Good Games for a 9 Year Old

FlintstoneFlintstone SE Florida
edited September 2004 in Gaming
I confess, I don't play any games at all on my computer. However, I just built a new computer for my nephew and I need to get him some games to play on it that are "appropriate" for his age. So, I need suggestions. The specs of his new machine are:

NF7-S
XP2500 Barton w/Thermalright SK-7/80mm Sunon
nVidia FX5700/128 Meg Video (BFG)
512 Megs PC3200 (in dual channel mode, 2X256)
Antec True 430
80 Gig/8 MB WD hdd
Intellimouse Optical
Runs at 36 Deg C in bios or when web surfing, no difference (bios or mbm5)

So, it should be able to handle anything a 9 year old can throw at it, shouldn't it? I just have no clue so I'm asking for your help.

Thanks in advance.
Flint :cool:

Comments

  • edcentricedcentric near Milwaukee, Wisconsin Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    Does he game now? Have a GB or console?
    That might set the tone.
    There is a lot of cool stuff out there, even for kids.
  • FlintstoneFlintstone SE Florida
    edited August 2004
    He's got a Game Boy and a PSII, I think.
  • -Ben-Ben
    edited August 2004
    Doom 3?

    Ohoh im a funny person.

    A good RPG keeps people occupied like erm...... Dark cloud 2 i think it's called(i think its something like dark chronicles in the US)
  • BlackHawkBlackHawk Bible music connoisseur There's no place like 127.0.0.1 Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    Roller Coaster Tycoon, Railroad Tycoon, < insert item here > Tycoon. Sims, sports games, toon town, etc.
  • primesuspectprimesuspect Beepin n' Boopin Detroit, MI Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    I dunno. My 6 year old plays all the same games I do... Painkilller is his favorite. He also likes American McGee's Alice, Zuma (all the popcap games are great for kids), And DomeTree...errr Doom III...

    I DO supervise. There's been some questionable moments in some of those games for his age group, but I'm always right there with him. He's not allowed to play "Teen" or "Mature" games by himself. Only if I'm with him.

    He also loves the virtual knee surgery ;D
  • csimoncsimon Acadiana Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    primesuspect wrote:
    He also loves the virtual knee surgery ;D
    LOL :thumbsup:
  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    the classic dooom I and doom II then Wolfenstien 3d you gotta bring em up right!
  • RustynutsRustynuts
    edited August 2004
    Hell, my 4-yr old plays MOH, COD, Doom 3 (a little scared of that), Ground Control 2, Painkiller, NOLF2, C&C Generals, etc. Basically anything he can get his hands on, as he knows how to load and start games on his own. I've taken to using no-CD cracks since he's still pretty hard on the disks.

    One semi-violent (catoonish) game would be Shrek 2. Seems pretty good and faithful graphics.
  • PreacherPreacher Potomac, MD Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    I'd recommend Warcraft III and Frozen Throne for an RTS. My 9 year old still plays that. Recently he finished the new Harry Potter and Spiderman as well. We've actually been getting into City of Heroes together lately.
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited August 2004
    Preacher wrote:
    I'd recommend Warcraft III and Frozen Throne for an RTS...
    My 13-year-old nephew has to be physically removed from the computer room to get him off of those games. :thumbsup:
  • botheredbothered Manchester UK
    edited August 2004
    My 11 y\o like all the games I play. A year or two ago he liked the sims (still does) and all the lego games,
  • PreacherPreacher Potomac, MD Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    profdlp wrote:
    My 13-year-old nephew has to be physically removed from the computer room to get him off of those games. :thumbsup:

    The problem, prof, is when the 9 year-old completes a mission that took me days in around 30 minutes. I asked him how in the heck he did it, so he shows me a strategy that is totally original and out-of-the-box. My wife didn't know what was funnier the stunned look on my face or my son's proud grin. It was a Kodak moment.
  • FormFactorFormFactor At the core of forgotten
    edited August 2004
    RTS games are probably good for kids. I think they all sport an "Everyone" Rating. Plus you get to build stuff, which kids typically like to do. Building stuff helps flex creativity. Now I dont have kids, but I was a kid at one time. The people closest to me would say I still am.

    With that said, on to the nominations:

    Command And Conquer: Generals, Zero Hour

    Rise of nations.

