Outside the Box

For parents who don't want to spend the holiday elbowing their way to the latest mass-market game schlock title, you might consider going "indie" this year. Years ago, filmgoers discovered that independent studios often produce a more engaging, creative product than the major monoliths, so why shouldn't gamers have more choices? Check out the 2007 Finalists for the Independent Games Festival. Above, you can see a screen-shot from Samorost2, a whimsical point and click puzzle-solving game that involves a certain amount of noodling around with the mouse and trial-and-error. See the "10 Principles for the Digital Family" for more tips on the alternatives to standard fare. (News via Grand Text Auto)