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Family Game Awards 2011

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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.

Peppa Pig Theme Park Fun
Buy:
UK US
2011 Spring Peppa Pig Theme Park Fun: A well designed Peppa Pig tie-in for very young players. Controls and visuals work well and keep things simple, but at the same time there is plenty to challenge developing minds.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Spring 2011
- Platform: DS version(s)

Fruit Ninja
Buy:
UK US
2011 Summer Fruit Ninja: The simple premise of slicing up fruit with your hands and feet makes this easy enough for very young players. Add to this the ability for parents and infants to play together and the iPad/iPhone classic game works great on the 360 hands-free Kinect controller.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Summer 2011
- Platform: 360 Kinect version(s)

Just Dance 3
Buy:
UK US
2011 Autumn Just Dance 3: Although the Just Dance formula (simple accessible dancing and sensibly shaped dancers) has been around for a while, the varied multiplayer choreography and four player Kinect features make this another big step forward for casual dancers.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Winner
- Date: Autumn 2011
- Platform: Wii 360 Kinect PS3 version(s)

Kinect Sports Season Two
Buy:
UK US
2011 Winter Kinect Sports Season Two: Kinect Sports 2 offers some great minigames for the very young players in our households, but also challenges others to get involved with better controls and a greater challenge.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Winter 2011
- Platform: Kinect 360 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.

Solatorobo
Buy:
UK US
2011 Spring Solatorobo: Another massive adventure game squeezed into the DS. But this time the focus is as much on the story and Dogtanian-like characters as the action. Simply exquisite on the DS, and full of intrigue. An engaging game for junior players on the DS, a rare gem.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Spring 2011
- Platform: DS version(s)

Kirby Mass Attack
Buy:
UK US
2011 Summer Kirby Mass Attack: This combines stylus controlled platforming action with great puzzles and surprisingly fleshed out minigames. Controlling a herd of little pink Kirbys is simply great fun.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Summer 2011
- Platform: DS version(s)

Skylanders Spyro's Adventure
Buy:
UK US
2011 Autumn Skylanders Spyro's Adventure: The quality of the toys and simplicity of using them to save your progress in the videogame make this ideal for junior players. The gameplay itself is like a more action focused Lego game, and again, ideally suited for pre-teens.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Game of the Year
- Date: Autumn 2011
- Platform: Wii 3DS 360 PS3 version(s)

Disneyland Adventures
Buy:
UK US
2011 Winter Disneyland Adventures: Disneyland Adventures captivates junior players with its open world park exploration that ties together some simply magical retellings of classic Disney stories.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Winter 2011
- Platform: Kinect 360 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.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Shadow Wars
Buy:
UK US
2011 Spring Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Shadow Wars: Well balanced strategy from the creator of Laser Squad and XCOM/UFO. This is the most fully featured 3DS launch game (along with Super Street Fighter IV) and it oozes quality. Perfect for whiling away between lectures.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Spring 2011
- Platform: 3DS version(s)

The Gunstringer
Buy:
UK US
2011 Summer The Gunstringer: A game that really plays to Kinect's theatrics. Control a marionette with one hand and shoot with the other, this game turns the living room into a stage. The quality and creativity more than make up for the slightly short play time. A great play with mates game.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Summer 2011
- Platform: Kinect 360 version(s)

Child of Eden
Buy:
UK US
2011 Autumn Child of Eden: The combination of music movement and shooting creates an experience perfect for teen and student players. Whether on the more recent PS3 Move release or breakthrough 360 Kinect version, Child of Eden is a rare combination of motion controls and hardcore gameplay.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Autumn 2011
- Platform: 360 Kinect PS3 Move version(s)

Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics
Buy:
UK US
2011 Winter Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympics: Teens shouldn't overlook the cartoony look as this addition to the Mario and Sonic sports games not only builds on previous outings but adds some great four player competitive games.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Winner
- Date: Winter 2011
- Platform: Wii 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.

Little Big Planet 2
Buy:
UK US
2011 Spring Little Big Planet 2: A perfect mix of game creator and multiplayer fun make this an ideal choice for student gamers. Late night multiplayer antics, or perhaps the blossoming of a game development career.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Spring 2011
- Platform: PS3 Move version(s)

Conduit 2
Buy:
UK US
2011 Summer Conduit 2: A rare hard-core shooting game on the Wii, that looks every bit as good as Halo. Although enemy AI aren't quite a match for 360/PS3 console experiences, Conduit 2 is a high water mark with excellent Wii-mote controls for student shooter fans.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Winner
- Date: Summer 2011
- Platform: Wii MotionPlus version(s)

Zelda Skyward Sword
Buy:
UK US
2011 Autumn Zelda Skyward Sword: A perfect student adventure game. Oceans to do and excellent use of the MotionPlus Wii controller add-on. With a more emotional, full of sexual tension, this is also one of the more mature outings for Zelda and Link.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Autumn 2011
- Platform: Wii MotionPlus version(s)

Tumble
Buy:
UK US
2011 Winter Tumble: The accuracy and depth perception of the Move control makes this Jenga stacking puzzle game perfect for students. Multiplayer alone is worth the price of entrance, as players take it in turns to stack blocks and earn points.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Winter 2011
- Platform: PS3 Move 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.

