The Video Game Thread

[KyCardinalFan]

Thanks all. I don't expect my 3-year old to get much out of it yet. It would be more for down the line for him. My daughter might like it, but I thought that about the DS, too.

BW, I have an 8yo, 5yo and 3yo. They all play on the Wii and love it.

The 3yo hasn't "mastered" anything yet, but there's a lot she tries, just because her sisters do it. She started out "throwing" in the baseball game when she was at least 2-1/2 because that's just an overhead swinging motion. When the inning was over we'd just switch controllers with her so she was always the pitcher. She has a great fastball!

Now she can "walk" around the map on "Animal Crossing: City Folk" with the nunchuk. She can fish in that game as well by doing the casting motion and she can pull it in when she's got a bite. It's been a couple of months since she's played that, so I don't remember what else she could do.

She has messed around with "Boom Blox" as well. She likes to swing the controller and knock down the blocks (and the characters in the background) even if knocking down the blocks isn't always the goal. There's a Jenga-like multiplayer part that was fun for us all because she had the dumb luck to pull out pegs flawlessly.

But her absolute favorite are the Rock Band games. We have RB2 and The Beatles. The Beatles' video with the songs are often so colorful the 5yo & 3yo enjoy just watching it. (Which is amusingly annoying if they're supposed to be playing.) In Rock Band we usually play the no-fail mode and the 3yo plays the drums. She can't follow the patterns coming down, she just hits the drums, but if there's an extended period of a color we'll tell her, "Red!" (or whatever) and she'll beat on that color for a while. (So it can also teach colors if he doesn't know them.) She now *loves* the Beatles and plays their CDs as well as the game. How many 3yo kids know the words to "Hard Day's Night"? (She also sings "Hungry Like the Wolf" from Rock Band 2)

We got Wii Fit a few weeks ago and she'll do the running or cycling games - although she doesn't maintain interest for the full time periods. Right now she mostly just watches the 8yo do the games, I think in a few months she'll pick up more about how to play from that.


IMO, I really think you (and your wife) should consider the Wii over the DS. We've found it to be a very social game for the family whereas a DS (which my 8yo & 5yo each have) is more isolating. Rarely will they play their DS together, more often they go to their rooms and play by themselves. Even for games that are one player for the Wii we watch each other, try to improve over each other and/or problem solve together for certain games. Plus, it's entertainment when friends come over, sleepovers and the like.

[epinephrine]

deliver new zelda wii, nintendo.

[TimeForGuinness]

Thanks all. I don't expect my 3-year old to get much out of it yet. It would be more for down the line for him. My daughter might like it, but I thought that about the DS, too.

BW, I have an 8yo, 5yo and 3yo. They all play on the Wii and love it.

The 3yo hasn't "mastered" anything yet, but there's a lot she tries, just because her sisters do it. She started out "throwing" in the baseball game when she was at least 2-1/2 because that's just an overhead swinging motion. When the inning was over we'd just switch controllers with her so she was always the pitcher. She has a great fastball!

Now she can "walk" around the map on "Animal Crossing: City Folk" with the nunchuk. She can fish in that game as well by doing the casting motion and she can pull it in when she's got a bite. It's been a couple of months since she's played that, so I don't remember what else she could do.

She has messed around with "Boom Blox" as well. She likes to swing the controller and knock down the blocks (and the characters in the background) even if knocking down the blocks isn't always the goal. There's a Jenga-like multiplayer part that was fun for us all because she had the dumb luck to pull out pegs flawlessly.

But her absolute favorite are the Rock Band games. We have RB2 and The Beatles. The Beatles' video with the songs are often so colorful the 5yo & 3yo enjoy just watching it. (Which is amusingly annoying if they're supposed to be playing.) In Rock Band we usually play the no-fail mode and the 3yo plays the drums. She can't follow the patterns coming down, she just hits the drums, but if there's an extended period of a color we'll tell her, "Red!" (or whatever) and she'll beat on that color for a while. (So it can also teach colors if he doesn't know them.) She now *loves* the Beatles and plays their CDs as well as the game. How many 3yo kids know the words to "Hard Day's Night"? (She also sings "Hungry Like the Wolf" from Rock Band 2)

We got Wii Fit a few weeks ago and she'll do the running or cycling games - although she doesn't maintain interest for the full time periods. Right now she mostly just watches the 8yo do the games, I think in a few months she'll pick up more about how to play from that.


IMO, I really think you (and your wife) should consider the Wii over the DS. We've found it to be a very social game for the family whereas a DS (which my 8yo & 5yo each have) is more isolating. Rarely will they play their DS together, more often they go to their rooms and play by themselves. Even for games that are one player for the Wii we watch each other, try to improve over each other and/or problem solve together for certain games. Plus, it's entertainment when friends come over, sleepovers and the like.

