Study: Kids want their folks involved in gaming
by David Hinkle 
{ Mar 6th 2009 at 6:00AM }
On top of this, only 60% of the parents questioned say they fully understand the rating system (are you serious?). However, 94% of the parents feel personally responsible for checking, so we guess that's something. In an effort to get the kids and 'rents together for some gaming, we've come up with with titles we think the whole family can enjoy. You can find the list past the break.
[Via GI.biz]
Mom and Dad might like playing these games with you*:
- Manhunt 1 or 2 (multiple platforms): Rockstar's Manhunt games are a series of Where's Waldo-like locales, where players must hunt the man and locate him. It's pretty fun and highly accessible, so the folks should have no problem playing this with you, especially if you're one of our younger readers.
- Noby Noby Boy (PS3): Your parents will immediately "get it."
- The Punisher (multiple platforms): You play as Frank Castle, a disciplinarian at Northbrook Elementary School. You're in charge of dealing with the riff-raff and doling out suitable punishments to naughty children. Jeremy put gum in Suzie's hair? Make him write his name on the chalkboard 200 times! Fun!
- 50 Cent: BOTS (PS3, Xbox 360): Rapper 50 Cent has put down the Vitamin Water and gone hunting ... hunting for treasure, that is! In 50 Cent: BOTS, players take up the role of 50 Cent, rapper turned metal detector enthusiast, traversing the sandy shores of the world in search of lost keys and pocket change. Fun for the whole family!
- NARC (NES): Show your parents that you're above the influence by playing as one of two different narcotics officers. Amaze them as you use the "politely inquire" command to ask drug fiends to put the needle down and enter rehab. Show your folks you have the makings of a valuable member of society by driving under the speed limit during the racing missions. Equal parts fun and social responsibility!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Kamizar @ Mar 6th 2009 6:27AM
I'd rather not, I tend to get rather irritated when people around me can't keep up with my skill. Besides, there's other fun activities and there's no need to force them into something they don't generally understand.
CGamble20 @ Mar 6th 2009 10:15AM
AS much as you saying "can't keep up with my skill" makes you seem like a dick, I get what you're saying.
I used to play my father in NFL Gameday 98' and 00' and they were pretty competitive games. Then he stopped playing and the games wre close to blowouts with 2k5...
Madden, lets just say I have to give him a 40 point spread.
Lieutenant @ Mar 6th 2009 12:28PM
The first time I read this post it bled of sarcasm but after reading it a few more times I actually think you're serious... Pretty pretentious
Kamizar @ Mar 6th 2009 2:41PM
Pretentious, maybe. But the point of video games is to have fun. I don't find explaining every mechanic in a game fun, it's boring, it sucks, and I really hate explaining things i'm so used to picking up to play instantly. There's no challenge either, and since I win by a lot they lose interest, quickly. And no, it's not fair nor is it right to dumb down my skill for their enjoyment. I shouldn't have to be fake for my parents.
However, it's not like video games are the only activities that we can do together. Parents generally don't like video games, that's ok, they don't have to. but, if you enjoy playing games with your mom or dad you should do it.
Killiam XXIII @ Mar 6th 2009 6:38AM
"Study: Kids want their folks involved in gaming"
Hmmmm.....Not really.
Jason @ Mar 6th 2009 6:58AM
I can agree with this study. When I was a kid I really wanted my parents to 'watch' me play or to even try to play with me...they never did till we got the N64 and I couldn't get my dad to put Mario 64 down..it was hilarious..and I had the time of my life playing with him!
Wait a minute..47% of parents don't get involved...AND 47% let their kids play games rated outside their level....I think I see what you did there, Joystiq...
To the comments above me: the title says 'Kids' not "Joystiq posters" Unless you're under 14, you don't really count as 'Kids'
Lord Negatron @ Mar 6th 2009 9:08AM
Agreed Jason.
