Alternative to Skyrim for 10 year old

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BlackGlove

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#151138 15-Aug-2014 09:17

My 10 year old son is mad keen on getting into Skyrim, some of his friends are playing it and he's totally obsessed with fantasy/dragon/sorcery type stuff. I haven't played it myself (more of a FallOut/Mass Effect gamer), but I have watched some gameplay videos and I think the violence is a little bit too much for him at this stage.

His complaint is that all the games for younger kids are too cartoony, and I can see what he means. So, while he is still very much immersed in Minecraft, does anyone have suggestions for immersive fantasy games (for PC) that aren't too adult in their themes?

[Skyrim is rated M internationally, but R13 in New Zealand]

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Geek @ Coastguard NZ
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#1108828 15-Aug-2014 09:25

Dungeon Siege is a lot of fun, especially multiplayer :)

My mates sand I still play it occasionally at LAN's

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gehenna

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#1108834 15-Aug-2014 09:34

All the Fable games are pretty awesome for kids and adults alike.

BlackGlove

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#1109293 15-Aug-2014 20:56

Thanks, I'll check them out. I think there's a real gap for kids this age, I guess there's not enough of a market for game developers. They either have to pitch it at the adult market so it's got more violence, sex, and adult themes - or they pitch at the child market and it's overly easy and cartoony.

Part of me wonders if I'm being over protective. I don't believe that video games corrupt kids any more than comics or rock & roll or feminism. Having said that, I wouldn't feel comfortable with him watching movies that had that level of violence, and games are so much more immersive than movies. I'm sure I would have been trying to play MW3 and Skyrim when I was his age, there just wasn't anything as realistic available.

Would welcome other suggestions too, or thoughts from other parents of 'tweens'.

Coil

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#1109298 15-Aug-2014 21:05

Skyrim isnt bad, Can be a little jumpy at points.
otherwise not a bad game.

Keep him away from Call of Duty what ever you do.
He might like Minecraft, Multiplayer is full of pretend Nazi's and profanity + terrible politics. So keep him off that. Block port 25565 :)

vexxxboy

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#1109335 15-Aug-2014 21:51

TimA: Skyrim isnt bad, Can be a little jumpy at points.
otherwise not a bad game.

Keep him away from Call of Duty what ever you do.
He might like Minecraft, Multiplayer is full of pretend Nazi's and profanity + terrible politics. So keep him off that. Block port 25565 :)

sounds like nearly all online games ive played. maybe look at some of the free online RPG's , Maple story, Runescape spring to mind. My son first started his love of RPG's playing Runescape when he was 10-11.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

PhantomNVD

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#1109342 15-Aug-2014 22:17

Rpg's when I was that age were all text based (mudding anyone?) so no exp. there, but surely there are modern equivalents to this?

Rpg doesn't need the FPS nature of CoD, just he immersive exploration... Fantasy not reality.

PhantomNVD

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#1109343 15-Aug-2014 22:22

Here's a good discussion to read, some poss suggestions too:
http://www.mmorpg.com/mobile/forums.cfm?ismb=1&threadId=407566

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Finch

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#1109351 15-Aug-2014 22:48

vexxxboy:
TimA: Skyrim isnt bad, Can be a little jumpy at points.
otherwise not a bad game.

Keep him away from Call of Duty what ever you do.
He might like Minecraft, Multiplayer is full of pretend Nazi's and profanity + terrible politics. So keep him off that. Block port 25565 :)

sounds like nearly all online games ive played. maybe look at some of the free online RPG's , Maple story, Runescape spring to mind. My son first started his love of RPG's playing Runescape when he was 10-11.

I started playing Runescape when I was 11 in 2002 and stopped 2-3 years ago. Maybe watch some streams on Twitch also and see what's out there.

Coil

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#1109352 15-Aug-2014 22:59

Finch:
vexxxboy:
TimA: Skyrim isnt bad, Can be a little jumpy at points.
otherwise not a bad game.

