video game for very realistic kid
[email protected]
My son is developmentally delayed and has just now, at 11, decided that he
wants to play video games like his big brother. He loves to drive anything,
so he chose "Need for Speed" and enjoyed it for awhile, but it palled. He's
not really into racing; he'd rather "park" beside one of the houses in the
game, pull out an old "dead" cellphone that my dh gave him, and make believe
that he's at his house in real life and he's talking to a friend about where
to go out to eat.
He plays Animal Crossing for a few minutes at a time, but except for moving
furniture around in his house, he says it's not very much fun. I think he
mostly plays it because my older son does and so do his sister and I. He
doesn't like sports games, or Mario or anything with a timer.
He says he wants a game where he can have a real life, but not too
complicated. Basically, I think he wants a house where he can rearrange the
furniture, a car he can drive places like restaurants and stores, and a few
people to interact with . I looked at the Sims series, but it's way too
advanced for him. He's 11, but developmentally delayed and very concrete and
rigid in his thinking. He also scares easily and doesn't like anything sad
or "dark", like role-playing games or people dying.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Lil
"Breaking stuff can be a very effective way to learn."
-- Karl Perry
wants to play video games like his big brother. He loves to drive anything,
so he chose "Need for Speed" and enjoyed it for awhile, but it palled. He's
not really into racing; he'd rather "park" beside one of the houses in the
game, pull out an old "dead" cellphone that my dh gave him, and make believe
that he's at his house in real life and he's talking to a friend about where
to go out to eat.
He plays Animal Crossing for a few minutes at a time, but except for moving
furniture around in his house, he says it's not very much fun. I think he
mostly plays it because my older son does and so do his sister and I. He
doesn't like sports games, or Mario or anything with a timer.
He says he wants a game where he can have a real life, but not too
complicated. Basically, I think he wants a house where he can rearrange the
furniture, a car he can drive places like restaurants and stores, and a few
people to interact with . I looked at the Sims series, but it's way too
advanced for him. He's 11, but developmentally delayed and very concrete and
rigid in his thinking. He also scares easily and doesn't like anything sad
or "dark", like role-playing games or people dying.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Lil
"Breaking stuff can be a very effective way to learn."
-- Karl Perry
Andrea Roher
My first thought was Sims or Sims 2. In fact, it wouldn't be
necessary for him to keep up with everything all that much... he could
even pause the game most of the time and just rearrange stuff. Also,
in Sims (original) if you go to the "Newbie" house and do NOT finish
the tutorial, the people there don't have their needs drop very fast
at all... so it might be a good starting point.
If that's still too advanced, maybe there's a Maxis product made
specifically for children that he might like. The only one I have is
SimTown, which lets you place houses and activate little "easter eggs"
but no rearranging of stuff inside. Of course, it's way to simple to
keep my attention long... but may be something he might enjoy.
The only other thing that occurred to me was there's probably some
Barbie something that might be close to what he'd like if he wouldn't
be offended by the logo (some kids would, others wouldn't care). I
have no specific ideas in mind here, just thought that with all the
Barbie toys that might match that concept, there's almost got to be a
game.
Oh, one other thought. Sims also has a console (PlayStation, etc.)
version out... actually two, Busting Out and Urbz. It's possible that
they've been simplified enough for the console that he might actually
be able to play those. And seems to me there might have even been one
for the GameBoy or something which would be even simpler (though that
may have been a different game I'm thinking about).
Just a few thoughts. Dunno if anything will help. Do let us know
if/what you find. :)
necessary for him to keep up with everything all that much... he could
even pause the game most of the time and just rearrange stuff. Also,
in Sims (original) if you go to the "Newbie" house and do NOT finish
the tutorial, the people there don't have their needs drop very fast
at all... so it might be a good starting point.
If that's still too advanced, maybe there's a Maxis product made
specifically for children that he might like. The only one I have is
SimTown, which lets you place houses and activate little "easter eggs"
but no rearranging of stuff inside. Of course, it's way to simple to
keep my attention long... but may be something he might enjoy.
The only other thing that occurred to me was there's probably some
Barbie something that might be close to what he'd like if he wouldn't
be offended by the logo (some kids would, others wouldn't care). I
have no specific ideas in mind here, just thought that with all the
Barbie toys that might match that concept, there's almost got to be a
game.
Oh, one other thought. Sims also has a console (PlayStation, etc.)
version out... actually two, Busting Out and Urbz. It's possible that
they've been simplified enough for the console that he might actually
be able to play those. And seems to me there might have even been one
for the GameBoy or something which would be even simpler (though that
may have been a different game I'm thinking about).
Just a few thoughts. Dunno if anything will help. Do let us know
if/what you find. :)
On 2/12/06, hawkhillacres@... <hawkhillacres@...> wrote:
> He says he wants a game where he can have a real life, but not too
> complicated. Basically, I think he wants a house where he can rearrange the
> furniture, a car he can drive places like restaurants and stores, and a few
> people to interact with . I looked at the Sims series, but it's way too
> advanced for him. He's 11, but developmentally delayed and very concrete and
> rigid in his thinking. He also scares easily and doesn't like anything sad
> or "dark", like role-playing games or people dying.
