Are there still consoles or options for kids if we don't want them exposed to the advertising and psychology of modern consoles?

[Elarion]

The Switch, PS5, Xbox, and modern gaming PC are all clearly aimed at adults...tons of advertising no matter where you look, gambling mechanics, and just a consistent communication that no matter what you already have, you need to have more.

 

I very much prefer the older style of consoles, like the N64, SNES, Gamecube, original Xbox and Playstation. The only advertising that I was exposed to was whatever happened to be on TV or in a magazine. I didn't really have either of those. A single Mario game with garbage graphics was able to entertain my sister and I for months on end. We even had these little "VG Pocket" handhelds that were complete trash as well, but we thought they were the greatest thing ever as kids.

 

As we start to have kids, I don't want the big constant pop-ups all over their screens for the games, battlepasses, lootboxes, and subscriptions that they don't have. These are present on every modern console, no matter what you change the settings to. I can prevent them from buying them willy-nilly, but not from wanting/obsessing over them. Is the only option to seek out used ancient consoles? They get expensive fast, and aren't super reliable at this point.

 

Unless there's other options, we might just become a board game family. It's a shame, because gaming was very impactful for me, but I don't think it can be healthy for kids now that it's so heavily aimed at the psychological manipulation of adults.

[Poinkachu]

6 minutes ago, Elarion said:

The Switch, PS5, Xbox, and modern gaming PC are all clearly aimed at adults...tons of advertising no matter where you look, gambling mechanics, and just a consistent communication that no matter what you already have, you need to have more.

 

I very much prefer the older style of consoles, like the N64, SNES, Gamecube, original Xbox and Playstation. The only advertising that I was exposed to was whatever happened to be on TV or in a magazine. I didn't really have either of those. A single Mario game with garbage graphics was able to entertain my sister and I for months on end. We even had these little "VG Pocket" handhelds that were complete trash as well, but we thought they were the greatest thing ever as kids.

 

As we start to have kids, I don't want the big constant pop-ups all over their screens for the games, battlepasses, lootboxes, and subscriptions that they don't have. These are present on every modern console, no matter what you change the settings to. I can prevent them from buying them willy-nilly, but not from wanting/obsessing over them. Is the only option to seek out used ancient consoles? They get expensive fast, and aren't super reliable at this point.

 

Unless there's other options, we might just become a board game family. It's a shame, because gaming was very impactful for me, but I don't think it can be healthy for kids now that it's so heavily aimed at the psychological manipulation of adults.

Hmm, I never get a popup ad for lootboxes and subs.

I play offline game btw

 

And this is my Steam looks like :

[da na]

Switch doesn't have any of the battle passes, microtransactions etc, at least in Nintendo's first party titles (excluding DLC, eg Breath of the Wild Master Mode, Splatoon DLC...)

[flibberdipper]

It doesn't matter if you eliminate them from consoles, anywhere else they look the same tactics will be used. You might as well be trying to fight a horde of locusts using only a flyswatter.

[Elarion]

4 minutes ago, da na said:

Switch doesn't have any of the battle passes, microtransactions etc, at least in Nintendo's first party titles (excluding DLC, eg Breath of the Wild Master Mode, Splatoon DLC...)

When you boot up the switch, there are ads on the left side. Even that is unacceptable for me.

[YoungBlade]

Why not set up something like a RetroPie and emulate the old games rather than getting an actual console? Or just have a PC not connected to the Internet with curated games that you choose?

 

The latter is what I plan to do if I ever have kids. I've still got most of my old games on CD, and there are abandonware sites that have lots of great retro PC games if you can't find your old collection.

[SpookyCitrus]

6 minutes ago, Elarion said:

When you boot up the switch, there are ads on the left side. Even that is unacceptable for me.

Lol ok, then no modern console will fit your needs. Have your kids use OG classic consoles until they reach the age you think is acceptable to start using a modern console. You can still purchase, PS2s, N64s, Gamecubes, etc. Or set up a very limited PC for offline games/ emulation only. 

[Poinkachu]

11 minutes ago, Elarion said:

When you boot up the switch, there are ads on the left side. Even that is unacceptable for me.

The way I see it.

Sooner or later they'll see / know anyway.

