OMG Nintendo.com

Talk about cultural whiplash. Check out yesterday's Family Circus cartoon and watch as words fail. It's not that it's funny (the Family Circus is never funny), but that it's such a... modern concept in such a unashamedly old-fashioned strip.

This is either proof that the Wii has achieved more mainstream success than any console since the NES... or proof that the Wii will never be cool.

So the National Institute on Media and the Family have issued their 2007 Video Game Report Card Parent Shopping Guide, in delightfully unfriendly .pdf format. This is basically a list of 10 games you shouldn't let your kids play under any circumstances, and then 10 games recommended as gift purchases for your kids. Both lists are kind of, uh, questionable for reasons I'm going to get into behind the cut.

Anyway, here's the quick skinny on Nintendo's showing on the two lists.

Parent Alert! Games to Avoid For Your Children and Teens:

• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
• Manhunt 2
• Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles

Recommended Games for Children and Teens:

• FIFA Soccer 08
• Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
• Hannah Montana Spotlight World Tour
• Madden NFL 08
• Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games
• Need for Speed ProStreet
• The Sims 2: Castaway
• Super Mario Bros. 3
• Super Mario Galaxy

Click away for analysis and livid ranting.

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Geezer Gamers has a story up that basically must be read to be believed:

About a half hour after being induced the labor began to take hold and I settled in for the ride and grabbed the DS and my copy of Yoshis Island. The game was entertaining enough for me to be annoyed by all the interruptions from the nurse who kept handing me papers to sign. And yes, playing the game was distracting enough for me to get me through most of my labor naturally. However, towards the end of labor, Yoshi and his island wasnt doing it for me and I was about ready to chuck my DS and Yoshis Island about two inches deep into the opposite wall by the time it was over. But I was able to get through it naturally without any drugs.

If only she'd been playing Contra 4 instead...

Normally Slashdot is as dependent on links to discuss as... well, I am, but this is an interesting bit of original content. Geeky father ProfJonathan writes in to ask for Slashdot's collective wisdom when it comes to recommending games that aren't too frustrating for a new reader so relatives can buy his daughter games. Reactions fall into an amazingly delightful rainbow spectrum ranging from "here are recommendations" to "if your child isn't reading at six years old and you are giving her video games you are a terrible parent." Read the whole thread to get full impact.

Probably the most interesting thing to come out of this thread? Read carefully and you'll find that the single most-recommended game is a homebrew title called Colors that the DS can only run with the aid of a dubiously legal device like the R4 Supercard. Colors is a game similar to the Paint program but obviously a few notches more sophisticated, and with touchscreen support that's perfect for a little kid. Nintendo, what the hell, why haven't you made this yet? Not even Mario Paint DS?

I don't think anyone who wants to write about games expects to end up covering the Christian Science Monitor, but that's life for you. Anyway, this severely mainstream publication sat down with both seniors and retirement home staff to talk about the unexpected popularity of the Nintendo Wii and its pack-in title, Wii Sports. (I totally agree that the best game is bowling.) Anyway, check behind the cut for a few choice links... just in case you're curious, but not sure you want the Christian Science Monitor website lurking around your history.

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Sure, we all love to soak in the fanboy fun of gaming press-- but sometimes it's even more interesting to see what the mainstream press has to say about our favorite hobby's favorite publisher. Here's what serious journalists writing serious articles have to say about Nintendo this glorious Saturday.

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