Comments on: The GamerDad Holiday Guide ’07 http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2007/12/09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/ Games from a Parental Perspective Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:32:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Children news » Blog Archive » The GamerDad Holiday Guide ‘07 http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2007/12/09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/comment-page-1/#comment-2385 Children news » Blog Archive » The GamerDad Holiday Guide ‘07 Sat, 22 Dec 2007 23:48:58 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2007-12-09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/#comment-2385 [...] For more information go to Gaming with Children [...] [...] For more information go to Gaming with Children [...]

]]> By: Freakhead http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2007/12/09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/comment-page-1/#comment-2211 Freakhead Thu, 13 Dec 2007 04:10:41 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2007-12-09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/#comment-2211 I guess I'd put EA sports games 10 and up. The sweet spot for those games seem more that age group and up rather than the 6-9 crowd. Am I off on that? Maybe a ton of 6-9yr olds play Madden. I guess I kind of figured that would be the exception rather than the rule. I guess I’d put EA sports games 10 and up. The sweet spot for those games seem more that age group and up rather than the 6-9 crowd. Am I off on that? Maybe a ton of 6-9yr olds play Madden. I guess I kind of figured that would be the exception rather than the rule.

]]> By: Mike Anderson http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2007/12/09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/comment-page-1/#comment-2203 Mike Anderson Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:36:50 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2007-12-09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/#comment-2203 I actually think that is a good idea - I personally use my kids all the time, but generally only move the guidance down based on content, never up based on difficulty. I actually think that is a good idea – I personally use my kids all the time, but generally only move the guidance down based on content, never up based on difficulty.

]]> By: Freakhead http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2007/12/09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/comment-page-1/#comment-2202 Freakhead Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:34:54 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2007-12-09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/#comment-2202 Yeah Forza2 just stood out to me. I know tough call. I can say the sports games, Zelda, Super Paper Mario, Pirates and a few others aren't games that I'd recommend for the average 6 yr old because of reading or difficulty. I can't say the same thing for 9 yr olds. :) I guess I wouldn't lump all the content-appropriate 4 star games into the 6-9 Game Guide without some mention of difficulty up front and/or an extra column in the spreadsheet that rates difficulty. A simple 6-7/8-9 maybe would help or MD for more difficult or LD for less difficult. Maybe add a R for requires lots of reading. i guess I just picture Mom buying Forza2 for her 6 yr old because she thinks he'll like a racing game. And then the son turns it on and wipes out 10 times in a row without getting anywhere. The Mom tries to help, but she doesn't play game and can't figure out that game. The same thing would probably happen with Madden and other EA sports games for most 6 yr olds. Another observation is that for young kids rating matters less. I rented Carnival Games and although I wouldn't give it even 4 stars it might as well have been a 5 star game to my son. So I'd recommend that game for a 6 or 7 yr old over Madden and Tiger Woods and all those types of games. In other words I probably would have a different criteria for recommending games for young kids. Yeah Forza2 just stood out to me.

I know tough call. I can say the sports games, Zelda, Super Paper Mario, Pirates and a few others aren’t games that I’d recommend for the average 6 yr old because of reading or difficulty. I can’t say the same thing for 9 yr olds. :)

I guess I wouldn’t lump all the content-appropriate 4 star games into the 6-9 Game Guide without some mention of difficulty up front and/or an extra column in the spreadsheet that rates difficulty. A simple 6-7/8-9 maybe would help or MD for more difficult or LD for less difficult. Maybe add a R for requires lots of reading.

i guess I just picture Mom buying Forza2 for her 6 yr old because she thinks he’ll like a racing game. And then the son turns it on and wipes out 10 times in a row without getting anywhere. The Mom tries to help, but she doesn’t play game and can’t figure out that game. The same thing would probably happen with Madden and other EA sports games for most 6 yr olds.

Another observation is that for young kids rating matters less. I rented Carnival Games and although I wouldn’t give it even 4 stars it might as well have been a 5 star game to my son. So I’d recommend that game for a 6 or 7 yr old over Madden and Tiger Woods and all those types of games. In other words I probably would have a different criteria for recommending games for young kids.

