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