Summer's Here- Let the Games Begin!

by Preston Wood

Summer is upon us, and a lot of folks are now free to rest and relax how we see fit. Parents and grandparents alike have the challenge of overseeing their teens and kids as they embrace a summer of adventures. But when the sun gets too hot and the bugs of Jurassic size emerge, kids naturally retreat to the safety of the indoors to video games. Since those parents and grandparents might want to make sure that their media choices in games are as good as with tv, movies or music, I have three ideas to offer on how to make it easy.

Choose a console based on who’s playing it. To sum it up without a lot of jargon, there are three major companies who make the three main game systems: Sony’s Playstation consoles who tout the processing power for dazzling graphics, and Microsoft’s Xbox which prides itself on online multiplayer games. Finally, Nintendo is a company that created the Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Metroid and a bunch of others. Nintendo, because of its creative department, carved a foothold as having some of the most famous games in history. Its games are thrilling and challenging enough to be loved by adults and tasteful enough to be played by any child. If one is looking for an easy choice, Nintendo consoles are prime picks for content and quality for all audiences, as someone who’s had experience with all three.

Second, every game, like every book, TV show and movie, is different. Every game in North America is rated by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), and give all the games a rating based on the content: E for Everyone, T for Teen, M for Mature. Of course, only three tiers of ratings still make it hard to figure out what makes that rating. But the ESRB site has game-by-game information that details what content is in each. Some games in Teen are much tamer or harsher than it may seem. Research goes a long way.

Third, If the kids are not the picky type or are the kind to appreciate a bit of hobby history, don’t be afraid to shop out retro consoles from the company’s past. Many are still in good condition despite being secondhand, and Nintendo consoles are famed for their durability. These can be bought for garage-sale prices online, and games can sometimes be found at delectable prices.

Gaming media is full of choices, exciting stories, engaging gameplay of many genres and styles. I really do encourage anyone who has kids to do research into their favorite series, and learn about the characters, stories and games to join in the fun It’s as simple as searching those character names, terms and games titles that you are unfamiliar with, and a wealth of information awaits! Also if you want Christian, Biblicallybased perspectives on games check out geeksundergrace.com and Focus on the Family’s PluggedIn.com for more current titles. And don’t forget! Focus on consoles from companies that have all-audience appeal, check the ESRB for content information and don’t be afraid to buy retro games secondhand.

Preston Wood is a freelance writer of articles, blogs and novels and a Liberty University student majoring in Theology and Biblical Studies.