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BANG FOR THE BITE
Playing these games won't actually save the world, but they'll develop strong, positive environmental reflexes for use in real life.
COCKTAIL FACT
Before going out of business, Atari steamrolled, buried, and poured concrete over millions of unsold ET cartridges in the NM desert.
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home › tip library › Green Gaming
Already saved Princess Toadstool...about a million times?
The Bite
Get to the next level, and save the world. Eco-minded video games teach kids (and youthful adults) about real issues like climate change without skimping on fun. Kidnapped princess not included.The Benefits
- Red fireballs of fun. Games about deforestation might not sound so great at first, but neither did a certain best-selling game that features two Italian plumbers.
- Honing eco-reflexes. While we're sure there must be a lesson to learn from defeating King Koopa, solving energy-conservation puzzles has a tiny bit more real-life relevance.
Personally Speaking
Jen has challenged the Biter team to a Ms. Pacman showdown, but we have yet to put her dot-chomping skills to the test...frankly, we're a little chicken.Wanna Try?
- SimCity Societies - build and manage green societies to combat global warming; for PC ($44).
- Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol - water flowers, clean up trash, and help creatures in need; for Nintendo DS ($30).
- NoteNiks: Respect Our Earth - eight games for kids under 10 that challenge them to protect endangered species, save energy, and recycle; for Mac and PC ($20).
- Adventure Ecology - free, online game for kids, where they take on climate change, deforestation, and other eco-problems.
- FreeRice - free, online vocab game that donates 20 grains of real rice to the UN World Food Program for each word you get right.
Dec 17,2007
Sponsor
All editorial suggestions in this tip are the result of testing and a preference for the tip topic. No advertiser has paid to have its company referenced in the tip. For more information, please read our Editorial Policy.
You Game?
While pasty-white, Cheeto-munching little Jimmy really should get outside once in a while before his legs atrophy, in general I don't think people play enough games. Especially now, when there are great gaming systems that get people off the couch and interacting - namely, the remarkably entertaining Nintendo Wii, where you stand up and move around to invoke game action (I've actually broken a sweat playing tennis and bowling). There are also fun games available that exercise memory (BrainAge), and almost all games, including retro arcade games (hello, Pac Man!), are great for improving hand-eye coordination.
Queue one up if you're stranded indoors with the fam during the holidays - if for no other reason than to prove (once again) that you're the clever/agile/coordinated one.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to bowl another strike!...
Queue one up if you're stranded indoors with the fam during the holidays - if for no other reason than to prove (once again) that you're the clever/agile/coordinated one.
-Jenifer Morgan...off to bowl another strike!...
Biter Comments...
While these games are beyond the skills of my 4 month old grandson, it's good to see some video games where the object is to help rather than kill.
As a mom of two young boys, I agree with Aon. I also home school my oldest (youngest is a toddler) and was very pleased with today's biter tip: "Get to the next level, and save the world. Eco-minded video games teach kids (and youthful adults) about real issues like climate change without skimping on fun. Kidnapped princess not included." I checked out the free games and we love them. We're looking into purchasing one to two of the others listed as well. Wish I could have rated today's tip higher than a 5! My husband and I do a lot of things together, but it's wonderful when I can include my children and their friends to help them learn how to take care of their world, especially in a way that makes it fun for them. This way, they learn that taking care of the world around them can be enjoyable, not an added chore. Thanks so much for all the tips provided, we love them!
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: Louie | December 17, 2007 at 12:51 AM