Runescape - A Free Gaming Adventure for Kids 9 and up

A new game I have never heard of before this interview is titled, RUNESCAPE.  There is no installation, no monthly payments or plush toys to purchase.  In fact, it is completely FREE and has an online community of millions, 150+ quests, and 24 diverse skills. Nicolas (age 9) completed the interview for his favorite game.

30daysof: What is the name of the website/game/device you reviewed?

NK: RUNESCAPE.com

30daysof: How did you learn about it?  Who told you?

NK: My friend told me who learned it from his brother.

30daysof:  What ages do you think are best suited to play this game/website/device?  What abilities or devices are needed?

NK: I think the suitable ages for this game is nine and up

30daysof:  How many hours a day do you spend with the game/website/device?

NK: 30-60 minutes.

30daysof:  Do your parents set rules for you such as: chores first, then games:  or only 1 hour a day; or no rules, I have all the control!

NK: before I play this game I have to clean my room, do the dishes,and clean up the backyard.

30daysof: What is your favorite part of the game/website/device?  Which part do you play most often?

NK: the part I play the most of has to be quests.

30daysof: Please give a secret tip or hint that you want other friends to know about the game/website?  For instance: how do you get to a certain level, find a gem, kill a bad guy, earn extra money? 

NK: Okay, to earn extra money go to the wilderness and kill green dragons after that get the bones and hide Then, sell them at the GrandExchange for 2 k each! P.S  bring food.

30daysof: Why do you like this game/website/device better than the others?

NK: I like it better than other games because you can make friends. 

30daysof: Write one sentence about this game/website/device that would make others buy it!  

NK: I don' t think you can buy it. So they should try it becuase it is Free.

30daysof:  How could they improve this game/website/device and make it even better! 

NK: They can improve it by better graphics

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Tech Kids Review - Sonic Rush DS

Boys will be boys.  They like dirt, slimy things and video games with action.  Sonic Rush for the DS is a great game for boys.  Spencer (age 10) reviewed the game for us.  Here is what he had to say.

30daysof: What is the name of the website/game/device you reviewed?

Sonic Rush for Nintendo DS game system.

 

30daysof: How did you learn about it?  Who told you?

My brother had it first, and since he liked it so much, I thought I would try it.

 

30daysof:  What ages do you think are best suited to play this game/website/device?  What abilities or devices are needed?

Ages 7-16, would be my guess. It has some mild action in the boss battles, so not for little kids. You need a Nintendo DS, and if you use the Action Replay device, it gives you cheat codes, and special abilities. This was really fun!

 

 

30daysof:  How many hours a day do you spend with the game/website/device?

I get an hour a day with my gaming devices ( either Wii or Nintendo ). I play this every now and then.

 

 

30daysof:  Do your parents set rules for you such as: chores first, then games:  or only 1 hour a day; or no rules, I have all the control!

During the summer I get one hour a day OR Saturday and Sunday unlimited. During the school year, I only get 1 hour each weekend day.

 

 

30daysof: What is your favorite part of the game/website/device?  Which part do you play most often?

My favorite parts of the game are the boss battles. You have to battle an evil dude called Eggman and his inventions.

 

 

30daysof: Please give a secret tip or hint that you want other friends to know about the game/website?  For instance: how do you get to a certain level, find a gem, kill a bad guy, earn extra money?  Press and hold B to turn Sonic into a ball, then let go of the button and press B again…and you will go right through an enemy.

 

 

30daysof: Why do you like this game/website/device better than the others?

I like this game a lot, because I really liked the TV show, and the characters you get to use have lots of great abilities. Sonic is a hedgehog that is blue, and the female character is a fox named Blaze with lots of fire abilities.

 

30daysof: Write one sentence about this game/website/device that would make others buy it!  

It is a fun game with lots of boss battles and lots of stages. Lots of action.

 

30daysof:  How could they improve this game/website/device and make it even better!

To make it better, they could add more stages, and harder boss battles at the higher levels.

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Pirate Kids - Ahoy Parents

If your child is a fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean Series then Disney's PiratesOnline Game is a experience they will love.  PirateGirl (PG) (age 12) answered the 30daysof...tech kids interview. Here is what she had to say.

30daysof: What is the name of the website/game/device you reviewed?

PG: Pirates of the Carribean Online.com

30daysof: How did you learn about it?  Who told you?

PG: My aunt T.

30daysof:  What ages do you think are best suited to play this game/website/device?  What abilities or devices are needed?

PG: I recommend ages 10+ because of cartoon violence such as killing and robbing people in the game (Don't worry there is no extreme violence or blood because after all it is a game about pirates) . All you need is your computer and flash player possibly some other software (don't worry it's easy to download but may take a while depending on the speed of computer)

30daysof:  How many hours a day do you spend with the game/website/device?

PG: I spend a few hours a day but take breaks in between. It's fun to learn what your quest will be after hearing it from the characters from the movie, then rush out to accomplish them. (Such as retrieving a secret key for Elizabeth Swann or repairing the Black Pearl for Jack Sparrow)

30daysof:  Do your parents set rules for you such as: chores first, then games:  or only 1 hour a day; or no rules, I have all the control!

PG: After my homework and chores are done my parents reward my work by allowing me to play as long as I want. They check my homework list daily to make sure I don't skip out on anything and they check my grades for the week, too.

30daysof: What is your favorite part of the game/website/device?  Which part do you play most often?

PG: My favorite part is the fact that it's multiplayer because then you don't kill or destory the bad people alone, you have friends or even crew members to help you. I love gathering up a crew off the beaches of Port Royal or Tortuga and set sail on my ship.

