The faces of gaming

Games can be sourced from a variety of places, which makes life difficult if you’re a parent trying to monitor what your children play. Here’s a quick rundown of what to be aware of:

Retail copies

Physical copies of games are still the most common – and the easiest to keep track of.

Consoles are game machines that plug into your TV. The major ones are PlayStation 2 and 3, Xbox 360, and Wii. PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are the most graphically powerful. A high-definition TV is recommended to get the best out of them. They also have the most “hardcore” line-up, such as Grand Theft Auto and numerous shooters. But they also have a great many games appropriate for all ages, from karaoke to quizzes.

PlayStation 2 and Wii are best for younger gamers, though there are actually titles that are “fun for the whole family”.  PlayStation 2 is a good budget option, and because it’s been around for years, it has an extremely diverse range of games.

Windows-based computers are also home to many games, although you will need an expensive machine with a good graphics card to run the latest 3D titles. But there are also many older games that are cheap and great for kids.

Handheld machines such as Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable are for gamers on the go. The DS boasts a large selection of kid-friendly games, while the PSP aims for a slightly older audience, with many of its games adaptations of home console titles. The newest versions of both machines also allow music and video playback.

Digital downloads

Increasingly, games can be found online in many different forms.

Free-to-play games inside your web browser are common and generally supported by adverts. Google search safe online game websites such as Miniclip.com, which is a good distraction for kids, especially since the games are short.

Online-based games generally require a download and use the internet constantly. Multiplayer online games often involve thousands of people playing at once, competitively and co-operatively. World of Warcraft boasts over 11 million subscribers paying a monthly fee. These games are time-consuming, so keep an eye on usage.

Digital versions of retail games are creeping up on retail sales. They require a good broadband connection – file sizes can go over 4GB. Paying for and downloading full games through services such as Steam or Direct2Drive can be more convenient than hunting in stores – and the prices are often better. But be careful if your children have access: there’s no age checking for downloading. We recommend keeping the service’s login details to yourself.