Halo 3: the best father/kid bonding ever?

Thanks to my unexpected voice acting cameo in Halo 3, Microsoft sent me an early copy of the game, which just arrived today via DHL. So needless to say, that was the afternoon. We haven't had so much fun since, well, Halo 2. Split-screen cooperative mode, which was already the best father/kid bonding experience in the world in the previous versions, is even better now that one person plays Master Chief and the other plays the Arbiter. The graphics are amazing, the sets and vistas breathtaking, the vehicles more varied and the weapons...well, there's a huge mace thing called a Gravhammer that's worth the price of the game itself. BOOM!

The game's rated M for Mature, but my view on figuring out what's appropriate for kids is that the rating isn't that helpful. It depends on the game and the kid. In the case of Halo, where the enemies are aliens, the blood blue and the setting hundreds of years into the future, I don't think we're running the risk of promoting realistic violence. This is very much in fantasy mode, closer to the Power Rangers than Grand Theft Auto. So we played it today with kids aged 7-10 and the only reason I think it's better for 10 and up is that you need to really be pretty good at first-person shooter videogames on consoles to master it.

Anyway, you'll read plenty of reviews of this game over the next few days, but I wanted to be the first to look at from a GeekDad perspective. And I'm delighted to report that it is every bit as good as anticipated. Game of the Year, hands down.

[crossposted from geekdad.com]

Comments

[Paul Mabray]

Chris - looking forward to geeking out on Halo 3 myself. Unfortunately I have 9 years till Finn (my son) joins me and then we'll be on Halo 7 and Xbox 720 - LOL. I am sure Halo 3 is game of the year but if you haven't had the chance, I HIGHLY recommend you grab BioShock - great, great game loosely based on Ayn Rand's writings.

Inertia - Powering the Wine Revolution

---Paul Mabray - CEO

[Peter]

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[Glynn Lavender]

Great perspective Chris.
We hear too much about how video games cause isolation and reduce family time and it has long been my belief that you need to embrace what your children are into. How else can you share their life and understand their viewpoint?

[Dave Allen]

Glynn, er, not being a gamer I don't get this. How video games improve family time unless the "whole" family is involved, mom, son, daughters, is beyond me. Children grow up "being into" what their parents are into for sure, so in our household it's music, they all play instruments, snowboarding, we all as a family snowboard, travel abroad regularly etc etc. But being pinned to a device playing war games....well, if you have to justify it...but then I'm not a gamer, I'd rather be out and about. I'm reluctant to press post here as I know I'm in the wrong place to be saying this.... enjoy Halo 3!

Dave Allen, Pampelmoose

[Glynn]

Dave,
I think you are in the right place to post your comment as I agree with your comments too, but I also believe that not everyone in a family has to like the same things but as a parent it's good to get involved in the things they are interested in, be that computer games or playing the trumpet.

[kabin]

thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner