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Extra Life! Secrets Behind Great Video Games

Do you remember your first Gameboy? Maybe you’re too young for that, so it was your first Gameboy DS or even PSP, but having that game in your hands was liberating. From console to cell phone games, there’s something to learn about the field, and this article provides that knowledge.

Monitor your child’s video game playing time. Video games are extremely fun and very addictive. A child can get sucked into a game for hours on end if there is no parental supervision. Pay attention to the child’s time and force breaks and maximum playing times to make sure your youngster still enjoys the world around him.

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Look for cheat codes by doing a simple search on the Internet. Sometimes this is the best place to find cheats and other perks for video games, without paying for a cheat book. You can find out which codes work and which ones don’t by doing a little research.

Make sure you pay attention to a game’s rating when buying a gift. This will give you the age range that is deemed appropriate for the particular game. That should help you determine if the game is right for your child.

If you decide to allow your preschooler to play a video game, always sit with them when they do it. Talk to them about what is happening in the game. By making the experience a social event, you can create special bonding time between you and your child while they are doing something they enjoy.

Parents should take the time to look in the game console’s settings for parental controls. Consoles will have these controls within their setting’s menus. These can allow you to control games by ESRB rating, the amount of time on the system and limit online access. With these controls set, your child can play games more safely.

If you are a parent, do not ban video games completely from your child’s life. In fact, some video games contain information that is educational for your child. Rather than telling your child, they cannot play video games, encourage them to play educational and fun games by purchasing the games for them.

Do not neglect the secondary market for console video games when looking for titles. You can find good condition used games at a number of sources. Online, they are available through individual resellers and auction’s sites, both as single titles and in collections. Offline, you can buy them used from game stores, video and music stores and at flea markets.

Look at video game ratings. Like movie ratings, video games are rated depending on their content. The ESRB includes several ratings for video game titles. These ratings are EC, E, E10+, Teen, Mature, AO, and RP. “EC” or Early Childhood is for gamers 3 and older, “E” is for Everyone is for gamers 6 and older, “E10+” is for Everyone 10 and older, “Teen” is for gamers 13 and older, “Mature” is for gamers 18 and older, “AO” is Adults Only for gamers 18 and older, and “RP” means Rating Pending.

If you’re playing a game online, and you run across another player who seems to be aggravating other players (or you, in particular) intentionally, don’t take it personally. This is called “Griefing,” and it’s the gaming equivalent of Internet trolling. Griefers are just out for negative attention, and you give them what they’re looking for if you interact with them. Don’t get emotionally invested in what’s happening and simply try to ignore it.

Read reviews of games before you purchase them. You may be waiting for the new shooter game to come out, but if you buy it without reading reviews, it will be a huge waste of time. Check out at least three to five reviews before putting your money down on a game you won’t like.

The upsides of video games can include fun, entertainment and even education. The downsides range from addictive game play to younger individuals seeing and hearing things they are not old enough for. With luck, the ideas presented within this article can help you manage video games well within your home for everyone’s benefit.