Lol...NOT sure what makes me more nervous...the badly written cab signs or the fact this thing likely only has one working door...

Nicely written. The first machine that made me love computers was an Apple II running "Cranston Manor" at the Minitronics store in our local mall. I never did have a 128 as I went Commodore after that. But on the topic of 128 I think you meant MacBASIC and not Visual Basic as Visual Basic 1.0 wasn't released until 1991 :)

Reading your blog keeps the aging at bay. It's nice to know someone (turns out many of us) who has the same memories of the 80s. Arcade machines in corner stores, comics for under $1 and a whole morning dedicated to cartoons. You strike up the right balance of "It is ok to be nostalgic and keep the kid in you alive while still playing the role of responsible parent and husband".

Interesting that you two bring this up. When I first started playing in the early 80s we had no girls playing with us at all. However, that turned out to be mostly our own fault because we believed girls wouldn't get it...or make fun of us (chalk that up to the insecurity of being a tweener!). Then in the late 80s we discovered that girls did like the game and had several in our group. Now as a father of a 14 year old girl who takes after her dad in all the geeky pursuits, I can appreciate the challenges girls face. Her own peer group is probably the hardest nut to crack because while most of them talk about shopping and fashion she just wants to chat fantasy books and gaming. I have explained to her that highschool is still early (2nd year) and that there *are* other girls with her interests and she will find them. Some of it is her getting comfortable with joining in when she hears a group of boys talking about what she is dying to join in on... So I can appreciate the challenges a female gamer faces Danicia.

Wil, I would like to add a minor but important point. The blog separates you from the rest of the "establishment" and gives your voice more soul than the 140c's of the Twitterverse. To borrow a sports analogy, your blog is the full game to your twitter's highlight reel. I'm sure I speak for most of us in saying we are more interested in the game than the highlights. However, with that said, your time has to be respected. Ten years ago I'm fairly sure its a safe bet you weren't thinking: - Conventions every quarter - Eureka - Big Bang Theory - Criminal Minds - The Guild - Several published writings - Public face of geeks and gaming persona That's a lot of things accomplished in a decade and I'm pretty sure it wasn't the highlight reel that made all those happen. It was showing up for practice and writing your blog. It was playing hard each and every game from whistle to whistle by opening your trials and tribulations to those of us who follow this blog. In the end you have to continue to do what you feel is right and reflective and if this is retirement (ya im still clinging to the sports...) hopefully you still show up for the odd alumni game now and then! :)

I was the stereotypical elitist pc gamer up until about 3 years ago...I looked down on anything console, even though it all started with an Atari 2600...I sneered at people and their NES games when I had my C64...laughed when the Snes was all the rage because I had my Amiga 500...then System Shock, Wolfenstein 3d and Ultima Underworld kept me clear of the Playstation. All the while my best friend would bug me to try console game "X" or "Y"...it took him 20 years but I finally gave in 3 years ago...Final Fantasy XII and Chrono Trigger. I realized how foolish I had been and now happily embrace all gaming under my video gaming umbrella...even Pokemon ;)

These have really peaked my interest after watching the first season. By your description they sound well written, I will have to give them a try.

I'm 39 and a father of a teen and can honestly say the worst thing to let happen is to let the kid in you suffocate. Geekly hobbies keep things interesting and I believe contribute to making me a better father as time with my kid doesn't seem forced like when I was a kid! I used to dismiss Japanese anime/games as being too childish, confusing them for being similar to North American cartoons...how wrong I was, so you are right better late than never!

I remember my first comic book at about the age of 7 in 79 and it was an issue of Conan the Barbarian and it was my first true taste of fantasy and it was that comic that would lead me to D&D. My favourite thing back then was waking up Saturday mornings with my little brother to make bowls of cereal and watch cartoons with breaks only to read the comics we had been saving that week! Other comics I read through the years had me like both Marvel and DC. I read X-Men, Savage Sword, New Teen Titans, Kazaar, Daredevil etc. Your post today has me curious about current Marvel as I usually spend most of my time with comics reading back issue I missed as a kid.

So we have had over 1 month of LA weather and you come right when it gets cool...wasn't it cold the last time you were here too? Honestly, the temperatures are nice here in the summer! ;) As for the geographic restrictions...a huge pet peeve of ours.

To be fair they all crack their share of ethnic/social economic/cultural style jokes. Sheldon cracks a lot of southern cultural reference bazingas. Howard owns the Jewish jokes, Penny the bimbo jokes and "straight man" of the cast and all of them are all over geek culture. I would say it is pretty equitable ;)

@Wil, You *have* to get a full sized print of this for hanging in the room you have your computer in...talk about awesome. Of course setting that as your desktop wallpaper for a while would be pure win as well ;) This would all be within the realm of comfortable modesty based on the content :D

You going to be able to see either of the Canucks vs Kings playoff games while you are up here? Or just via CBC tv in the hotel?

