mostly just to piss off my parents" 
 
So... where the hell were his parents in the 1st game and where are they in the 2nd? 
I tried to use common sense to figure this out. I thought, "Maybe they died in the Ray Sphere Blast?" but wouldn't they have been at least mentioned? 
 
Anyone got any thoughts or ideas on the subject?

I can't see any reason for them to be mentioned at all.

I don't get it.  He's an adult...why would you see his parents in his day-to-day life?  It sounds to me like if he's getting a job doing something that his parents disapprove of that he's probably not very tight with them, so I'll venture a guess that they live in another city.

I can't see any reason for them to be mentioned at all.

I don't see the point in them being brought up every time he does something.

@Cloudenvy said:

I can't see any reason for them to be mentioned at all.

Character development.

@Hairydutchman said:

@Cloudenvy said:

I can't see any reason for them to be mentioned at all.

Character development.

In his situation? it seems weird for him to even mention them if they don't even live in the same city, potentially.

Perhaps they live in a different city? Not really important, I think. Their presence wouldn't have any real impact on the story.

Presumably they were still alive by the time inFamous 2 started, because I have to imagine getting his voice changed to sound like a 300lb NYC cabbie was also meant to piss them off.

@Hairydutchman said:

@Cloudenvy said:

I can't see any reason for them to be mentioned at all.

Character development.

In his situation? it seems weird for him to even mention them if they don't even live in the same city, potentially.

@Mento said:

Presumably they were still alive by the time inFamous 2 started, because I have to imagine getting his voice changed to sound like a 300lb NYC cabbie was also meant to piss them off.

I don't get an NYC accent at all.

To me it's just a downpitched Dale Gribble.

@Mento said:

Presumably they were still alive by the time inFamous 2 started, because I have to imagine getting his voice changed to sound like a 300lb NYC cabbie was also meant to piss them off.

I guess you don't know what new york accents or fat people sound like.

COLE WAS PAPERBOY! CONFIRMED.

I think it's supposed to be one of those things you realize with hindsight. When he actually got the job, he did because he wanted to. After all the shit he's been through and a bit of maturing, he realizes he probably just did it for some petty stupid reason like pissing off his parents.

I also like that they gave Cole a southern accent to go with Zeke. You can get a history of them as two southern boys who moved to Empire City for thrills.

@Hairydutchman said:

@Cloudenvy said:

I can't see any reason for them to be mentioned at all.

Character development.

In his situation? it seems weird for him to even mention them if they don't even live in the same city, potentially.

@Cloudenvy said:

@Hairydutchman said:

@Cloudenvy said:

I can't see any reason for them to be mentioned at all.

Character development.

In his situation? it seems weird for him to even mention them if they don't even live in the same city, potentially.

In that same realm of logic it would be ridiculous for Cole to mention anything about his past. It's meant to show the character isn't just an avatar for players to use, it's an actual written character that had a life before his transformation.

They were mentioned in the first game. 
 

SPOILER WARNING: Click here to reveal hidden content.

In the boss fight with Kessler at the end of the first game he mentions how Cole's dad thought Trish was the daughter they never had and that his mum tells people that their son is a teacher.

Who knows how long he had that job

Just like in Indiana Jones, eventually you will be paired up with your father.
 
John Mcgrath, portrayed by Martin Sheen.

Just like in Indiana Jones, eventually you will be paired up with your father.  John Mcgrath, portrayed by Martin Sheen.