++

Excellent review...I found it to be very similar with my cousins, nieces, and nephews when they come over.

[Michael]

Great post, KyCardinalFan.

[robbotis]

deliver new zelda wii, nintendo.

Yeah, it's been too long to wait for the follow up to the best game ever.

[BW23]

Thanks all. I don't expect my 3-year old to get much out of it yet. It would be more for down the line for him. My daughter might like it, but I thought that about the DS, too.

BW, I have an 8yo, 5yo and 3yo. They all play on the Wii and love it.

The 3yo hasn't "mastered" anything yet, but there's a lot she tries, just because her sisters do it. She started out "throwing" in the baseball game when she was at least 2-1/2 because that's just an overhead swinging motion. When the inning was over we'd just switch controllers with her so she was always the pitcher. She has a great fastball!

Now she can "walk" around the map on "Animal Crossing: City Folk" with the nunchuk. She can fish in that game as well by doing the casting motion and she can pull it in when she's got a bite. It's been a couple of months since she's played that, so I don't remember what else she could do.

She has messed around with "Boom Blox" as well. She likes to swing the controller and knock down the blocks (and the characters in the background) even if knocking down the blocks isn't always the goal. There's a Jenga-like multiplayer part that was fun for us all because she had the dumb luck to pull out pegs flawlessly.

But her absolute favorite are the Rock Band games. We have RB2 and The Beatles. The Beatles' video with the songs are often so colorful the 5yo & 3yo enjoy just watching it. (Which is amusingly annoying if they're supposed to be playing.) In Rock Band we usually play the no-fail mode and the 3yo plays the drums. She can't follow the patterns coming down, she just hits the drums, but if there's an extended period of a color we'll tell her, "Red!" (or whatever) and she'll beat on that color for a while. (So it can also teach colors if he doesn't know them.) She now *loves* the Beatles and plays their CDs as well as the game. How many 3yo kids know the words to "Hard Day's Night"? (She also sings "Hungry Like the Wolf" from Rock Band 2)

We got Wii Fit a few weeks ago and she'll do the running or cycling games - although she doesn't maintain interest for the full time periods. Right now she mostly just watches the 8yo do the games, I think in a few months she'll pick up more about how to play from that.


IMO, I really think you (and your wife) should consider the Wii over the DS. We've found it to be a very social game for the family whereas a DS (which my 8yo & 5yo each have) is more isolating. Rarely will they play their DS together, more often they go to their rooms and play by themselves. Even for games that are one player for the Wii we watch each other, try to improve over each other and/or problem solve together for certain games. Plus, it's entertainment when friends come over, sleepovers and the like.

Thanks. I appreciate the time that took!!!!!

[JackofDiamonds]

deliver new zelda wii, nintendo.

Yeah, it's been too long to wait for the follow up to the best game ever.

++

[KyCardinalFan]

Question Re: Dragon Age:Origins

I just saw where a download is available for the Mac beginning tomorrow (12/21). Although I'm not sure if hubby has the system requirements to run it. (I know I don't, but his is better updated b/c of work.)

I saw a discussion of Dragon Age a few pages earlier - what platform are you guys playing? PC? Any appreciable difference that you've experienced? I'm leaning toward PS3.

I just saw that there's a Collector's Edition. What's the difference? (Besides $30)

[Freed Roger]

I know nothing about video games. I took my 14 year old nephew to Best Buy so he could use his gift card, and had to vouch for him on the purchase of "Fallout 3". I had no idea he could be carded to buy video games from best buy, and had to make a spur of the moment decision.

His parents were OK about it, but not thrilled... My sister-in law said she probably would have let him buy it.

What makes it rated "M"? Is it that big of a deal?

[TheoSqua]

What makes it rated "M"? Is it that big of a deal?

The game is a little gory. You can shoot people in the head and their head will fly off with blood spurting everywhere. There's also laser and plasma guns that will turn enemies into piles of goo and ash, and there's a fancy little gory animation for while they die to go along with it. It has a turn-based system that allows you to see all death shots in slo-mo, so the scenes are a bit detailed.

There's also drug use, which are futuristic drugs that you can get addictions to. It's not really a big deal in the game and is more of a stat enhancer for the RPG aspect of the game, but some parents might not like it.

At a hotel, you can pay for a hooker, but it doesn't show anything. You just wake up the next morning with the hooker in your room.

Also some of the characters are a little gruesome, like giant mutant dudes and zombie-like creatures. Tbh, not much that a 14 year old would really be bothered by if they've already played stuff like Grand Theft Auto.