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Revisiting a childhood video game deepens father and son’s bond
Dominik Diamond describes spending three weeks in a flat with his 22-year-old son, Charlie, cooking, watching films and playing video games together. Revisiting Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, the first game they played cooperatively in 2009, brings back their shared bond and shows how gaming has strengthened their relationship across 17 years.
They finally complete two Special Ops missions they had abandoned when Charlie was five, overcoming their contrasting styles through communication and teamwork. Diamond says the experience has made him feel carefree and nostalgic, while criticising the commercial cheating industry, reportedly worth $8.5bn, for undermining the enjoyment and spirit of gaming.
In short
- A father and son reconnect through a favourite childhood video game.
- Teamwork helps them complete missions after nearly two decades.
- Gaming provides Diamond with nostalgia, freedom and family connection.
Explained simply
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a military-themed video game released in 2009. Its Special Ops mode lets two players work together through short missions, where they need to coordinate their actions to succeed.
Video games can give family members a shared activity across different stages of life. Revisiting a game first played in childhood can bring back memories as well as show how a relationship has changed. Some players also use cheating tools to gain an advantage, a practice that can affect how others experience a game.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Playing video games with my 22-year-old son has brought me to tears | Dominik Diamond”.