@Wil (Vancouver awesomeness and high geekness) Comic Shop (gaming and comics) - Golden Age collectibles mentioned above on Granville Street Last Old school arcade left in Vancouver - Movieland arcade (this arcade is unfortunately the last arcade left in the city (old school non japanese modern one). It is located down from Golden Age also on Granville St. Great Views - Lookout point on the way up to Cypress Bowl. Will give you a fantastic view over Stanley Park and Vancouver all the way to the US border on a clear day. http://wikimapia.org/101536/Cypress-Bowl-Road-Lookout Now its been colder but you may have heard we had some real warm weather during the Olympics.

Wil, I have no idea how good you are with woodworking...but even if you suck there are groups dedicated to restoring old cabs and even building ones from scratch with little or no woodworking experience required. I could barely hang a painting on a wall straight before I joined the BYOAC forum and now im on my 3rd arcade cabinet project: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=96465.0 If you want it, you can make it happen...i hit the same nostalgia/midlife barrier as you and this has been a great remedy for me.

Sorry Wil, All I read above was Team Canada Jersey :) I jest...but as a Vancouver resident I won't deny the joy for us winning the game, even if it didn't matter much to the masses south of the border(with the exception of some hockey fans like yourself!). Go Kings Go...err Canucks I mean :D

Might be a good time to pick up a game...something that gets you in that autopilot mode where you play but the mind still does all sorts of fantastic wandering... When was the last time you played a game of Nethack? ;)

Very cool. Btw speaking of Big Bangs..have you seen this Carl Sagan Cosmos remix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSgiXGELjbc Very cool as well ;) One of Geekdom's finest heroes in a remix of glory!

Another 37 year old 72'er dude here :) But being a geek keeps us young...grats man!

And a not so good director? ;) Sorry, now im baiting...

I honestly think the "hatred" thing is to some extent, age related. I was born in Feb of '72 and for me Wesley Crusher represented the fantasy of being on a starship at my age. He was someone I could relate to (yes, even the storming of the bridge). I was going through a hard time with my parents divorce and was raised in a single family home. I rebelled at school in my junior years and gave the teachers a hard time. I certainly wouldn't have thought twice about barging in to the principal's office if I *knew* I was right about something. Wesley was also raised in a single family home and even though you describe it as stupid Wil, I could relate to him storming on the bridge...I *would* have done that were I in his position. Many of my friends also related to Wesley on this level. Sorry, just couldn't let you off that easily and let the debate die! :)

@Wil You likely heard about Dave Arneson passing away the other day. Now both co-creators are gone. The Canadian National post paid you a bit of homage by linking their Dave Arneson story to your blog: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theampersand/archive/2009/04/09/dungeons-amp-dragons-co-creator-dave-arneson-dies-of-cancer.aspx They state: We also couldn't think of a better tribute to D & D than this series of posts that Wil Wheaton has been posting about teaching his son the game.

Does your son do any gaming in other areas...ie Computer/Console? If yes, then I don't think you will have a difficult time. I took my daughter to a gaming store a few weeks back that was hosting a newbie D&D character generation and 1st level adventure. There were a lot of teens, gen x'rs like myself and even older. It was a great range of ages. She had a great time and wanted more... I wouldn't even try selling it as a "Dad" game...its a game period. Most of the new players are your son's age so its as much his game as it was ours. Sell him on that. You could even say...I played this about 20 years ago but it was a much different game then...today's game looks a lot cooler (*cough*). You up for trying it?

I think the back and forth starts right at the character's inception. Have your players draw up character backgrounds and find subtle ways to work those backgrounds into your campaigns. Your characters will start to get involved as they become more comfortable in the campaign. However, you will always have players to tend to be more hack and slash or puzzle orientated than role player. The hack and slashers can add a tactical depth to the combat and be rewarded for creativity in that way. As for the detailed descriptions. When I started out DM'ing myself back in the 80s I would write themes down on flash cards. For example, smells, descriptions, NPC personalities and of course actions in combat. You would be surprised but with a few pre-constructed flash cards of combat action dialogue you can add a whole new level to the game even as an "inexperienced DM". For example one of the successful flank attack flash cards might read: "Your XXXX comes crashing/slashing/slicing down on the XXXX's exposed flank. The XXXXX collapses to the ground with a sickening thud, twitching for a few more seconds in the final throes of life" With just a few of these for various combat attacks etc you will sound as fresh and exciting as any bard in no time!

Minis were always a part of the game as Gygax intended. However, most of us when we started playing never used them in 1st edition. Going back now from 1st/2nd edition and a 15 year absence directly into 4th that has changed. The minis are adding an amazing degree of depth to the combat tactics used by the players. ***CHEAP MINI ALTERNATIVE TIP*** I spent a few hours on the Wizards of the coast website copying the pictures of the minis. I then sorted the minis in photoshop to 1" or 1x2" scales etc depending on creature size. I then printed out the resulting images and glued them onto cardboard. I then used HomeDepot clear vinyl adhesive to coat the pieces... Voila, monsters and player minis that fit perfectly onto the battlemaps (I use dry erasable on a large vinyl covered battlemap.