EPThttp://www.whattheyplay.com/products/starcraft-battle-chest-for-pcmac/?fm=1&ob=1&t=0#255
* MWilliams | 01.09.2008 | 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
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SC:Battlechest
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The StarCraft games are problem solvers. They give you a problem, and allow you to experiment to come up with a workable solution. This is, without a doubt, of educational benefit to a developing child.
However, this educational benefit, which is presented in a fairly good way, is offset by the violence of the game. When marine units are killed they often explode, leaving behind blood splatters on the battlefield (Which, sure, fade after a while, but they're still there). Alien species have buildings that look (Deliberately) like pulsing organs and muscle tissue, and have names like "Defiler" and "Overlord".
While the violence is, decidedly, Science Fiction, if you're looking for a problem solver for your child to play, it's better to provide them with something along the lines of Sim City or Roller Coaster Tycoon (Which provides longer, better entertainment while teaching fiscal responsibility).
I would not recommend this game for children under the age of 14. However, this game can provide valuable lessons in older children in terms of strategy and planning - something that helps with everything from a financial future to time management skills, as well as teaching them team work and cooperation, and how to analyze a siltation and apply an appropriate measure of force, as well as "acceptable losses".
These might seem like "military" teachings to you, but every purchase you make with your money is a lesson in cost benefit analysis, as is every soldier you sacrifice in battle. And it's far cheaper to have your teenager learn to do it on the computer in a video game then with your credit card.
For Scary Elements, Violence, overuse of Blood, and Thematic Sci Fi aliens, I would say 15 is an appropriate age for this game.
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