I used to work in the Video Game section of Toys R Us, aka the "R Zone", and I noticed a disturbing trend in parents buying games for their kids. More often than not, they come in with little to no clue as to what to get for their kids. I tried to work with them in figuring out what would be best for their kids, but usually they're little to no help at all. With a heavy heart I point them to popular titles not knowing whether they would like it or not. As a gamer, I want new gamers, especially the ones under 17 years old, to enjoy the games they play. That's why I decided to write this general guide on buying video games for your kids.

Of course you could always ask them which specific game they want, but that would ruin the surprise now wouldn't it. The steps I'm about to lay out will hopefully lead to a memorable moment for both you and your kid.

The first step in buying a video game as a gift for your kids is data gathering. Basically, you should have some information on your kid's gaming history. Here's what you should do. Try to do all of them if you can.
1. Make a list of all the games they have. This list will come in handy later.

2. Ask them which games from their collection do they like. Just because they have a game doesn't necessarily mean they liked it. Also knowing which specific games they like helps to narrow down what sort of experience they're looking for from a video game.

3. Ask your kid's friends. Chances are your kids talk about their gaming experiences with their friends especially if your kids' friends are gamers too.

Once you're done, the next step is to consult with someone who plays video games. Gamers are usually attuned to what's currently in the market. They may not know every single game in existence, but they certainly know the good ones. Tell them what games your kid have and mention which ones your kid liked. This should help in creating a kind of a profile on their game preferences. From that, your "consultant" should be able to give you a list of games that your kid might like. If you don't know anyone who is a gamer, go to your local video game store. The employees there are likely to be gamers themselves. Also try to go on a non-Friday weekday to avoid a crowded store so that they'll have more time to devote to you.

Once you have that list of recommended games, there's only one thing left to do. Go to the video game store with the list and check their ESRB ratings. All video games

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