carolyn

Hi,
I went to the video game session at the recent HSC conference and as Dan spoke,
I realized I did sort of have that prejudice against video games in favor of
computer games. Mostly, I think, because I was just resistant to buying another
machine.

But after some thought, now I'm wanting to buy one. I can see lots of
opportunities to use it and new games for all of us to play.

My daughter, 11, will be the main user (or maybe I will be!) and I sure could
use some help deciding which machine to get. I'm hoping to make a birthday
purchase this week. As far as games, I think she'd like Harvest Moon and Zelda
from what I've seen and heard. And I don't really know what other games are out
there that she might like.

We bought a Game Boy Color awhile back and it never did get much play. Any
help, suggestions would certainly be appreciated.

Thanks!

Carolyn

Dan Vilter

Carolyn wrote
> I went to the video game session at the recent HSC conference and as Dan
> spoke,
> I realized I did sort of have that prejudice against video games in favor of
> computer games. Mostly, I think, because I was just resistant to buying
> another machine.
> But after some thought, now I'm wanting to buy one. I can see lots of
> opportunities to use it and new games for all of us to play.
-Snip-
> Any help, suggestions would certainly be appreciated.

Carolyn,

There are no simple answers. There are many reasons to get a particular
console. When I asked my son and his friend, there first response "what do
they want to do with it? What kind of games do they want to play?" so I
asked if you can categorize what kind of games go with each console. At
first that seemed an easy task, but within 30 seconds or so, there was much
disagreement and no clear answer came of it.

If I were looking to buy a console, I would research the web to get a
starting point, figure out which games you want to play and rent or borrow
them. The game and the console. Here in southern California Blockbuster
rents them. This way you get to take take them home and pretend you just
spent a lot of money on the purchase and see if it was worthwhile. You also
have the ability to look at the game racks knowing that only the games for
"your" one console are available to you. See what fits the best.

Here are some links that might help:

Yahoo always seems to be a good starting point for me.
http://dir.yahoo.com/Recreation/Games/Video_Games/

This is a good beginning to think about which console article.
http://www.techtv.com/extendedplay/story/0,24330,3361539,00.html

This has brief descriptions of each console. Also brief game reviews by
console.
http://www.thecgn.net/new.shtml

Many reviews. Games listed with review index to many review sites. So if you
look under PlayStation 2 for ICO, the game Kathy's son demonstrated at that
session, there will be links to 18 different reviews.
http://www.gamezone.com/

Good Luck
-Dan Vilter

[email protected]

You can also just go to Walmart or Target or Toys 'R Us (someone add typical
California locations if necessary) where they have demo stations, and you can
play whatever game they have plugge into it. There will probably be a
Nintendo booth and a playstation, where the controller is fastened to a bar
from the wall, and you can stand there and play a while.

And then if they love something or other or prefer one you could rent a
system. Where I am you can rent them at Hastings.

Sandra

Sandra