Virtual Universe

Our family gameography: Wii love Nintendo!

By Julie (Colter's mom)

This year for Hanukkah, I asked for a Crimson Nintendo DS so I could play games on my own handheld console. I wanted the DS because I fell in love with Jewel Quest Adventure and wanted to play it without having to borrow Colter's DS. Jewel Quest Adventure wasn't my first DS game -- Previously, I tried Planet Puzzle League because I love the Nintendo 64 game Pokemon Puzzle League, and I tried Pokemon Trozei for the same reason. Neither was as satisfying as Jewel Quest. Once I completed Jewel Quest, I tried 7 Wonders, and Puzzle Quest, but I didn't become obsessed with another DS game until Mah Jong Quest, which I'm playing now. I'm beginning to understand why Colter loves these games -- the instant gratification, the certainty there is a correct answer if only I can figure it out, the satisfaction of trying and trying and trying until I succeed.

Gary and I were talking recently to Colter about the first game he loved and he thinks it  was Pokemon Red. This got us remembering when Colter got each gaming system, so here's our family gameography.

Super Nintendo: Gary bought this when Colter was still in preschool. They played a paint program on it and a basketball game. We got rid of the Super Nintendo in 2002.

Game Boy Advance: We bought this for Colter when he was in first grade so he could play Pokemon Red. He still has it but uses it rarely, and then only as an extra controller for the Wii.

Nintendo 64: For Christmas, when Colter was 6, Santa brought him a Nintendo 64 and left it in our hotel room, the day we moved from North Carolina to Florida. Colter loved playing Kirby on it and, eventually, Pokemon Stadium. Gary and I stayed up late many nights playing Pokemon Puzzle League. We still get it out once in a while.

GameCube: When Colter was 7 years old, a family friend sold him his GameCube for $40. It was a thrill because Colter really admired Robin (and his game-playing skills) and so the GameCube remained very special to him. He played Pokemon Colisseum on it and discovered co-op games like Shrek and The Lord of the Rings. Gary and Colter's Favorite GameCube game is The Hobbit. Once the GameCube broke, we had all the reason we needed to get a Wii.

Game Boy SP: Eventually, Colter wanted a Game Boy SP and he got one. Gary started playing Pokemon Emerald, Sapphire and Ruby on the SP, so we got him his own handheld. Colter sometimes still uses his SP, in fact we just bought him a Duel Masters Game Boy Advance game the other day, and he's playing that on his SP.

DS and DS Lite: These handhelds were irresistible, and we continue to love them. Colter's favorite DS game is Pokemon Pearl.

Wii: What can I say? We waited in the '06 holiday lines, but didn't get a Wii until early in '07. We've been enjoying it ever since. We play Wii Sports the most.

What game systems and games have you loved over the years? Are you a Nintendo loyalist, a PSPer or an XBox player?

Star Wars BattleFront II

Ok, me and my friend were playing assault in Mos Eisley and we were in that big arena thing, I jumped on the wall and went inside the walls! When you are in there you can't be hit (with the exception of the force) and when you want to go out, just walk out.

Please post your comments.

MegaMan's Axess Air

MegaMan's Axess Air on the Kids' WB web site is as simple a game as I've seen.

Just use the left and right arrow keys to move side to sided, gaining points an avoiding obstacles. The hard part comes when the there are more obstacles and more advanced flying techniques are required.

Click here and check it out, then leave a comment.

What did you think?

Dragonball Z: Budokai

I beat this game in one day. I played on the easy and very easy settings.

There's a lot of blood but you don't create any of it. When you're not battling with your controller and on the screen they are battling, that's when they use attacks to make your character bleed.

Tips: After you beat the game, go back to story mode to unlock new characters. You can edit characters to make them stronger so that you have the most elite team of guys you've ever seen.

Warning: This game is rated T.

Entering the Engine Room in Megaman Battle Network 5: Team Protoman

The code to enter the engine room is 11922911. I found it in my Brady Games Official Strategy Guide. Good luck!

UPDATE: I had the wrong code posted before, but the one above is correct.

Penguin Puzzle

High Scores: 8310 & 8210

It was fun because I beat two of my Mom's high scores.
This game has three types of play. I started with easy.

Basics: Try to get four of the same colored animal tiles to make one large square.

Tips: On the right there is a box that shows arrangements, animal tiles in different forms. Try to create these arrangements to get an extra 400 points. In bonus mode, try to make all of the animal tiles disappear.

Send your high score as a comment. If you beat my high score, I'll go back and try to beat yours.

Play Penguin Puzzle

Bejeweled

High score:876
I'm writing this post to answer a comment from a friend named Will.

I just played Bejeweled and my high score was 876. It was fun and it reminds me of a game called Puzzle League. Thanks for showing me this game, if any one else wants to show me a game, leave it as a comment and I might post it.

Play Bejeweled

¡Lucha Caliente!

High Score: B

This game, on the Cartoon Network web site, is based on a Kids WB wrestling show called ¡Mucha Lucha! where kids become better wrestlers and have lots of crazy adventures.

Signature Moves:
Rikochet: Pulverizing Pinball
Buena Girl: Buena Bulldozer of Truth
The Flea: Scoop of Salvation

Tips: When your gauge is full, put your opponent in a headlock, then use your Caliente move to win. Try to get an A+ to unlock the move, vice grip.

I'm not allowed to play this game again or post a link to it, because my dad said there is too much punching in it, but I'm still allowed to watch the show because there is not too much punching.

Note From My Dad: I aprove of the show because it stresses core values such as: "Honor, Family, Tradition, and Donuts!"

KONG

My score: 10
Opponent score: 19

Kong is a game that I found in a programming book called: Game Programming for Teens, 2nd edition. Kong is a clone of Pong. It was fun.

Basics: Hit the ball into your opponent's goal.

Tips: Use the bottom of the paddle to hit the ball, at the same time bring the paddle down fast to make the ball bounce and go faster.

Play Pong

Lilo & Stitch: Stitch Tiki Bowl

High score: 12,860

Tips: Try to hit all items like experiments and Tikis for bonus points, get as many strikes as possible, and try to avoid all Stitch-bouncing ramps and puddles of water.

Play Stitch Tiki Bowl