Online games for two players
January 18, 2012 10:55 AM Subscribe
What's online or email-based games can I play with a 10 year old who I don't see in person?
I'm imagining something with turn-taking, so that we don't necessarily have to be online at the same time (because it's rare that we would be). He's a fairly conventionally gendered boy, likes most kinds of games. Would also love some potential for non-game interaction built in: ie a message window where I can leave him a note after taking my turn. Farmville-type click-based games not OK, everything else I'm up for trying. Thanks!
I'm imagining something with turn-taking, so that we don't necessarily have to be online at the same time (because it's rare that we would be). He's a fairly conventionally gendered boy, likes most kinds of games. Would also love some potential for non-game interaction built in: ie a message window where I can leave him a note after taking my turn. Farmville-type click-based games not OK, everything else I'm up for trying. Thanks!
There's a bunch of games on g+ and facebook.
Also, you could set up a minecraft server. It's better if you're on at the same time, but if you're not, you can still work on buildings, etc at different times.
posted by empath at 11:01 AM on January 18, 2012
Also, you could set up a minecraft server. It's better if you're on at the same time, but if you're not, you can still work on buildings, etc at different times.
posted by empath at 11:01 AM on January 18, 2012
Firetop Mountain! I am pretty sure the servers are still up.
posted by griphus at 11:01 AM on January 18, 2012
posted by griphus at 11:01 AM on January 18, 2012
Details! How tech savvy is this kid? How tech savvy are you? Do the kid's parents/guardians have any qualms about violence or inuendo in video games?
Kneejerk answer is set up a small minecraft sever and go wild. Minecraft is basically legos with zombies.
More conventionally, there is an active play by email community at BGG
(yes LEGOS with an S dangit! I scream defiance!)
posted by Wretch729 at 11:04 AM on January 18, 2012
Kneejerk answer is set up a small minecraft sever and go wild. Minecraft is basically legos with zombies.
More conventionally, there is an active play by email community at BGG
(yes LEGOS with an S dangit! I scream defiance!)
posted by Wretch729 at 11:04 AM on January 18, 2012
Response by poster: Hey empath, can you explain the most basics of minecraft to me? Not anything elaborate, just basically, what is it? My understanding is online legos, which sounds cool, but is there a "game" aspect to it as well?
posted by latkes at 11:05 AM on January 18, 2012
posted by latkes at 11:05 AM on January 18, 2012
Response by poster: Kid can handle basics of computer use - I guess fairly tech savvy for a 10 year old. I'm completely competent at all basic computer functions, know nothing about anything specialized.
I wouldn't want to play anything that is highly scary or primarily focused on violence, although from what I understand of minecraft (very little) it seems OK.
posted by latkes at 11:08 AM on January 18, 2012
I wouldn't want to play anything that is highly scary or primarily focused on violence, although from what I understand of minecraft (very little) it seems OK.
posted by latkes at 11:08 AM on January 18, 2012
If you have i-stuff, words with friends.
posted by cashman at 11:10 AM on January 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by cashman at 11:10 AM on January 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Sure. It's a randomly generated world of infinite size. It's safe to walk around during the day, but at night (and underground, in the caves) monsters come out. You need to collect resources (wood, stone, iron) to make tools (swords, armor, picks, axes) to stay alive. You also need to farm stuff like wheat and animals for food.
There are also a couple of other secret worlds you can create portals to, as well as villages, chasms, caves, abandoned mineshafts, etc.
Or, yeah, you can just play in creative mode where you have unlimited blocks of whatever kind to biuld whatever you want.
posted by empath at 11:10 AM on January 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
There are also a couple of other secret worlds you can create portals to, as well as villages, chasms, caves, abandoned mineshafts, etc.
