As the average age of video game players in North America continues to rise into their mid-30s (according to the ESA’s June E3 report), kids’ games on the whole have been overlooked as bigger production titles like God of War III and Grand Theft Auto IV demand center stage.
Nintendo has always bucked this trend, creating games that appeal to “everyone,” and while Sony and Microsoft initially aimed at the hardcore market, both companies are desperately trying to appeal to a broader, younger market. Part of the expansion of the game market is due to the success of Nintendo’s Wii and DS platforms, which appeal to older adults, parents, women and children, while another part of the expansion is due to the growing indie game development, which thrives on inventive gameplay designs
High profile partnerships such as Steven Spielberg’s work with Electronic Arts, producing BoomBlox and BoomBlox: Bash Party, exemplifies Hollywood creators’ desire to get involved in a broader approach to video games. Initiatives from Sony Online Entertainment (Free Realms) and Turner Networks (FusionFall) illustrate how publishers are hoping to tap into the MMO market–led by successful Blizzard’s MMO, World of Warcraft–with products aimed at a younger demographic.
At this year’s E3 show, it was difficult to ignore publishers’ acknowledgment of the growing children’s market, including indie-influenced titles (such as Scribblenauts and Drawn to Life), a broadening scope of LEGO titles (LEGO Rock Band, LEGO Indiana Jones 2, and LEGO Harry Potter), and publishers’ return to the Mario Kart-influenced racing genre (Need for Speed Nitro, Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing). Here are my picks for the best children’s titles of the show.
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5 Comments
June 12, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Doug, why didn’t you include LEGO Star Trek Online on this list? I saw it behind closed doors and it’s going to be the best game ever released. You can create Kirk from Season 3, Episode 12 in his Klingon-inspired disguise robe! How can anything beat that?
June 15, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Jeremy, hey man, what’s going on? In all honesty, I didn’t see it. It’s as simple as that. Sounds awesome though. But the best game ever released? Hm….
June 12, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Also, did you hear anything about LEGO Lord of the Rings? My friend says that it was supposed to be announced, but since Peter Jackson is behind the project and wasn’t able to make it to the show, he forced Microsoft to hold off, which is why they announced Halo Reach instead. I also know that you’re going to be able to play the Scouring of the Shire, which the movies didn’t have!
June 15, 2009 at 3:32 pm
That’s an interesting rumor. I’m going to look into that!
June 24, 2009 at 6:24 pm
[...] Handheld Game Scribblenauts (5TH Cell/Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment for Nintendo [...]