Family Bonding over Football Video Games?

Jason Peter and his son Jayden, spending some quality family time by competing in a football video game. Photo Credit : Jason Peter 

It's been more than 25 years since the very 1st FIFA video game was released globally. Also known as FIFA '94, the first game in the series was released for the Sega Mega Drive gaming console in the weeks leading up to Christmas 1993. Fast forward 3 decades later, the annual release of FIFA football games by EA Sports has reached total sales of more than 300 million copies worldwide!

Video games have reportedly, aided in the development of a child's social engagement (in-person) behaviour, reading, quick-thinking senses and other multi-tasking skills. There are certain games that are immersive and require strategy and problem-solving skills to win. Engaging in these types of games, can help improve young players’ short and long-term memory. Video games also capture players’ imagination, helping them to stay focused on certain tasks, teaching them to persevere and achieve their goals.

ActiveSG Circle recently caught up with 2 families in Singapore, with the aim of finding out : how do football video games, feature in a family's dynamics and whether these games have been a boon or a bane?

Jason Peter and his son Jayden, engaged in a football video game. Photo Credit : Jason Peter 

Name : Jason Peter
Age : 42
Occupation : Manager in Energy sector
No of Years playing EA Sports' FIFA or other online football games? Since 1994!
How many children do you have and who do you play with? 2 sons and 1 daughter. Only the boys play the video games.

Q : What is the main appeal of the annual FIFA-released video games which have kept you playing all these years? 
Jason : The realism of the game and the actual teams and players. Gameplay has been improving over the years and each edition has something new cropping up. Basically, it's still a football game for a football crazy family!

Q : Which is your favourite team and why?
Jason : Liverpool and Germany. My 2 teams when I started watching football proper since 1990.

Q : At which age did you introduce your kids to start playing video games?
Jason : They usually sit and watch me play at the age of 3 when they kinda realise what's happening. And they started playing around 6 and fiddled around on their own from there. I always knew when they started playing, it's gonna be lesser game time for me. No choice, we gotta share and play.

Q : How competitive does your family play - do you get into minor arguments?
Jason : We do get into it especially when they were younger and frustration creeps in when they try their best and lose. Its always something to learn from. The arguments die off as they get older and it's more fun actually as they grow.

Q : Do you (at times) give chances for the kids to win?
Jason : When they start off, yes. Once they progress, it's actually harder to beat them. My younger son is very good, despite me having a 32-year head start!

Q : How does online football gaming, help with family time and bonding?
Jason : We exchange alot of footy knowledge, stats, tactics and discuss about football. The girls are happy when the boys are home and in a safe space! We also play responsibly now and when nobody watches the TV.

Q : How does your wife feel about these football console games and does she join in?
Jason : She loves the father-son bonding time and the non existent generation gap in the game when we play. She doesn't play, but she bought us the PS5!

Q : If there's 1 key lesson which you hope your kids learn from online football gaming, what would that be?
Jason : Analysis and decision making

PSG's star striker Kylian Mbappe and Australia's scoring sensation Sam Kerr, on the cover of FIFA23. Image Credit : EA Sports 

Name : Jayden Arshavin (Jason's son)
Age : 13
School : Yishun Secondary

Q : Which is your favourite team (in FIFA games) and why? 
Jayden : Paris St Germain or PSG is my fav club. They have pacey players and chemistry makes it a great team to play with. Even better with current stars like Mbappe and Asensio, and our former greats like Messi and Neymar to name a few.

Q : What do you like about the games?
Jayden : The "Career mode" allows me to manage a team and bring them glory. I get to test my managerial skills and the options of dealing with the media and various objectives set in the game. I get a kick of also playing online against others from around the world. Constantly challenging my skillset. My vision and reading of the game in real life is my strong attributes thanks to FIFA!

Q : How do you feel about spending time with your family, bonding over FIFA Gaming?
Jayden : I'm allowed to be myself and banter with my dad and elder bro. I grew up watching them play and I used to get the "dummy" controller. Nowadays, I beat them almost all the time. They finally agreed I'm the best in the family after I won an e-tournament in school. I even beat all my cousins and uncle too. It's family fun and we exchange knowledge about football and statistics. I could name all the teams in the EPL in alphabetical order by 2!

Q : Do you play football in school or with your friends in your free time?
Jayden : Yes, I play for Yishun Sec and also ActiveSG DC U14s.

Tottenham Hotspur fans Richard Lim and his son Reagus, competing in a football video game. Photo Credit : Richard Lim

Name : Richard Lim
Age : 44
Occupation : Director, Operations
No of Years playing EA Sports' FIFA or other online football games? 30
How many children do you have and who do you play with? 3 children and I play with the Elder boy and 2nd boy

Q : What is the main appeal of the annual FIFA games which have kept you playing all these years?
Richard : New & Upgrade players in my Favourite team and improved gameplay

Q : Which is your favourite team and why?
Richard : Tottenham Hotspur. Got to watch Spurs Vs Forest on TV for the FA Cup final when I was a kid (1991). From then, I started supporting Tottenham Hotspur.

Q : At which age did you introduce your kids to start playing online?
Richard : When they were 9-year-olds

Q : How competitive does your family play - do you get into minor arguments?
Richard : More competitive between the boys and yes, they always get into arguments..lol!

Q : Do you (at times) give chances for the kids to win?
Richard : Yes, for sure. It helps to boost their morale and confidence

Q : How does online football gaming, help with family time and bonding?
Richard : Gaming allow us to spend time together, discussing about the players, teams and game scenarios, which allow a common topic for us to communicate.

Q : How does your wife feel about these football console games and does she join in?
Richard : She does not join in, as she is not a football & gaming person. But she doesn't complain about the "guys-time" which I have with my boys either. 

Q : If there's 1 key lesson which you hope your kids learn from online football gaming, what would that be?
Richard : Games like FIFA are probably about winning or losing. But if you win, don't get arrogant and if you lose , must accept it gracefully and get better next time.

11-year-old Reagus Lim plays football for Hong Wen School.  Photo Credit : Richard Lim

Name : Reagus Lim (Richard's son)
Age : 11
School : Hong Wen School 

Q : Which is your favourite team (in FIFA games) and why?
Reagus : Tottenham Hotspur. That's because our family support Spurs!!!

Q : What do you like about football video games?
Reagus : Very competitive and able to "lead" my favourite team to victory

Q : How do you feel about spending time with your family, bonding over FIFA gaming?
Reagus : I enjoy every moment when we're video gaming

Q : Do you play football in school or with your friends in your free time?
Reagus : Yes I do. I play for the school team also

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