Keep him away from Call of Duty what ever you do.
He might like Minecraft, Multiplayer is full of pretend Nazi's and profanity + terrible politics. So keep him off that. Block port 25565 :)

sounds like nearly all online games ive played. maybe look at some of the free online RPG's , Maple story, Runescape spring to mind. My son first started his love of RPG's playing Runescape when he was 10-11.

I started playing Runescape when I was 11 in 2002 and stopped 2-3 years ago. Maybe watch some streams on Twitch also and see what's out there.

I played in 2005-2007 and in 2010-2011 and yeah. i still got an account with 1b+ of bank (probably worth nothing now as economy is junk) and 99 of most stats that matter.

Terrible game.

Glassboy

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#1109353 15-Aug-2014 23:13

Skyrim is less violent than your average cartoon. I let my 9yo play it.

Xeon

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#1109368 15-Aug-2014 23:49

TimA:

I played in 2005-2007 and in 2010-2011 and yeah. i still got an account with 1b+ of bank (probably worth nothing now as economy is junk) and 99 of most stats that matter.
Terrible game.

You'll get about $400 USD for 1B roughly, depends on fees etc.

I regret playing MMORPGs, would keep away unless you can effectively enforce time limits.

Hammerer

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#1109370 16-Aug-2014 00:31

BlackGlove: Thanks, I'll check them out. I think there's a real gap for kids this age, I guess there's not enough of a market for game developers. They either have to pitch it at the adult market so it's got more violence, sex, and adult themes - or they pitch at the child market and it's overly easy and cartoony.

Part of me wonders if I'm being over protective. I don't believe that video games corrupt kids any more than comics or rock & roll or feminism. Having said that, I wouldn't feel comfortable with him watching movies that had that level of violence, and games are so much more immersive than movies. I'm sure I would have been trying to play MW3 and Skyrim when I was his age, there just wasn't anything as realistic available.

Would welcome other suggestions too, or thoughts from other parents of 'tweens'.

There is a real gap and there's no reason for developers to target it because many parents just get there kids what they ask for without regard to good sense or restrictions. Online multiplayer R16/R18 games like Call of Duty, for example, have many 5-6 year olds playing. I've even talked to 4 year olds who have the games console as a cheap baby-sitter - they're home alone too.

The only disadvantage that I can think of if he can't play a game is that it can affect his social opportunities with his friends. We won't allow our kids to play restricted games at home and we let other parents know that. Even so we have relented so our kids can attend a birthday party and not be an outcast when those games are played.

The games that have the greatest impact engage the imagination and its not necessary to have realism. Dungeons and Dragons is a good example. I'd be more concerned about GTA and games with negative social stereotypes or horror elements than Skyrim.

If the killing of other people is the problem then you have some options. If its just the violence then you don't have that many options.
- Batman beats people up but doesn't kill them. Lots of side quests like an RPG.
- Many RPGs focus on fighting non-humans. Old ones like Dungeon Siege also have isometric projection like Age of Empires so figures are smaller and third-person point of view, plus they have you fighting monsters, goblins, etc. There are quite a few online games that are old school like that.
- Fable III might be an option though I haven't played it - it's not all about fighting and it apparently has more fighting creatures than people.

gehenna

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#1109453 16-Aug-2014 12:28

Getting back to Fable, the original has just been remastered for HD and looks really good. The gameplay is much the same as is the story, but it translate well to the new console and makes starting from the beginning of the series a much more achievable goal (if you haven't played it before that is)

Coil

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#1109457 16-Aug-2014 12:54

Xeon:
TimA:

I played in 2005-2007 and in 2010-2011 and yeah. i still got an account with 1b+ of bank (probably worth nothing now as economy is junk) and 99 of most stats that matter.
Terrible game.

You'll get about $400 USD for 1B roughly, depends on fees etc.

I regret playing MMORPGs, would keep away unless you can effectively enforce time limits.

Yup,
I stopped MMORPG's at Runescape. I tried guild wars but it was too much. Grinding for what? Game i didnt understand.

gehenna

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#1109478 16-Aug-2014 13:27

Speaking of, are there any good MUD's around anymore? Would be great playing one of those on the bus to work in the mornings :) /offtopic

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