Ah fatherhood.
A thing I...know nothing about.
But I'll be damned if I can't learn heaps about it from...Dream Daddy.
That opening tune fills my heart with excitement.
My heart is fluttering for the affection of these fine dads.
And I'm sure we'll make plenty of friends along the way.
I!
Grant Dad am ready to hop back into the dating pool feet first.
My wife's dead or something and it's about darn time I explore the more grizzly side
of romantic encounters.
At least...the more masculine side.
This goth fellow doesn't look too grizzly but he's certainly mysterious.
Ohhh.
Anyways.
Today's the day we look at Dream Daddy!
This lovely Dad Dating Simulator from the Game Grumps.
The game was written by Vernon Shaw and Leighton Gray but many of the dads are voiced by the
likes of Arin, Danny, Barry, and even etc.
Also this being the first video game outta their company means this is exciting territory
for the Game Grumps.
If you aren't super familiar with them don't worry!
All you need to know for the sake of this video is that they gave the thumbs up to a
game where you get to date and bang hot dads!
When I first picked up this game I wondered if it was more than just the ridiculous surface.
Was this game aiming to be a joke or something more?
In this episode of the story you never knew...we will peer beyond the homoerotic viel.
Beyond the faint yet passionate gruntings of dad-on-dad love-making and into the juicy
depths of what it means to let those feelings loose.
Also sorry for it being like a month between story you never knews.
I couldn't find a topic I wanted write on and who want's to put out bullshit?
That being said...prepare yourself.
For the story of what it means to be a man in the midst of modern life, for the story
of a loving father just trying to make his way...
For the story...you never knew.
Intro
Hmmmm.
I'm sleeping now.
And my daughter is trying to wake me up.
Better pretend to be dead.
Alright she's too smart for that one.
No doubt my genetics are thriving in the next generation.
But alas!
Looks like I've gotta wake up cause we're moving!
But before I can continue my conversation with Amanda aka Manda Panda, I've gotta
Build That Dad The time has now come to choose our dad form.
Hmmm.
Gotta get that blonde hair that's disheveled yet clearly has been groomed within the last
24 hours.
Eyes...stoic, piercing and blue.
Facial hair?
Oh yes!
Glasses...hip.
Clothes?
I'm digging the heart.
Behold!
It is I!
Grant Dad.
Which is what I named myself.
Not realizing it would make my daughter's last name Dad.
Sorry Amanda...Dad.
Off to a good start!
When we return to our house with a completed Dad form we immediately start going through
one of the moving boxes with Amada.
So many memories.
There's that dope baby photo with the sunglasses, the halloween costume, the horse phase.
It really feels like I'm bonding with Amanda.
We're exchanging sarcastic, witty banter after all and we even talk about that one
time she pooped herself at a sleepover over at...one of the Emma's houses...apparently
Amanda has two friends named Emma, Emma P and Emma R, and honestly throughout this whole
game I actually couldn't remember the difference.
Clearly I'm ready for fatherhood already.
And look!
A baby photo from the day Amanda was born.
Which naturally sparks a memory of me getting into a fender bender in the parking lot of
the hospital while my wife was about to give birth.
I was freaking out apparently until my wife looked me dead in the eyes...birth giving
and all...and says it's all gonna be okay.
Seems like quite the swell lady!
Too bad she's dead.
Anyways, as the conversation draws to a close it's time to start moving!
We're downscaling to a smaller place on the other side of the city and there's so
much to do!
My grizzly dad-self and Manda Panda get into the car to begin the drive when I can't
help but reminisce about all the memories of the house we're leaving behind.
Fortunately Amanda starts talking about happy memories from the place...like the time she
broke a bunch of windows...Good times.
More hilarious and witty conversation ensues like calling my motorcycle my little velocipede,
and using my best announcer voice to sell Amanda on the new place.
As we keep talking we finally reach the new pad!
Ohhh yes I'm gonna hump so many dads in this place.
But first we need to get some coffee.
To the bean juice shop!
Otherwise known as The Coffee Spoon.
When we first arrive Amanda comments this place is such an easy walk from our house.
Only then...does the Grant Dad character development truly begin.
My response:
"Why would I go somewhere else and drink coffee on a couch when I could just drink
better coffee at home on my own couch and not have to make awkward eye contact with
other people?
At least when I'm home some random guy isn't gonna come up and sit on the recliner next
to me and I won't feel, like, a little weird about it because technically he's not sitting
at my table but he is very much within my Personal Zone.
Personal Zone being capitalized.
Then I whine about being awkward with coffee cup etiquette or something when Amanda TOTALLY
calls me out.
Dad...are you just afraid to meet new people?
Which naturally gets the YES AMANDA response.
We walk inside.
At this point it's clear dad is a little socially awkward.
He's...afraid to go into a coffee shop because there's people in there.
Specifically new people.
Amanda is encouraging the Grant Dad to go in anyways.
I mean she mostly makes fun of him but she's supportive at the end of the day and that's
what counts.
The beginning of Dream Daddy really drives home how much socializing this dad is missing
out on.
One can only hope the local Coffee Spoon can act as step 0 for remedying the apparent social
awkwardness of Grant Dad.
Hmmm.
What more is in store for this shy, shy dad?
What more can modern life throw our way??
Only by entering the Coffee Spoon can we find out.
Huh this place is pretty nice.
And this guy looks so hip!
Yet when Amanda asks him why the place is named the Coffee Spoon he starts awkwardly
rambling...even going as far to say "I'm standing here rambling and I'm sure we're
all getting more and more uncomfortable the more I keep talking but man we're in it
now and I can't stop."
Uhhh.
Dude she just asked you a question.
What are you me?
Amanda even says we should become friends!
And is all like "C'mon what'd we say about meeting new people?"
Ugh this girl.
Anyways we try some of his banana bread and it's quite pleasant when suddenly a brooding,
mysterious man from across the room catches my eye.
He's just a pretty as the one standing right before me.
If not more rugged.
My eyes quickly dart away...hoping he didn't catch me staring.
From here, we finish our coffee, say our goodbye's, stroll through the park, get in a bragging
competition about our kids with another dad, go home, get greeted by THIS well put together
man named Joseph who offers us cookies and invites us to a BBQ.
Alright.
THEN we randomly run into Craig!
My old friend from college.
He's ripped now.
He's gotta get back to running though.
So he jogs off.
Casey Neistat over here!
Uhh back to the house!
Where Amanda gets a letter from one of the art colleges she applied to.
She's a photographer and a scrap-booker by the way and she's INCREDIBLE.
Apparently the McGowan College of Art and Design doesn't think so though cause she
got declined.
Poor Amanda.
I'm sure she'll get into a good college though.
She's got MY DNA!
My biological whooshamawhatsit!
She'll be fine.
I give her a big hug, then find out she'll be hanging with the Emmas tonight.
In order to not feel lame I tell Amanda I've got plans myself.
To watch...The Game.
THE.
GAME.
Time to hit up the local dive bar.
Jim and Kim's!
And wouldn't ya know it!
The game with my sports team of preference is on here!
Such joy.
When suddenly a middle-aged woman holding a nearly-empty wine glass sidles up to the
bar and sits uncomfortably close to me.
"Hey, sailor."
"Oh, hello."
"Good to see fresh meat in here.
I'm Mary.
Come here often?"
"Oh no, I actually just moved to this part of town today.
I'm Grant, by the way" "Are you watching the game?"
"Yeah!
My preferred team is in the lead.
If they keep this up, they'll win The Game with ease."
"Oh, I love that team.
And also I love that Game.
I love someone who knows their way around balls."
I'm getting the impression she's a little drunk.
Uhh...
"Buy a gal a drink?"
Hmmmm 7 bucks to keep talking to you?
Nah.
"Suit yourself, sailor."
Hmmmm.
It's the brooding man from the coffee spoon!
He asks if I like shots.
I love shots!
We cheers to our health and the whiskey burns going down but...I feel so cool hanging out
with this guy.
And...he wants me to come back to his place.
I couldn't say no even if I wanted to.
That..sounds a little weird but I'm into it you get it.
Soon we get back to his place and...pushes me up against the wall and kisses me, grabbing
my hips.
He...starts tugging at my belt.
"Lets have some fun"
Okay the grunting was from me not the game BUT I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S IN OTHER PARTS.
Anywabert kicks us out the next morning and makes me feel slightly used.
Did I tell you his name's Robert?
His name's Robert.
And he's mysterious.
Eh whatever.
Back to the house!
Where Amanda is crying but trying to hide it.
I wonder what's wrong.
She won't tell me.
But we move on.
Amanda, who is for now back to normal, pressures me into going to that stupid BBQ Joseph invited
us to.
I don't want to go cause "I'll probably end up standing uncomfortably in the corner
with a plate of food and hope that nobody talks to me."
Inspiring words from a 45 year old man.
But off we go!
And there's Joseph!
And..HOLY BALLS IT'S THE WOMAN FROM LAST NIGHT.
Apparently she's his wife.
Seven bucks well saved!
Fortunately the conversation ends but then Amanda forces me to interact with people.
Damn her Hey it's the dude from the coffee place!
And Robert!
And that freckley, hairy, ginger dude I never told you about.
And the Goth guy who threw a fit in Dead, Goth, and Beyond that time I never mentioned.
Then Amanda's teacher, my old buddy Craig…"But wait a second!
All of these people live in our cul de sac?
That can't be right.
I'd better investigate."
And investigate we do.
All kinds of conversation ensues!