Or, yeah, you can just play in creative mode where you have unlimited blocks of whatever kind to biuld whatever you want.
posted by empath at 11:10 AM on January 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Oh, and the monsters in minecraft are pretty tame. Bloodless zombies, skeletons that shoot arrows and creepers that blow up. Creepers can make you jump if you don't see them coming, but that's the worst of it. Plus you can just turn monsters off if you don't like them.
posted by empath at 11:11 AM on January 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by empath at 11:11 AM on January 18, 2012 [1 favorite]
Here's a decent introduction, but this is from an older version of minecraft, quite a bit has been changed/added since this was mde.
posted by empath at 11:13 AM on January 18, 2012
posted by empath at 11:13 AM on January 18, 2012
Not exactly what you asked for, but if this boy likes comics, maybe doing a collaborative online project such as The Sketchbook Conspiracy would allow for some non-gaming interaction yet still be fun?
I see in the link above that Sketchbook contributions are supposed to be no more than "PG-13 rated," so they might be a little too racy for age 10, though. I bet there is some kind of site or platform wherein you two could write or draw a story together, or help a larger group do the same thing.
posted by homelystar at 11:13 AM on January 18, 2012
I see in the link above that Sketchbook contributions are supposed to be no more than "PG-13 rated," so they might be a little too racy for age 10, though. I bet there is some kind of site or platform wherein you two could write or draw a story together, or help a larger group do the same thing.
posted by homelystar at 11:13 AM on January 18, 2012
Minecraft is very fun for obsessive nerdy types, possibly too fun. There's a bit of a 'game' there but it's mainly about exploring and modifying an endless virtual world. (It's the kind of game I wish was available when I was ten...) So yes, basically it's online (or offline) blocky legos, but there are also monsters and other hazards. The fun is in overcoming the adversity to figure out how the world works, thrive, and create.
It's a little violent for ten-year-olds, and he may not be interested, but Frozen Synapse is turn-based and thoroughly excellent. It's like chess by mail, except with guns.
posted by neckro23 at 11:13 AM on January 18, 2012
It's a little violent for ten-year-olds, and he may not be interested, but Frozen Synapse is turn-based and thoroughly excellent. It's like chess by mail, except with guns.
posted by neckro23 at 11:13 AM on January 18, 2012
Response by poster: OK, cool. Minecraft is down today for the SOPA protest but will check out tomorrow. More suggestions welcome! Thanks all...
posted by latkes at 11:16 AM on January 18, 2012
posted by latkes at 11:16 AM on January 18, 2012
I played Battleship by e-mail with my uncle when I was about 10 (and e-mail was something of a novelty).
posted by eruonna at 11:59 AM on January 18, 2012
posted by eruonna at 11:59 AM on January 18, 2012
I used to run a website dedicated to PBEM games! Sorry, wikipedia is down, but the article on it would probably be somewhat informative. Unfortunately I've been out of the scene for awhile. There seems a good list of games here.
In my time, the number one PBEM was VGA Planets. That link does not go to the original developer BTW, as the original developer site looks to be discontinued. About this game specifically... it's an epic 4X space game. Not sure any of this fits but I'm putting it out there.
Also, Frozen Synapse is awesome. You get two copies with a license. Little neon guys do show blood when they die.
posted by teabag at 12:04 PM on January 18, 2012
In my time, the number one PBEM was VGA Planets. That link does not go to the original developer BTW, as the original developer site looks to be discontinued. About this game specifically... it's an epic 4X space game. Not sure any of this fits but I'm putting it out there.
Also, Frozen Synapse is awesome. You get two copies with a license. Little neon guys do show blood when they die.
posted by teabag at 12:04 PM on January 18, 2012
Huh, reading the Cached wikipedia page about VGA planets seems to indicate a new version is in development, though it emphasizes real time.
posted by teabag at 12:08 PM on January 18, 2012
posted by teabag at 12:08 PM on January 18, 2012
Civilization V. My brother plays it with a friend of his across the country by taking a turn, saving the game, and then emailing the save to the other player. There is built in support for this, I believe. It also has a pretty good multiplayer interface if you're both online at the same time.
It's a little older now, but I'm still a huge fan of Heroes of Might and Magic 3. Turn based, thoroughly enjoyable.
posted by ghostiger at 2:15 PM on January 18, 2012
It's a little older now, but I'm still a huge fan of Heroes of Might and Magic 3. Turn based, thoroughly enjoyable.
posted by ghostiger at 2:15 PM on January 18, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by latkes at 10:56 AM on January 18, 2012