2nd Generation Retro Gamers

[Mortalrift]

My son is 15 months old, and he will be growing up with a healthy collection of retro games nearby. In fact, his favorite lullaby is "kids run through the city corner" from the Final Fantasy VI soundtrack.

That being said, how are other parents introducing retro games to their children? Do you start with really early games, or use modern kid friendly games?

[BoringSupreez]

I'm not a parent, but to get my younger siblings interested in retro games I used simple, easier 16-bit games as an introduction. Stuff like Commander Keen, Sonic, and the older Humongous Entertainment point-and-click titles.

[dsheinem]

http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 44&t=30384

[Lokkenjawnz]

I got my cousin a GBA SP for his 5th birthday, with Mario Kart Super Circuit, and a few generic platformers. The only videogames he'd ever really played were on the Wii, so he couldn't quite grasp having to use the d-pad and buttons to control his character on screen, instead resorting to turning the GBA itself. Very cute, but a bit frustrating for him. He wouldn't put it down though, and next time I saw him he was kicking ass at the game, and that's not a hugely easy game! Super proud of him.

In response to the OP though, think about what you played as a kid, think about what a kid can pick up and play easily. Also, anything that you can play with the kid will be even better.

[Mortalrift]

thanks for the replies - I guess I was curious what others' philosophies were. I am interested in him playing the systems in a similar time frame (dare I say sheltering him from the modern gaming experience?) more to appreciate the progression of the art form.

I am worried if he gets into the newer games, he will have no interest in all the classics(like my wife's cousins).


I did see the other posted thread, and I thought that was more geared towards photos of their kids gaming, than actual thought process as to how much, what systems and eras, etc.

[Crabmaster2000]

thanks for the replies - I guess I was curious what others' philosophies were. I am interested in him playing the systems in a similar time frame (dare I say sheltering him from the modern gaming experience?) more to appreciate the progression of the art form.

I am worried if he gets into the newer games, he will have no interest in all the classics(like my wife's cousins).


I did see the other posted thread, and I thought that was more geared towards photos of their kids gaming, than actual thought process as to how much, what systems and eras, etc.

I started my son with some simple co-op NES games like Bubble Bobble so we could play together and he could steal my lives if he died. Plus having unlimited continues was a big bonus. And of course Super Mario Bros.

This was all after he turned 2 since I've heard there could be a strong link between very early television consumption and ADHD. Better safe than sorry.

After those games he was just interested in everything and now that he turned 4 he bounces from system to system. He still LOVES the old Mario/Sonic games, but he'll play anything from Skylanders and Kinect Adventures back to Duck Tales and everything in between. Just tonight we had the Power Pad out and were playing some Stadium Events. I totally should have had the camera out for that picture thread.

[Mortalrift]

That is awesome...Bubble Bobble was one o the first in my mind. I am a bit cautious about too much, too soon. I'd like to avoid any attention problems, and I may end up being as restrictive as my parent were. Ironic.

[Zing]

Bubble Bobble actually gets relatively difficult (for a four-year-old) early in the game.

My daughter loves Adventures of Lolo, even if she can only do the first few levels. She also adores Skylanders, which I truly can't recommend enough for a parent and their child to play together.

[J T]

I would recommend that you just expose them to different things and see what sticks. They will probably like some modern and some retro. You can't force it. It's the same as anything: a kid will like what he/she likes. You can only provide them the opportunities to try different things and hope that you have some common ground where you can get a game in together.

[Nintendork666]

I thought this thread was gonna be about what games the next generation of gamers would consider retro, and how they'd go about collecting them, etc.

Color me disappointed.