5 ms·

Ask HN: Is it okay to introduce a 6-year-old to Nintendo switch?

5 points by amrrs 2y ago

I've been thinking about the impact of console-based video games with kids. I feel it can empower them to fail but it can also make them addictive. Any thoughts?

hnthrowaway0328 2y ago
I'm thinking about the same thing but with an emulated NES.
fred_mcgubbins 2y ago
I'd say to keep them away from it for awhile unless you closely monitor which games are being played. There are too many games out there that are tailor-engineered to trigger biochemical/endorphin responses that I'd say to keep away for as long as possible. Maybe consider a leapfrog learning tablet or just say f-it and go zero electronics. Games like Animal Crossing is probably okay but even there I had to discuss w/ my (then) tween that usually when you go into debt you have to pay something called "interest" and so going into debt is generally not a good way to live your life haha.
- xyzzy123 2y ago
  It's really hard to put my finger on it, but I find things created before microtransactions and in-game ad support really have a different quality about them. It seems like the more integrated a device is to payment systems and analytics the more exploitative it will tend to be. Phones and tablets have a fairly direct link to the user's wallet, it seems like an inevitable consequence is that on that platform the games with the most marketing behind them will basically be cognitive exploits. Switch is probably a no for me due to availability of microtransactions / eShop. It's a shame because it has a lot of great stuff. I would understand if some parents have a different opinion about that platform. I try to mostly give my kids pirated retrogames. Like, refurb GBC + SD cart. Pandora console. At some point I will need to work through all the exploits in modern entertainment with them so they aren't naive when they come to navigate it for themselves.
zer00eyz 2y ago
Things that can kill you are generally at one end of the spectrum. You're not handing the kid a crack pipe. The other side is something like broccoli... Good for you, tasty (or not) but not something one normally gets excited about. IN the grand scheme of things the switch is much closer to brocoli than crack. All the things that you are going to worry about are life lessons that come with the device. Do your home work first, moderation, outside still matters... Nothing wrong with starting all that early!
nick__m 2y ago
I cannot find the reference but there is a difference between games where you progress when you get better and games where you progress because your character gets better. The first category in moderation is empowering, the seconds probably sets you ups for behavioral problems. My personal experience with ADHD seems to fit that narrative but it might be a case of reverse or spurious correlation. So if you do choose to get them a console, choose the games wisely. To be safe prefer games where the player needs to upskill to games where the player needs to grind so it's character gets better.
- BOOSTERHIDROGEN 2y ago
  From your experience, does Minecraft is part of first category?
sfmz 2y ago
Modern stuff is junk. Its always updating itself, making you log in, updating their privacy policy, advertising new crap at you in your homescreen, annoying you in one way or another, loot boxes, and who knows what else. Buy a SNES instead. Analogue's Super NT works with HDMI although it is sold out so you'll need to use ebay.

5 points by amrrs 2y ago

I've been thinking about the impact of console-based video games with kids. I feel it can empower them to fail but it can also make them addictive. Any thoughts?

hnthrowaway0328 2y ago

I'm thinking about the same thing but with an emulated NES.

fred_mcgubbins 2y ago

I'd say to keep them away from it for awhile unless you closely monitor which games are being played. There are too many games out there that are tailor-engineered to trigger biochemical/endorphin responses that I'd say to keep away for as long as possible. Maybe consider a leapfrog learning tablet or just say f-it and go zero electronics. Games like Animal Crossing is probably okay but even there I had to discuss w/ my (then) tween that usually when you go into debt you have to pay something called "interest" and so going into debt is generally not a good way to live your life haha.

xyzzy123 2y ago
It's really hard to put my finger on it, but I find things created before microtransactions and in-game ad support really have a different quality about them. It seems like the more integrated a device is to payment systems and analytics the more exploitative it will tend to be. Phones and tablets have a fairly direct link to the user's wallet, it seems like an inevitable consequence is that on that platform the games with the most marketing behind them will basically be cognitive exploits. Switch is probably a no for me due to availability of microtransactions / eShop. It's a shame because it has a lot of great stuff. I would understand if some parents have a different opinion about that platform. I try to mostly give my kids pirated retrogames. Like, refurb GBC + SD cart. Pandora console. At some point I will need to work through all the exploits in modern entertainment with them so they aren't naive when they come to navigate it for themselves.

zer00eyz 2y ago

Things that can kill you are generally at one end of the spectrum. You're not handing the kid a crack pipe. The other side is something like broccoli... Good for you, tasty (or not) but not something one normally gets excited about. IN the grand scheme of things the switch is much closer to brocoli than crack. All the things that you are going to worry about are life lessons that come with the device. Do your home work first, moderation, outside still matters... Nothing wrong with starting all that early!

nick__m 2y ago

I cannot find the reference but there is a difference between games where you progress when you get better and games where you progress because your character gets better. The first category in moderation is empowering, the seconds probably sets you ups for behavioral problems. My personal experience with ADHD seems to fit that narrative but it might be a case of reverse or spurious correlation. So if you do choose to get them a console, choose the games wisely. To be safe prefer games where the player needs to upskill to games where the player needs to grind so it's character gets better.

BOOSTERHIDROGEN 2y ago
From your experience, does Minecraft is part of first category?

sfmz 2y ago

Modern stuff is junk. Its always updating itself, making you log in, updating their privacy policy, advertising new crap at you in your homescreen, annoying you in one way or another, loot boxes, and who knows what else. Buy a SNES instead. Analogue's Super NT works with HDMI although it is sold out so you'll need to use ebay.