Parents' Guide to

MatPat's Game Lab

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Deconstructing computer game stunts is fun and educational.

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Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (5):

Even if you don't have your own personal joystick, this MythBusters for the computer-gaming world is a gas -- and sneaks science and media-literacy lessons in, too. Matthew Patrick and his gaming friends are clearly having a great time as they vault over blocks, swing swords, and defuse bombs, and it's infectious, not to mention interesting. Can you really leap between two buildings with a single bound? Wriggle through an air vent? Conduct battles from the back of an ostrich? With help from experts in explosives, parkour, and many other game-friendly disciplines, MatPat and company gamely give it a shot.

But MatPat's Game Lab rises above Jackass-style stunt-pranks by taking time to analyze two crucial questions: How do the games stack up to reality? And are the gamers as good in real life as they are when they have a controller in their hands? By giving viewers a little to chew on, Patrick proves to be a savvy commentator who makes you feel smarter by watching.

TV Details

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