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Playing League with My Mother

RiotRiot Shantzilla·2/26/2015, 11:36:59 PM·36 votes·19,252 views

Hey folks, was chatting with another Rioter yesterday and this story came up. Felt it was an interesting topic, so I thought I'd share!

A few years ago when I moved over from Riot QA to Riot Esports, I had to have a confused conversations with my parents about why in the world someone would want to watch another gamer play a video game. When the Season 2 World Championship rolled around in LA, I invited them down to come watch even though they didn't know too much about the game. Whelp, I underestimated them, because not only did they learn as much as they could about League, they showed up in League shirts with TPA signs. After the awesome show, my mother went home and installed LoL immediately. A year (and many many questions about Ashe build paths) later she showed up to support SKT at the Season 3 World Championships, and hasn't stopped loving it since.

Playing with my mother is a pretty awesome experience, not only because it made me realize just how many things I took for granted in League (I was shocked when she asked me what "First Blood" was; to me I'd heard that term as a kid playing Unreal Tournament!), or because I get to laugh at her yells of victory when she nails an Ashe Ult. The most rewarding part of the experience is that we can now see eye-to-eye on OUR passion for video games (since then she's gotten pretty emotionally invested in the Mass Effect series). I really hope that when I end up having kids, I can game with them and get the same fun I have when I hit champ select with my Mom.

So how about you all? I’d love to hear stories from anyone who plays with their parents. :)

67 Comments

TeemoJenkins2/26/2015, 11:40:13 PM17 votes

My mom can't right click... let alone play video games, but more power to you!

Toa of Death2/27/2015, 3:56:41 AM9 votes

My mom doesn't play but she is probably the first mother in history to understand that you can't pause an online game. She's come to understand that if I'm playing League, I can't really leave it because she knows that if I leave I'm in danger of being suspended and I might be ruining the game for 4 other people. She doesn't know much about the game other than that and the old lore. She plays her own games though. She's a big Lord of the Rings fan so she fell in love with LOTRO. She's also found some mobile game called Ingress that she has become super addicted to. She's less interested in gameplay and more interested in story when it comes to most games. I used to read her the lore from each champion and she was fascinated by the stories that each champ had. She fell in love with Leagues old lore and was truly devastated when it was retconned. That's probably one of my biggest reasons for being mad at the narrative team, making my mom upset. (sorry that got a little heated towards the narrative team at the end)

RiotRiot Neon2/27/2015, 4:00:00 AM8 votes

I remember my Dad being super into computer games when I was young. This was when computer monitors were large grey cubes and you could literally HEAR your computer connect to the internet :) My dad taught me how to play Duke Nukem and various flight simulators and racing games. It was pretty fun to play together. I've been trying to get my parents into League. They think it's pretty cool, they are just overwhelmed "with all the clicking." Maybe one day...

Arie2/27/2015, 12:10:12 AM7 votes

I'm still trying to get my mom into League, but my god, can she school me at Mario Kart, Smash, and any old school multiplayer game. I'm pretty sure she'd be ridiculously good at League if I could ever convince her to play!

hüng2/27/2015, 12:28:38 AM6 votes

wish I had a mom to play league with

Spoony Legs2/27/2015, 7:23:16 AM6 votes

My mom gets mad at me when I don't gank for her. The life of a jungler... T_T

The Lexer2/26/2015, 11:58:52 PM6 votes

Awesome story dude
Can your mom give me predictions on what team will win Worlds this year? TPA and SKT was no lucky guess was it?

Sir ArmaMalum2/27/2015, 12:41:32 AM5 votes

Envy for having parents willing to give video games a chance
Question: How do you guys deal with the inevitable rage in a competitive game like League? My mother can't handle her temper with a potted plant let alone a high-tempo game where mistakes will be made eventually. :P

Ice Weasel X2/28/2015, 1:25:29 AM4 votes

Ashe has slain Riven ! Riven : wtf hit me? : my mom Riven : ... Riven : wat Riven : go bak 2 bronz, u dont no how mom joks work

thebigcheesemo2/27/2015, 12:41:33 PM3 votes

I play with my 18year old son. I have played video games all the way back to atari 2600 and pong. I am a father.

