Looking for suggestions

J

J117

First time out of the vault
Hi all. I was wondering what suggestions y'all might have for an 8 yr. old would-be game player who's currently into Starcraft, but whose mother wants to try a turn-based, strategic-thinking oriented kind of game.
A friend is looking for some game suggestions, as she's out of the loop on games, and doesn't want to deny her son gaming, but isn't sure of what games to look for. So, I volunteered to look around, and found crap in the way of websites that might help.
So, what games can anyone recommend that:

1. Focus on strategic, long-view-oriented decision-making that is not beyond the ability of a youngish kid.
2. Does not suggest violence or military action as the best/only path of action.
3. Stresses or at least forces recognition of ethical, moral choices and the impacts of right/wrong choices.
4. Can hold an 8 year old's interest without overwhelming him.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Yrs.,
J

p.s.: Oh, and 5. Is appropriate for an 8 year old kid. Fallout obviously fills some of the criteria here, but doesn't pass the age-appropriate thing. Especially 'cause makin' things go splat is so graphically fun...
 
J117 said:
Oh, and 5. Is appropriate for an 8 year old kid. Fallout obviously fills some of the criteria here, but doesn't pass the age-appropriate thing. Especially 'cause makin' things go splat is so graphically fun...
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Yep Fallout is not a choice, so I recomend you:
1. Fallout
2. Fallout
3.Hmm...Fallout
4.let's see...Fallout

:D
 
Definately Fallout 1 and 2.....



Take it from me... these are the best two games to bring a young child up with...

They got me through junior high and... well... i'm almost 22 now and still play them....

Between the games and family movies like platoon, apocalypse now, the lost batallion, hell is for hero's.... good ol' family films...

But yeah...

For an 8 year old... I definately recommend fallout 1 and 2.... Not so much fallout tactics.....


and if you ever buy or play Fallout : Brotherhood of Steel, on a console.... the boogey man will come through your closet and cut your fucking balls off..... then feed them to your mom....

I hate to say it like that son, but it's true....

Elissar - wishing you all happy dreams....
 
Techno Mage (or wasn't that turnbased?)

Arcanum (less splattering)

Fallout (just adjust the settings to mininum violence and so on)
 
Fallout 1/2 deffinatly.


If you want nightmares, then FO:Craptics.

If you want above mentionioned villation, then POS.


If you have a old SNES or a Gameboy advance, get some of the old Zelda games like a link to the past and such.
 
Perhaps mention of the violent, gory nature of Fallout would be appropriate. Not that I don't love the game, but the adult themes in it may not be what you are looking for.

Risk and Axis v Alies are both computer adapted board games available widely. They may be worth checking out.

Rome: Total War may also fit the bill. The problem with finsing a game that has diplomatic options like Rome: Total War is that they need to be complex in order to simulate real world diplomacy, and therefore may not be suitable to an eight year old. But then again, maybe they are. Superpower 2 is another game coming out which utilizesw complex diplomatic, economic and political modeling, if he seems up to the task of the game already mentioned.

Let us know how it turns out!
 
You might also like the Startrek: Starfleet Command series of RTS games, while buggy theyre pretty fun.
 
8 years old?... Well Pokemon Colosseum is nice, with TB combat,as long as someone keeps telling him that anime hairdues and weak plots are two no-nos when he grows up.

On real time Pikmin is nice. But the best one for that age is Final fantasy tactics, the gba TB one, not the PS2 RT crap.


Oh and if the idea is to give him something simple but that requires some good thought, not a dumbed down gaming experience then Lost Vikings still rules, after all these years.

Now there is some tactical combat envolved in these games,but for stategy well, besides Risk, i don`t see anything else.

My kid has nine years old and prefers to make his games, particularly on RPGMaker, that`s a better challenge at least to me.
 
Thanks for the quick responses!!! Will pass on the (non-Fallout) suggestions. (with the exception of the low violence setting idea. Still, too many adult themes, I would think. And it's hard to find nowadays, to boot)

Keep 'em coming, as it's good to have a list like this for future reference.

Yrs.,
J
 
Civilzation (I, II or III)

Sim City (your pick of which one)

Shouldn't this be in the General Gaming Forum?
 
heroes would be nice for him...
i know it was lotsa fun for me when i was about that age...(heroes1, the red(and only, like it should be) dragon ruled! :) )
 
For an 8 year old? Something along the lines of Risk or Axis & Allies, but newer. Civilization may still be a bit too complex (though it really depends on how advanced the kid is for his age - I first got my hands on Civilization when I was 10 and mastered it very quickly). Later maybe one of Paradox strategy games (Europa Universalis, Victoria, Crusaders etc. - so what if it isn't turn-based). Games from the General series (Panzer General, People's General etc.) are very old, but they might serve as a good introduction to wargames. Some of them may be abandonware by now. Not too much gore in either of the games I mentioned.
 