Either when they browse web to find guide or generally just wanting to know more about the game they're playing or whatever, or when they discuss with their friends / see their friend's game.

 

Even in game when they see other player wearing something that looks interesting to them.

 

Me, I'd just give them offline games.

That still won't prevent them from knowing about lootboxes and such from environment though.

 

[Elarion]

7 minutes ago, YoungBlade said:

Why not set up something like a RetroPie and emulate the old games rather than getting an actual console? Or just have a PC not connected to the Internet with curated games that you choose?

 

The latter is what I plan to do if I ever have kids. I've still got most of my old games on CD, and there are abandonware sites that have lots of great retro PC games if you can't find your old collection.

 

That's a good idea. I hadn't considered that, I'll probably end up doing that. Thanks!

 

1 minute ago, Poinkachu said:

The way I see it.

Sooner or later they'll see / know anyway.

Either when they browse web to find guide or generally just wanting to know more about the game they're playing or whatever, or when they discuss with their friends / see their friend's game.

 

Even in game when they see other player wearing something that looks interesting to them.

 

 

 

Not an issue. They are not playing multiplayer games.

[Dedayog]

30 minutes ago, Elarion said:

The Switch, PS5, Xbox, and modern gaming PC are all clearly aimed at adults...tons of advertising no matter where you look, gambling mechanics, and just a consistent communication that no matter what you already have, you need to have more.

 

I very much prefer the older style of consoles, like the N64, SNES, Gamecube, original Xbox and Playstation. The only advertising that I was exposed to was whatever happened to be on TV or in a magazine. I didn't really have either of those. A single Mario game with garbage graphics was able to entertain my sister and I for months on end. We even had these little "VG Pocket" handhelds that were complete trash as well, but we thought they were the greatest thing ever as kids.

 

As we start to have kids, I don't want the big constant pop-ups all over their screens for the games, battlepasses, lootboxes, and subscriptions that they don't have. These are present on every modern console, no matter what you change the settings to. I can prevent them from buying them willy-nilly, but not from wanting/obsessing over them. Is the only option to seek out used ancient consoles? They get expensive fast, and aren't super reliable at this point.

 

Unless there's other options, we might just become a board game family. It's a shame, because gaming was very impactful for me, but I don't think it can be healthy for kids now that it's so heavily aimed at the psychological manipulation of adults.

Do you have kids now?  As you reference "Start to have them".

 

Maybe think about why you want to have kids if the world is not a place you want them to exist in? 

 

I have 2 stepkids and educating them is a constant battle vs the forces of evil (read:  everything else).   You cannot stop the tide, but you can teach them to be aware of it  and to swim.

 

Otherwise, there are 8 billion people on this planet.  We don't really need more, so don't feel obligated to have them.

[Poinkachu]

20 minutes ago, Elarion said:

 

That's a good idea. I hadn't considered that, I'll probably end up doing that. Thanks!

 

 

Not an issue. They are not playing multiplayer games.

Yeah that's what I was saying.

Stick to offline game.

There's parental control in steam as well that can limit which tabs or game they can see without needing to be unlocked by a Pin number.

 

This is a steam account with parental control turned on for Store page and Community page looks like, the two tabs are greyed out, if clicked it will ask for a Pin before whoever clicked it can open it. Same thing happens if I try to access it through web browser.

 

Although if your goal is to prevent them from knowing about lootboxes, ads, battlepasses, and such, now you gotta fight the environment too.

To the point you might need to put them into a room and never let them gets out.

[IkeaGnome]

40 minutes ago, Elarion said:

When you boot up the switch, there are ads on the left side. Even that is unacceptable for me.

Why not use that as a teaching moment?

[porina]

Another option might be those stand alone retro consoles, made to imitate the ones of the past. I got the SNES one since I never grew up with Nintendo (was a Sega household/friend group) but the games are a little too retro for me now.

[Kisai]

On 3/15/2024 at 8:24 AM, YoungBlade said:

Why not set up something like a RetroPie and emulate the old games rather than getting an actual console? Or just have a PC not connected to the Internet with curated games that you choose?

