PlayStation 3. XBox 360. Nintendo Wii.
There’s no doubt that video games are big business and it’s not always easy to tell which ones are appropriate for your children. And with the wide range of games available, not to mention the amount of advertising dollars being spent to promote them, it’s a safe bet that you know at least one child who will be asking for a game this holiday season.
I’ve written about video games ratings and review sites in the past. The best way to make educated decisions about video games is to read about them before you go into the store. But what if you don’t do that? Or what if you decide to buy a game at the last minute? In short: what do you do if you’re already in the store?
Video game store Game Crazy (a division of Hollywood Entertainment, along with Hollywood Video and Movie Gallery) has put together a Parents’ Guide to Game Buying (781K PDF). It doesn’t go into specific titles or try to answer every question. Instead, it encourages parents to talk with the store’s employees and ask questions before buying games. Whether you shop at Game Crazy or another store, this is something you should definitely do. If the game package doesn’t answer your questions, ask an employee.
The brochure also includes a handy summary of the ESRB rating system for video games, something every parent should have memorized or have access to when buying games. If you only read one page of the brochure, read that one. In fact, cut it out and keep a copy in your purse or wallet.
I’ve never shopped at a Game Crazy store (the nearest location is in Arlington, MA), but it looks like they’re taking steps to help parents make educated videogame purchases. Their “Try Before You Buy” program lets you see or play a game before you bring it into your house. As the brochure says, “You’re Parent Experts. We’re Game Experts.”
Have you had any experience with Game Crazy or similar stores?