 

30daysof: Please give a secret tip or hint that you want other friends to know about the game/website?  For instance: how do you get to a certain level, find a gem, kill a bad guy, earn extra money?

PG: When preforming your quests, make sure to get the teleportation quests done first! It makes going to all of the islands alot easier because you can teleport there and wont have to run the risk of getting your ship damaged on the open seas.

 

30daysof: Why do you like this game/website/device better than the others?

PG: Pirates of the Carribean has been my favorite movie for a while, so getting to acually become a pirate and do quests for other pirates is a blast!

 

30daysof: Write one sentence about this game/website/device that would make others buy it!  

PG: This pirate world is FULL of excitement, pirate battles, quests and lots and lots of ADVENTURE.

30daysof:  How could they improve this game/website/device and make it even better!

PG: Maybe there could be bad guys walking on the streets instead of just in the forts and the stores.

To set up your account and and see a preview of the Pirates Game, Use this Game Pass!

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Kid Tech Review - Animal Crossings Wild World - DS

My daughter (9-years-old) has already paid off her mortgage on her first home and is now furnishing her two story home with all the money she makes from her apple orchard.  Everyday new strangers come into town, some she likes while others are rude.  And when her "real" friends come over, they sit side by side visiting each others homes, stealing eachothers fossils, and drawing constellations in the sky.  As a parent, I give this game 10 stars for safe, interactive entertainment.  Here is what 9-year-old Taryn has to say about the game.

30daysof: What is the name of the website/game/device you reviewed? 

TC: I reviewed the game Animal Crossings for the Nintendo DS.

30daysof: How did you learn about it?  Who told you?

TC: My cousin (age 12) told me about it. 

30daysof:  What ages do you think are best suited to play this game/website/device?  What abilities or devices are needed?

TC: Girls ages 8-11 would like it best. It plays on the DS and DSi.

Note: they also have the new game Animal Crossings City Folk for the Wii.

30daysof:  How many hours a day do you spend with the game/website/device? 

TC: Probably an hour a day.

30daysof:  Do your parents set rules for you such as: chores first, then games:  or only 1 hour a day; or no rules, I have all the control!

TC: I can only play it in the car or if a friend comes over and they have a DS also.  Otherwise my mom makes me talk to people.

30daysof: What is your favorite part of the game/website/device?  Which part do you play most often?

TC: When you pay off your mortgage and get a bigger house.  I am always decorating and working to get a bigger house.  And I like to search for dinosaur bones.

30daysof: Please give a secret tip or hint that you want other friends to know about the game/website?  For instance: how do you get to a certain level, find a gem, kill a bad guy, earn extra money?

TC: Buy two shovels from Tom Nook's shop then bury one then the next day you have a golden shovel

30daysof: Why do you like this game/website/device better than the others?

TC: Because you get to interact with animals\buy things\fish and soooooo much more!

30daysof: Write one sentence about this game/website/device that would make others buy it!  

TC: You can teach your kids to pay off  mortgage and use money wisely and help their reading skills.

30daysof:  How could they improve this game/website/device and make it even better!

TC: If they made a restaurant it would be better.

IF you have a question or a tip about this game, feel free to comment below.  Thanks for sharing.

 

 

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Are you a Tech Mom?

If your kids asked you to download an app or sync up their wi-fi from their DS to their online account, could you?  If they told you they only need one more token for their wish factory or a rude stranger walked into their town, would you know what they were talking about?  Studies show, your kid is far more advanced in the tech world than you are and will ever be.  

In 2009, 3 out of 5 kids, are living in a virtual world.  Kids no longer need imaginary friends...they just log-in to a website and can create a character to spend time with. Your child is paying off mortgages, saving up for the newest space age TV for their space-themed room, and growing their own produce right in their own backyard.

Luckily I am a tech geek and I go out of my way to find technology and introduce it to my child, nieces and nephews first.  I always read about the software, website, or application and try it out for myself.   Then I set rules:

1. the Nintendo DS is only allowed to be played with in the car and for no longer than an hour in a day.  We started this at age 5 and it never has been a problem.  

2. Internet surfing is not allowed without a parent or parental controls set up on the computer. Read about tips for Internet Safety.

3. YouTube is never allowed without an adult present.

4. Any online game has a limit of one hour as well and can only be played after homework is complete, chores are performed and parent has been asked.

*Lastly, when a punishment needs to be implemented, the most effective one for us is - no DS or computer privileges for a week.  Just the threat of this usually stops the bad behavior but when it doesn't be ready to take action.

Consistency is the key to developing respect for gaming and not letting it become an addiction. It is the parents responsibility to set up the rules and what is expected from their kids with regards to the internet, handhelds or phones.  

The goal of 30daysof...tech kids will be to bring awareness to you parents about what your child likes about each game.  Below is a list of my personal favorite websites, games, or apps, I would trust anyone in my family to play.  A child's review will be linked to each site so you can see how the kids feel about it. 

Webkinz

Club Penguin

Animal Crossings

Mario Kart

Kraft.com

New Moon Girl Media

Pirates of the Caribbean

Habbo Hotel

Disney's ToonTown

Lulilab

Horseland

Neopets

Littlest Pet Shop

Scribd

ridemakerz.com

Sketchfu.com

omgpop

PBS KIDS

Kidsbop

Ruinscape.com

The Sims

Build-a-Bear

Singstar

Facebook Games

iCarly

Queeky

Kidswhothink

YouTube

RUNESCAPE

The Legendary Starfy

Pokeman Platinum Version

Sonic Rush

Click here to read a list of the top 20 interactive games for kids of every age. 

If you have any sites, games, or apps you would like to have reviewed by our panel of kids comment below and we will be happy to learn more about it for you.  

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