Is The Beatles: Rock Band a Game Changer for Families?

If, somehow, you hadn't already heard of the game Rock Band, The Beatles: Rock Band, releasing in September 2009, will change all that.

Pony up the $250 required for the full version with all of the instruments (or, if you already own the instruments, "just" $60 for the game), and your kids (and you) will be able to play guitar and drums and sing in three-part harmony to songs that never go out of fashion.

Will this be ideal family entertainment? You bet. But there's more going on here than meets the eye: The addition of The Beatles on the gaming bandwagon underscores the phenomenon that's changing the way that our kids experience music. Gone are the days of sitting and listening to a CD (do kids even know what CDs are anymore?). The merging of the gaming and music industries has elevated music to an interactive and participatory experience.

The introduction of the Nintendo Wii brought things to the next level by putting the player in the game. With its balance board, sporting games, and Wii Fit, idle playing is a thing of the past -- and interacting the way of the immediate future. If kids today were given an Atari, they would likely ask you, "so you just sat there and pressed that button? No dancing? No singing? No action?" Now that The Beatles' music is part of it, a barrier seems to have been lifted, bridging the generational divide between how parents approach media and how kids do.

And now for even more good news. Whether you've already invested in a game console or are still trying to decide whether you should, games like The Beatles: Rock Band and Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort offer you a choice of good games to play with your family. The game console is a technology marvel that doesn't just belong to kids anymore. Interactive family games let us see the positive aspects of participatory digital entertainment. As the field keeps widening and the games keep improving, you'll find yourself getting to make more appealing decisions than just whether or not it's OK to buy M- or T-rated games. Yeah, yeah, yeah!

How can you choose great family games?

Something for everyone. Choose games that allow different skill levels to play together, like Mario Kart Wii.

Know your ratings. The ESRB ratings on games aren't skill levels, they're age ratings for the appropriateness of the games' content. E games are OK for everyone. Check Common Sense reviews for details so you really know what to expect.

Wait until dark. If you have kids of several different ages at home, let older kids play their T-rated games after the little ones have gone to bed, and stick to E-rated games when the family plays together.

Balance is key. Mom likes Rock Band, Dad likes World of Warcraft, one kid likes puzzles, and the other likes sports. Make use of game rental services, like GameFly, or swap with friends to keep costs (and complaints) down.

For more parenting tips, reviews, and more, visit us at Common Sense Media.