It's a classic parent's dilemma. You want your kids to play educational programs
on the computer-math, reading and science programs. Your kids want action-packed
games-the more kicking, punching and explosions, the better. Rather than go ballistic,
like the characters in those games, consider these three steps to find high-action,
low-violence games that leave the blood and guts behind:
- Do Your Homework - Check out the game reviews in computer game magazines.
Publications like Computer Gaming World and PC Gamer show the level of mayhem
in the newly released games (parents' bonus: watch your kid's jaw drop open when
you start rattling off the names of the latest action-game hits). Take advantage
of your PC. Advice on good games from on-line services like America Online is
just a mouse click away (check out our America Online section while you're there).
Also ask fellow parents and software sales people for advice and suggestions.
- Test Drive Before You Buy - Look for game demo CD-ROMs or floppies
at your local software store. Usually priced under $10, they typically offer the
first level of a game (you buy the rest of the game for an additional fee). You
can also get copies of game demos transmitted to your PC via an on-line information
service. Either method gives you first hand exposure.
- Get Hip to the RSAC and ESRB Rating Systems - Many game makers have
voluntarily adopted either the Publishers Association's Recreational Software
Advisory Council (RSAC) or Entertainment Software Rating Board's (ESRB) rating
systems. The RSAC "thermometer" rating sticker, for example, describes a game
in terms of violence, nudity/sex and language at four levels. For example, a game
with a "Level 1" violence rating depicts non-humans being injured or killed, with
a "Level 4" contains, "Wanton and gratuitous violence" involving humans. The ESRB
system rates games by age group-Early Childhood, Kids to Adults, Teen. Mature
and Adults Only. Learn the RSAC and ESRB rating systems-and use them.
- "Dark Forces" (Lucas Arts')- a no-blood Star Wars theme shoot-em-up alternative where the bad guys just fall down when shot-(http://www.lucasarts.com/).
- "Descent" (Interplay Productions)-a wild ride through complex mazes where you shoot menacing flying robots-(http://www.interplay.com/).
Mark Ivey and Ralph Bond, the PC DadsSM, are technology literacy managers at
Intel Corp. Copies of their articles can be found at the PC Dads forum on America
Online, keyword: PCDADS. To contact the PC Dads send e-mail to TheDads@aol.com.(NAPSI)
