• Robust Mirror@aussie.zone
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    2 days ago

    It’s so hard. I have an N64, Wii, Wii U, Switch, PS5. The N64, Wii and Wii U have every game available on them. Switch and PS5 have decent libraries.

    I set a laptop up with emulators of the main consoles before N64 (Nintendo/Sega/Handhelds etc) with the top 100 games of each, all in a nice emulation station interface with box art and video previews, and my personal favourites favourited. I set up steam family sharing with my library of 500 games (with inappropriate ones filtered out but still massive).

    Didn’t ever buy them an ipad/tablet and never let them use my phone. Taught them how to use all of the things mentioned. Commonly play couch multiplayer games on these things with them. They’re not bad at games either. Beat Celeste, Undertale, Super Metroid as a few examples.

    And YET I’ll still find my kids on the laptop playing rubbish flash games and shit, or asking their Nan to let them play on her phone.

    • Fitzsimmons@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      2 days ago

      even if the games suck they can still be an important social connection

      my parents never let me watch any of the “bad” tv that all the other kids were watching and this made it even harder for me to connect and make friends

      and it also meant I never got the opportunity to decide to understand and experience for myself why these shows were bad

      same can probably be said for the shitty mobile games tbh

      maybe they’re more predatory than all that advertising directed at kids via tv back in my day but idk by how much really if you’re actively teaching your kids about what predatory practices look like

      they have to learn, better for them to understand how to fight this stuff when they’re younger rather than when they get in over their heads gambling on counterstrike skins as teenagers

      • Robust Mirror@aussie.zone
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        2 days ago

        For sure. I’ve never outright banned it if they get access such as from their nan or play them on their laptop when they have time on it. I agree with everything you said. I’m just also not going to let them sit on my phone mindlessly playing them either.

        Those apps make them want to pay. They make them want to play every X amount of time to get daily and timed bonuses. They play stupid ads that convince them to download more shitty games that do the same thing.

        I don’t tell them what to do. But I do have conversations with them so they think about things. I never tell them I think the games are rubbish. Maybe they love that game. And I don’t like adults telling kids things they love are trash. I just try to guide them best I can.

        It’s complicated to navigate.

    • applemao@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Ah, good for you for trying!! I’m sure it’s hard, those trash games are made to be addictive…as have games always been really, but the evil was hidden better and they didn’t have the ability to track your every move.

      • Robust Mirror@aussie.zone
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        2 days ago

        My problem is at least other games have some benefits. Hand eye coordination, reflexes, critical thinking, problem solving skills, reading and comprehension skills.

        Mobile games are designed to be as simple, accessible and most importantly easy as possible. They want you to feel like you’re winning over and over and over with no real effort on your part. Obviously there are some exceptions, but still.