Growing Up as a Gamer
I’ve been passionate about gaming for as long as I can remember. The first time I laid eyes on Duck Hunt and Super Mario Bros on the NES, I was hooked. I knew right away that this would become my favorite hobby. I recall racing through my homework to spend the rest of the night immersed in Sonic the Hedgehog. Weekends were dedicated to fighting games like Street Fighter 2 and Mortal Kombat, or co-op classics like Streets of Rage 2 and Gunstar Heroes, playing alongside my cousins or even my dad. All-nighters in front of the screen became a weekend ritual.
Growing up in the 90s, I had the privilege of witnessing the evolution of video games firsthand—from 2D side-scrollers to 3D environments, and from 16-bit graphics to today’s photo-realistic gameplay. I’ve been at the center of this incredible transformation, experiencing everything from retro games to the latest AAA titles.
Gaming on a Budget
As a kid, I had two things working for me: plenty of free time and absolutely no money. Whether it was through renting games, pleading with my parents, or counting down to my birthday or Christmas, I found ways to play all sorts of games. I’ll never forget convincing my dad to buy a PS2 for the house because it came with a built-in Blu-Ray player. At the time, Blu-Ray players were expensive, so I framed it as a “financially responsible decision” to buy it for me (I mean us).
By the time I hit high school, I was earning my own money, and the first console I bought was the original Xbox with Halo: Combat Evolved. That was a turning point—I knew from that moment I would be a gamer for life. To this day, the Xbox holds a special place in my heart.
Married with Children: Balancing Parenthood and Gaming
Even as I transitioned into adulthood, my love for gaming didn’t wane. I began a career in healthcare, got married, and bought a house, where I converted the basement into a “man-cave” for gaming. Life was good, and gaming remained a priority. But when my wife and I decided to start a family, things changed. We first got a puppy to help us prepare for the responsibilities of parenthood. Not long after, our first daughter was born, and my gaming life came to an abrupt halt.
The sleepless nights and demands of parenting pushed gaming down the priority list. My once-beloved man-cave transformed into a playroom for our daughter. Just 15 months later, our second daughter arrived—a pleasant surprise, but one that seemed to seal the fate of my gaming time.
That’s when I realized I had to get creative if I wanted to continue playing video games.
Steam Deck: A Lifesaver for Gamer Parents
The setup I had just wasn’t practical anymore. After long days of working, taking care of my girls, spending time with my wife, and playing with our dog, I was exhausted. Gaming felt like a luxury I couldn’t afford. While I did have a Nintendo Switch, I always preferred playing on my Xbox Series X. Then one day, while chatting with a friend on a podcast, he introduced me to his Steam Deck. He explained how I could stream my Xbox games directly to the Steam Deck, and that’s when everything changed.
The Steam Deck opened a new world of gaming for me as a busy parent. It’s highly customizable with apps like Decky Loader, allowing for easy access to retro games and my extensive Steam library. It was like a lightbulb moment—this device was the solution to my gaming woes! I immediately bought the Steam Deck OLED, and it revitalized my passion for gaming.
Laying in bed after a long day, streaming AAA games or my Xbox Series X from the basement, felt like a dream come true. Access to gaming deals through platforms like Humble Bundle, CD Keys, and Fanatical also became a lifesaver, especially now that both my daughters are in daycare (if you know, you know).
Gaming on the Go: The Steam Deck at Work
As a nurse in NYC working in a Mobile Stroke Unit (an ambulance equipped with a portable CT scanner), I’m on call for emergencies. But during downtime between 911 calls, I can pull out my Steam Deck for a quick gaming session. I’ve logged over 150 hours on Marvel’s Midnight Suns, which means that my love for RPGs is far from over (I’m looking at you Persona 3: Reload).
For any new parents out there struggling to balance family life and gaming, the Steam Deck can be a game-changer. It has helped me stay connected to the hobby I love, and I believe it can do the same for others.
