Say Yes to No - Holiday Shopping and Video Games

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

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The 2008 Video and Computer Game Report Card

The economy is in trouble, but the retailers are valiantly putting up all the decorations. People will and should be more careful how they spend this season. Especially for children, spend your money wisely. Make your gift be one that enriches their curiosity, triggers their imagination, fills a need-not just a want, and wires their brains in healthy, positive ways.

Along with the report card this year, the Institute has put together a MediaWise Holiday List of award winning (Parent’s Choice and NAPPA) toys and games for the whole family that will give your child hours of alternatives to electronic screens. Your online shopping supports the work of the Institute.

The National Institute on Media and the Family releases its 13th annual Video and Computer Game Report Card this week. This report card attempts to hold a mirror up to the video game industry, retailers and parents, summarizing the latest research on how video games affect kids and includes a list of video games to avoid as well as ones that are fun and challenging for kids.
The video game industry is hoping that it is recession proof. Many video games are fun and creative – find and buy those that are. Research the games before you go out to shop. It’s so easy to impulse buy – it’s just a game, right?   Look at the ratings – they will tell you if the game has gory violence, sex, blood and gore, drugs, crude language, nudity and more…..sounds like just the present for kids at the holidays, right? Say “no” to your kids if they want an “M” rated (for Mature) game. Check out the “T” (Teen) rated games and make sure, the content is OK for your adolescent child. Avoid first-person, shooter games – these often have violent content.

The Entertainment Software Rating Board has added new game summaries and designed an easier website to help parents find information about video game content.   Check out their website.

New international research conducted with teens from Japan and the United States found that over time, kids who play violent video games do become more aggressive.   So choose your gifts wisely this season.   Lots of families are enjoying playing video games together, make video games a healthy part of your family time.

The folks here at the National Institute on Media and the Family wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Dr. Dave

Tuesday, November 25, 2008 11:10:07 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

Disclaimer | Comments [4] | Trackback

Tuesday, November 25, 2008 6:21:05 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

Interesting how you rate mainstream games but fail miserable when it comes to flash type games, when was the last time you paid a visit to Disney`s website?

It may interest you to see the type of unrated flash game available for free. Is this ok simply because it`s Disney?

How many parents plunk there young children on these types of well known sites thinking the content is ok? My children are allowed to play FPS games online, we are fully involved in competitive squad based games with strict rules. None are allowed to play until age 14, the concept behind the squad based play is explained in detail and that it is just that, a competition based game.

Our toddler on the other hand, is not allowed on Disney nor will he be in light of this game, http://disney.go.com/games/#/games/play/&content=9980 , looks innocent enough from the outside, doesn't it.

It may also interest you that again, Disney runs an online shooter based on Pirates of the Caribbean, why is this online war/assault game not on your nasty list. It`s just as bad, and may be worse on some levels, as say, Farcry 2.

Just like anything in the life of a child, proper guidance is the key, stop blaming the game and put the blame where it belongs, with the parent.

kurt

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 4:22:50 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

First off i work in a retail company who sells video games. Now we do follow the ratings thing which to me is a waste of time for one cause anyone can buy the game and give it to a child anyway. But anyhow how can you get on here and suggest anything to anyone about anything? Video games are just that video games and no one but a parent can say whats good for a child. What we are seeing here is total control of the people ... Big brother saying whats good for you and whats not. Well sorry to bust that bubble i think video games should be played by anyone anywhere at anytime!

chas

Wednesday, November 26, 2008 3:43:23 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

This SITE is censored daily - be careful when posting you will not be given a fair hearing.

James G

Wednesday, December 17, 2008 1:33:15 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)

I notice your list does not specifically include toddler games. Our granddaughter loves iKnow Animals, Letters & Sounds. The online environment is totally safe as we have to login for her into an online parents support area. But this can fill her "bored" hours when she stays with us. She loves it so much we got her a second set of dvds and cards for her to play at home. Watching her smile when she gets the letters matching, etc is quite fun for us too. And unlike Barney from when our kids where growing up, there isn't a purple dinosaur or droning song in the mix. I like the idea that some of the proceeds go to animal conservation programs too. All in all, from a grandparents point of view we give it two thumbs up. Do you know of other toddler games?

Deb M

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