PS2 Problems? How to Help Your Children Share!

I received a comment on my last post wanting advice on children sharing the PS2 or other games consoles. I can say as a mom of five and only one PS2, this can become a problem at times.

Choosing the Right Games

This is really important. Unless one child plays it more than another, choosing games that they can share easily really helps. One such game is the new one we purchased recently Guitar Hero III. This game allows for one or two players. One person can play in career mode, or two people can play in co-op career mode where they help each other meet their career goals for becoming
the best guitar player. Guitar Hero III also has other two player modes such as face-off and battle.

If more than two want to play, well, the next player plays the winner if they are playing in face-off or battle mode. We have a lot of fun in these two modes.

Time Limits

This one is essential in helping my children share our gaming consoles. We also have a Nintendo Game Cube.

If my son is playing the PS2 (well it is broken right now) or the Game Cube we limit him to say, an hour of game play at most, then tell him. He is pretty good about then handing the console over to another sibling.

If an hour time limit is too long, just give them 30 minutes a piece. Make sure you have a memory card and it is plugged in so they can save their progress. When they can save their progress, they are less likely to complain if they have to share.

Sharing the Same One Person Game

Sharing a one person game can get a bit tricky, but not totally problematic. I normally tell whomever has started playing first, if they die 'x' amount of times, then they need to hand it over to their brother or sister. Once that child dies 'x' amount of times they switch again.

Sometimes no matter what you do there are going to be arguments. If these arguments get out of hand I let them know in no uncertain terms they will get off the game and no one will play. By taking the game away from all of the children it doesn't leave much room for them to try and whine about who's fault it was for getting in trouble.

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PS2 Problems: What is a Mom to Do?

Most of you know that in January we purchased Guitar Hero III for our Playstation 2.  All has been going well!  We have been rocking and rolling and it has been a fun game for the whole family.

This the time when you may just say awwweee...the Playstation 2 is broken.  How is this you say?  Well, it appears when you get four children (ages 9-13) and four drinking adults who aren't supervising well ...

The Super Bowl was more important after all!

...how those children are playing with the game console...

Although you don't expect them to play hockey with the game console!

...something is bound to happen.

The kids came downstairs to inform us the Playstation wasn't working and they are getting a black screen.  I honestly felt that maybe it was just overheated as they had been playing a while.  Maybe it was something we could fix, I don't know, I just didn't want to think; yet another Playstation 2 was kaput. 

See, a few years ago we had a similar incident with our brand new Playstation 2 (first generation and was purchased the day it came out).  It was dropped by accident; overzealous game play. 

This time the children dropped it, but it really was because of carelessness.  My 13 year old Chels sat on it or stepped on it, forgot which one and one of the others dropped it twice on the floor.

Now it won't read any discs.  We have tried several and we get the same outcome each time...

Black screen after it cycles through the Playstation 2 screen at startup.

Needless to say I don't have the money to replace it at this time, nor to purchase the newer, more awe inspiring Playstation 3 my husband would like to have.

What am I to do?  I guess the kids will have to either learn to be more careful or they will not be getting another console.  I do wish Sony would make it a bit more durable though.  My son has dropped his Nintendo Game Cube down the stairs before and it still works....go figure.  The Nintendo gaming consoles are very much appreciated in this family of Neanderthals.

 

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Guitar Hero III for the Playstation 2 (R) (TM)

I do not think I will be saying anything that hasn't already been said; about Guitar Hero III?

Well, I will tell you that I am totally addicted to this game and we have only had it since Friday evening.  My 13 year old Chels and I beat it on easy Saturday Night, but I am scared to try the medium level.  I have seen Chels play the game on medium and it is frightening. 

I know, I am a wuss, what can I say?  My 37 year old fingers can only move but so fast before they start cramping up like an old fart trying to make love to his ole woman.  I am truly amazed at the number of songs I not only know, but grew up with.  Don't get me wrong, their are newer songs too; but you can't beat some SVR (Stevie Ray Vaughn)--even on easy it was difficult.

My hubby and I purchased two used guitars so that the family can play the face-off and battle sections of the game.  These are so much fun.  During face-off, each player chooses their character, which level they want to perform on (easy, medium, hard, expert), then they choose a song.  Both players play the same song, the screen is halved (first player on left, second on the right) and then you play.  At the end you find out who won, how many points each received and accuracy.  The accuracy shows each player what percentage of the correct notes they played. 

Ex:  I did a face-off with my 11 year old with the song Schools Out by Alice Cooper; my stats:  100 percent accuracy (which means I played all the notes I was given), 140 note streak (which of course is all the notes for that part of the game) and what ever my final score was; Chels couldn't believe I was 100 percent accurate.  What she doesn't realize is "Mumma is ALL THAT"....*snicker*

I would really like to have the Playstation 3 to play this game, but unless someone is willing to purchase one of my children or even my husband, then I guess the Playstation 3 is just going to have to wait.

Now, go get your music on with some Guitar Hero III; Rock ON!

 

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