That's literately saying "pirate old games"

 

On 3/15/2024 at 8:24 AM, YoungBlade said:

The latter is what I plan to do if I ever have kids. I've still got most of my old games on CD, and there are abandonware sites that have lots of great retro PC games if you can't find your old collection.

Abandonware is not "Free games"

 

The lesson you teach your kids when you do not buy the software is "you can steal this." Always. That's a great way to attach zero value to software.

 

The correct answer here was "Buy games on GOG that explicitly do not have monetization features"

 

Otherwise, buy used game consoles before the Wii U.

[BoomerDutch]

4 hours ago, Kisai said:

That's literately saying "pirate old games"

 

Abandonware is not "Free games"

 

The lesson you teach your kids when you do not buy the software is "you can steal this." Always. That's a great way to attach zero value to software.

 

The correct answer here was "Buy games on GOG that explicitly do not have monetization features"

 

Otherwise, buy used game consoles before the Wii U.

How about no, company doesn't sell them anymore so its abandoned by the company and we take it because we do cherish them. Only exception is that when company releases remaster or big package with all games available to play without bullshit sure ill pay even 50 euros for it.

 

It's just company's fault not us.

And they went different path for newer games with bullshit attached and most peeps don't like it so we go back to old games unavailabe or available.

 

And they want it make harder for us so we make it harder for them.

 

Like Nintendo can earn ******* lots of money if they combined all pokemon series and make it mmo but no we community must make it's own and suffer with it.

[Sharkyx1]

5 hours ago, Kisai said:

That's literately saying "pirate old games"

 

Abandonware is not "Free games"

 

The lesson you teach your kids when you do not buy the software is "you can steal this." Always. That's a great way to attach zero value to software.

 

The correct answer here was "Buy games on GOG that explicitly do not have monetization features"

 

Otherwise, buy used game consoles before the Wii U.

Might as well teach kids how to properly find and access abandonware /old games so when they do try to do it they don't get virus' or scammed by people with those premade emulator boxes.

 

My dad made me an eBay account when I was 9 and showed me how to not get scammed on it and I've used eBay for 20 years since then, never been ripped off 

[Mihle]

Best thing you can do is choose games for them, and have them in offline mode. Etc use parental controls and make their console offline etc.

 

There are tons  of modern games that dont have lootboxes or battlepasses, those that do are mostly multiplayer games. Just don't let them have access to those via parental controls or not having internet.

[Zodiark1593]

On 3/15/2024 at 8:13 AM, Elarion said:

The Switch, PS5, Xbox, and modern gaming PC are all clearly aimed at adults...tons of advertising no matter where you look, gambling mechanics, and just a consistent communication that no matter what you already have, you need to have more.

 

I very much prefer the older style of consoles, like the N64, SNES, Gamecube, original Xbox and Playstation. The only advertising that I was exposed to was whatever happened to be on TV or in a magazine. I didn't really have either of those. A single Mario game with garbage graphics was able to entertain my sister and I for months on end. We even had these little "VG Pocket" handhelds that were complete trash as well, but we thought they were the greatest thing ever as kids.

 

As we start to have kids, I don't want the big constant pop-ups all over their screens for the games, battlepasses, lootboxes, and subscriptions that they don't have. These are present on every modern console, no matter what you change the settings to. I can prevent them from buying them willy-nilly, but not from wanting/obsessing over them. Is the only option to seek out used ancient consoles? They get expensive fast, and aren't super reliable at this point.

 

Unless there's other options, we might just become a board game family. It's a shame, because gaming was very impactful for me, but I don't think it can be healthy for kids now that it's so heavily aimed at the psychological manipulation of adults.

Nintendo Switch is one option. 
 

A PC with either no network hardware, or hardware disabled, is also very doable. You’re pretty much limited to GoG for purchasing your games though, but the upshot is that GoG provides the game files free of DRM, so you can download the Offline Installers on another PC, and move them over. Selection of games is also a lot better than it was even a few years ago, back when I didn’t have home internet, and was downloading said games at a friend’s place. 
 

 

Edit: Kind of just realized that GoG has now been getting former PlayStation exclusives like God of War, and Uncharted. OMG, give those guys some love. 

[Poinkachu]

19 minutes ago, Zodiark1593 said:

Nintendo Switch is one option.

