video games with educational merit

[meowee]

A spin off of the other thread, I was going to add my comments but it got so long.

One really good game is "Civilization IV." It is a strategy game where you can build and manage civilizations based on real-world historical eras, rulers, technologies, religions, etc. It contains a mini-encyclopedia for reference. In my son, it sparked a fascination with history. He knows more about history than I do by this point.

The Sim Theme Park and Sim Coaster games are good too (I think they're out dated though...). It taught my kids about running a business... they had so much fun, managing the money, keeping the employees satisfied, creating incentives for more customers.

Zoo Tycoon is good too, for the same reasons, and taught my kids a lot about animals.

But most important they are all lots of fun...

[~*SugarMama*~]

I have actually looked into those but for some reason, I don't classify them as "video games". Maybe because I can see the educational value to them? I don't know, maybe I am just weird like that.

I was going to ask though how much reading is involved? DS doesn't read much yet but I know that he would love the Zoo Tycoon one along with the wildlife expansion that they have.

[UnschoolnMa]

I think my group (kids and Dh) used to play Civilization and they really enjoyed it. Lately though, it's all about GTA or Kingdom Hearts around here lol.

[3momkmb]

Originally Posted by ~*SugarMama*~

I was going to ask though how much reading is involved? DS doesn't read much yet but I know that he would love the Zoo Tycoon one along with the wildlife expansion that they have.

Ben can't even officially read yet (he claims he can't and hasn't started reading independently) and he can play Zoo Tycoon with a tiny bit of help. He calls Kelsey or I over once and a while, but mostly he can do it himself.

Other *educational* games that aren't overtly so? Hmmm...Age of Empires and the Nancy Drew series spring to mind. And of course Zoo Tycoon

[shaywyn]

Originally Posted by ~*SugarMama*~

I was going to ask though how much reading is involved? DS doesn't read much yet but I know that he would love the Zoo Tycoon one along with the wildlife expansion that they have.

My dd has been playing zoo tycoon, and zoo tycoon 2 for years now and she is just starting to really read this past year. The great thing about zoo tycoon is there is as much or little reading as you want. There are libraries with animal information for lots of reading. The control panels have titles to be read until you memorize them, but alot are pretty self explanatory just from the symbols. Also, the games have great tutorials. Zoo Tycoon 2 really gets into animal and planet conservation, poaching, World Zoos, and other concerns. You can have a simple zoo or you can try to complete various assignments. We really like it. My only lament is that since I have a two yr old, I don't get to play myself very much at all.

We like the Sims and Sims 2 also, and Rollercoaster Tycoon. We haven't tried the latest Rollercoaster Tycoon, but the original and the expansion packs are great. I think my dd has learned varied skills from all these games.

[DigitalSuze]

My son likes to play Age of Mythology -- it's the one game that has held his interest over a period of *years*, literally. He knows an awful lot about Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Norse myths from playing it.

[warriorprincess]

Though there is lots of violence and I cringe at admitting it's educational, DS learned a lot from "Rome:Total War".