    And then there are the Tycoon sims.

    Roller Coaster Tycoon.

    Train Tycoon

    Sim City is always a winner.

    Hope that helps.
  • floppybootstompfloppybootstomp Greenwich New
    edited August 2004
    My kids like the Sims; Theme Hospital (even though it's old); Theme Park Manager/Inc and Roller Coaster Tycoon 2. Try as I might, I couldn't get 'em into fps's - probably cos they're all girls :D

    Which is a bit of a shame, could've played CoD over the Network with them :(

    When they were younger they liked Barbie Riding Club, Orly's Draw-a-Story, stuff like that. And Lego Racers 1 (don't get LR2, it's crap). Um, Tetris, Chuckie Egg, trying to think...

    btw, they're aged 16, 16 and 17 now (twins) and they still play The Sims.
  • MachineGunKellyMachineGunKelly The STICKS, Illinois
    edited August 2004
    My son grew up with the original 'Sim city' and it's plethora of begats as well as 'Pharoh' (that one got ME hooked for a while), 'Civilization', 'Heros of Might and Magic', 'Majesty', Age of Empires', etc. Most teach and reward planning, foresight, and supervision. 'Mario Bros' games are good for some light gaming and silly antics. 'The Sims' are fun too if you both have a character modeled after yourself that you can have interact with the other.

    (PS: My daughter is almost 13 and she's been playing 'Half-life' since she was 9. Nothing like monsters jumping out of the woodwork to give you a thrill!! :thumbsup: )
  • FlintstoneFlintstone SE Florida
    edited August 2004
    Thanks for all of your input. This now gives me a way to go. And a way to spend my $$ too!! I'll be a great uncle!! I'm doing this as his mom (my sister) divorced his father and he has no man in his life at all now. He's about 1000 miles away and the computer and some games are all I can do for him atm.

    Again, Thanks everyone!!

    Flint
  • ArmoArmo Mr. Nice Guy Is Dead,Only Aqua Remains Member
    edited August 2004
    Secret of Mana, Secret of Evermore, Chrono Trigger, Harvest Moon any platform they are all awsome... theres 1 that popgame makes.. u fire chinese rockets.. its pretty fun i like it

    omg machine gun kelly i just saw ur post,

    Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is in the top 3 of my all time favorite games. i <3 the tower, smiting people with my titans. omfg i love that game i have all the X pacs to it
  • SputnikSputnik Worcester, MA
    edited August 2004
    suprised no one said half life.....


    any RTS (no matter how old, younger kids tend not to care) is good

    my baby sister (10 yr old) plays bf1942, quake 3, age of empires 2
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    At nine I was playing:

    Mechwarrior 2 (Ghostbear)
    Destruction Derby
    Hexen
    Doom II

    and a few other assorted games.
  • DexterDexter Vancouver, BC Canada
    edited August 2004
    Chessmaster.

    Every kid should learn how to play chess.

    Dexter...
  • BlackHawkBlackHawk Bible music connoisseur There's no place like 127.0.0.1 Icrontian
    edited August 2004
    or UT :crazy:
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited August 2004
    Flintstone wrote:
    ...I'll be a great uncle!!...
    The fact that you are taking up the torch is something your nephew will remember the rest of his life. I'd bet that the game(s) you recommend won't matter nearly as much as the fact that you stood up to fill what would otherwise have been a great empty place in his life at a time when he really needed someone. Your sister is lucky to have help during this difficult time; Lord knows she needs it.

    My hat's off to you. :respect:
  • GuyuteGuyute Gamehenge
    edited September 2004
    Laugh if you want, but Gunbound is my first thought. Lotsa strategy, cool graphics. Oh and it's free!!

    The odd problem-solving game like Myst wouldn't hurt to get his mind thinking...
  • cougar1096cougar1096
    edited September 2004
    on top of Warcraft III and Frozen Throne (excellent games in their own right), i would recommend Stacraft and Broodwar, and also Warcraft II: Battlenet edition. Starcraft battlchest can be bought for $20 these days (includes Starcraft, Broodwar, and guides for both!), and Warcraft II for $10. if you're looking at all the Blizzard products though, Diablo and Diablo II (and the Lords of Darkness expansion) might not be okay for a little one. depends on what you think though.
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