Even USA today finds an inch worth of paper on which to print praise for Zak and Wiki. I like how they almost arbitrarily call it "a gem."

Super Mario Galaxy is the obvious choice but nice to see Zack and Wiki and Rock Band on there.

Is the correct answer to, "Guess How Much I Love You":

*stretches arms*

This much? And what happens if it's the wrong answer?

I'd say there's good odds that Zack and Wiki will actually be too difficult for many little kids to comprehend. It sure knocked me for a loop time and time again.

Mario Galaxy is hard as shit ... Most of us didn't beat it with all the stars yet.

JumpStart World Kindergarten?

Does that really count as a video game? I'd call it interactive education software, but not really a video game.

I daughter loves the book "Guess how much I love you?" (She is only 4 months so I think she probably enjoys how I read it more than the actual book).

Nice to see Zak and Wiki get some love.

@Earthslide:

Plus there's the cheery subplot of Rosalina and her dead mom.

@Seth L: Pfft, they'll pass over it like they did with Bambi and The Lion King.

Well, Mufasa was a father, but...you get the idea!

@Seth L: But is that really any worse than the firest season of Sesame Street?. I think the kids can probably handle it.

"Nancy Drew: Legend of Crystal Skull"

There is small movie coming out next year called Indiana Jones: And The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Hmmm...

@BtownDesignGuy: Apparently I need to review some simple spelling... I wonder if Jumpstart World Kindergarten will be able to help me out there.

@Seth L: Word.

Glad to see Mario Strikers Charged on the list. I love that game! Although I frequently get my ass handed to me online by (no doubt) 12-yr-olds.

For kids? Shit, I bought my MOM Zack & Wiki, SMG, and Rayman 2 for xmas.
 
(I hope she's not reading this)

@BtownDesignGuy: It's ok. I talked to the thread in the "Games = crack" thread. :-p

I got my sister Z&W for Christmas, and I think I'm more excited to play it than she will be.

@Earthslide: That's the point of all the stars. It's only 'hard as shit' if you try to get all the stars. If you just want to beat it without that? Probably kids can manage it...

The Nancy Drew mention reminds me... aren't they doing a DS game? Wonder when it's out.

But yes: best thing about this is the Zack and Wiki mention. I hope it gets a bunch more like that, then maybe it'll even sell enough for Capcom to think about a sequel next year...

Maybe buy them an instrument. I still don't see any educational value from Rock Band. The only thing I will give it is that is promotes hand-eye coordination and may help to encourage motor skills, maybe. But there is nothing like learning to play a real instrument over a look-alike controller.

Music is the gift that keeps on giving. Not to mention it would encourage your kids to be real ROCK STARS or at least prevent them from being a thief like these persons.

[kotaku.com]

And I am suddenly reminded of the Rock Band commercials posted here not too long ago.

Good luck with Super Mario Galaxy kids. My girlfriends sister in law asked me if she should get it for her kids. I told her they'd get too frustrated and it wouldn't be worth it.

@:

I agree about the real instruments. Instruments have been shown to help kids academically in many ways. And in fact during WWII the US would try to use Musicians as code breakers.

@Stormrider900:

"'Rock Band Special Edition Bundle'

MTV Games (www.mtv.com/games), for PS3, Xbox360, and PS2, $160 to $170

• Best for ages 10 and up (Rated T, for lyrics)

I didn't know T stood for 'Ten and up', that's news to me.

Hey where's Manhunt on that list?

But NIMF said that NFS: ProStreet and it's naked glory were family appropriate..

@: For the average gamer, age withstanding, you STILL can't compare music games to real instruments.

One's a fun title in an existing hobby that is fun out of the box and doesn't require any more hours than you want to put in it because it's a game.

The other is a completely new hobby that requires an investment of at least $200 (and for that much you're only getting a decent beginners instrument,) and months of practice sounding like crap just to get started. Which, you know, is the kind of dedication you should be teaching your kids, and therefor you should look into getting them real instruments.

But the two still just aren't comparable.

(And I support them choosing Rock Band as 'educational', great tool for getting kids interested in playing -real- music.)

No surprise when the best KIDS game is also a Wii game...

Why do parents need so much help figuring out what to buy for those kids on Christmas. What 5 year old isn't going to be able to tell you exactly what they want for Christmas by October 1st? Or is it those complicated ESRB symbols the parents need help with?

Sheesh, some kid's parents are gonna be pissed.

I know I got my 9-year old neighbor in trouble when I let him sing vocals for Rock Band. I believe he said "bitch, ass, damn, and hell" during all the songs we sang.

Of course I said that I had no knowledge that Rock Songs contained swear words, but some people might not be as easily decieved.

"Why do parents need so much help figuring out what to buy for those kids on Christmas. What 5 year old isn't going to be able to tell you exactly what they want for Christmas by October 1st? Or is it those complicated ESRB symbols the parents need help with?"

@Pherdnut: I imagine this list is for easily frazzled grandparents, distant divorced fathers, and clueless aunts.

And can we have a single Rock Band discussion without this "real instruments" idiocy?

Glad to see Zack & Wiki getting some mainstream ink.
Personally, I'd just like to point out that my 7yo son's favorite "game" by far is Garry's Mod. He was really into Legos until he got a hold of that, but let's face it: Legos doesn't let you blow up zombies with exploding barrels. Yet. We can only hope the Lego World MMO changes all that.

I'm surprised that there was no mention of the lego starwars game, co-op play, cute graphics, it's impossible to die and you can alter the difficulty level . No pokemon games either.
My daughter has been playing windwaker whenever she visits.

Proof that MS hasn't managed to get a significant game for the younger market out there.

@BtownDesignGuy:

And I'm half-convinced that that was simply a pirate pun.

@DigitalHero:

TWO GAMES BASED ON HISTORIC FACT?! NONSENSE!!

That's almost like there being multiple games about Egypt.

Try reading the "Crystal skulls in fiction" section...
[en.wikipedia.org]

Glap to see 'Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure', but is it really appropriat for ages 7 up. The game features cannibals drinking from human skulls you know.

@MrBrains: It's called Bioshock and I suggest you sit your little one in front of the TV and tape their eyelids open.

Kids 7 to 10 they recommend Z&W. I find that game a challenge and I'm 24, I'm not sure a 10 year old (much less a 7 year old) could handle it.

Such Crap saying reading is needed to enjoy games. Any well made intuitive game can be played by young children. Animal Genius looks so basic i think my 5 year old would ace it in a week and then what can you do with it?

Super Mario Galaxy... really? That shit had me almost slamming my wii-mote into my wii, several times.

@EmeraldDragon:

That's actually what I have been hearing about the game as well.

Guess either they have really brilliant children or they judged the game purely on the box it came in.

The latter certainly would explain the short review.

To those saying that Super Mario Galaxy is a bit hard for kids... I haven't played it yet, but do you think it is really that much more difficult for a kid in 2007 than Super Mario Bros. was for a kid in 1985?