He already rejected switch.

On 3/15/2024 at 10:20 PM, Elarion said:

When you boot up the switch, there are ads on the left side. Even that is unacceptable for me.

 

I still dunno whether OP just don't want the kids to see/know about ads/popup/lootboxes/gacha in game, or in general.

The first is doable with offline games

The latter... well....

[Zodiark1593]

14 minutes ago, Poinkachu said:

He already rejected switch.

 

In that case, I think a PC with networking disabled will offer OP with the desired level of control. 

[BoomerDutch]

1 hour ago, Zodiark1593 said:

In that case, I think a PC with networking disabled will offer OP with the desired level of control. 

Batocera os will do that fine it runs pc games and console games all together without browser or anything.

 

Matter of fact i have vm running with Batocera os with gpu passthrough kekw.

 

And passed usb hub through so now ez connect to controllers or attach Bluetooth adaptor to connect controllers woo.

[da na]

-Inexpensive

-Ad-free

-Minutes of fun

[wONKEyeYEs]

On 3/15/2024 at 11:13 AM, Elarion said:

As we start to have kids,

No electronics at early ages.

Read books, play chess, get outside and be physically active, spend time engaged with them.

That's all you need.

Electronic baby-sitters are harmful.

[whispous]

55 minutes ago, wONKEyeYEs said:

No electronics at early ages.

Read books, play chess, get outside and be physically active, spend time engaged with them.

That's all you need.

Electronic baby-sitters are harmful.

Are you currently raising or have you raised children in the last decade? And what are we thinking with "early ages", what age range is that?

[GoStormPlays]

On 3/15/2024 at 11:13 AM, Elarion said:

The Switch, PS5, Xbox, and modern gaming PC are all clearly aimed at adults...tons of advertising no matter where you look, gambling mechanics, and just a consistent communication that no matter what you already have, you need to have more.

 

I very much prefer the older style of consoles, like the N64, SNES, Gamecube, original Xbox and Playstation. The only advertising that I was exposed to was whatever happened to be on TV or in a magazine. I didn't really have either of those. A single Mario game with garbage graphics was able to entertain my sister and I for months on end. We even had these little "VG Pocket" handhelds that were complete trash as well, but we thought they were the greatest thing ever as kids.

 

As we start to have kids, I don't want the big constant pop-ups all over their screens for the games, battlepasses, lootboxes, and subscriptions that they don't have. These are present on every modern console, no matter what you change the settings to. I can prevent them from buying them willy-nilly, but not from wanting/obsessing over them. Is the only option to seek out used ancient consoles? They get expensive fast, and aren't super reliable at this point.

 

Unless there's other options, we might just become a board game family. It's a shame, because gaming was very impactful for me, but I don't think it can be healthy for kids now that it's so heavily aimed at the psychological manipulation of adults.

The Switch with Parental Controls is a great option. Get games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder (great game for children and adults alike) that don't have any DLC or gatcha mechanics. With parental controls, you'd be able to block all the ads and other stuff that the other people here are talking about.

 

You could also get something like a Wii U that's still fairly modern but old enough that it doesn't have a ton of those Gatcha games. You can find those for about the same price as something like a SNES Classic.

 

On 3/15/2024 at 11:16 AM, da na said:

Switch doesn't have any of the battle passes, microtransactions etc, at least in Nintendo's first party titles (excluding DLC, eg Breath of the Wild Master Mode, Splatoon DLC...)

Fortnite, Apex Legends, and the like all exist for the Switch.

On 3/15/2024 at 11:20 AM, Elarion said:

When you boot up the switch, there are ads on the left side. Even that is unacceptable for me.

You can disable those in Parental Controls.

On 3/15/2024 at 11:24 AM, YoungBlade said:

Why not set up something like a RetroPie and emulate the old games rather than getting an actual console? Or just have a PC not connected to the Internet with curated games that you choose?

 

The latter is what I plan to do if I ever have kids. I've still got most of my old games on CD, and there are abandonware sites that have lots of great retro PC games if you can't find your old collection.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Nintendo-Universal-Super-NES-Classic-Edition/410336025

 

This is a great option if you don't want to spend the time fiddling with RetroPie.