Recommendations of old Atari 2600 or NES games to teach my son how to play video game

[treismac]

I'm trying to teach my four year old son how to use a joystick and controller to get the basics video game playing mechanics down. Are there any games that are well suited for this task? So far, I let him play Pac-Man, Excitebike ( on an easy edited course), and on the 2600 version of Jungle Hunt, I let him do the first vine jumping board.

Beyond trying to pass on my love for video games, I'd like to help his fine motor skills develop with the activity as well.

[Hwj_Chim]

Combat because it is simple and you could play with him. My 2 year old son loves combat.

[buzz_n64]

Freeway for the 2600 is easy for small children. Also Super Mario Bros. for NES is good for children too, but 4 year old children may find beating the first level a little task, but fun.

[jwlowry]

This goes a little more modern than the 2600 or NES, but my 2 year old daughter LOVES to play Super Mario 64. I just start it up and she just makes Mario aimlessly run and jump all over the place, giggling the whole time.

[drthielegood]

Ms Pacman for the 2600 is a pretty straightforward game for a young kid. My son was playing it (badly but who cares) at 3 or 4. The simplicity of the joystick makes for good gaming training wheels...plus the basic graphics (to go with the basic controls) may be good for the young imagination.

[Ro-J]

Little kids typically dislike games with pits, they can be challenging. With that said, Bubble Bobble and The Little Mermaid, both for the NES, are worth a try. Bubble Bobble is especially good as it allows you to play with him and help lay down "cover bubbles" when necessary. The Little Mermaid is both fun and incredibly easy. There isn't a whole lot of enemies at the beginning so navigating Ariel around won't prove too frustrating.

[Gamevet]

Breakout: It'll help your child develop hand/eye coordination.

[Rickstilwell1]

My first video game ever was Space Invaders. I highly recommend it because I turned out to become a great gamer. I started with a handheld Entex version, but the Atari 2600 version is really fun.

[Sunnyvale]

Sorry I missed this thread, treismac :-/
Busy bee lately... But this is my cup o tea...
My 3 year old plays Punch Out on the NES. Glass Joe only of course. Simple enough to get him started. Also, Trojan, on the 'VS' setting, is a great trainer. Jumpo, block, swing, all without the game trying to hurt him. I have to play then too, but it's worth it. Lot's of games fall into these categories, but the real important thing (in my experience) is not to start thrashing the game he's playing in front of him. If he wants to play Tony Hawk 2, for example, that means daddy plays. I got too far in front of him.
And for the fun stuff, To The Earth is aces with kids. As is most games that talk.
But honestly, get a Vsmile. It's made to teach them. My son still plays Spider Man on it, and he has plenty of options. And he cruises through those games fairly well for his age.

[Parodius Duh!]

Sesame Street NES titles maybe?

[Sunnyvale]

Sesame Street NES titles maybe?

You'd think. My son loves Elmo, but even the N64 version doesn't keep him happy for long. And the NES ones... He says 'NO!' if I hold one up. But, all kids ain't the same.

[treismac]

Sorry I missed this thread, treismac :-/
Busy bee lately... But this is my cup o tea...
My 3 year old plays Punch Out on the NES. Glass Joe only of course. Simple enough to get him started. Also, Trojan, on the 'VS' setting, is a great trainer. Jumpo, block, swing, all without the game trying to hurt him. I have to play then too, but it's worth it. Lot's of games fall into these categories, but the real important thing (in my experience) is not to start thrashing the game he's playing in front of him. If he wants to play Tony Hawk 2, for example, that means daddy plays. I got too far in front of him.
And for the fun stuff, To The Earth is aces with kids. As is most games that talk.
But honestly, get a Vsmile. It's made to teach them. My son still plays Spider Man on it, and he has plenty of options. And he cruises through those games fairly well for his age.

Thanks, Sunnyvale! I'll bear in mind your advice about holding back on playing his games so that he can keep his self confidence high. I've actually got Trojan in my collection, and I honestly didn't even know it had a vesus mode! Bad gaming and "good" collecting is to blame for that oversight, I reckon. I checked it out, and it will be great. Teach him video games and the martial spirit all with one digital stone. :)

I've seen the Vsmile at Target I think. I'll have to look into it.

[Sirjess]

My 3year old loved and has beat Toy Story 3 for the PS2. Before that he played Super Mario Bros on the NES, Bubble bobble, and we like to play the two player beatem ups using the Game Genie. I also have a MAME arcade machine that we like to play SHUMPS because we have infinite quarters.