Retro for the little ones - how to start 'em out?

[fedexin]

Hey all, the wife and I are planning to have kids sometime soon, and I was wondering how I should get the little one(s) started off right. I've been thinking of making/buying a mini neo-geo/arcade cab, or simply sitting them down in front of the Sonic Genesis Collection. Is a pac-man themed mobile above the crib too much?

Any ideas, experiences with introducing this passion to young minds?

[Gooseberrysoda]

Well, I'd say wait until maybe three or four and introduce them to some 80's ninja turtles cartoons, then the NES/SNES games, and work from there.

[Devezu]

The SNES. IMHO, the SNES is TIMELESS when it comes to visuals and gameplay, as it has lots of colors, cheap games, and a pretty solid (and large) controller. You also can't beat solid-state - no moving parts means no quarters in your Wii or having the tray drive of your PS2 used as a cup holder (not my story, something I read on FML). To the man above - I would also wait until after they have 8-10 years old - teach and show them the marvels of the arts, literature, and science (you interpret this - this can be Treasure Island to Green Eggs and Ham, from Bach to Interpol, and from molecular physics to vinegar-and-baking-soda) before you introduce them to other venues of information being video games, television, and the Internet, as the media found on these can severely shut a child's mind into thinking in a box. At least with the other, they can understand what creativity is, embrace it, practice it, then in the future, take that into account and bring us the next Half-Life or Ico

Plus, at that age, they will truly enjoy what the games are - any earlier and it is only shiny pictures on a screen.

[MrPopo]

Well, I'd say wait until maybe three or four and introduce them to some 80's ninja turtles cartoons, then the NES/SNES games, and work from there.

Throw in some GI Joe and Transformers and we have a winning combination.

[emwearz]

NES + Mario = Childhood memorys, dont rob your child.

[sevin0seven]

NES + Mario = Childhood memorys, dont rob your child.

i would start with this too.

[swiftzx]

Well, I started my 4yr old sister with Sonic the Hedgehog and she enjoys it; keep in mind to use a 3rd party controller because the official one is too big

[Josh]

Start 'em off by having them play NES, Master System, or even Atari around 2-3. Around 4-5 give 'em a Genesis/Turbografx/SNES. 6-7 Go ahead and let them at the N64, the PSone, or the Saturn. Around age 8 let 'em have at the Dreamcast or the Gamecube, maybe the xBox or the PS2. After that they should be good enough to continue gaming on their own. At least I was. I was raised under the infinite wisdom of Nintendo until the original xBox. By the time they're ten at least 2 more generations have passed, so maybe adjust the age rates before those crazy teenagers corrupt their young minds.

...Yay irony.

[benderx]

Don't make them start with Snes yet until they are familiar to the older consoles and controllers. Imagine a little 5 year old playing final fantasy and start to complain how hard is it to play. always start simple. I remember my young teen having trouble with Metal gear solid 1 and 2.

P.S. don't forget about toys such as action figures

[CRTGAMER]

Hey all, the wife and I are planning to have kids sometime soon, and I was wondering how I should get the little one(s) started off right. I've been thinking of making/buying a mini neo-geo/arcade cab, or simply sitting them down in front of the Sonic Genesis Collection. Is a pac-man themed mobile above the crib too much?

Any ideas, experiences with introducing this passion to young minds?

Always though us Retro Gamers are an evil influence.
You could even play games of your choice loudly while them little tykes are still in the oven.