Games related to airplanes for children

My grandson will be 8 in a month. He loves airplanes. He is also
pretty good on the computer. I was thinking of getting him a copy of
FS for his birthday, but after lurking on this ng for a few days, I am
concerned that the game is too complicated for an 8 year old.

I would appreciate any opinions on the appropriateness of FS for an 8
year old boy. If FS is not a good choice, I would appreciate
suggestions for other games involving ariplanes that would be.

He has a Windows 2000 computer.

Thanks

PS: Is there a ng that deals with children's games?


--
Email: Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com
(11/09/04)

"Top Spin" ha scritto nel messaggio
...
My grandson will be 8 in a month. He loves airplanes. He is also
pretty good on the computer. I was thinking of getting him a copy of
FS for his birthday, but after lurking on this ng for a few days, I am
concerned that the game is too complicated for an 8 year old.

I would appreciate any opinions on the appropriateness of FS for an 8
year old boy. If FS is not a good choice, I would appreciate
suggestions for other games involving ariplanes that would be.


Well actually I don't think it's ever too early to begin PC Flying if
there's love for flying ;-)
After all, FS can be enjoyed even without exploiting it to the most complex
features.

Often children prefer combat flying to general aviation, e.g. Pacific
Fighters or Combat Flight Simulator 3, but I don't know if this is the case.
Try to find out.

Anyway, you love or hate Flight Simulations. If he'll love it, he'll be
forever grateful to you. :-)

On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 15:34:23 GMT, "Murmur"
wrote:


"Top Spin" ha scritto nel messaggio
.. .
My grandson will be 8 in a month. He loves airplanes. He is also
pretty good on the computer. I was thinking of getting him a copy of
FS for his birthday, but after lurking on this ng for a few days, I am
concerned that the game is too complicated for an 8 year old.

I would appreciate any opinions on the appropriateness of FS for an 8
year old boy. If FS is not a good choice, I would appreciate
suggestions for other games involving ariplanes that would be.


Well actually I don't think it's ever too early to begin PC Flying if
there's love for flying ;-)
After all, FS can be enjoyed even without exploiting it to the most complex
features.

So can the game be customized so make it less complex for beginners? I
think that would make it a go for sure. Personally, I think he'll like
it and do OK. I jjust didn't want it to be soooo hard that he then
wouldn't give it a try later.

Often children prefer combat flying to general aviation, e.g. Pacific
Fighters or Combat Flight Simulator 3, but I don't know if this is the case.
Try to find out.

Are these simpler?

Anyway, you love or hate Flight Simulations. If he'll love it, he'll be
forevemr grateful to you. :-)

--
Email: Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com
(11/09/04)

"Top Spin" ha scritto nel messaggio
...

So can the game be customized so make it less complex for beginners? I
think that would make it a go for sure. Personally, I think he'll like
it and do OK. I jjust didn't want it to be soooo hard that he then
wouldn't give it a try later.


Yes it can. But don't underestimate the learning capabilities of a 8 year
old boy, they usually learn quicker and easier. The only discriminant here
is if he's really interested in flying. In that case, I'm pretty sure, soon
he'll be teaching to you how to use FS. ;-P

Often children prefer combat flying to general aviation, e.g. Pacific
Fighters or Combat Flight Simulator 3, but I don't know if this is the
case.
Try to find out.

Are these simpler?


Well, it depends on several factors...WWII flight simulators don't require
the knowledge of modern nav systems, and are usually designed to make quick
plays. Sometimes children prefer them for the shooting element.

On 27-Feb-2005, Top Spin wrote:

I am concerned that the game is too complicated for an 8 year old.

Hmm..

My youngest son (now 9 yeas old) has enjoyed flying FS9 from he was 7... And
especially the heavies.. The bigger, the better.. ;o)
And he has no problem controlling it. Of course, the realism is turned down
so crashes just bounce him up in the air again, but otherwise he goes with
the lot.
Often flying for 1 hour or so...

But.. He also likes to take off in Combat Flight Simulator, and try to shoot
down some enemies (or get shot down him self... happens more often).
Or he goes playing in an OLD Jet Fighter game (F22 Lightning3) from '99.

When I asked him, what he did preferred (if any) he couldn't decide..
But he said, that he think he uses a little more time in one of the 2
warbird-games, than flying "normal" AC's...

So.. As Murmur says in another answer.. You have to find out what your
grandson like the most...
Maybe your son/daughter could help you decide? Also they could have an
opinion against a combat-game, and would prefer that it was "civilian"...

Regards
Mikael K

--
Sorry.. no direct reply-email.. ;o)

On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 16:23:52 GMT, "Mikael K"
wrote:


On 27-Feb-2005, Top Spin wrote:

I am concerned that the game is too complicated for an 8 year old.

Hmm..

