Before I go searching on Amazon etc, I'm looking for input about PC games similar to Spore, which ds8 loves. Any recommendations ? We seem to have strayed away from computer games in favor of the Wii - but as we only have one TV, we can only do one thing at a time We're not huge game players - but something we would all enjoy and play on occasion ? I'm probably getting the Sims for my sister in law (who lives under the same roof and hangs out with ds on occasion) - so they can play that together. recommendations for other PC games, too, would be welcome, if there's anything that comes to mind. Anything with flying in it (that doesn't involve fighter planes ?) Thanks. if I find anything interesting on Amazon, I'll come back and share, too. Happy Thanksgiving !!

What kind of game is Spore?

DD has Spore Creatures for DS - you go around fighting and/or befriending alien beasties, being rewarded with body parts you can use to "evolve" yourself (get favorable attributes to help you survive the next world).

Minecraft is a big fav among gifted kids. My DS12 loves it. http://www.minecraft.net/

It's really fun - best explanation is here -
http://www.spore.com/what

There is a Lego Universe online game that my DS7 has been playing. Part of it is free, but to access the whole thing requires a monthly subscription, he might like that. He also might like Black & White 2 - http://lionhead.com/Games/BW2/Default.aspx It's not a new game, really, but it's pretty fun. You play a diety and get to be either good or bad. You get to impact a world and it's inhabitants.

The Lego Universe site - http://universe.lego.com/en-us/default.aspx

Portal is the game we are considering for DS8. It has been recommended to me by a few people who know DS. Like your son, DS loves spore, has all the add ons and has played it alot.
http://www.thinkwithportals.com/ This is info on Portal 2. The origianl is cheaper now that the "2" is out.

Just FYI, I believe there are some curse words in portal. And possibly some inappropriate humor for little kids. Nothing they wouldn't hear in a middle school hallway, I'm sure.

Question on minecraft...Does the download program need a fairly quick computer? My sons hand me down laptop isn't the quickest and won't run Lego Universe (for example), but he stumbled onto Minecraft youtube videos and now has been begging me to buy it for him. I was thinking of adding it to his computer for a Christmas present as it didn't look too high tech graphics wise. Do you think it would work? Also, I noticed you can purchase a code for online or download it. Which works best? Thanks to anyone who has dealt with this program.

FWIW our ds was once heavily addicted to Spore... and when he was tired of it and ready to move on he also asked for Portals and was really excited about it. I think this was about the time Portals 2 first came out but I can't remember for sure... we were never able to install it due to some hangup on our laptop (might be because it's a Mac?) and I also recall being a little concerned about something with it but can't remember what! It might have been that you have to be online to play it, but I don't remember for sure.

polarbear

Minecraft runs pretty easily on the computer my DS has, which is not top of the line by any means. I'm not sure about a laptop, I haven't tried that myself. I guess it depends on exactly what the laptop is.

The difference between online and download is wether you want him to play on his own or with others. You haven't said his age, but I'm personally reluctant for my 5 yo and 3 yo who play to go online with others in the public domain - that's an online one. BUT I am happy for them to play on the local network with each other. The later requires the down load.