I can say the same for myself many kids up to a certain age still have that innocence and want to show parents "what they ca do". During my NES days, when the parents were still together, my mother was a "stay at home mom" for a bit. All that said, she picked up gaming to combat boredom and actually beat Zelda (Gold cartridge) and Metroid. She recommended as a joke that we throw out R.O.B and its Gyro game.
xGeneral DEATHx @ Mar 6th 2009 10:34AM
Agreed here, as well.
When I was that age, my Dad once stopped by the door to my room and stood there and watched, and then asked me a few questions about the game I was playing...I believe it was MKII. The questions he asked were simple "What's the objective" type questions, but just knowing that he was the slightest bit interested really gave me a new level of respect for him...most parents just write it all off as "kid's stuff" and don't even try, but just to have them inquire or watch is enough to let kids know that they care. If they don't want to get pwned by their kids, it's okay to just watch.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Mar 6th 2009 11:51AM
when i was younger, i used to always want my parents to watch me play Super Mario Bros. on NES but they never did more than an "uh huh" after watching me jump around for 5 minutes. it wasn't until the PSOne came out and my aunt bought one for herself that my mom decided she wanted to give it a shot too. she played the hell out of Crash Bandicoot and i actually had to fight her off of the console sometimes (which was horrible for me cause i already shared it with my younger brother too lol). my aunt was pretty good at gaming though and even built up a pretty large game collection (over just about ever genre, she loved Doom for example) and even got her husband into the Gameday and Hardball sports series. they don't have kids so i think it was a way for them to draw kids to the house and combat boredom. it worked cause i used to always want to go over there and play with them, it was something special about playing games with older people and winning every once in a while. my mom wasn't bad at Crash Bandicoot though and i think i played my dad in Madden for like 5 minutes one time but that's it for his interest level lol.
anyway, my mom came in the other day when i was playing Killzone 2 and i attempted to show her the graphics and such and all she did was nag me while i had the headset on. i'm 21 but i felt like one of those 13 year olds on there lol. they all like the Wii cause it's easy but i could never imagine them playing PS3 or 360 just because the buttons are too difficult for them to learn now.
Dan Rabot @ Mar 6th 2009 7:21AM
When I was a kid, my parents really could have done with a sixaxis! Watching them try to "turn" the controller while playing Driving games was funny as!
It's a shame now I have "family friendly" games and sixaxis, I no longer live with them.
My parents do have their very own Wii though, Dad fiending for Rapalla! Mum obssesively checking her WiiFit.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Mar 6th 2009 11:56AM
my mom did the same thing lol. moving the controller up in an attempt to jump. i think that's why they love my Wii so much. i only really bring it out when we have company though.
BananaBoat @ Mar 6th 2009 7:22AM
When I was a kid, I used to play Ten Yard Fight and Tecmo Bowl with my Dad on the NES. When the N64 rolled around, he was as excited as I was for it, and immediately decided that yes, in fact, games had become too damn complicated with too many damn buttons for him to continue playing. The last game he ever played with me was Goldeneye, and he wasn't very good at it.
In other words, yes, kids want their parents involved in gaming. What they don't want is parents anywhere near them while online gaming, because if they heard the profanity and racism coming out of their headsets, and their mouths, they'd freak out.
Wait, I take that back, my dad loves Wii Sports. LOVES it.
Lee @ Mar 6th 2009 7:27AM
I wanted my folks to play games with me. maybe I'm more a social gamer. tried to push Tetris, super mario, doom and the like on them and they had none of it except for Duck hunt.
PR0FT3A de V1DA @ Mar 6th 2009 7:27AM
ahhh this reeks of Microsoft bullsh*t... its so them to copy other gaming companys. They did it with the Hardcore crowd (Sony) now they want to tackle the Casual crowd (Nintendo)
this "study" is just their way of telling us "Xbox360 will get full family games in the future because 60% of you want mom and pop to play with you"
guess what Microsoft, NO WE DON'T.
we bought a Wii for that already
DWells55 @ Mar 6th 2009 7:44AM
Successful troll is successful?
I hope? This... is trolling, right?
F.E.F Red Fury @ Mar 6th 2009 8:20AM
"the Hardcore crowd (Sony)"
HaHaHaHaHaHa!
