A report by the Entertainment Software Association has found that 72% of children in the US want games-related products…
  • flameguy21@lemm.eeEnglish
    0·
    7 months ago

    Everyone’s wondering how we went wrong as a society but honestly a year of game pass during a time of my life where I didn’t get new games very often sounds way better than getting like three games for Christmas.

  • AnonTwo@kbin.social
    0·
    7 months ago

    I can understand the sentiments of the thread to offer alternatives

    Just remember whats going to happen based on your own christmas as a kid, when you got “The next best thing”

    Given there’s a lot of good picks, it’s still a tale as old as time.

  • spudwart@spudwart.comEnglish
    0·
    7 months ago

    Here are some relatively cheap games to give kids that aren’t fortnite or roblox and dont run on some subscription/internal monetary currency:

    • Risk of Rain 2
    • Minecraft (Java)
    • Tunic
    • Stardew Valley
    • A Hat in Time
    • Baba is You
    • Fate (Wildtangent)
    • Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Not the Skywalker Saga)
    • Chip’s Challenge 1 and 2
    • Shovel Night (Treasure Trove)
    • at_an_angle@lemmy.oneEnglish
      0·
      7 months ago

      But I want FortNite V-Buck’s! I only have the default skins and people are making fun of me at school!

      • pastel_de_airfryer@lemmy.eco.brEnglish
        0·
        7 months ago

        Exactly! This is more about the social aspect of these games. Kids are playing Fortnite/Roblox/Minecraft because that’s where their friends are hanging out after school.

    • Neato@kbin.social
      0·
      7 months ago

      I would like to add Outer Wilds to this. No combat, virtually no violence, and adult themes are aimed at mild existentialism. Great exploration game with fun physics and puzzles.

      For older kids I’d suggest: Satisfactory. Essentially first person Factorio with mild combat vs fauna.
      Astroneer: exploration and advancement.

    • miss_brainfart@lemmy.mlEnglish
      0·
      7 months ago

      I don’t like how much Minecraft has me by the balls. With all my hatred for Microsoft, I can’t let that game go.

      On that note, install MineClone first, see if your kid likes it. Can’t hurt to try.

  • Dizzy Devil Ducky@lemm.eeEnglish
    0·
    7 months ago

    I hope if I ever have a hell spawn or adopt, that I can teach them the ways of not getting addicted to those types of games.

  • Skwerls@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    0·
    7 months ago

    Hot take: this is better than them getting a bunch of plastic crap that will end up in a landfill in 6 months.

    • rbesfe@lemmy.caEnglish
      0·
      7 months ago

      This presumes that disposable plastic crap is the only gift alternative. I still have most of the books I got for christmas as a kid

      • Skwerls@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        0·
        7 months ago

        For sure there are alternatives, but I doubt there’s a lot of overlap between kids who want books and kids who want some e-currency. Probably not much overlap with gift givers either.

    • deaf_fish@lemm.eeEnglish
      0·
      7 months ago

      Yeah, but that is kinda like saying US healthcare is better than it was 50 years ago. You’re correct, but why make the comparison?

      It would be best if game developers didn’t encourage kids to subscribe to their games. Just buy them like we did when I was growing up.

  • Nacktmull@lemm.eeEnglish
    0·
    7 months ago

    F*** big gaming and their microtransaction/subscription/pay to win bull****! Indie games are way better at his point anyway.