Most of it is awkward and hilarious but it's conversation and social interaction so that's
a plus.
Also we learn about Dad Book.
A totally realistic sounding social media platform where dads can meet up with each
other.
And meet up with dads we do.
But not before Amanda gets accepted into her dream school!
Yesterday she was crying for no reason and today she's happy as can be.
Fatherhood sure gives mixed emotions.
Speaking of which, all these emotions have me stirred up!
Time to meet some dads on the internet!
I'll choose...the goth one.
Huh.
I hope he doesn't try to suck my...blood.
What?
What'd you think I was gonna say??
Get your mind out of the gutter.
This Goth Dad is a perfect gentleman!
His name is Damien.
He talks in Victorian era poetic sentences, tells me about his love for all things gothic,
tells me all sorts of..informative things about the Victorian Era and then he takes
me out to his garden.
Holy balls!
This place is nice!
Damien dips out to take care of something which leaves me to admire this place all on
my lonesome.
Oh hey, a gargoyle OH NO I KNOCKED OVER THE GARGOYLE.
This calls for a minigame!
Oh I will announcer guy!
I will...Hmm alright well put that...nope okay.
How about...aha!
Then...nope okay.
What about..DAMMIT.
Okay we'll just put this here...YES!
Just one piece left.
Just...
DANGIT.
NO.
DAMMIT.
POOP.
FUCK.
One last...ohheyyoucanturnthingsover BAM!!
Damien will never know.
Which is good cause our date isn't over.
Apparently his son tried to get some kid drunk and seal him in a basement by building a brick
wall.
Weird guy.
I go with Damien back to his place, we say our goodbye's and I get my score.Uhhh alright.
I'll take it!
What a success!
See??
I can socialize!
I can make friends and...romance.
But wait.
What's going on here?
Amanda is secretly crying for no reason, all the dads live in the same cul-de-sac by some
cosmic coincidence and the cul-de-sac isn't even a cul-de-sac!
It's clearly an alley.
"A street or passage closed at one end...synonyms include...blind alley."
Huh.
Guess cul-de-sacs don't have to be circular.
The more you know!
Back to the confusion, WHY'S AMANDA SAD???
She got into her dream school so maybe that'll cheer her up but...I'm not so sure.
Not to mention this dad's a lonely middle-aged man who's gotten more social interaction in
the last week than he did the whole time living at the old house!
Hmmm.
Maybe that's not confusing.
Maybe that's a good thing.
Maybe Year after year of going to work, coming home, rinse repeat and now I'm finally re-learning
how to socialize.
Grant Dad do good.
We're killin it.
But...what's the lesson here?
We've made it this far but I have yet to gather if there's anything beneath the lulzy
surface of this ridiculous Daddy Dating Simulator.
This is the story you never knew yet...so far I only see the story.
For now.
Maybe another date with Goth Dad will reveal the hidden mystery.
And look!
Goth Dad sent me a letter!
It's fancy.
And long.
Written in very flowery language.
To the date!
Let's take him to a horror movie eh?
Goth Dad will like that.
Oh.
He's terrified of horror movies.
I'm bad at this.
But then we go for a walk in a graveyard, we have a deep, intimate conversation about
death and then HOLY SHIT ROBERT.
And a dog...that's not his.
Probably.
Damien takes me home, gives me a super sweet handkerchief, I say something nice, he blushes
and we part ways for the night.
Score time!
Cool.
AMANDA IS CRYING AGAIN.
Pressing does no good...she just get's mad and we have to leave.
I'm so upset that she's upset that I can barely sleep at all.
It's all I can think about.
When morning finally comes I go to the kitchen and wait for her to come down.
While I do I can't help but reminisce about the time I taught Amanda to ride a bike.
She kept falling over and scraping her knees but she never stopped getting back up!
Until I made her stop because she was getting hurt.
Then I bought her ice cream.
I felt so close to her then but now...she won't even tell me what's wrong.
So I made her this cake apparently!
Finally she opens up.
It's drama with her friends.
Specifically Emma R. Still not sure which one that is but apparently she started getting
frisky with Amanda's crush after Amanda told her she liked him!
The rest...Grant Dad did not really understand.
These complicated social situations are a little over my head apparently.
Save for the takeaway that all her friends won't hang out with anymore her for no reason.
That sucks.
I give her some fatherly advice, and she feels a little better.
High school's almost over anyways and I know she'll find her circle in college.
And with that resolved it's time for date number 3 with Damien the Goth Dad!
Long story short, we hang out by the water, Goth Dad get's another phone call, we go
to a run down building together and turns out the guy volunteers at an animal shelter!
Also that lady from the bar is here.
Then some drama ensues!
Dog drama though.
A dog named Dutchess Cordelia gets loose and now we have to find it!
And check out this map that lady made for us.
Huh.
I guess this cul-de-sac is a circle.