That was a good one.
Temidien @ Mar 6th 2009 8:55AM
Go home, Troll. We don't serve your kind here.
Lord Negatron @ Mar 6th 2009 9:12AM
W T F !?!
1. Its not a MS post.
2. The pic has Wii motes.
3. You need a V8... Get your day started right you friggin' Patapon.
xGeneral DEATHx @ Mar 6th 2009 10:37AM
Holy shit...my head almost exploded from reading that...are you really that lonely that you drum random shit up just to get replies?
A better way to get the attention you want is to sign up for porn mailing lists...at least the people supposedly sending those e-mails are "hot", "horny", and may actually want to get to know you.
SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Mar 6th 2009 12:01PM
"the Hardcore crowd (Sony)"
well for what it's worth, Sony had the hardcore crowd before MS came around.
anyway, this post is only related to MS because they took the survey. other than that, it's just a general study, no need to go all fanboy troll on us.
mazza_man @ Mar 6th 2009 7:28AM
Back in the day, I would have LOVED for my parents to get more involved with my gaming. WOuld have been nothing better than kicking my dads ass at a bit of Mario KArt!
sam @ Mar 6th 2009 8:14AM
Wait - those results are absolutely not surprising at all? Or at least not in the direction that the post implies. Approx 50% of parents 'never involve themselves in gaming'? I'd take that as meaning they don't play games or sit around watching their kids play games... well why would you do that? games are for kids and WATCHING people play games is boring... I'm surprised it isn't higher.
Approx 50% allow kids to play games with higher age ratings - is this supposed to be a surprise? Those are the games kids want to play.
I do agree though that it's doubtful that 'only 60% fully understand the rating system'. I'm guessing they obtained that result by asking 'How well do you understand the video game rating system? Not at all / Somewhat / Fully'. If that's how it was done, then obviously parents who don't really remember exactly what the video game rating system is are hardly going to choose 'Fully' or equivalent.
If they achieved that result using a proper method - i.e. show picture of game rating label, ask 'What age group is this game suitable for?', see if answer is correct, only 60% got it right for all the labels - then that's a bit worrying.
EndCat @ Mar 6th 2009 8:16AM
When I was a kid......
Roncore @ Mar 6th 2009 8:26AM
I think it may more accurate to on the issue of kids "wanting their parents to get more involved"
considering the number of parents who write gaming off as a "waste of time" having "no redeeming value" and feeling their kids should be doing something else more productive.
I wouldn't be surprised if some kids out there would be able to get more gaming time for themselves if their parents took a little more time to check out the games they were playing.
They might realize that their kids might possibly be getting more reading done in some games than in some age appropriate book. or learning analytical and critical thinking skills from them.
I remember when I was 16, i got my mom to give me more money for CD's by showing her song lyrics in a few heavy metal albums and how some of their songs were speaking out against social evils
the more you know! -=*
xGeneral DEATHx @ Mar 6th 2009 10:39AM
+1...the more you know...
...and if I could I'd add an extra +1 for that badass Simon avatar.
Abobo @ Mar 6th 2009 12:17PM
I became a software engineer, partly due to my love of gaming.
I find that many gamers (aside from the Halo fratboys) are generally more intelligent and driven people. I mean, you have to be driven to beat games like Ninja Gaiden and Contra.
Stupidiot @ Mar 6th 2009 8:37AM
My parents play games, but I certainly never considered having them involved with my gaming. As the sad, anti-socialite that I am, single-player games tend to engage me more, anyway.
It doesn't surprise me, however, that many parents allow kids to play games with higher age ratings, as I (and I suspect most of my fellow gaming compatriots) have been playing games tagged with an 18 rating from about age 12.
Shagittarius @ Mar 6th 2009 11:25AM
When I was a kid we didn't have age ratings, and I had to download at 1200 baud in the snow.
Gun Barrier @ Mar 6th 2009 12:13PM
I think I'm too young to understand Shag's joke, because I went "What" *19
Levi (God Hand Defense Force) @ Mar 6th 2009 1:24PM
I'm old as shit (as far as Joystiq commenters go), and I have no fucking clue what a "baud" is.
