Gaming Support

• Be sure that your firewall, antivirus, and antispyware software are up to date and running before playing online games.

• Avoid pirated copies of games; purchase and play games that give you license to play.

• For security, only buy and download files and software from reputable sources.

• Do not choose a username that reveals any personal information. Additionally, if you create a personal profile for a game, avoid using personal information.

• Use strong passwords. Employ letters, numbers, special characters, and 12 characters minimum. Never reuse passwords.

• Never reveal any of your personal information to other players.

• Many games will automatically update before you can play, but it never hurts to check to make sure the game software is current. Keep an eye out for any sort of unauthorized programs to download for a game.

• Be wary of scams, cons, or phishing attempts when purchasing and selling in-game items and property within a game.

• Read and understand the terms and conditions of the manufacturer or hosting company to avoid hidden charges.

• If you intend to sell, scrap, donate or give away any sort of gaming device, be sure to erase any and all personal information and account details. Backup and transfer your game data, too, if needed.

• When playing online, provide children with guidelines and rules to follow.

• Check privacy settings. Is any personal information public? What information shows in your profile?

• Don’t forget to take breaks!

• Avoid and refrain from toxic behavior and cyberbullying. Some games provide ways to report offensive and inappropriate behavior which can lead to bans or suspensions for players.

• Watch out for loot boxes and in-app purchases. Purchasable loot boxes, in particular, have been in dispute as a form of gambling.

• Mods and downloads aren’t always safe. Always confirm with antivirus software for if mods are trustworthy and not malicious.

• If you play on a public computer, be sure to completely log out of your account and/or game before leaving.

You've probably seen the large letters E, T or M on the bottom left hand corner of video game cases or packaging. This is the game's ESRB rating. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) includes these ratings on games sold in North America to help consumers determine if the game content is appropriate for certain ages. The four most common ratings are:

• Everyone (E) - Acceptable for all ages.

• Everyone 10+ (E+10) - Suitable for ages 10 and higher.

• Teen (T) - Appropriate for ages 13 and up.

• Mature 17+ (M) - Best suited for ages 17 and up.

For more information concerning the ESRB or the manner which they rate video game content, visit http://esrb.org/ratings-guide/

Below is a link to the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled Library of Congress with some helpful resources to aid those with disabilities to play and enjoy video games:

https://www.loc.gov/nls/resources/general-resources-on-disabilities/video-gaming-accessibility/

Video games don't have to be expensive. You just have to know where to look and when to buy.

More often a game will go on sale on a digital store's site than at a retail store; all you need is patience. Below are links to some of those digital stores:

• Steam Store - https://store.steampowered.com/

• Nintendo eShop - https://www.nintendo.com/games/

• Playstation Store - https://store.playstation.com/en-us/home/games

• Microsoft Store - https://www.xbox.com/en-US/

• Google Play - https://play.google.com/store

• Amazon Appstore - https://www.amazon.com/Games/b/?ie=UTF8&node=9209902011&ref_=sv_mas_4

• Apple App Store - https://www.apple.com/ios/app-store/

• Samsung Galaxy Apps -https://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/apps/galaxy-store/

• Humble Bundle - https://humblebundle.com

Free-to-Play options here:

https://store.steampowered.com/genre/Free%20to%20Play/

http://epicgames.com/store/en-US/free-games

A guide by Ryan L. Schaaf and Keri Engel for educators, parents, and students on how to learn while gaming amidst the Covid-19 crisis.

https://1056931d-dd92-476e-a25c-a404ec287839.usrfiles.com/ugd/105693_7f7ba5730b8f4108ad8793a3c8f6163f.pdf

Games can be challenging, or near impossible, and sometimes players need a little push in the right direction. The following links are to popular gaming sites that provide free walk-throughs, tutorials and all sorts of clues on beating games.

https://www.polygon.com/

https://www.ign.com/

https://www.gamesradar.com/