leaving mine in my will. Oblivion is truly one of those classic games that breaks all boundaries of freedom, with its sheer number of character choices, ways of roleplaying, paths you can take, order you can do things in, levelling strategies, etc. And now we're even breaking across the generation gap too!

Best of luck to all the little-uns. I wish I'd been born 40 years later. That way, I'd only be 9 and could grow up seeing how gaming evolves and matures. Considering the rapid pace of development over the past 10 years, I wonder where we'll be in another 40 years (in 2051 when I turn 90 in December of that year)?

[Dark Spark]

I like it... Only downer is the fact they probably won't remember it. I mean seriously, who remembers much under the age of ten.

I remember the cake for my 4th birthday (oddly enough, not for any other year). I remember the coconut crab and the typhoon from my kindergarten year.

I remember the first, last, and only time I stuck a finger into an empty light socket at the age of 3.

The game of Operation! traumatized me when I was 7. You see, I had all the hand-eye coordination of a 7-year old. Add to that the memory of me sticking my finger in an empty light socket when I was 3, and I was deathly afraid of playing a game that punishes you through an electric surge.

I remember running away from the TV set in an instant of sheer terror when the local news showed off the composite drawing of the Night Stalker (Richard Ramierez) at the height of his killing streak.

Kids remember a lot of things when they're young. They may not comprehend or analyze the scene, but they surely do remember.

[Spiney]

It's like I've always been fond of saying, we should keep our savegames so they can be handed down for the next generation to enjoy. I'm toying with the idea of leaving mine in my will.

That's one of those, "You know you've played to many video games when..." kinda things.

Though, I wouldn't mind having save games handed down to me.

[Dark Spark]

I'd prefer getting a late 60's muscle car than Grampa's WoW account, especialy if it means discovering the account's populated with nothing but teenage Night Elf females on a serious leather fetish.

[Spiney]

I'd prefer getting a late 60's muscle car than Grampa's WoW account, especialy if it means discovering the account's populated with nothing but teenage Night Elf females on a serious leather fetish.

Man, that would suck to get, seeing as you couldn't use it as black mail.

[H8Ball]

Childish traumatic frights? I've had plenty of 'em.

I remember being about 5 and frightened by a Crane Fly (which we call Johnny Spinners, presumably because they fly in spirals). It was madly circling the light bulb in my bedroom and bouncing off it. The large shadows flitting around the room made it seem far bigger than it was. In reality, they look like giant mosquitos up to 2-3" in wingspan with incredibly long thin fragile legs about 2" long, but they're totally harmless. Picture

I remember being about 8 when I first watched the 50's film adaptation of HG Wells' "The Time Machine". The time traveller killed a Morlock then escaped by slamming his time machine into "forward gear". I ran upstairs in horror when the Morlock's body started decomposing at high speed and an eye plopped out. Yuk!

I remember being about 10 and frightening my Sister (who was 6) with pieces of Lego inside a grey woolen glove. Just a childish practical joke, but I put the fake hand around her bedroom door and her incredibly loud scream of terror frightened ME as much as HER!

Anyway. This is getting a little off-topic with reminiscences. Back to the kids...

I agree. I've had young nephews and nieces fascinated by watching me play Oblivion and letting them have a go. The boys are interested in plunging head first into danger, winning epic battles (especially casting Destruction spells), collecting weapons/armour and the idea of saving the world. The girls in exploring the countryside, horse riding, picking flowers, making friends and shopping around for new outfits. There's enough freedom of choice in Oblivion to suit all roleplaying tastes.

In either case, they usually pester their Mum or Dad to buy it for them, and I recommend it as a good educational investment. It keeps them occupied with many different ways to roleplay, teaches long term planning and the consequences of making good or evil decisions. So there's good advertising for you.

[Mucro]

I would love to have my Dad's car, I may have to push him down the stairs at some point.

Still, 'Tis good to see you spreading the love and joy of Oblivion.

[H8Ball]

Spread it? I'd butter the world with it if I could. I just hope it doesn't fall butter side down.

Tip: Tired of guessing whether your toast will fall butter side down? Don't butter the toast. Butter the floor, then it's 100% guaranteed!

[AKB]

I let my niece play Oblivion, she loves it even though she is only one year old. I imagine it is all the pretty colors, or she just likes hitting the buttons and watching stuff happen. Mind you I never let her do all of the fun stuff, like join the Dark Brotherhood but she enjoyed what she could do. Though I made her stop playing when she overwrote my main profile...

[jaxawier]

fun story, personally I´m happy for two things now.
1: this place don´t allow screenshots thankfully,can be to much pink,and young pop stars and what not
2: I know better what to do if I one day get kids,or get together with one who has kids,enough said about that