| When I was a kid, the genre of computer video | | | | What I do mind, though, is harming my kids with |
| games was just emerging. I remember having a | | | | things that are inappropriate for them. Why would |
| TV hooked up to a console with rotary-type | | | | these companies care about my kids, anyway? |
| joysticks. One could only play what they called | | | | They often plaque my computer with things that |
| 'tennis' or shoot a white rectangle with a lighting | | | | kids are supposed to fight in these games: the evil |
| gun. That was about it: no fancy graphics, no | | | | stuff. I mean spyware. Unfortunately, it is just |
| sounds other than 'beep', and no color. Great | | | | too easy to get kids downloads and install a |
| things about these games were that they didn't | | | | pretty game, which will plead your computer with |
| have any violence, and they lacked the ability to | | | | advertising of adult of gambling sites. I also mind |
| harm a TV. Things changed significantly with the | | | | stealing my passwords or modifying the results of |
| release of gaming computers such as Amiga, | | | | my Web searches, things that many spyware |
| Commodore, and ZX Spectrum. They run all kinds | | | | products typically do. So what do I do to protect |
| of arcade games in color and with what was, at | | | | my kids from games I don't think are appropriate |
| the time, good sound. Those computers were | | | | and myself from malicious software and other |
| quite limited in their reproduction of motion and | | | | threats bundled with the games intended for kids? |
| graphics, so no exposed violence there. Also, | | | | I use tested sources to get the games. One of |
| there were no computer viruses at those times, | | | | these sources is My Play City Their games are |
| so every game was safe to play. Now I am quite | | | | perfectly suitable for my kids. The company does |
| too old for that kind of fun, but let us face it: our | | | | not have a single game on their Web site, out of |
| kids do love computer games. With modern | | | | several dozens, that has violence or profanity. |
| computers capable of hyper-realistic graphics and | | | | That's certainly good for my kids. These games |
| high-definition sound, the possibilities of | | | | are also good for me because they don't install |
| entertainment are limitless. The kids now have | | | | any unwanted 'extras' on my computer. Are the |
| much wider choice than we did at the time. In | | | | days of great classic arcades back again? For |
| fact, they have so much choice that parents | | | | example, I recently tried their latest game, |
| should be cautions: there's simply much too much | | | | Demon's Doomsday. With its cartoon graphics it |
| meaningless and explicit violence out there. I am | | | | highly resembles the arcades of the old days. The |
| cautious when it comes to games my kids play. | | | | script is nice and suitable for the kids: they are |
| Many companies try to get the kids' time with | | | | supposed to fight the evil. No blood, no exposed |
| computer video games. So much so that they | | | | violence, and kids play for the good guy, and fight |
| even offer their games for free! But do they | | | | witches and ghosts. Quite reassuring, I would say |
| always have good intentions of safely entertaining | | | | after watching some modern 3D shooters. Added |
| your kids, or do they have intentions of their | | | | fun is a touch of competition: kids with greatest |
| own? Dare I say evil intentions? That's a valid | | | | high scores can upload them to the Web, and |
| question, despite the frivolous names and | | | | compete against their counterparts. After all, the |
| entertaining subject. I am perfectly fine with the | | | | days of classic arcade games are here. At least |
| fact that free computer games bring good profit | | | | with the games made by Here it is: you can get |
| to these companies, sometimes more than the | | | | Demon's Doomsday for free at |
| games they charge for. That's business, after all. | | | | More articles from this pro: Inc. |