I would recommend Sim City, no violence at all, very strategic (long term planning) and not overwhelming. Not to mention incredibly fun. My favorite would be the original Sim City or Sim City 2000, but depending on your child's temperament about graphics, that might not be a good choice.

Long as I'm on Will Wright, perhaps The Sims or The Sims 2? Both complex and simple, I can see it really appealing to a kid. Though the "Woohoo" element of The Sims 2 might be more than you want for your child (basically the Sims version of sex, both the sims jump under the covers and giggle while there is lots of movement and the occasional limb peeking out from the blanket).

Civilization II would be my recommendation for a child, out of the entire series. I used to play with my younger brother. It has a satisfying manner of play, where violence is an easy solution, but the harder path, science, is ultimately the more rewarding. Though the graphics are a bit outdated, and I remember would make my brother a bit nauseous after a few hours.

You know, my very first memory in this world is of watching The Thing. My parents allowed me to watch it when I was three years old. As I recall, I spent most of my time peaking from behind the bar unit. I have to love my parents for that experience.
 
Whose to say Sims isnt violent *grins*.


My suggestions?

Well its a bit complex for an 8 yr old maybe, but the Baldur's Gate series? Has a great deal to do with moral decisions determining your path, etc. Punishes being evil obviously.

Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares. Causes you to think, plan out routes etc, and still has some elements of combat without being gory. Good strategy game.

An older game thats not really around anymore but, The Incredible Machine.

If you have Super Nintendo or the means to buy one, then:

Zelda: A Link to the Past, Earthbound, or Super Mario RPG: Legend of Seven Stars are wonderful choices. Classic games really.


I hope this helps. May think of more later.
 
Twelveteen words!

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

My most anticipated game of the year and it is going to be amazing! And the most amazing part is that the woman thinks she is purchasing it for herself...oH...if she only knew. Muha!

Mohrg :twisted:
 
I would suggest the resident evil series and perhaps renting the movie "killer clowns from outer space" because a child can never be scared shitless of zombies and clowns coming and eating them too early.
 
You know, my very first memory in this world is of watching The Thing. My parents allowed me to watch it when I was three years old. As I recall, I spent most of my time peaking from behind the bar unit. I have to love my parents for that experience.
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Damn, you lucky bastard. My mother never let me watch anything like that, when I was a kid. I grew up to recognise THE THING as the greatest movie ever made, anyway.

As to game recommendations, I can only say what has already been said: Civilization II (or Civilization III, if the kid doesn't like the graphics in number 2).

Master of Orion 2 is another great game, that seems to fit the bill.
 
Fireblade said:
Well its a bit complex for an 8 yr old maybe, but the Baldur's Gate series? Has a great deal to do with moral decisions determining your path, etc. Punishes being evil obviously.
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BWAHAHAHA! "Punishes being evil" indeed. Punishes being evil by utterly ruining the game experience (which wasn't all that exceptional to begin with) with boring hackfest and silly and pointless dialogue choices ("You'll give me hundred gold or I'll shave your pubes and assail you with kiwi fruit!").

Seriously, if you want the kid to have a half-decent introductory experience in RPGs, don't get him Baldur's Gate.

An older game thats not really around anymore but, The Incredible Machine.
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An excellent idea. The latest sequel is Return of the Incredible Machine - fun for people of all ages, and very useful to young people, as it encourages logical thinking.

And how could we forget Worms World Party! Turn based, easy to play, no gore, and more addictive than Jet!
 
I second the recommendation of The Incredible Machine. Truly a classic series.
Also, you should try Castle of Dr. Brain and Island of Dr. Brain. The latter taught me about spectrum analysis and logic gates when I was a wee one, as well as famous puzzles like the Towers of Hanoi. The difficulty level is adjustable so it should be appropriate for an 8 year old as well. And on a personal note, I still hum some of the background music from that game to this day :)
I don't know if it runs on XP, though. I'm pretty sure it does on win98.

There's a variety of fun sim games other than sim city, like Theme Hospital, Roller Coaster Tycoon, etc. Might be too high level for an 8 year old, but messing around and doing stupid mistakes was part of the fun when I was that age :)

Old adventure games like Simon the Sorcerer are worth a shot as well.

OH! And how could I forget Sokoban! Definitely get that one.
 
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