In the old days, choosing a video game system for kids wasn’t that difficult. After all, parents didn’t have to worry about system games like Atari (there was nothing threatening about Pac-Man or Space Invaders). Today, however, with the proliferation of games with adult content available in games supported by major system manufacturers, parents want to know which system offers the most kid-friendly games, which the little ones will enjoy, and which one to play. parents will not regret it. spend money on.
Let’s start with the Sony PlayStation 2, the best-selling game console on the market today. There are literally thousands of titles available for this system, to suit all age ranges. There are approximately 600 games for the PS2 that are rated “E”, which means that it is suitable for players six years of age and older. However, many of these games are too complicated for young children to play. Games that can be enjoyed by children aged ten and over have an E10 + rating, while those with an EC (Early Childhood) rating are of course suitable for the very young. The PS2 has around a dozen E10 + games, including movie-based titles like Shrek Super Slam for the PlayStation 2 and Chicken Little. EC titles that little ones can enjoy include Dora the Explorer: Journey to the Purple Planet, Eggo Mania, and At the Races Presents Gallop Racer.
Nintendo’s GameCube console continues to be popular because it includes titles that are popular with children. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) lists 263 E-rated video game titles for the GameCube, and these include some of the most popular and loved with kids today and years past, such as Sega’s Sonic GEMS Collection, Mario Party 6 from Nintendo. and Mario Tennis. The Legend of Zelda series and various Pokémon titles are also available exclusively on the GameCube.
Microsoft’s Xbox and Xbox 360 video game consoles also have many, many E-rated titles; the Xbox with about 270 games and the Xbox 360 with a dozen so far, but expect the number of Xbox 360 titles to increase as it is a new version. Some games released by Microsoft exclusively for Xbox and Xbox 360 and rated E are Astropop and Feeding Frenzy. However, remember that most game publishers release crossover titles or games that are available on multiple platforms. For example, Eidos Interactive’s LEGO Star Wars (rated E) is available for GameCube, PS2, and Xbox; Activision’s Madagascar (rated E10 +) is available on the same platforms, while Global Star Software’s Dora the Explorer (rated EC) is available on PS2 and Xbox, but not on GameCube.
What about parental control options? Among the four systems, Xbox and Xbox 360 have the most efficient parental lock features. Parents can set limits on the games and movies that will be played on the systems. If you configure the system to play only E-rated games, children will not be able to play DVDs or games that have teen, adult, or adult-only ratings. GameCube also has a parental lock feature, although less effective. Users note that all it does is mitigate certain effects that may be worrisome for children (for example, the amount of blood seen in games) but it does not block the game at all. It doesn’t even filter or sound offensive language. The parental control feature of the PlayStation 2 is even worse: it doesn’t allow parents or anyone to restrict access to video games at all. The most parents can do is configure the PS2 to prevent their children from watching DVD movies with inappropriate content.
When it comes to price, GameCube is the best. Available for just $ 99, it’s significantly cheaper than PlayStation 2 and Xbox, which range in price from $ 150 to $ 199 (or more if bundled with game titles). The Xbox 360, being the newest of the bunch, is the most expensive. For $ 299, you get the system and a wired controller. For $ 399, you get a wireless controller, a headset that gamers can use to talk to other people online, a 20GB hard drive loaded with game-related videos and music, and a remote.
Parents should go out and test each system for themselves, as well as see the different titles available to them before deciding which one to buy. Factors such as the number and age of users in the home, availability of the game title, and budget should also be considered. Each system has its pros and cons, and families will differ in their preferences: some will be content with the limited but popular GameCube games; some may prefer the broader PlayStation 2 or Xbox offering; others may opt for the high-tech features of the Xbox 360. But all things considered, making the right choice will provide hours of healthy, fun, and carefree entertainment for little ones, as well as their parents.