Markez @ Mar 6th 2009 2:05PM
I'm with you Shag. My pops even used to have a 300 baud modem for his Atari PC. Poor SOB, stuck with a 1200 baud modem... I was cool and had a 2400 baud modem. Suck on that.
Shagittarius @ Mar 6th 2009 2:16PM
I should point out that what I actually meant was 1200 bps (600 baud), and to give you young'uns an idea of how fast that is, It took about 1 hour to download 1 Meg.
I do miss my USRobotics 14.4k HST though....
Dan Rabot @ Mar 6th 2009 9:06AM
Thinking about it about it when I first got my PS3 my Dad tried to play Resistance and Kane and Lynch with me, it was painful watching one half of the screen spin around all over the place, until io needed to go revive him. 50+ people just don't understand analogue sticks. Hence the Wii's popularity with the older generation. Do you reckon any 50+ Wii players ever plug a nunchuck in?
Jason @ Mar 6th 2009 9:23AM
My dad and I (he's about 63 now) had a contest going to see who could beat the Zelda game when it came out..I won, but he came out swinging and we were actually very close to each other in terms of game completion and time. So yes, 50+ players do plug in the nunchuck controller.
Dan Rabot @ Mar 6th 2009 9:28AM
Good to know, suppose my Dad must need it for Rapalla too.
He just doesn't get the whole using a stick to "look" thing, bless him.
t_m @ Mar 7th 2009 12:05AM
No one understood dual analogue sticks when they were introduced. Just like most people got confused when mouselook was introduced.
I was reading an old Duke Nukem 3D review last week and the professional gamer reviewer's main problem with it was that it had too many buttons and letting the mouse let you look up and down gave him motion sickness.
I remember playing both Quake and Goldeneye with friends (18ish at the time) who ran around constantly looking at the floor or ceiling. It takes a while to get the hang of these things.
(thats basically the essence of the endless hardcore vs casual debate right there... experienced gamers don't realise how much experience they bring to games. )
For fun, try reversing the sticks or the yaxis in a game and see how you do... thats how most newbies feel, regardless of age..
flanked @ Mar 6th 2009 9:20AM
My parents and I play a modified form of Monopoly. We start by buying all the properties in turns and bundling them together, building houses and hotels by borrowing more and more money from the bank. Then, in one turn, we burn all the money and flip over the deeds to the mortgaged side. We then fly to DC in our private jets and plead for money before congress. We usually give them an ultimatum along the lines of "the world will burn if you don't give us what we want" or "10,000 years of pain!"
Our game is called Economy! and is rated AO. No one should ever play it.
Farseer (GDI) @ Mar 6th 2009 9:23AM
I'm 30, and both my Father (54) and my Father-in-law (58) love playing Rock Band. We'll play for hours and have a great time. Granted, they also like to play the Wii - my parents even went so far as to get one (and Wii Fit), but when they are at my house, we play Rock Band.
Why the hell couldn't have they been more accepting when I was growing up? I think that Dan Rabot is correct - the D-pads, analog sticks, triggers, and multiple buttons really stood as an entry barrier. Rhythm game controllers and the Wii remote simplified the interface method and really opened (some) gaming up to a wider demographic appeal.
Dan Rabot @ Mar 6th 2009 9:37AM
Totally, my Dad, and his neighbour (who ended up buying a PS3 and GH) used to play some guitar Hero with me, mostly on their Wii but I'd occassionally bring my PS3 round.
Mum could not get the hang of it though, bad co-ordination full stop with that one, and not an ounce of rhythm. At least she has the WiiFit, perfect for her.
I think the main problem is 2 analogue sticks, working their thumbs kind of independently is a new skill for anyone who hasn't grown up with gaming, let alone adding 4 triggers and some other buttons to the mix. Specially with the sensitivity being quite high.
I'm sure if they stuck with it and gave it a proper go they could get used to it though.
Dirty @ Mar 6th 2009 9:32AM
I always thought my dad would enjoy playing madden with me. But after 2 minutes with the controller he always gave up. My mom was always good at tetris.
