This time of year I call upon the experts at Children’s Technology Review to share their top picks for high-tech holiday giving. Warren Buckleitner, editor of CTR, described several sure-fire titles and shared major trends.
Buckleitner noted this year’s major trends. “Television is becoming more active, it is becoming a monitor. We are seeing more interactive DVDs, and TV toys–toys that plug into your television’s RCA jack.”
Buckleitner believes that PC software may have “bottomed out. ”The number of tiles has certainly decreased. We saw maybe 100 good titles this year. Total. On the video game side, we saw maybe 300 or 400.”
Also, the next generation of video game consules is looming. “With high definition television, we will see the shift toward living room as the computing family area,” says Buckleitner. “And there’s a brand new horse in the pasture. Macdonald’s recently announced that kids can go into any Macdonald’s Restaurant and get online with their Nintendo DS.”
Buckleitner mentioned the growing popularity of multiplayer games and wireless technology. He happily pointed to the fact that “we’re seeing games that encourage children to collaborate with each other rather than fight each other.” As an educator Buckleitner believes in this collaborative play is important in developing the critical skills students “will use in any business setting down the road.”
Peripherals, movie editing and digital photography are within reach of many more people.
And now, CTR’s best picks:
corefx Three Level “Somebody finally listened to the masses and made a reasonably priced graphics program for the rest of us,” says CTR’s review. The creativity software allows users to draw, paint, animate, and edit photos. The drawing palate offers 12 types of art tools, in any color or tip size. Parents and teachers may simplify the menus for younger users. Buckleitner notes, “Every feature on our creativity wish list was covered.” And he adds, “advanced users will find features even Photoshop doesn’t even have.”
Harvest Moon: More Friends of Mineral Town, was well liked by CTR’s girl testers because of the lead female character. The exploration game lets you run and develop your own farm. Players find tools, trade, ride ponies, raise crops, meet a husband, and start families. The trading economy requires thinking skills. Other Harvest Moon titles, Save the Homeland and Another Wonderful Life, also farm simulations, were highly rated by CTR.
Karaoke Revolution Volume 3 This third volume of the popular singing game scores players on the pitch of their voice. This time around there’s a duet mode, requiring a second microphone. The game includes 35 new songs, including I Got You Babe, Oops!…I Did it Again, and Twist and Shout. Buckleitner warns, “It won’t make a bad singer sound good. Nothing will.”
Kirby: Canvas Curse teaches logic and problem solving as players move through a series of innovative mazes. Tap Kirby with the stylus and he blasts through walls; tap enemies to stun them; tap rocks to break them up. Players are rewarded with mini-games–a mine-cart race, pinball-type game, and a drawing game.
LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
This exploration adventure features LEGO Star Wars characters, and is based on Revenge of the Sith. Buckleitner said his testers “went nuts about it.” He appreciates its unique “drop-in, drop-out, cooperative problem-solving style. Because each player has different abilities, working together is critical. “It’s like you and a friend exploring a dark cave, but only your friend has the flashlight. Discussion is mandatory.”
Mario Superstar Baseball Buckleitner calls this one “a powerful baseball simulation that makes it easy for any member of the family, young or old, to bat and pitch through nine innings of competitive baseball.” It contains assorted four player minigames and fun parodies of great moments in baseball. Players create teams choosing favorite Mario characters and compete against other teams to recruit players by completing in-game challenges. Other Nintendo other sports titles include Mario Golf, Mario Tennis and Mario Kart: Double Dash.
Nancy Drew: Secret of the Old Clock Set in 1930 in a small farm town, Buckleitner calls this who-done-it adventure “one of the best in the series” and points to its “rich, detailed plot” with dozens of logic puzzles and challenges. The graphics and sounds give this game a Myst-like quality. The game is sprinkled with Nancy Drew trivia and the rich content includes 153 different events and a variety of thoughtful games. Warning—these activities require patient sleuthing and maybe some advice.
Nintendogs CTR promises “even cat lovers will like this easy to use virtual pet game, featuring realistic animated dogs who respond to touch (petting with the stylus) and voice commands.” There are different Nintendogs cartridges which feature up to 15 different dog breeds. “Like real dogs, the virtual ones want to socialize (and have puppies!),” says the CTR review.