-----
Andrea L. Roher
-aka- Evenstar(@...)
Searching for my place in "Life, the Universe, and Everything" one day
at a time.
Maybe I've finally found it... in NH! (www.FreeStateProject.org)
Visit my blog at evenstar75.blogspot.com
Robyn Coburn
<<<<< He says he wants a game where he can have a real life, but not too
complicated. Basically, I think he wants a house where he can rearrange the
furniture, a car he can drive places like restaurants and stores, and a few
people to interact with .>>>>
<<<< The Simpsons has a driving game for X-box that does not have to be a
race at all, and is comical driving. Also the driver can get out and
interact with various characters and objects. >>>>>
Robyn L. Coburn
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
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complicated. Basically, I think he wants a house where he can rearrange the
furniture, a car he can drive places like restaurants and stores, and a few
people to interact with .>>>>
<<<< The Simpsons has a driving game for X-box that does not have to be a
race at all, and is comical driving. Also the driver can get out and
interact with various characters and objects. >>>>>
Robyn L. Coburn
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.15.6/257 - Release Date: 2/10/2006
Kelli Traaseth
***My first thought was Sims or Sims 2.
Mine too. My (11)daughter really likes the play in those games. She really likes roleplaying and also seeing what comes from her actions.
Also on Sims and Sims 2 there are cheats you can put in so you can create as much as you want with as much money as you want. Just google Sims cheats or maybe gamefaq.com would have some. My 8 year old dd really likes doing the cheats so she has a chance to play without running out of money. Very fun! :)
Kelli~
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Mine too. My (11)daughter really likes the play in those games. She really likes roleplaying and also seeing what comes from her actions.
Also on Sims and Sims 2 there are cheats you can put in so you can create as much as you want with as much money as you want. Just google Sims cheats or maybe gamefaq.com would have some. My 8 year old dd really likes doing the cheats so she has a chance to play without running out of money. Very fun! :)
Kelli~
---------------------------------
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Use Photomail to share photos without annoying attachments.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sandra Dodd
On Feb 12, 2006, at 7:26 PM, <hawkhillacres@...> wrote:
furniture, but visit people. In some games you have a horse to ride
or can get one. There are lots of walkthroughs online, and charts
and pointers. You could help him get established with some money
and a horse and he could play really well from there.
Putt Putt is about driving around town (but you're the car, and he
visits other cars). He can go into places, and get a little job,
and it's pretty cute. It's for computers and there are two or three
of them, at least.
Zoombinis (also for a computer) is more like going places and
interacting.
Thinking Things is more about interacting with owners of little shops
in some ways. There's a pet store, and a hat shop. There are at
least three Thinking Things.
Used to be, and I don't know if they run on any new computers, three
games that were quite like visitation, of a treehouse, of an
underground game, of a neighboring back yard, and they were called
Playroom, Treehouse and Backyard. They were by Broderbund which is
now defunct, and I don't know who owns the games now.
People with younger kids might have more current ideas.
Sandra
> Basically, I think he wants a house where he can rearrange theHarvest Moon. You can go in lots of houses. Not rearrange
> furniture, a car he can drive places like restaurants and stores,
> and a few
> people to interact with . I looked at the Sims series, but it's way
> too
> advanced for him. He's 11, but developmentally delayed and very
> concrete and
> rigid in his thinking. He also scares easily and doesn't like
> anything sad
> or "dark", like role-playing games or people dying.
furniture, but visit people. In some games you have a horse to ride
or can get one. There are lots of walkthroughs online, and charts
and pointers. You could help him get established with some money
and a horse and he could play really well from there.
Putt Putt is about driving around town (but you're the car, and he
visits other cars). He can go into places, and get a little job,
and it's pretty cute. It's for computers and there are two or three
of them, at least.
Zoombinis (also for a computer) is more like going places and
interacting.
Thinking Things is more about interacting with owners of little shops
in some ways. There's a pet store, and a hat shop. There are at
least three Thinking Things.
Used to be, and I don't know if they run on any new computers, three
games that were quite like visitation, of a treehouse, of an
underground game, of a neighboring back yard, and they were called
Playroom, Treehouse and Backyard. They were by Broderbund which is
now defunct, and I don't know who owns the games now.
People with younger kids might have more current ideas.
Sandra
[email protected]
In a message dated 2/13/2006 10:40:26 AM Eastern Standard Time,
Sandra@... writes:
there a bunch of kids that you play with (marbles, r/c racing, volleyball,
lawnmower), you can creat your own kid, change clothes, and that sorta thing, walk
around the 'hood and if you need money you do chores for people. To play with
the boy who likes volleyball you have to go find his ball cuz the neighborhood
bully took it. The whole game is to build up to take back the neighborhood
from the bully which you don't see until much later. The mini games are pretty
easy and even if you don't win, you can do it over and over and walk the
streets and play on the playground and stuff. It has a larger scope as well, it
was designed to be used online too if you ever wanted to. My 8 and 4 year olds
like it for the walking and stuff and going to the toy shop to buy things like
marbles to play with the little girl who likes that game.