My youngest son (now 9 yeas old) has enjoyed flying FS9 from he was 7... And
especially the heavies.. The bigger, the better.. ;o)

That's encouraging. He's not a prodigy, is he? ;-)

And he has no problem controlling it. Of course, the realism is turned down
so crashes just bounce him up in the air again, but otherwise he goes with
the lot.

So the game can be scaled down or customized to make it a little
easier to use for beginners?

Often flying for 1 hour or so...

But.. He also likes to take off in Combat Flight Simulator, and try to shoot
down some enemies (or get shot down him self... happens more often).
Or he goes playing in an OLD Jet Fighter game (F22 Lightning3) from '99.

When I asked him, what he did preferred (if any) he couldn't decide..
But he said, that he think he uses a little more time in one of the 2
warbird-games, than flying "normal" AC's...

So.. As Murmur says in another answer.. You have to find out what your
grandson like the most...
Maybe your son/daughter could help you decide? Also they could have an
opinion against a combat-game, and would prefer that it was "civilian"...

I don't think they are 100% opposed to combat games, but I would
prefer something that had more of an instructional component.

Thanks

--
Email: Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com
(11/09/04)

" I don't think they are 100% opposed to combat games, but I would
prefer something that had more of an instructional component."

you say that but I would say that something like CFS3 still has education to
it. Its still flying just not as detailed as FS, it as that exciting
shooting element that I think many people like (not that he wouldn't like
FS) and you can learn all about old planes. WW2 types planes, how they are
different, how things are different, and in ww2 military places so he could
learn a bit about ww2 aswell. I learnt alot about WW2 from WW2 games like
Call of Duty, Medal of honour etc


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www.deadlyhosting.com/special.php for a great special.
I apologise now for any spelling mistakes or bad grammar
--
"Top Spin" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 16:23:52 GMT, "Mikael K"
wrote:


On 27-Feb-2005, Top Spin wrote:

I am concerned that the game is too complicated for an 8 year old.

Hmm..

My youngest son (now 9 yeas old) has enjoyed flying FS9 from he was 7...
And
especially the heavies.. The bigger, the better.. ;o)

That's encouraging. He's not a prodigy, is he? ;-)

And he has no problem controlling it. Of course, the realism is turned
down
so crashes just bounce him up in the air again, but otherwise he goes with
the lot.

So the game can be scaled down or customized to make it a little
easier to use for beginners?

Often flying for 1 hour or so...

But.. He also likes to take off in Combat Flight Simulator, and try to
shoot
down some enemies (or get shot down him self... happens more often).
Or he goes playing in an OLD Jet Fighter game (F22 Lightning3) from '99.

When I asked him, what he did preferred (if any) he couldn't decide..
But he said, that he think he uses a little more time in one of the 2
warbird-games, than flying "normal" AC's...

So.. As Murmur says in another answer.. You have to find out what your
grandson like the most...
Maybe your son/daughter could help you decide? Also they could have an
opinion against a combat-game, and would prefer that it was "civilian"...

I don't think they are 100% opposed to combat games, but I would
prefer something that had more of an instructional component.

Thanks

--
Email: Usenet-20031220 at spamex.com
(11/09/04)

"Chris Harries"
you say that but I would say that something like CFS3 still has education
to
it.

Yeah, but with FS9 he could grow up to be an airline pilot and make oodles
of money and support Dad in his retirement years. :-)

Dallas

Dallas wrote:

"Chris Harries"

you say that but I would say that something like CFS3 still has education

to

it.


Yeah, but with FS9 he could grow up to be an airline pilot and make oodles
of money and support Dad in his retirement years. :-)

Dallas




Dalli, I have never once heard a good thing about CFS-3. Did I miss
something?

And as for landing, an 8 year old will have a better time learning to
land on a long straight road, where even if he goes off the road, it
doesn't matter. He'll come to a stop and he's ready for take-off again.

But once he gets good enough to land on, and stay on, a road the sense
of accomplishment will be surpassed only by landing safely on an one of
the airfields in the sim.


--

boB

U.S. Army Aviation (retired)
Central Texas - 5NM West of Gray Army Airfield (KGRK)

On 27-Feb-2005, Top Spin wrote:

That's encouraging. He's not a prodigy, is he? ;-)

Nope.. No prodigy (except the ordinary)... But thx for asking... ;o)

So the game can be scaled down or customized to make it a little
easier to use for beginners?

As easy as to push the throttle forward, and pull the stick back...
And then just a little guidance to find out how to select the
favourite-airplane of the day, and start the flight...

By the way.. Does he have a joystick? With a "speed"-lever on (to be
preferred for easy control of speed)?
This would be a good thing to have, to get the most joy out of a flight
simulator...
If he has to steer with the keyboard, he will quickly put the simulator
aside...
So if he doesn't have a joystick, it could be a thing to get his Mom and Dad
into.. )


Regards
Mikael K

--
Sorry.. no direct reply-email.. ;o)