There are many benefits to video games, such as helping with education, enjoying your favorite sport or just helping you to relax. You will find that the article that follows will help you locate great games, how to beat them and how to get the most out of your time playing them.

Turn on the subtitle function. It can be difficult to hear dialogue over the other loud sounds in the game. Take a look around for the subtitle options. The majority of games include audio sections in their menus. This is where the subtitle option will be located if available.

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Research and understand the rating system used for video games. Video games are no longer just for children, so not every game is safe for all ages. The ratings start with Early Childhood (EC) and progress upwards to the most graphic or violent rating of Adults Only (AO). If you are buying a game for someone other than yourself, make sure it is age-appropriate.

Gifting games means checking the ratings before you buy. The ESRB rating acts as an age guideline and helps you determine if a certain game is appropriate. This rating will make you feel comfortable upon your purchase.

There’s a dedicated website that will tell you whether or not a particular game is going to run smoothly on your computer. This page, after a short download, automatically determines whether or not you meet the necessary requirements to play the game. If you don’t want to use the extra space on your hard drive to store the program, you can always delete it afterward.

Look at the online capabilities of your child’s console. This will filter out inappropriate content so your child will not be exposed to it. You can also determine how much they can chat with others while online.

Look at the ESRB rating before buying a game for your kids. A lot of games look like they are okay for kids, but they are not. Make your purchase decision after you have reviewed what aspects the rating is applied on, like violence or language.

Make good use of any parental controls offered by games. Does the game have an online playing mode? If it does have this capability, minimize your child’s access to the Internet. Monitor any friend requests they receive, and how much they play and interact with their online friends.

Figure out how to operate the safety and parental controls of any gaming system that comes into your home. Younger children should not be exposed to violence or inappropriate content. The most advanced systems will even give you the option to customize the settings for each user like a computer would.

Consider getting your children a gaming console rather than letting them play on a PC. Consoles have more privacy controls, as well as security and content settings that are easily bypassed on a computer. Taking this step may help to protect your children from harm.

You should play just a hour or two in a day. Gaming is addictive for many people, and you must be careful to not let it consume you. Limit game sessions. Have only one session per day and limit that session to three hours at the most. If you play more than that, take a break every few hours.

Gaming can be a great pastime, regardless of your age or skill level. They can educate you, improve your motor skills let let you escape from everyday life. Take what you have learned here to become a better gamer.