Pamela
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Sandra@... writes:
> Playroom, Treehouse and BackyardMY STREET for Playstation 2 is kinda like that. It's a neighborhood and
there a bunch of kids that you play with (marbles, r/c racing, volleyball,
lawnmower), you can creat your own kid, change clothes, and that sorta thing, walk
around the 'hood and if you need money you do chores for people. To play with
the boy who likes volleyball you have to go find his ball cuz the neighborhood
bully took it. The whole game is to build up to take back the neighborhood
from the bully which you don't see until much later. The mini games are pretty
easy and even if you don't win, you can do it over and over and walk the
streets and play on the playground and stuff. It has a larger scope as well, it
was designed to be used online too if you ever wanted to. My 8 and 4 year olds
like it for the walking and stuff and going to the toy shop to buy things like
marbles to play with the little girl who likes that game.
Pamela
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
S Drag-teine
I tutor Autistic children on occasion from the time I was in college. One of
the games that we have found useful is the SIMs. You build your house,
arrange the house how you like and such. You can even choose different time
periods and additions.
There are also a large range of realistic explore type computer games - One
is Manhole - well that one is based on Alice and Wonderland but it should
put you in the right direction. If you can't find any let me know and I will
dig my tutor box out and see what the other titles I have are - I know I
have one on Mars and another on Ireland oh also interactive travel sites
that you can explore areas around the world might interest him too.
Shannon
<http://www.melaleuca.com/> Melaleuca Customer
<http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php?n=2> Join our club and swap
paperback books for FREE - PaperBackSwap.com
_____
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
hawkhillacres@...
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 9:26 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] video game for very realistic kid
My son is developmentally delayed and has just now, at 11, decided that he
wants to play video games like his big brother. He loves to drive anything,
so he chose "Need for Speed" and enjoyed it for awhile, but it palled. He's
not really into racing; he'd rather "park" beside one of the houses in the
game, pull out an old "dead" cellphone that my dh gave him, and make believe
that he's at his house in real life and he's talking to a friend about where
to go out to eat.
He plays Animal Crossing for a few minutes at a time, but except for moving
furniture around in his house, he says it's not very much fun. I think he
mostly plays it because my older son does and so do his sister and I. He
doesn't like sports games, or Mario or anything with a timer.
He says he wants a game where he can have a real life, but not too
complicated. Basically, I think he wants a house where he can rearrange the
furniture, a car he can drive places like restaurants and stores, and a few
people to interact with . I looked at the Sims series, but it's way too
advanced for him. He's 11, but developmentally delayed and very concrete and
rigid in his thinking. He also scares easily and doesn't like anything sad
or "dark", like role-playing games or people dying.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Lil
"Breaking stuff can be a very effective way to learn."
-- Karl Perry
"List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
the games that we have found useful is the SIMs. You build your house,
arrange the house how you like and such. You can even choose different time
periods and additions.
There are also a large range of realistic explore type computer games - One
is Manhole - well that one is based on Alice and Wonderland but it should
put you in the right direction. If you can't find any let me know and I will
dig my tutor box out and see what the other titles I have are - I know I
have one on Mars and another on Ireland oh also interactive travel sites
that you can explore areas around the world might interest him too.
Shannon
<http://www.melaleuca.com/> Melaleuca Customer
<http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php?n=2> Join our club and swap
paperback books for FREE - PaperBackSwap.com
_____
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
hawkhillacres@...
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2006 9:26 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] video game for very realistic kid
My son is developmentally delayed and has just now, at 11, decided that he
wants to play video games like his big brother. He loves to drive anything,
so he chose "Need for Speed" and enjoyed it for awhile, but it palled. He's
not really into racing; he'd rather "park" beside one of the houses in the
game, pull out an old "dead" cellphone that my dh gave him, and make believe
that he's at his house in real life and he's talking to a friend about where
to go out to eat.
He plays Animal Crossing for a few minutes at a time, but except for moving
furniture around in his house, he says it's not very much fun. I think he
mostly plays it because my older son does and so do his sister and I. He
doesn't like sports games, or Mario or anything with a timer.
He says he wants a game where he can have a real life, but not too
complicated. Basically, I think he wants a house where he can rearrange the
furniture, a car he can drive places like restaurants and stores, and a few
people to interact with . I looked at the Sims series, but it's way too
advanced for him. He's 11, but developmentally delayed and very concrete and
rigid in his thinking. He also scares easily and doesn't like anything sad
or "dark", like role-playing games or people dying.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Lil
"Breaking stuff can be a very effective way to learn."
-- Karl Perry
"List Posting Policies" are provided in the files area of this group.
Visit the Unschooling website and message boards:
<http://www.unschooling.info>
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