Buying Video Games for Kids 101 – A Parent’s Guide
By Barry Nagassar

With video game sales burgeoning beyond a multi-billion dollar industry, video gaming is fast becoming the favourite pastime of adults and kids. Quickly replacing the likes of internet, TV, and good old fashion outside playtime, the target market for video games is stretching to younger audiences. Although the dynamics of the entertainment market are continually changing, a problem lies not with younger video gamers, but what games these button fiends play. Despite a growing number of younger gamers this does not entail video games are becoming more sensitive to their impressionable markets. Video game violence is not only the norm, but is increasing in popularity, regularity, and vulgarity. Take for instance the latest Grand Theft Auto release GTA 4: San Andreas. This past July, it was discovered that the already violent video game, (gamer situations include killing police officers, gang violence, etc.,) held a hidden X-rated mini game unlockable for your enjoyment. What’s even more disturbing is the frequency kids discuss these with awe at school and playtime (assuming they play things other than video games.)

This article will assume that parents are interested in learning when it comes to monitoring video game content for their kids. One would also assume parents are spending more time buying games and scrutinizing the content to ensure junior remains relatively innocent a little longer. However, recent polls reveal parents wilfully ignore game ratings when buying. This article is dedicated to equipping you, the interested parent, and not how to ward off blatant laziness.

5 Helpful Hints for Buying Appropriate Video Games for Kids

• 1. It is important to be involved in your child’s gaming activity. Watch them play, discuss the game once finished, and try to understand what components of the game your kid enjoys the most. This will help you understand the content of a particular game and will help underscore what your kid thinks is fun. Of course all kids have different levels of maturity, and parents should be sensitive to each individual.

• 2. Before purchasing spend a few minutes reading online reviews. In a matter of 5 minutes you can find enough information that will not only give concise video game summaries, various ratings, but will enable you to read the opinions of various other reviewers as well. You can gather valuable information from varying opinions that will help you determine the content, playability, and cost. Let’s face it, mind as well get all the bang for your video game buck because they’re not cheap!

• 3. When you reach the store be sure to spend time reading the labels, looking at the game art, and checking the ESRB rating. This is a step the majority of parents overlook or do not take seriously. By reading the labels you get a quick description of the game content, you will be surprised how useful these labels are. The independent video game reviewer body, the Entertainment Software Rating Board, place ratings on every video game box. Do not overlook this rating and the accompanying content descriptions because rest assured, the ESRB will not lie. Their descriptions are clear when describing potential violent situations that could occur during gameplay. Their ratings are self-explanatory and follow a similar system as movies. The rating symbols and recommended audiences are: “E” is for Everyone, “eC” denotes Early Childhood, “E10+” Everyone 10 and up, “T” marks Teens 13 and up, “M” Mature rating for ages 17 and up, “AO” is Adults Only, and finally “RP” means Rating Pending. Once again, you are the best judge regarding the maturity level of your kid, perhaps a rating of “T” for teen is too much for them to handle.

• 4. Online gaming may change gaming descriptions. Many PC games, some Playstaiton 2, mobile games, and Xbox Live games have features that enable gamers to go online and play with other people, young and old. The box reviews may contain a warning, “online gameplay may change…” This means conversations between players, strategies, etc., are largely dictated by human players, many of whom are far older than your newbie kid. Be sure to watch online gameplay, however, a good rule of thumb is: if the game is already violent, it will remain so online. Sound easy? It is.

• 5. Finally, review the game you just bought with your kid. Despite your work researching the actual game may differ from your pre-conceived notion. Not all sports games are as sporty and innocent as you may believe. Don’t be shy, sit down and pick up the controller, even if you’re going to be beat by a 10 year old. All too often games are bought without any time spent reviewing the content, and then kids are left alone to play till their hearts content.

These are but 5 suggestions that when implemented, will enable you to purchase appropriate video games with greater care. There is a heavy movement from the state to restrict video games via censorship, proof of age verifications, etc. Although some of these measures make sense, ultimately it is the responsibility of the parent to monitor the content of video games. So equip yourself. Take 5-10 minutes before your next purchase and do some quick research. And of course, don’t hesitate to play the games you bought, if only to raise your kid’s self-esteem by consistently losing due to your inept gaming self–but at least you did your job before hand.

Check out Christian Blog POMOTHEO for more thoughts and commentary on world news and events.

