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Family Game Awards 2008

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The Family Gamer Awards FGA suggests ideal games for different family age-groups: Infants, Juniors, Students, Workers, Parents and Seniors.

These awards complement PEGI's age-appropriate ratings by suggesting games each age group will enjoy. Rather than warning families about which games are inappropriate, we suggest which games each age group will get the most out of.

The games awarded for infants for example, not only contain appropriate content for 3 year olds but are also easy enough for them to play and enjoy.

Four times a year we pick the best games in each of our family age groups:

Games for Infants (3 to 6 yrs)
The best games for toddlers, very-young children and pre-school kids from 3 to 6 years old. These games work with the basics of play and should easily engage the super young players in our families. Simple and easy controls and bright colours engage young players in some educational and informative games.

Family Ski
Buy:
UK US
2008 Spring Family Ski: The simple controls and cartoon visuals make this easy enough to use by players as young as three. The split screen simultaneous multiplayer makes it great for young siblings to play along side each other.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Winner
- Date: Spring 2008
- Platform: Wii version(s)

Quickspot
Buy:
UK US
2008 Summer Quickspot: The age old favourite spot the difference game brought to the DS. Whilst some modes are too time restricted for the very young, there is enough here to entertain and develop their hand eye co-ordination.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Summer 2008
- Platform: DS version(s)

Pac 'n Roll
Buy:
UK US
2008 Autumn Pac 'n Roll: The super simple controls make this 3D version of Pac Man playable by anyone. Simply push the stylus in the direction you want to go.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Autumn 2008
- Platform: DS version(s)

Dora Saves the Snow Princess
Buy:
UK US
2008 Winter Dora Saves the Snow Princess: The cartoon tie in along with well judged tilt controls make this easy enough for anyone to play. Add in the characters all being voice by children and you have a real winner.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Winter 2008
- Platform: Wii PS2 version(s)
Games for Juniors (7 to 11 yrs)
The best games for primary school, junior and young children aged from 7 to 11 years old. These games provide experiences that connect with a basic joy of discovery and play. Although still simplistic they engage with a wide range of basic principles.

Boom Blox
Buy:
UK US
2008 Spring Boom Blox: The simple idea of throwing, pulling and shooting blocks has instant appeal. The family friendly Jenga style levels combine with the deft Wii-mote control and varied levels to create a great game for families with junior gamers.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Winner
- Date: Spring 2008
- Platform: Wii version(s)

Soul Bubbles
Buy:
UK US
2008 Summer Soul Bubbles: This game's simple bubble blowing controls and platforming puzzles make it ideally placed for junior players.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Summer 2008
- Platform: DS version(s)

Mario and Sonic at the Olympics
Buy:
UK US
2008 Autumn Mario and Sonic at the Olympics: The sheer exuberance and variety here are great for juniors wanted to exercise their 'massive' motor skills. That you can play with four players together also makes it ideal for the whole family.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Autumn 2008
- Platform: DS Wii version(s)

Guinness World Records
Buy:
UK US
2008 Winter Guinness World Records: Being able to get your name on a score board for your county increases the appeal for juniors here. Like the now defunct children's TV show, Guinness World Records provides some great entertaining activities and simple controls.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Winter 2008
- Platform: DS Wii version(s)
Games for Teens (12 to 15 yrs)
The best games for secondary, high-school, teenagers, adolescent kids and young-adults aged from 12 to 17 years old. These games provide thrilling experiences that major on brash, loud protagonists and aim to connect with the teens in our families.

Super Smash Brothers Brawl
Buy:
UK US
2008 Spring Super Smash Brothers Brawl: The initial simplicity and button mashing soon gives way to obsessively learning different characters and power ups as this game proves itself again in a new generation.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Spring 2008
- Platform: Wii version(s)

Little Big Planet
Buy:
UK US
2008 Summer Little Big Planet: The rag-doll physics and kids TV visuals make this the ideal place to hang out with student friends. Add in some mischievous intent from up to three other players and it becomes a hysterical prank filled festival of fun.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Summer 2008
- Platform: PS3 PSP version(s)

Castle Crashers
Buy:
UK US
2008 Autumn Castle Crashers: The sheer inventiveness of this four player romp through olden times makes it great to play with friends. Brawling action gives way to levelling up and item collection as is befitting of any student friendly title.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Autumn 2008
- Platform: 360 version(s)
Games for Students (16 to 17 yrs)
The best games for students, studying, college, school and young-adults aged from 16 to 17 years old. These games provide experiences that are great to share in halls, offer multiplayer thrills, or demand commitment and dedication to progress.

MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
Buy:
UK US
2008 Winter MotorStorm: Pacific Rift: The biggest brashest off road racing game makes this high on most student lists. Add in the four player split screen mode that still manages to include nine computer controlled cars and you have an unequalled experience.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Winner
- Date: Winter 2008
- Platform: PS3 PSP version(s)
Games for Workers (18 and over)
The best games for those with full time jobs, workers, 9-to-5-ers, employed hard-core gamers 18 years and over. These games provide more of a challenge in both dexterity and problem solving. They are often more about strong single player experiences that hard working hard core gamers. Although these are often longer experiences that are also ideal to switch off and chill out after a long day at the office.

Resident Evil 4
Buy:
UK US
2008 Spring Resident Evil 4: For fright friendly student play there is no equally the intensity and streamlined experience of this game. Widely received as the best Gamecube game, the Wii version improves the aiming controls and reduces the price. (To be released in Resident Evil HD pack on 360/PS3.)
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Spring 2008
- Platform: Wii PS2 PS3 360 version(s)

Gears of War
Buy:
UK US
2008 Summer Gears of War: Big, scary, harsh and bloody this is the cream of the violent 360 shooting games. The sheer intensity of the ride is just what those work-a-day blues ordered.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Summer 2008
- Platform: 360 version(s)

Far Cry 2
Buy:
UK US
2008 Autumn Far Cry 2: The sense of place generated by the acting, scenery and action make this a memorable experience. The game soon opens out into a goliath of a masterpiece lasting a good 40 hours.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Winner
- Date: Autumn 2008
- Platform: 360 PS3 PC version(s)

Grand Theft Auto IV
Buy:
UK US
2008 Winter Grand Theft Auto IV: Although maligned for juvenile violence and cheap sexuality there is more to this than meets the eye. Played with an enquiring mind and you will find as many questions raised here as by other heavyweight inner city experiences like the TV show The Wire.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Winter 2008
- Platform: 360 PS3 PC version(s)
Games for Parents
The best games for parents, mums, dads, carers, aunties and uncles. These games connect with the gamer on a more mature level. Story driven and often open ended, the experiences here provide space to play with complex issues and engage in moral dilemmas. Either that or to escape the grind of the work/home balance.

Animal Crossing: Let's go to the City
Buy:
UK US
2008 Spring Animal Crossing: Let's go to the City: Sets you on a magical island tied to real work time. Buy a house, settle down and start collecting furniture. But to see everything here you need to play through a calendar year and get up at strange times in the night to catch particular insects and fish. Compelling, all encompassing and a lot of fun for fanatical players.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Spring 2008
- Platform: DS Wii version(s)

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Buy:
UK US
2008 Summer Uncharted: Drake's Fortune: This is the unusual and stunning collision of good story, great voice work and enjoyable game play. Although not too much for the grey matter to contend with the experience is as emotional as any blockbuster movie.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Summer 2008
- Platform: PS3 version(s)

Assassin's Creed
Buy:
UK US
2008 Autumn Assassin's Creed: The fluid climbing of the main character and tactile nature of the environments first impress here. But play a little longer and you find a game with an interesting relationship to death and revenge.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Autumn 2008
- Platform: PS3 360 PC version(s)

Mirror's Edge
Buy:
UK US
2008 Winter Mirror's Edge: This game takes a familiar platforming genre and introduces a first person perspective. What results is a brilliant and unique experience that is as much about how we interact with our environment as it is about shooting the bad guys.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Game of the Year
- Date: Winter 2008
- Platform: PS3 360 PC version(s)
Games for Grandparents
The best games for grandparents, older, senior, grown-up, mature, retired and wiser people. These games provide a slightly slower, although no less challenging experience. Time and consideration are of the essence as our most senior gamers enjoy interacting with other players and perfecting their approach.

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue
Buy:
UK US
2008 Spring Gran Turismo 5 Prologue: The level of physical modelling here is simply breathtaking. The perfectly modelled interiors complement the physics to convince drivers they are sat in the real thing.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Spring 2008
- Platform: PS3 version(s)

Tiger Woods 09
Buy:
UK US
2008 Summer Tiger Woods 09: As close to real life golfing as you can get on a console. The game is played using the Wii-mote as the golf club. The 2009 version provided an accurate one-to-one swing alongside simplified putting. Once time is spent acclimatising to the controls there is no going back to other golf games.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Summer 2008
- Platform: PS3 Wii version(s)

Picross
Buy:
UK US
2008 Autumn Picross: This perfectly pitched puzzle game combines mathematics and crossword mechanics to create something as beguiling as it is addictive. Once players have mastered the single player puzzles they can go head-to-head online for a real nail biting show down.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Winner
- Date: Autumn 2008
- Platform: DS version(s)

Pinball FX
Buy:
UK US
2008 Winter Pinball FX: The perfect antidote to a busy dusty day at work. Just like playing in the dingy arcades of old, this 360 game recreates the physicality and touch of the real game.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Winter 2008
- Platform: 360 3DS PS3 version(s)

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