Not that it matters CAUSE AFTER DRIVING AROUND TOWN ALL DAY WE DIDN'T FIND THE DOG.
Not good.
Clearly.
Hope the dog isn't dead.
Regardless...it's time for something special.
Something to get my mind off the dog thing and onto something happier.
Something that would make up for Amanda's friends abandoning her.
A surprise party!
A surprise graduation party.
With a mac and cheese bar!
And ice cream cake!
Grant Dad.
You were born for this role.
And Duchess!
You aren't dead.
And you've been adopted by Amanda's teacher and son!
And...Robert.
He says he views me as an object just as he believes I view him as an object.
I guess our grunts meant nothing then.
Next is Damien.
We stand in the backyard, lit elegantly by the setting sun.
The tree casts a shadow towards us...as though to give its blessing for what's about to
happen next.
Damien sighs deeply and reluctantly mutters, "I feel I must rescind my courtship invitation."
Gasp!
Is it cause we didn't find the dog?
That supposed to be my fault?
Two S's and a C and this is the thanks I get?!
Well he still wants to be friends.
Maybe we're better off that way.
Just another addition to the cul-de-sac gang!
Yay!
Friendship!
And we get along well it'll be great.
"All that's left now is...Amanda.
We sit together and watch the sun slowly dip below the horizon.
Amanda: I'm glad you made some friends.
Grant: Yeah…
Amanda: I know that's maybe not what you were looking for.
But these people care about you.
Love ya dad...we'll always have each other.
Grant: It's gonna be hard at first, but this is the next chapter in our story.
And I would be nervous about it, but I know that you're always gonna be looking out
for me the same way I'll always be looking out for you.
Amanda: Team Dad?
Grant: Team Dad."
And then the credits role.
Quite the perfect ending is it not?
Minus the Damien and Rob stuff.
And Amanda having the last name Dad.
But that's just the story.
Not the story you never knew.
I know what you're thinking.
"I WAITED A MONTH BETWEEN STORY YOU NEVER KNEW'S FOR THIS?"
Yes.
But there's still a couple minutes left calm down geeze.
You see...dream daddy..as ridiculous as the first impression is...is quite deep in it's
own...it's own way.
Really it is.
There's an actual story in this comical-at-first-glance dating simulator.
And the thing about actual stories is they have actual characters.
The first taste we got of this game was a bunch of gorgeous slabs of man meat posing
on a colorful banner ...with a catchy yet hard-to-quite take seriously theme song.
But all is not as it seems.
Because our dream daddy...is more than just a hunk.
He's a dad.
A real dad.
And he's got a big group of friends now.
Impressive dad.
For in an age where, stoic, unshakeable men are the manufactured image of perfection ...our
dream daddy was anything but.
He did whatever it took to make his daughter happy...even if he barely understood what
was happening.
He had real emotions.
He could barely sleep when Amanda was upset.
He even cried at the end.
Did I mention he cried at the end?
And get this.
In an AARP survey, 37% of men aged 45 and older are lonely.
Almost 40% of middled aged men...are lonely.
Our caring, fictional father certainly fell into the loneliness trap.
Working hard at his job, providing for his daughter no doubt.
He rarely socialized.
A common problem for the modern man.
There's a variety for reasons for that.
Most of which, when oversimplified have a similar root cause.
According to research by Dr. Niobe Way, a professor of applied psychology at the University
of New York "boys in early adolescence...express deeply fulfilling emotional connection and
love for each other, but by the time [they] reach adulthood, that sense of connection
evaporates."
The quote is from an article I'll link in the description.
The takeaway is clear.
Men, in our society, tend to shy away from real, genuine friendships as they get older
because the emotions required to maintain those friendships are...not something the
manufactured image of the "perfect man" allows.
So fuck the image!
Our Dream Daddy is well practiced in these emotions thanks to his relationship with his
daughter.
And with a little pushing he's finally really able to really bond with the dudes of the
cul-de-sac.
Sometimes the friendships are platonic.
Genuine...but platonic.
Sometimes things go a little further, but even when they do...it's whatever.
Feelings are feelings.
Be they father-daughter love, bro-bro love, or...something a little more homoerotic...Dream
Daddy is in-tune them all.
It's a process...but he makes it happen.
That process of learning to let it flow is why he's gonna have a dope time even after
Amanda goes off to college!
He has friends now.
Real friends.
And now we know why.
That's the story you never knew.
And that's my take on Dream Daddy.
I'm Grant and let me know if you want to see more of this game.
There were plenty of other dads we hardly got to know!
I even had to leave out some promising dates with other dads for the sake of time.
If you wanna see me score with more hot father-figures and even go into more depth about the takeaway
at the end let me know in the comments.
Just say...GRANT IS MY DREAM DADDY!
That's how I'll know you're serious.
SO DO IT!
That's it for now.
Bye everyone!
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