Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Mission Statement/Open Letter

An open letter to clueless parents:


Video games have come a long way since Pac-Man and Pong, so Mom and Dad, it's time to get you caught up. The medium's maturing, the mainstream press is marketing to your fears, politicians are taking advantage of you - campaigning through your panic - while your kids are playing the video games you know nothing about. Can you afford to be ignorant?


I'm here to help. In this blog I will explore:

Genres of games → I will explain how not all video games are the same. We will explore how different genres encourage different play styles and offer radically different experiences.

Mature content → What the ESRB ratings mean, with visual examples taken from games; Determining what games are appropriate for your kids; How to deal with mature content in your childrens' games.

Games as gifts (And how to avoid giving your nephew or niece a lame game.)

Understanding games - and why we play.

Clearing up controversy → Or, why the mainstream press needs to be informed.


And, most importantly:

Bridging the gap → Getting parents to play with their kids.


If you have any questions or comments, please leave a comment.