EvilMerodach2/27/2015, 12:23:48 AM2 votes

That's awesome!

...I got my mom to play Mario Kart 64 back when it was new. It was a too complicated for her, so I had to go extremely easy on her (or when I didn't wanna be nice, lap her twice..) But we had some fun times. As far as online gaming, I think the most advanced she's gotten is Words with Friends or online Euchre. I wouldn't even wanna attempt to explain how LoL works.

revliledpembroke2/27/2015, 10:43:24 AM2 votes

Yeah, I remember my parents being amazed back in the PS2 days because I could push all the correct buttons on the controller without looking at it. I doubt League would work for them. Though they are both pretty good typists....nah, it wouldn't work

Cubism2/27/2015, 6:33:20 PM2 votes

Kassadin tried to play league with his mother once. Boy did he regret that.

Dsmizzy2/28/2015, 10:32:54 AM2 votes

My mother plays Xbox games, only games I ever see her play are fighters and beat em ups. When you get up at 1230 at night and see her playing lollipop chainsaw...you question your self and realize where you got all your rage from.

ll Akagami ll2/28/2015, 12:39:43 AM2 votes

Please bake her cookies, cake, bread whatever you have to all with TSM on top of them :P

Potato Doc3/3/2015, 8:30:57 PM1 votes

This reminds me of when i played CoD competitively. At first my parents were very critical of it, but eventually my dad decided to try it out, first with Nazi zombies, but now since im off at college and only got my laptop my dad plays online every now and then. True to his Army Ranger nature hes actually better then most kids online and has even gotten close to beating me. Best part is hes avoided picking up the smack talk from me (unless its directed towards me). Hes beginning to ask me more and more questions about league...

Dangerous Man3/3/2015, 9:25:49 PM1 votes

Good for you. My mom is fully against computers and video games. Fix your leaverbuster system (Just thought I'd say that).

corkybitterroot3/14/2016, 10:08:08 PM1 votes

About a year and a half ago, I was nagging my son to clean his room (we were running out of dishes because they were all around his desk). He agreed to quit playing and clean on the condition that I played league of legends when he was done. I reluctantly agreed, he cleaned his room and I held up my end of the bargain and played LOL....and LOVED it. My two sons and I play often. I really enjoy spending the time with them and have recently tried my hand at ranked games. I'm not too shabby for a mom! One of the last games we played, one of our teamates liked the way we played and invited my son to a new game. He said hold on I got to get my mom. The other player was like what your mom plays. And his response was yeah she was the Leo that was supporting you last game and got you fed. I love those reactions when our team learns we are a mother son duo (or sometimes trio)!

The Ecdysiast2/27/2015, 7:27:12 AM1 votes

I don't like that everyone who watches Esports has forgotten the pain of watching their older brothers hog the Nintendo on a single-player game.

I just don't see the reason behind this. It's not like they honed their bodies to be able to do anything other players aren't capable of. If I got five guys who knew which 30/ 120 champions are the most broken right now, because of the fact we only get 3 bans chances are we'd all get someone we can play and be able to do all the same things they do in pro play.
It's just a video game. Normal players with a team could do all the same things they do in the LCS with just some practice and a little memorization. (not going to go on a rant in this thread about how I think Solo Que is a joke and all ranking should be team-based)

InB4 "But baseball is just a game." Yes, it is. But while every single thing done in the LCS is completely possible by normal players because it's all just zeros and ones in a video game, I could train for years and not throw the ball like Lincicum or hit the ball like Bonds. While there is good in praising those who can do a lot with their brains, there's no good that comes from attempting to group someone who sits at a computer all day with someone who's at the peak of physical health. The obesity problem is getting bigger and bigger all around the world and promoting video games as sports doesn't help it.

And even with all this attention going towards video games, you people at Riot still don't listen to community feedback. What are you doing over in miscellaneous posting about your mother when you could hop over to G and B or S and C concepts and nudge the feedback and amazing original ideas over to your buddies a few rooms over?

