Another take on Pragmata with more reasons why fathers are crucial in a child’s life.
Some highlights from Life is a Game Magazine about Pragmata:
1 in 4 children in America right now are growing up without a biological, step or adoptive father in the home. That’s 18 million kids, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau as of 2022-2023. Hold that number in your head and let it sit there, because I think Capcom may have made the most important argument about fatherhood that gaming has ever produced; and looking at the discourse online right now, nobody is connecting the dots. […]
Because fatherhood; real fatherhood has never strictly been about the biology. It’s about the choice to stay. The opposite of an absent father isn’t just a “present” one; it’s choosing presence when absence would be infinitely easier. We see it all too often, the man panics at the thought of another life he brings into the world; runs away from the “problem” and decades later comes to the realization. The realization of regret…[…]
Every narrative thread, every upgraded weapon, every complicated firefight, and every quiet moment building sand castles builds meticulously to the game’s breathtaking climax. I’m not going to spoil the final act for you. I think everyone should experience this for themselves and get a sense of what the ending means to you…
But this is where the game crashes violently back down into the reality of those 18 million kids we talked about at the beginning. The research says that fatherless families are four times more likely to live in poverty. We know that 63% of youth suicides come from fatherless homes, according to the Department of Health and Human Services AND the Bureau of thee Census. The devastating cost of a man choosing his own preservation over his responsibilities. […]
One day, I want to have kids myself and when that time comes I won’t hesitate to take on the mantle of fatherhood. Because I know what it was like growing up with one. One that was tough on me, told me to dream, helped build a strong work ethic in me, and told me I could accomplish anything I worked my ass off for. And if I failed, he would be there to lift me up so I can go at it again. That’s what made me the man I am today. And that’s what I want to instill in my kids for tomorrow.
I read the ending to the game, and if you’re a dedicated father, it won’t surprise you.