I could use some advice buying video games

[Alessandra]

First of all, I am ignorant about video games ... ignorant enough to have bought a GameCube shortly before it was discontinued. So some of my questions are:

 

If you buy used games and they do not come with the instructions, can you find instructions online for most games? Can you find a pdf of the actual manual??? I don't mind new games -- it's just that there don't seem to be a lot of them out there.

 

Are there used game retailers that are especially good or bad?

 

And the biggie -- ant recommendations as to games for ds age 8? He loves Carmen Sandiego: The Secret of the Stolen Drums, but this is as violent as I want to get. It's just about OK (IMHO) to smash up a robot with a magic pole, but I don't want to anything more. (Some e rated games look a bit crazy to me.)

 

A few good ideas for Xmas would be wonderful!!!

[Lolly]

We purchase used games all the time. I've found GameStop to be wonderful to work with. We purchased a membership to their "club". It gives a nice discount on used materials. With the used games, you can return it if it doesn't work properly and receive a different copy or a different game. If you just plain old don't like the game you purchased (used), you are allowed to trade it in for a different used game. (This is only allowed once, the second game you have to keep. You aren't allowed to try and trade forever on one purchase.) We have never had any trouble returning/exchanging the used games that do not work properly. We have, many times, traded a game that ds just didn't like.

 

I don't know about finding instructions for games online. My kids have always just put the games in and played. They do look up cheats online sometimes. Ds likes to get the guidebooks, a whole separate purchase, for the big games like Zelda.

 

My kids are older, so I really don't know what games are current for the younger set. Ds tends to like the violent games.

[Alessandra]

Dot & Lolly

Thanks for the recommendation on Gamestop -- the website had looked good to me, but it is nice to hear from someone who has actually used them.

 

Lolly -- I had been reading about the Zelda games and see they're rated "e". But I couldn't tell about the violence part -- what is your take on it?

[JudoMom]

Lego Star Wars is my boys' favorite game. They also like the Incredibles, The Hobbit, Pac Man, and Spiderman 2 (there are different versions of Spiderman, and I don't remember the exactly why, but there is a reason we went with 2). Disney's Extreme Skate is another one that gets play time.

 

We have a Wii, but these are Game Cube games that they still play on it (except for Lego Star Wars, but I know they have a Game Cube version). I've bought used games off of eBay without a problem, as well as at used chain stores with no problems.

Edited December 10, 2008 by JudoMom

[dawn of ns]

Gamecube are great little systems and buyng them used simply means you get cheaper games! I think you made a great choice.

 

Some great games for a child (that my kids have loved) are Harvest Moon (any of the titles). You essentially run a farm and build a family. Lots of fun.

 

Animal Crossing. Earning money and managing debt is a big aspect of this game.

 

Any of the Spiderman titles are a big hit because the kids don't have to follow the story. They can simply spend hours swinging through the game environment, exploring.

[Lolly]

Dot & Lolly

Thanks for the recommendation on Gamestop -- the website had looked good to me, but it is nice to hear from someone who has actually used them.

 

Lolly -- I had been reading about the Zelda games and see they're rated "e". But I couldn't tell about the violence part -- what is your take on it?

 

I would suggest purchasing it used and giving it a try yourself while dc are not around if possible. If it is not acceptable, you can swap it for another game that you are more confident about. I hesitate to make recommendations when dealing with video games being acceptable. Parents' allowance levels are just too variable. Two of our all time favorites for GameCube have been Pikman and Animal Crossing. I just love Animal Crossing!

[elegantlion]

Another store, if you have these, is Play'n'Trade. In our area their service, selection, and pricing is better than Game Stop.

 

As Lolly said games are so variable it hard to recommend particular ones. At some stores you can try the games, which might be your best bet. You might see if some of the Brainy type games are available, like Brain-Age, I don't know what system those are for.

 

Instructions have never been an issue with used games for us. Ds knows what do without them, I think the instinct is built in. :001_huh:

[tinag]

My 8 and 4yo like Tonka, Star Wars, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing on GameCube.

[Sue G in PA]

You can probably find a ton of used games on Craigslist as well. Many people are selling their used games to make money to purchase new ones for newer systems (i.e. selling Gamecube games to purchase Wii games). We inherited a GameCube from my SIL and it's fine for my kids. I wouldn't have ever spent money to purchase a video game system...still won't. My kids purchased their own Nintendo DS/Gameboy systems or came by them for free from friends who were done w/ them. Anyway, just wanted to mention Craigslist in addition to the GameStop recs.

[Angel]

Animal Crossing and Star Wars Lego was my dd's favorite games for game cube. Mario Cart and Harvest Moon were close behind!

[Alessandra]

Thank you all so much for your help! I spent an hour or so (probably more!) reading wiki entries on video game genres, history of mario, etc; looked up all the suggestions here; and cross checked reviews on Amazon. I think I'll go with Pikmin, Super Mario Sunshine, Harvest Moon:Wonderful Life, and (really cheap) Tak:Juju Challenge and Super Monkey Ball. I'll save Animal Crossing, the ohter Harvest Moon and/or Paper Mario for a relative to buy or for a later b'day. No Star Wars here as dc haven't seen the movie and there is a ban for now on lego kits (I told dc what would happen if I were the only one picking these up).

 

Thank you so much for the advice -- I am a big researcher, but, honestly, I didn't know where to start on this. Your "human" help really got me going!

[lori in tx]

Paper Mario is real fun, I bought myself this game and it is great. Also Mario Sunshine is fun too, it is a little bit harder but it is good. Animal Crossing is very fun and out of our co-op I would say probalby 70% play that game it is fun and is great for all ages.

hth

Lori

[Alessandra]

Lori --

Thank you! I am filing all this info away. We are so new at games, and I am really grateful for all this help.