ExecutorDill2/27/2015, 5:51:09 PM1 votes

My mom is the complete opposite, although she doesn't mind me playing video games, she'd rather see not at home knowing I'm hanging with friends. Out of 3 children I am the middle child and often get the most attention (which is sorta weird) and at times I wish I didn't because she picks at everything I do :(

#still love you mom

Owltears2/27/2015, 6:12:42 PM1 votes

I'd never show her this game to play, she'd freak out at how rude some of the players are.

Anthroz2/27/2015, 6:25:54 PM1 votes

My mom does not see the road on Mariokart Wii. Even when it is clearly black and the grass is green... .-.

De Lux Son2/27/2015, 6:36:01 PM1 votes

My parents don't play League of Legends, but my kids parents do. :P My dad was a pretty solid Pinball and Arkanoid player back on the NES and would easily beat my brother and I on a regular basis.

I am a bit of an old man, but back when I was in High School I spent countless hours playing Quake with my 56k modem and remember begging my parents for my own phone line so that I didn't have to stop playing whenever they wanted to make a phone call.

"MOM, you can't play Quake without using the phone line!!!."

I do look forward to a day when my kids are old enough to play League with, for now they enjoy playing with my Ryze and Tryndamere statues, which they refer to as LoL Robots.

B0ugnette2/28/2015, 12:17:51 AM1 votes

We don't play LoL together but I always share my wins and losses with her and I always talk about games with her. She is very supportive and understanding about it and I think she's kind of into games like Zelda etc... So I can relate !

MoFoCro2/28/2015, 1:17:34 AM1 votes

Well, my Mom is the one who helped me build my first computer and her gamer background (worked at an arcade and played all the Zelda's) pretty much influenced me to become someone who loves the video game culture. She loves shows like Firefly and brought me up in 80's movies such as Revenge of the Nerds and Lethal Weapon. She's still very much into video games and the new Zelda's, (I got her a 3DS with the Ocarina of Time one) and continues to play all the time. She doesn't understand most of the controls for a PS4 or games like League, but whenever I get to watch LCS or Worlds, she's always there with me. Even during S4 Worlds, she got up at 4am with me to watch TSM and eventually SSW play in the finals. She always asks me questions about league and continues to give me league-related stuff (My Lee Sin phone cover :D) for my birthday. I love my mother so much and I seem to have gotten my personality from her and I'm loving it!

aaronconlin2/28/2015, 4:20:40 AM1 votes

My mom needs help sending picture messages on her phone, I envy you.

Dave The Luxon2/28/2015, 11:08:25 AM1 votes

Ooh, a gaming mom thread. I've often been told how fortunate I am with my mom. Since the day she brought me home I've had the vidya in my blood, starting with Streets of Rage on the Sega Genesis. Since the time I could hold a controller I've been gaming, again starting with Streets of Rage. Fast forward a few years and she and my sister got me into the original Guild Wars. Since then we've bounced between a couple of games, mainly playing any and every new MMO we can. While she sadly won't play League she loves to hear about the most recent news and my various rants. Anyway, before I make this too long I'll sum it up with the following: having a mom who loves video games is amazing. It let's us have a bond that I don't believe most parents and children have.

Merlin3/1/2015, 12:00:05 PM1 votes

I'm a 35 year old father of three and gold level support.... does that count ^^

My kids all play League and were at the LCS at Wembley last summer (in the crowd of course, lol)

TheTanaz3/1/2015, 6:26:36 PM1 votes

My mom uses the mouse with both hands.Need I say more?

Andwari3/3/2015, 9:50:31 AM1 votes

{quoted}

why in the world someone would want to watch another gamer play a video game.

Right, we need an official replay System! 5th season competitive and still waiting,..

BLU Medic3/3/2015, 2:39:08 PM1 votes

My mum isn't really interested, but she'll still listen with glee as I explain to her how I ate a dragon. She's more interested in my adventures in Team Fortress 2 though. Turns out be-hatted mercenaries are more relatable than large, hungry monsters.

NorthernDruid3/3/2015, 4:14:17 PM1 votes

I don't play league with my mom (nor other video games, though we continously talk about playing some good old adventure games together).

I did however, manage to get her into tabletop RPGs, LARPing...

and cosplay.

My mom did a star wars cosplay at last year's local gaming con.