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Looking for Flexible Options to Enhance Your Video Gaming Experience?
By Willie Gross

For many gamers, renting video games from their local video or movie store was once the best and only way to rent games. This old-fashioned method of both renting and buying games is really a thing of the past. Online shopping has truly changed the way that we do just about everything in our everyday lives, especially when it comes to video gaming. The recent shift in our society toward doing most of our business online means that many of the stores that previously carried video games have gone out of business or closed their doors for good. This means hard times for those businesses, but also hard times for the gamers who used those stores for purchasing games. When doing your online shopping for other important items, consider searching for the latest and greatest in video games as well. Here are some tips to get you started.1- Consider your Current CollectionIt seems that so often, we buy the same types of games over and over again. Or, we purchase a new video game and stop playing our old and outdated games and they just lie on a shelf and gather dust. If you have a large collection of video games at your home and rarely or never use any of them, consider selling them for money. Look through your entire collection with a critical eye and weed out the games that you do not like or no longer play. Selling these items online is a great way to make extra money that can be used towards buying the next great new game right as it is release from the video gaming companies.

2- Search for the Best Websites

There are hundreds of websites on the internet dedicated to games and gaming needs. Do a general search for information and products and then narrow down the best and brightest in the industry. Doing your online shopping is easy and it is much more convenient than having to get in your car and drive to the local store. You can now buy all these games from the comfort of your home and have them delivered right to your doorstep. It’s just that easy. A lot of websites let you sign up for an account and pay a small fee to actually rent games either one at a time or four at a time, depending on your needs. With these services, you can rent a game, send it back and then receive a new one a few days later. There really is something for everyone when it comes to these video gaming websites and services.

3- Use Technology to your Advantage

If you have a full-time job or other major obligations, it can often be very hard to find the time to search through the racks at your local video game or electronics store to find the latest games. Or, you do not have the time to search through rack after rack of games for the best deal or your new favorite game. This is where online shopping saves you the time and hassle of having to go through this process. It’s just that easy!

Learn about the latest in video games and purchasing options for your favorite hobby. Search for the best pieces and deals at MyReviewsNow.

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What Is the New Playstation Vita by Sony?
By Leanna Steele

Everyone is talking about the new upcoming game console by Sony, which is Playstation Vita that is going to be released late this year. Get in the know and find out what people have been talking about, and why. This article discusses the fuss about this new handheld game console.

In early 2011, everyone was so excited about this new upcoming handheld game console by Sony, which back then was codenamed Sony NGP, or Sony Next Generation Portable. In June 2011, during the E3 Expo (Electronics Entertainment Expo) that took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center, Sony announced that the official name for this new handheld game console will be Playstation Vita, also called PS Vita, sometimes also written as PSVita, without the space in between the word PS and Vita.

Critics have good praise for this device, with most game critics citing that it will probably be the best handheld console out there that will defeat Nintendo 3DS (also called 3DS) hands down, and Nintendo 3DS was only launched February this year (Japan) and March this year in North America. Playstation Vita, or PS Vita is speculated to take most of the market share from Nintendo 3DS when it is released. The official release date for this console still has not been announced yet, as of now. However, many have speculated that the console will be released as early as November this year in Europe, and probably after Christmas this year in North America. However, this is only speculation and we are yet to hear from Sony official representatives regarding the release dates. Many have expressed their disappointment to the rumor that this console will not be launched before Christmas. Many are hoping to get this console for Christmas as a Christmas present.

Some die-hard Apple iPhone fans may not like this game console though, thinking that this gaming device is a ‘threat’ to their beloved iPhone (even though both products clearly have different target market than PS Vita). Whatever it is, PS Vita is already climbing the chart in Video Games category on pre-order on Amazon.com and many other online retailer websites like Best Buy.

If you are a casual gamer there’s a chance you won’t like this device though, as this device is probably built with ‘hardcore gamers’ in mind. This device is clearly targeting ‘gamers’ who are always looking for new features and looking for maximum gaming experience. Since PS Vita also allows you to save and play your PS3 games on it, this will be a really great feature for gamers alike.

The author can be found on most PS Vita and PlayStation forums. He is also running a PS Vita website dedicated for PS Vita news and updates.

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The longing to play the game is still there, like a glimpse light at the end of the tunnel, it’s just to pull the trigger and do it will result in consequences I dare not want to happen.  For example, if I stayed up all night I will have to go into work groggy and tired. If I drank like that my blood pressure will go skyrocketing and I maybe loose my job for going in still intoxicated. the kids will at that point of me being tired will go into hyper mode and would not be able to tolerate it.  A whole day would be lost on one all night video game session.

So as I think about the days of video game playing all night, I am glad I still have those memories, and that I have a job, and friends that I can recall those great days with. But for now I will keep you guys posted and keep it real on video games and my passion for them. Until next time Game ON!

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Thanks again.

Rastus

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