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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(ARA) - If you think you know the hot new video games to get your child or grandchild this holiday season, you, and Santa, may want to check the list twice.
In a national survey of tweens and teens, Game Crazy, a video game specialty retailer, found that nearly half expect to get at least one video game they don’t want this holiday from a parent (45 percent), grandparent (44 percent) and even Santa Claus (37 percent).
Game Crazy has produced a “Parent’s Guide to Video Game Buying” to give parents, grandparents and Santa the information needed to get the right games and consoles. More than 80 percent of kids plan to ask for at least one video game this holiday season, so these tips can help you be a hero, not a Scrooge.
1. Ask
Want to know what a great gift is? Ask for a wish list. Game Crazy has one online at www.gamecrazy.com. Sign up for a free My Game Crazy account, add games to the wish list and either print it or e-mail it directly from the site. But treat their requests as your starting place, not automatically your final decision.
2. Do Your Homework
Kids are passionate about video games so buying them as gifts shouldn’t be done hastily. Sixty percent of kids and teens say they expect some form of disappointment when it comes to video game gifts this holiday. Do your homework to pick a gift they’ll enjoy and you’ll feel comfortable giving.
3. Connect the Dots
Nearly one-third of kids say they received a video game last year they hadn’t heard of, but enjoyed after playing it. How do you maintain the element of surprise and still give a great gift? Match your child’s interests with the game content. Is he or she into sports? Music? Puzzles? Other video games? Tell a Game Crazy expert what your kid likes and they can help you find a great game from their huge selection.
4. Know the Rating
Just like the Motion Picture Association of America rates movies, the Entertainment Software Ratings Board rates video game content. Three in five kids say they expect to ask for a video game this holiday that they know is ESRB-rated above their age level. Understanding what the ratings mean and why games have a particular rating will help you feel comfortable giving the game. At Game Crazy, they even let you try any game in the store firsthand before you buy it.
5. Consider Their Skills
There’s more to game-appropriateness than just the content rating. More than 30 percent of kids expect a parent or grandparent to buy them a game that is too advanced for them. Consider how well the child will be able to play the game. Do they have the fine motor skills necessary to control the action? Will they be able to understand the storyline and advance through the game? Or will the content be so easy that they will get bored quickly? You want the gift recipient to enjoy the game, not get frustrated by it so make sure the content matches their abilities.
6. Work the System
Buying a video game for the right gaming system is just as important as choosing the game title itself. Nearly 30 percent of kids say they expect to get a game they want this holiday, but get it for the wrong system. Wii, DS, PS2, PS3, XBOX 360…Game Crazy experts can help you crack the code when it comes to matching games with gaming systems.
7. Ask the Experts
Game Crazy associates can tell you all you need to know about game titles, systems, and ratings. Bring in a wish list or tell one of their experts about your child and they can help you find the right gifts to make you a hero this holiday.
Game Crazy’s “Parents Guide to Game Buying” and holiday wish list are available online at www.gamecrazy.com.
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