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Kids and Video Games - A little advice needed!


NinjaMaster Dave wrote: Hi everyone--

My name is Dave, and I am a video game enthusiast. As you know, today there are many video games out, some are made for adults, some are made for kids. And I am amazed at what I see in the video game store as I spend countless hours looking for the new and perfect game to play.

Parents do not seem to know what they are buying for their kids. They don't seem to understand why they want the $50 game over the $20 game, what content is inside the 15-80 hour experience the child is about to embark on. Then it dawned on me that while there is a ratings system, there really is not a resource for parents to go to and get all the info they may want to know about a game! Amazing.

I am setting out to create this resource so parents such as yourselves can make more conscious choices ( i am sure most of you already do) about what games your kids are playing.

So if every time you went to the video game store with your child, what would you want to know "at a glance" and also in more detail about the game? Not just bad stuff, such as the obvious scenes of violence, sexuality, etc, but what would you want to know on the positive end of things? For example, do you wonder if the game promotes logic, creativity, math skills, problem solving, or hand eye coordination?

I look forward to hearing your feedback!

Dave

msoulz replied: Hi Dave:

That would be nice. Many computer games do such things, but not console games. And even the E rated games sometimes seem not so good, so additional information would be helpful.

Mary

NinjaMaster Dave replied: Thanks for the reply Mary. =)

What kind of info would you like to see specifically? Anything come to mind?

My2Boyz replied: One thing that would be helpful is if they have to read during the game. My son is just learning how to read and we have bought games that reading is involved to tell him what to do next. He is not able to play these alone so he doesn't get to play them often. We might not have purchased these games just yet had we known.

gr33n3y3z replied: Hi Dave

I look games up on the internet or grab gaming mags I'm a big RPG ( role playing games ) and I almost always know what I'm buying.
As a parent its important to look it up before you buy it there are tons of sites on the net that allow you to know what to buy and what not to buy for kids.
I think they do a pretty good job in letting you know what you are buying when you do the home work and look for it. '-)

NinjaMaster Dave replied: Great feedback, thank you.

greeneyes-

I do agree that many parents do their homework. And many reviews (such as Game Informer) usually give the info you are looking for. Also, many parents are gamers themselves! I have found more and more these days that kids are getting their games directly from their parents because they have beaten them! lol

But come christmas time when your kid gives you a list of 20 games for santa, what kind of stuff might some of you want to know about the game if all you had to do was go to one website, and type the title in?

gr33n3y3z replied: Well is it sports,role playing,puzzles.

**MMORPG** I think is very important bc then who will your kids be playing with on the internet. sometimes very scary.

I will will have to tell you this

My kids ages are boys 20 and 18 and girls 12 and 16

I'm 42 and I think I will RPG until I cant hold it any more lol

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
Ditto - I have all the Final Fantasy games! emlaugh.gif

I dont`really let my kids play video games. Although Zach plays Echo the Dolpin on Sega Dreamcast now and then.... he just makes Echo swim around.

He`s more interested in computer games like Tonka, Clifford or Dora where it`s MADE for kids his age - he doesn`t yet read, but can recognize most of his eltters.... it`s fun for him, and it`s something we can do together.

My kids are relaly too young to play video games... but *I* love them. If ONLY I had the TIME! rolling_smile.gif

msoulz replied: Dave, I like the ideas you posted - math skills, problem solving, etc. Also appropriate age groups for such items. This is difficult I realize as every child is different. And I agree with your other comments, many parents with children who are "gamers" are the same and take time to research as best we can. But, often we are limited to user's comments on Amazon.com or similar, and those can swing wildly and we often wonder if the publishers and competitors are making their own comments!! It is difficult to feel like I have found unbiased information, but I guess that will always be the case. huh.gif

gr33n3y3z replied:
me too
and Zelda

and I like Golden sun and Fire Emblem hehe

MyBrownEyedBoy replied:
I LOVE Zelda and Knights of the Old Republic and Fable. But it was easier before kids. blink.gif

NummyMommy replied:
I agree.....we also are a gaming family.....we have a sub to the xbox mag which suits me fine as it covers the most popular games and trends. I think if a parent really wants to know whats in a game the information is there. The sad exception is, of course, GTA but even without the added excerpts that game should be IMHO rated M anyways (since there is no rating N for NOBODY!) because of the extent of criminal content. Be that as it may I think a lot of parents just need to be more involved in their kids choices. I think its safe to say the majority of parents on this board are plenty involved with their kids biggrin.gif

gr33n3y3z replied:
GTA SanAndreas has an M on it with 17+ bc
of the criminal content and the ladies of the night that you can pick up

AshleyRose replied:
Have you played Paper Mario? I am playing that now, it is RPG and I LOOOOVVVEEE it! laugh.gif

Brad did final fantasy x, I think and he loved that game too.


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