Sokoban - appealing to children?

[coffee]

Im putting my finishing touches to my Sokoban stye game and I had the idea of making a "Junior" version...Sokoban.. not the most interesting game for children (ages 8-12) so how do I make sokoban fun for children. I thought the best thing was to have:

1. simple puzzles (kids will give up far sooner than adults)
2. large graphics (big chuncky graphics appeal to the younger set)
3. A reward system, every time they solve a puzzle the player is rewarded with a gold coin which they can spend in a shop where they can buy clothes for their character, 1 gold coin buys a basic looking hat, 5 buys a fancy hat, so giving an insentive to play more puzzles so they can buy the clothes they want for their character.

Do you think these will appeal? got anymore ideas I can steal? :p

[Christian]

Put some action in it, graphics are really important, make parents interested in the game too by making the game teach things to kids, make it appear cool, research on the trends the kids like... but i dont think its appealing to them, i think they prefer eye candy and action above all things, its like trying to make them like a book about algebra, impossible, good luck though.

[Bad Sector]

When i was a kid and a game tried to teach me something, i simply stopped playing the game. I had enough of "teaching" at the school.

Try to make the game not too childish and don't go too fancy on the graphics. Kids don't pay much attention to the details (just see how much detail most american cartoons MISS). Make them easy to see and colorful.

[Bernard François]

When I was about 10-12 years old I enjoyed the game paganitzu (http://www.3drealms.com/paganitzu/index.html) which is a sokoban clone I think. I don't think I would have played it if the graphics looked more childish.

I don't think the graphics should differ a lot from non-childrens game graphics, but it sure is a good idea not to make the first puzzles too challenging.
But cartoon-style graphics are a good idea, it's something children are familiar with...

[Greg Squire]

Try looking at these to get some ideas

Professor Fizzwizzle (http://www.gametrove.net/game.php?g=7)
Olaf & Elmar in the Castles of Nabokos (http://www.gametrove.net/game.php?g=49)

Particularly Professor Fizzwizzle (as they have a kids path, with much simpler puzzles)

I think good graphics (animations), sound, and characters will certainly help as well. Not neccessarily "cartoony" (though that could help) but at least simple and colorful.

[Coach]

When I was about 10-12 years old I enjoyed the game paganitzu (http://www.3drealms.com/paganitzu/index.html) which is a sokoban clone I think. I don't think I would have played it if the graphics looked more childish.

I don't think the graphics should differ a lot from non-childrens game graphics, but it sure is a good idea not to make the first puzzles too challenging.
But cartoon-style graphics are a good idea, it's something children are familiar with...

As I am working on a platform game/Sokoban hybrid, I usually check out arcade/sokoban hybrids I haven't played and Paganitzu is certainly such a game with lots of fast moving enemies. I suspect this is much more attractive to a twelve year old than a pure Sokoban puzzle game. I was also a bit shocked to discover that Dexterity's Fitznik is a total rip-off on Paganitzu!

[coffee]

Thanks guys, ill take a look at those games and steal..... erm... borrow some if the ideas :P

[Cartman]

Professor Fizzwizzle is definately one to look at. I remember in one of Omaha's podcast reviews of that game she mentioned that her child really enjoyed the game. She might be able to shed some more light on what made it fun for her child.