Markez @ Mar 6th 2009 10:17AM
Tetris brings the world together.
Dirty @ Mar 6th 2009 10:47AM
Except Tetris Worlds. That breaks up familys.
Markez @ Mar 6th 2009 12:30PM
Tetrisphere killed my dog.
tmacairjordan87 @ Mar 6th 2009 9:41AM
I learned at a very young age that
A) My parents were not interested in video games as they were already in their early to mid 40s at the time
B) That even if they were, I knew they couldn't keep up with me on games like Contra and well...anything, and I hate when people hold me back on multiplayer games.
Although, my dad did express interest in that "brain game thingy" (he meant brain age) when i had a DS. Unfortunately for him, that was right around the time I wanted to get rid of it so he was SOL.
Cody @ Mar 6th 2009 12:57PM
I think a good majority of 360 fanboys (such as tmac here) and their estranged relationships with their parents go hand in hand.
Every single person I know with a 360 only, people that swear by them even, have little to no relationship with their birthgivers. Everyone of them. They also show other similar traits as well such as an overly antisocial behavior and forefronting rudeness toward others in general.
One the other end of the spectrum, I find in my personal experiences, alot of Wii owners are very open minded, good relationed people with those close to them.
Sony owners are pretty much anyone and everyone.
Alzheimers @ Mar 6th 2009 9:44AM
Optimist:
Of course kids want their parents to play. How else will they get to extend their bedtimes by half an hour to "finish this last stage". At the very least, it would narrow the generation gap, where parents blame "The Nintendos" for every bad thing the kid ever does.
Cynic:
90% of kids want their parents to play games with them.
90% of kids also lie through their teeth to adults who ask them about video games.
Ask them the "touching themselves" question -- I guarantee 90% will also claim to be innocent little angels.
Bailers @ Mar 6th 2009 9:53AM
As a parent, I'm the other side of the coin. I want my kids to become involved in gaming. They are only 5 and 3, but I'm starting them off with easy things like Leapster, whcih they both really love. My 5 year old loves wII bowling and Mario Party, and in a few more years (and little more coordination) I will be moving her into more complicated games. Eventually we can start playing my kind of games together. Yes, L4D is out for quite a while, but there are other games like Patapon or Civ that we can do together, if they want. I think this number will change as people my age that grew up with Nintendo 8bit start having more kids that can play with them without the learning or intimidation curve.
Just so long as they don't start playing better than I do.
Michael T @ Mar 6th 2009 1:14PM
+1 to you, Bailers.
That's kind of the data I'm looking for: what's the flipside? Those of us in the generation that grew up on, say, the NES have kids now, and how many of us are still active gamers and will actively encourage our kids to play them?
I have a 4-yr-old son, and his favorite game right now is the original Super Mario Bros. On a top-loading NES that I bought off eBay for the express purpose of trying to get him into gaming. He also enjoys the Wii (Kart, Sports), Katamari Damacy, Rock Band, and almost anything on the DS. And I can't tell you about the shit I get from other parents who think I'm rotting his brain....
Bailers @ Mar 6th 2009 1:52PM
Michael,
I always find it ironic that people who would think kids brains are rotting through video games would likely have no problem taking their kids to Disney World. Many of the attractions there are basically interactive video games. The problem as parents that are also gamers, is that when you talk about games many people think a 360 with GTA or Halo and some 12 year old kid spewing profanities.
I don't think many gamers will give it up just because we have kids. Only the play habits will change. During the day I can set up my kids with a WII or on the PC, and at night I'll play TF2 or L4D by myself.
I just ignore the people that would talk down on something they don't understand. Besides, isn't it better to find a common interest with our kids (and at the same time monitor what they play) then have them become the stereotype I listed above?
Michael T @ Mar 6th 2009 2:35PM
Don't misunderstand. I figure anyone who's going to be telling me that games rot brains isn't worth the time it would take to explain to them the benefits of doing so. I merely meant my last statement there as a dismissive eye-roll.