Scooby-Doo: Unmasked Buckleitner compares this game to stepping inside the Scooby-Doo cartoon. Players collect enough Scooby Snacks, keep monsters at bay, and attempt to free Fred’s cousin. The CTR calls this “a good starter game for younger children.”
Yoshi Topsy-Turvy This “tilting platformer” game has children tilt their GBA from side to side to solve puzzles and collect items like coins, apples, and hearts in order to free Yoshi’s island from the storybook in which is imprisoned. CTR notes, “the tilt feature sparks new life into the beaten dead horse of 2D platforming.”
Leapster Learning Game System Now there are two Leapster systems Leapster Basic and the newer, more compact Leapster L-Max (Learning to the Max), which works with your television with a cable and RCA plugs. My young tester loved the Thomas & Friends and the I-Spy cartridges; CTR recommends Math Missions. Other titles include: Dora the Explorer Wildlife Rescue and Spiderman.
Fisher-Price’s Read with Me DVD! presents classic children’s literature and enhances it with educational games and reading skill support. The control system interacts with your DVD player and monitor. My testers thoroughly enjoyed the stories, though they struggled a little with the game controls.
Food-Force is a free downloadable simulation designed to promote the activities of the UN’s World Food Program (WFP). Buckleitner says “it is fun enough to play at home and educational enough for the science and social studies classroom.” Players assume the role of a rookie aid worker on the fictitious island where they face six simulated missions. The enemy is time as players rush to help a starving population.
EyeToy: Play 2 Designed Sony’s motion-sensing PS2 EyeToy camera, this disk contains 12 party games for 1-4 players. You can enter a homerun derby, play table tennis, or prepare a meal as a master chef. CTR calls it “a wonderful game for a group of players.
Of course, Sims fans will want the new University Expansion Pack. Send your Sims to college where they can build dorms, sororities and fraternities, choose majors, play pranks, and more. CTR testers liked the new hairstyle options and band equipment. Buckleitner also recommended Sims2 for Console. “The console versions are designed to work with the strengths of each platform. In the XBox, PS2 and GameCube versions, there is two player split screen co-op mode, which is very clever; much liked by our testers. The look and themes are nearly identical to the PC version.” Parental warning: Sims tend to involve themselves in adult activities and violence though no explicit graphics are shown. These games are rated ESRB Teen.
Remember that Children’s Technology Review makes a great gift for parents and teachers. Find subscription information at: http://www.childrenssoftware.com
Purchasing Information
corefx Three Level Win 98, Win XP, Core Learning, Ltd, www.core-learning.com Ages 5 and up, $54.95
EyeToy: Play 2 PS2, Sony Computer Entertainment, http://www.sce.com, Ages 6 and up, $45.95
Food-Force Win 98, Win XP, Mac, United Nations World Food Programme www.food-force.com Ages 8 to 13, free
Harvest Moon: More Friends of Mineral Town Game Boy Advance Natsume www.natsume.com Ages 6 and up, $29.99
Karaoke Revolution Volume 3 PS2
Kirby: Canvas Curse Nintendo DS Nintendo www.nintendo.com , Ages 6 and up, $35
Leapster Educational Games, Leapster www.leapfrog.com Ages 6-8 Leapster System $69.99, L-Max $99.99, games from $19.99 to $24.95
LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game Win XP, PlayStation 2, Xbox www.eidos.com $40 console, $30 PC & GBA, Ages 5 through adult
Mario Superstar Baseball GameCube, Nintendo www.nintendo.com Ages 6 and up, $49.99
Nancy Drew: Secret of the Old Clock Win 98, Win XP Her Interactive, www.herinteractive.com Ages 10 and up $19.99
Nintendogs Nintendo DS www.nintendo.com Ages 5 and up, $30
Read With Me DVD! Fisher-Price, Scholastic, www.fisher-price.com, Ages 3-7, $34.99, Titles $14.99
Scooby-Doo: Unmasked PS2, Xbox, GameCube, GBA and DS, THQ www.thq.com Ages 5 and up.$29.99
Sims: University Expansion Pack, Windows, Electronic Arts www.ea.com Ages 13 and up $34.99
Yoshi Topsy-Turvy Game Boy Advance Nintendo www.nintendo.com Ages 5 and up, $29.99
