| In the old days, choosing a video game
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| | available for the GameCube, PS2 and Xbox;
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| system for children wasn't all that hard.
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| | Activision's Madagascar (rated E10+) is
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| After all, parents didn't have to worry
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| | available on the same platforms, while
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| about games carried by systems like Atari
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| | Global Star Software's Dora the Explorer
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| (there was nothing threatening about
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| | (rated EC) is available on the PS2 and
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| Pac-Man or Space Invaders). Today,
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| | Xbox, but not on the GameCube.What about
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| however, with the proliferation of games
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| | parental control options? Among the four
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| with mature content available on games
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| | systems, the Xbox and the Xbox 360 have
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| supported by the major system
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| | the most efficient parental lock
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| manufacturers, parents want to know which
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| | functions. Parents are able to set
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| system carries the most kid-friendly
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| | limits on the games and films to be
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| games, ones that the young ones will
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| | played on the systems. If you set the
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| enjoy and one that parents will not
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| | system to play only E-rated games, kids
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| regret spending money on.Let's start with
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| | won't be able to play DVD's or games that
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| the Sony PlayStation 2, the best-selling
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| | have Teen, Mature, or Adults Only
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| game console on the market today. There
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| | ratings. The GameCube also has a
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| are literally thousands of titles
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| | parental lock feature, albeit a less
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| available for this system, which cater to
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| | effective one. Users note that all it
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| every age range. There are approximately
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| | does is tone down certain effects that
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| 600 games for the PS2 that have the "E"
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| | might be troubling for children (for
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| rating, meaning that it is suitable for
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| | example, the amount of blood seen in
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| players ages six and above. However,
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| | games) but do not block the playing of
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| many of these games are too complicated
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| | games at all. It doesn't even screen or
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| for young children to play. Games that
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| | bleep offensive language. The parental
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| children ten years old and above can
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| | control function of the PlayStation 2 is
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| enjoy are rated E10+, while those that
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| | even worse -- it doesn't allow parents or
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| are rated EC (Early Childhood) are of
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| | anyone to restrict access to video games
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| course, suitable for the very young. The
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| | at all. The most parents can do is to
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| PS2 carries about a dozen E10+ games,
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| | set the PS2 to prevent their kids from
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| including movie-based titles like Shrek
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| | watching DVD movies with inappropriate
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| Super Slam for PlayStation 2 and Chicken
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| | content.When it comes to price, the
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| Little. EC titles that little ones can
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| | GameCube comes out tops. Available for
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| enjoy include Dora the Explorer: Journey
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| | only $99, it's significantly cheaper than
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| to the Purple Planet, Eggo Mania and At
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| | the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, whose prices
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| the Races Presents Gallop
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| | range from $150 to $199 (or more if
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| Racer.Nintendo's GameCube console
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| | bundled with game titles). The Xbox 360,
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| continues to be popular because it
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| | being the newest of the bunch, is the
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| carries titles that are popular with
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| | highest-priced. For $299, you get the
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| children. The Entertainment Software
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| | system and a wired controller. For $399,
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| Rating Board (ESRB) lists 263 video game
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| | you get a wireless controller, a headset
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| titles rated E for the GameCube, and
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| | that players can use to talk to other
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| these include some of the most popular
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| | people online, a 20 GB hard drive that is
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| and beloved among the children of today
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| | loaded with game-related videos and
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| and years past, such as Sega's Sonic GEMS
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| | music, and a remote.Parents should go out
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| Collection, Nintendo's own Mario Party 6
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| | and try each system personally as well as
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| and Mario Tennis. The Legend of Zelda
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| | look at the different titles available
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| series and several Pokemon titles are
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| | for them before deciding which one to
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| available exclusively on the GameCube as
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| | buy. Factors such as number and age of
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| well.Microsoft's Xbox and Xbox 360 video
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| | users at home, game title availability,
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| game consoles likewise have many, many
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| | and budget should also be considered.
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| titles that are rated E; the Xbox with
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| | Each system has its own pros and cons,
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| approximately 270 games and the Xbox 360
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| | and families will differ in their
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| with so far about a dozen -- but count on
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| | preferences: some will be content with
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| the number of Xbox 360 titles to increase
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| | the limited but popular games of the
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| since it's a new release. Some games
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| | GameCube; some might prefer the wider
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| published by Microsoft exclusively for
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| | offering of the PlayStation 2 or the
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| the Xbox and the Xbox 360 and which have
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| | Xbox; others might opt for the high-tech
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| the E rating are Astropop and Feeding
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| | features of the Xbox 360. But all things
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| Frenzy. However, remember that most game
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| | considered, making the right choice will
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| publishers release crossover titles, or
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| | provide hours of wholesome, fun, and
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| games that are available on multiple
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| | worry-free entertainment for the little
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| platforms. For instance, Eidos
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| | ones and for their parents as well.
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| Interactive's LEGO Star Wars (rated E) is
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