Conference rusure::nintendo

    Arknoid (sp?) should be a good game for him.  It is kind of like
    the old Breakout game except each screen is different and there
    are some other extras but this is a good game for all age groups.
    Arknoid comes with it's own controller (a dial with a button), I've
    seen the game priced from $30.00 to $65.00 (I guess some stores
    think they can charge more because it comes with the controller),
    but if you want it TOYS R US has it for 29.00 along with many other
    games at good prices.
    
    You also might want to buy his one of the sport games.  Most of these
    are one or two player games so he could play it with his freinds or
    even his parents.
    
    Bruce_who_grew_up_with_odyssey

    My 7 year old got the basic system for Christmas. He can't get
    enough of Super Mario Bros. He recently got soccer which he
    likes. He finds baseball to be fun, but the game lasts too long
    and he loses interest after about the 5th inning or so. Another
    game he enjoys is Top Gun although SMB is the clear-cut farorite.
    
    Recently he has been bugging me for Punchout, but that will probably
    have to wait for his birthday in August or at least mine in April
    8-).

    
                              
    HI,
    
    Super Mario bros would be a good selection for any child. My four
    year old is just crazy over it, he scored 129,000 points on SMB
    the other night. Another game would be mighty bomb-jack, this is
    about jack who flys around picking up treasure boxs while avoiding
    villians.
    
    
    pm

    Don't underestimate the intelligence of a 7-year old.  My son is
    eight and loves to play Zelda.  He and his school friends (some
    are 7) are sharing hints, working together, and generally having 
    a blast.  Learning to draw maps, experimenting, and just trying 
    everything is an education all by itself.
    
    The only downside of these games is his addiction.  But, what the
    heck, what's to do when it's -2 Fahrenheit outside.
    
    - Jim

    I agree that you shouldn'tunderestimate their ability.  My wife
    stayed up late to learn to beat David at Chubby Cherub and SMB
    when he was 4.  She played it so much her knuckles swelled up
    but she finally beat him.  Now at 5 he is fast at SMB and TOP GUN,
    the neighbors 4 year old daughter is surprising them at SMB.
    And they share hints and keep asking me if VaxNotes has any
    new hints.  MWR
    

    Well, my son's birthday party was Saturday.  For his party we took
    6 kids to a local arcade ($2 per child for 1/2 hour of unlimited
    tokens --- 4 of us "grown-ups" kept taking the tokens from the kids!!).
    
    When we got home, he opened up Nintendo and they went crazy.  Hooked
    it up to our 25" tv and had a blast.  Almost missed the Superbowl
    because of Super Mario Bros.  
    
    Also bought Heli-Tiger (I'm an ex-chopper jock).  Ok game but nothing
    great.  My wife just called -- she's going to Kaybee to look for
    another game!!
    
    Sorry to ramble -- just wanted to thank you all (or curse you, now
    that we're all hooked!!)
    
    Thanks again,
    -Bruce

    I know this is an "old note" Bruce, so I expect by now Michael has
    mastered Nintendo Soccer!  I'll be hoping for a few pointers since
    Zach's Nintendo was just purchased last night -- for Christmas! 
                                      
    Alan
    

    My 8 year old really likes:
    
    Donkey Kong
    Super Mario Brothers

    Paul    

Re .7
    Alan,
Glad to see you're going to let Zach do something other than soccer drills all
winter.  After having Nintendo for almost a year, here are my findings/opinion
about the game and its use by one particular 7-year old.
  o Super Mario Bros -- he loved it (especially after we learned - from this
            file - how to earn extra lives).
  o Arknoid - another game he liked (he and a friend of mine used hints
     from this file to  conquer the game).
  o Tiger-heli - (2-players) Not great, but he and his friends like it.
  o Jackal - 2-player "war" game (players work together) that he likes.
  o Skykid - a "cute" 2-player game (2 players working together) that is
             good for parent/child to play together.              
                 
Lately we've been renting games from Function Electronics (on the John Fitch
Hiway in Fitchburg).  They rent for $5.00 a week.  I think it's a good way
to use a game and see if you like it enough to spend the money to buy
it.

    Good luck -- and get ready to swallow your pride when Zach outplays
    you!!
    
    -Bruce

       My current inventory (packaged & wrapped for Christmas) includes:
    
       Nintendo Action Set - $99.99       With "short" Christmas wishes
       SMB/DuckHunt/Gun/Controllers         for following games . . .
                                          -----------------------------
       Advantage Controller - $39.95        Arknoid - TopGun - Zelda
                                          -----------------------------   
      Power Mag Subscription - $15.00      from Zach's Aunts & Uncles!
     
          . . . and definite Rent & Review strategy as suggested!
                                  
     re:.9 - (won't late night practice help avoid "swallowing pride"?)

    Since this note is about 7-year olds and my son (also 7) just got
    Nintendo for Christmas, how much time per day should they play.
    Craig spent 4 hours Christmas morning play SMB.  Then last night
    another 3, and this morning another 2 hours.  When is enough, enough?
    Should there be restrictions, will the newness wear off, will his
    little sister ever get to use it, should we leave it in his room
    (which is where we set it up - so as not to interfer with regular
    TV viewing)????
    
    Comments or suggestions???
    
    Thanks,
    Julie
    

    I imagine some parents will place a restriction on the time that
    is spent playing but I have never put a time limit on my 9 or 11
    year old boys.  The only cut off is 7:30 week nights so they can
    take a shower and go to bed.  When we first purchased our NES they
    did play alot but now they play a bit and then there are days that
    go by that they never turm it on.  The only time they get carried
    away with our NES is when we purchase a new game pak.  My kids love
    to play as I do.  But you be the judgeas far as putting on any
    restrictions.  But being a parent who has seen what happens, beleive
    me that the time that is spent in front of the TV will decrease.
    
    		-Flash
    

    After one hour, my nine-year-old son is usually ready to break down
    from the stress.  It's just the way he is, I guess.  Therefore, one 
    hour per day is my son's limit.  He can manage the hour himself in 
    smaller chunks if he wishes, and he can choose when he uses it.
    There are just too many other things for children to experience;
    besides the games last soooo much longer that way.
    
    You may also want to check out the PARENTING Notes Conference for a
    discussion about managing/not_managing children's time with NES.
                 
    P.S. - Link is a great game for children after they've mastered
           Zelda.