Nintendo has released a new website, Play Nintendo, as a resource for parents to learn about gaming and Nintendo and for kids to have fun (and let’s face it, we’re all kids when it comes to Nintendo). Play Nintendo has two portals. The first, for Kids, is a colorful website full of Nintendo character bios, quick activities and polls, videos and images, and downloads. There’s even a Question Block with some fun surprises (I won’t spoil them for you, but click it). The layout is a simplified tile structure, and it’s fun even if it is a bit light on deep content.
The second portal, for Parents, actually excites me more than the Kids section, even if it doesn’t make me smile quite so much (seriously, hit the Question Block 🙂 ). The Parents section is not only a resource to learn about Nintendo’s characters and games, but more importantly is a resource about understanding games and how they fit into the family structure. I found articles on the educational benefits of gaming, a how to on the Wii U GamePad, and 5 things you didn’t know about Princess Peach. It’s just another example of Nintendo’s commitment to the family, and one we here at Engaged Family Gaming appreciate.
All is not perfect at Play Nintendo, though. From a functional standpoint, the navigation bar on the Kids portal gets in the way as you scroll up and down because its quirky auto-hide. Also, while the content is good, it also lacks a bit of depth. I’m hoping Nintendo has committed themselves to fleshing out Play Nintendo, because it’ll need it if it’s going to be anything than a news headline and a momentary diversion.
The bottom line, though, is that I immediately had my children visit Play Nintendo, and it made them smile. I also did so without feeling I had to vet the content. That’s who Nintendo is, and why I’m a fan. Let us know what you think in the comments. Also, be sure to check out this awesome The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds wallpaper.