]]> By: GamerDad http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2007/12/09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/comment-page-1/#comment-2197 GamerDad Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:32:31 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2007-12-09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/#comment-2197 The problem with that Freakhead is that it's a pure judgement call and I figure it's safe to assume the average parent of a 6-year old is going to know if Forza is right simply by looking at the box. You raise an excellent point but I figure that it's arbitrary enough to assign a content-appropriateness age without adding in another judgement call based on ability. The only way I'd feel safe doing that was if we had a bunch of kids of different ages to show the game to. See how they play. In this instance you're right that it probably would fit better in the 10+ guide - I'll see about moving it. Lemme know if you find others like this. I'm sure they're there. The problem with that Freakhead is that it’s a pure judgement call and I figure it’s safe to assume the average parent of a 6-year old is going to know if Forza is right simply by looking at the box. You raise an excellent point but I figure that it’s arbitrary enough to assign a content-appropriateness age without adding in another judgement call based on ability.

The only way I’d feel safe doing that was if we had a bunch of kids of different ages to show the game to. See how they play. In this instance you’re right that it probably would fit better in the 10+ guide – I’ll see about moving it. Lemme know if you find others like this. I’m sure they’re there.

]]> By: Freakhead http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2007/12/09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/comment-page-1/#comment-2187 Freakhead Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:10:44 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2007-12-09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/#comment-2187 I hear ya. I understand how you all created your Game Guides. I guess I don't think it makes much sense to mention it's probably too hard for kids in the kid factor and yet include it in the 6-9 yr old game guide. :) I guess I think you should do like board game makers do and rate according to difficulty too. I hear ya. I understand how you all created your Game Guides.

I guess I don’t think it makes much sense to mention it’s probably too hard for kids in the kid factor and yet include it in the 6-9 yr old game guide. :)

I guess I think you should do like board game makers do and rate according to difficulty too.

]]> By: Mike Anderson http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2007/12/09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/comment-page-1/#comment-2185 Mike Anderson Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:21:06 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2007-12-09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/#comment-2185 It depends on the 6 year old. Just as some shooters are OK below 13, and so on. The ESRB rates on content, not difficulty - and the same is true for GamerDad. If a game is grueling or frustrating we will typically note that in a review. Think of it this way - "this is a high quality game with content appropriate for kids 6 and up". It depends on the 6 year old. Just as some shooters are OK below 13, and so on. The ESRB rates on content, not difficulty – and the same is true for GamerDad. If a game is grueling or frustrating we will typically note that in a review.

Think of it this way – “this is a high quality game with content appropriate for kids 6 and up”.

]]> By: Freakhead http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2007/12/09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/comment-page-1/#comment-2181 Freakhead Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:52:42 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2007-12-09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/#comment-2181 I hear ya, but would you presonally recommend Forza2 to the parents of a 6 yr old? I hear ya, but would you presonally recommend Forza2 to the parents of a 6 yr old?

]]> By: GamerDad http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2007/12/09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/comment-page-1/#comment-2179 GamerDad Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:23:28 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2007-12-09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/#comment-2179 Those are tough calls - sure. See when I go the other way, I get a lot of "My 5-year old beat Madden on All-Madden" style letters. GamerDad.com assumes some thought and reading on the part of parents - that's why there's a link to the review and so many words in the Kid Factor. Those are tough calls – sure. See when I go the other way, I get a lot of “My 5-year old beat Madden on All-Madden” style letters. GamerDad.com assumes some thought and reading on the part of parents – that’s why there’s a link to the review and so many words in the Kid Factor.

]]> By: Freakhead http://www.gamesanityblog.com/2007/12/09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/comment-page-1/#comment-2178 Freakhead Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:20:04 +0000 http://www.gamingwithchildren.com/2007-12-09/the-gamerdad-holiday-guide-07/#comment-2178 Forza for my 6 yr old? I have the same complaint as last year. :) Many of the games in your 6 & up guide are too difficult for the lower half of that age range imo. Yeah there's no blood and beheadings and carjackings, but for most youngins a lot of those games are going to be too difficult. Even SuperPaperMario would be hard because of the amount of the reading involved. Forza for my 6 yr old? I have the same complaint as last year. :) Many of the games in your 6 & up guide are too difficult for the lower half of that age range imo. Yeah there’s no blood and beheadings and carjackings, but for most youngins a lot of those games are going to be too difficult.

Even SuperPaperMario would be hard because of the amount of the reading involved.

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