The PS3... Where to start?

Ah, the PS3...

There are many things to say about the PS3, but I can sum it all up in one sentence: it's not good. Basically, the PS3 is the average brain-melting video game system just with upgraded graphics. It's not that much fun, it's not very interactive, and most of the games are racing games or incredibly violent.

When Sony made the PS3, they were thinking that video games were going to stay the same. The Wii changed that and obviously, Sony was not ready for it. The PS3 does have some good features, it has good graphics and it does have a built-in Blu-Ray player which is useful and almost as cheap as getting a brand-new Blu-Ray player; but it just doesn't have the same un-solitary, party-like feeling of the Wii or even the Xbox 360.

Now that I am done ranting about the PS3, let's talk about the PS3 games. Most of them are not for anyone under than 10. Killzone 2... Fallout 3... big NO-NOs. This is not a child-friendly system seeing as 12% (that's a large number when it comes to games) are rated "M" which is for ages 17+.

Is there any light in the darkness that is the PS3? I think there is. Thy name is LittleBigPlanet. In my eyes, it is the best game for the PS3, hands down. It is amazingly customizable, breeds creativity, has no flying limbs (unlike Killzone 2) and is very user-friendly. So what is LittleBigPlanet? It is a user-generated game which basically means that you build a level then you try and solve it. You can control anything and move anything around. Literally, the sky is not the limit in this game (you can go into space and to other planets). But Ricky... what is LittleBigPlanet? Well, it's a game. A game in which you are a puppet. And you control stuff. You are actually a friendly alien that comes down to earth to solve puzzles and create levels out of ordinary items; levels that you then try to solve.

All in all, the only reasons to buy a PS3 are for the Blu-Ray player and LittleBigPlanet. That's it. It's not even fun...


Well then, that concludes another of our video game segment!
Check back soon for Xbox 360. Also coming soon, V-cast and all those other supposedly educational games.

-Ricky

Alright, Lets Start Off With a Broad Topic

Alrighty then, let's start off with a broad topic.

Video games-
There are many wonderful video games out there (Nintendo Wii anyone?) yet there are also many bad games (Halo 3... I'll get more in-depth later in my post about specific "bad" games). There are also many educational games for youngsters and many educational games for older kids and adults.

To be frank, I like the Wii. I try not to be biased, but it is a lot fun while it is also active and very social. I'm sure you all know about the Wii's groundbreaking control system but if you don't, I'll tell you a little bit. Many people see video games as zombie-like kids staring at a TV screen while their thumbs move at the speed of light. Yet with the Wii, when you play a game, you move around, wave your arms, get exercise... It's like playing a sport but you're watching a TV.

But don't get me wrong here, it is still not to be played in excess. One of my favorite features is how it sends you a message everyday (It will show up in your on-screen Wii message inbox) that states exactly how much time was spent playing that day. You can use this feature to monitor your child's playing time. Overall, the Wii makes video games more fun and well... a little less video gamey. It makes video games seem more social and less brain-melting.

Some good games for the Wii: Wii Sports (Included when you buy any Wii), Animal Crossing: City Folk, and the ever-popular Mario Kart Wii (Racing with a handheld steering wheel, very entertaining even though it isn't as active as other Wii games).

Bye all! I'll work on the PS3 tomorrow and the Xbox 360 after that. This weekend I will post a review of supposedly educational V-cast and Leapfrog game systems. Next week I will go much more in depth about what the "bad" games are and that will wrap up our video games unit.

See ya next time!

A Kid Can Blog... Right?

A 13-year old can blog... right? Well I'm going to give it a try.

Have you seen in those goofy diaper ads "tested by kids.. for kids!"? Well this is sort of like that... sort of. I am going to give you insider info on what kids are playing and whether they should be playing it. New Nintendo Wii? I'll help you pick out the best games that are the most fun and the best for your kids.