Okamiden
Buy:
UK US
2011 Spring Okamiden: An original portable version of the classic Wii PS2 game Okami. Not only does this squeeze the same whimsical gameplay and writing into the diminutive DS, but it also looks stunning. Play it on the 3DS for smoother graphics, or on the DS for longer battery, either way a very commute friendly experience.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Spring 2011
- Platform: DS version(s)

Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time
Buy:
UK US
2011 Summer Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time: The classic Zelda game reborn, but more importantly a console Zelda experience on a commute friendly handheld. The level of graphical reworking, addition of new controls and tips system make this a standout re-release of the definitive Zelda videogame from the 90s.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Summer 2011
- Platform: 3DS version(s)

Skyrim
Buy:
UK US
2011 Autumn Skyrim: It's the size and scale of this adventure that makes it a great fit for workers. A large amount of disposable playtime spent here delivers an experience that not only lets you progress your own way but also presents endless reasons to keep playing.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Winner
- Date: Autumn 2011
- Platform: 360 PS3 PC version(s)

Super Mario 3D Land
Buy:
UK US
2011 Winter Super Mario 3D Land: Mario returns to its 2D feel while retaining a fresh 3D perspective. The simple addictive nature draws from Mario Galaxy and Super Mario World to create a perfect commuting or after work 3DS game.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Winter 2011
- Platform: 3DS 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.

Costume Quest
Buy:
UK US
2011 Spring Costume Quest: Our parent gamers took some time to discover this gem. They loved the sentimental childhood setting and sibling rivalry, as will the great writing. But beyond this, Costume Quest is a well honed adventure game played out in miniature and in everyday places - the neighbourhood, the mall and back at home.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Spring 2011
- Platform: 360 version(s)

Driver San Francisco
Buy:
UK US
2011 Summer Driver San Francisco: A game that families can play together. Younger players can help by setting traps for the criminals by connecting the DS to the Wii game. Two older players can control the driving and targeting on the Wii in an experience that enables the toddlers to get in on the action.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Summer 2011
- Platform: Wii DS version(s)

FIFA 12
Buy:
UK US
2011 Autumn FIFA 12: A new impact system for players, improved tactics and graphics make FIFA 12 stand out. But it's the history that parents have with this game that will make it one to play with the whole family.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Autumn 2011
- Platform: 360 PS3 3DS Wii PC version(s)

Uncharted 3 Drakes Deception
Buy:
UK US
2011 Winter Uncharted 3 Drakes Deception: Something a little more thought provoking that other shooting games. Parents will enjoy be reunited with favourite characters as this next chapter slowly plays out.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Winner
- Date: Winter 2011
- Platform: PS3 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.

Pictionary Ultimate Edition
Buy:
UK US
2011 Spring Pictionary Ultimate Edition: Like the popular DS version, on the Wii the uDraw peripheral makes all the difference to this drawing game. It becomes an ideal game to share with gamers of different ages, young, old and senior.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Spring 2011
- Platform: Wii PS3 360 version(s)

Ghost Trick
Buy:
UK US
2011 Summer Ghost Trick: A steady pace and focus on great character creation make this ideal for older gamers. Although there is a simple puzzle game at the core, it's the journey of granddaughters, parents and grandparents that make this so hard to put down (not to forget secret agent dogs).
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Summer 2011
- Platform: DS version(s)

Leedmees
Buy:
UK US
2011 Autumn Leedmees: While other exercise games get players moving with heavy handed incentives, Leedmees gets you stretching, reaching and bending with its simple and addictive gameplay. Use your body to move the little Mee men to the exit. Superb Entertaining and aerobic gameplay for senior gamers.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Winner
- Date: Autumn 2011
- Platform: 360 Kinect version(s)

Motion Sports Adrenaline
Buy:
UK US
2011 Winter Motion Sports Adrenaline: This is a lesser known Kinect game may focus on exuberant activities but it does so in a steady and methodical way. This not only suites the Kinect controls perfectly but also acts a great movement incentive game for older gamers.
Family Gamer Award Details
- Award: Age Group Runner Up
- Date: Winter 2011
- Platform: 360 Kinect version(s)

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