Age Restrictions

[Penguinness]

Discussion with my girlfriend, she thinks the age ratings on things should be enforced more, or rather lets say she agrees with the ratings on games. I asked her "Fable 2 is a 15, if we had a kid, what age would you let them play it?" and she said "15". I then compare it to RocknRolla which is a 15 film in the UK - it has a lot of blood, drug taking, stabbing + guns, torture, swearing.. the lot (and a bloody good film). Personally I don't see how you could put Fable 2 and RocknRolla on the same shelf, but she agrees with it. I'd put RocknRolla on the same shelf at GTA, without a doubt.. I'd also let my kids play GTA before 18 easily. She thinks killing people in a mission on GTA is worse than a guy whos into heavy drug abuse stabbing another guy to death with a pencil.

Now looking at my shelf, most of my games I'd class as the good ones of the lot are 15 or 18s. What games would you let your kids play? Would you only let them at those ages? Do you really think it's fair on these games and the kids?

 

[NeutralDrow]

It would probably depend on my kid, I guess. Normal circumstances, I'd probably follow the age ratings to the letter if they're playing alone, maybe ignore some on a case-by-case basis if I'm playing with them.

Some of my particular 18+ games I'd probably allow them to play at 15 or so, but others I'd definitely wait until 18...if I let them play the games at all.

 

[Sephychu]

Naw, I reckon as long as you make clear the line between the fiction of the games and the facts of life, age restrictions don't matter for anything but horror.

 

[wordsmith]

Would you only let them at those ages? Do you really think it's fair on these games and the kids?

Yes is the answer. The reason that games are rated 15 and 18 is because kids are not supposed to be playing them. It genuinely pisses me off when I'm forced to listen to pre-pubescent kids screaming over a mic whilst playing a game that is rated for adults.

I came across a guy with his son in a local game store a few weeks back. His son can't have been more than 4 or 5, he had a copy of Fear 2 in his hands. I was looking for Dragon Age Origins, and casually asked if the guy was a gamer himself. "No, these games are for the kids". I pointed out that FEAR 2 wasn't meant for under 18's, his response? "What can you do? The kids, they're all pow-pow-pow these days". I mean, come the hell on, what can you do? NOT BUY THEM THE FRICKEN GAME. 18+ = 18+, it's not rocket science.

What you've got to ask yourself is are you willing to give them other 18+ privilages. What would you do if you saw them drunk or smoking?

 

[Jedamethis]

Naw, I reckon as long as you make clear the line between the fiction of the games and the facts of life, age restrictions don't matter for anything but horror.

Yup, same here.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

I'd base it on the maturity of the child and whether they know it's all fiction. Which also depends on context. For example, my Dad let me play Mafia when I was about 10 but I was 15 / 16 until I played Grand Theft Auto. Though it was partly because we lost the disc and couldn't find it for a couple of years.

Same goes with films.

 

[Novania]

Naw, I reckon as long as you make clear the line between the fiction of the games and the facts of life, age restrictions don't matter for anything but horror.

Yup, same here.

Ditto.

 

[Dxz5roxg]

It depends on how my kid is but I'd probably be more relaxed than my parents are. As long as I knew what's in it and he's mature enough I think I would let them play it.

 

[Hashime]

I played Halo when it came out on a buddy's Xbox, I was maybe 8. I'm no worse for it. Of course a modern M-rated game is a little worse, but I don't think it would have affected me.

 

[omega 616]

Logic is going out the window with this post.

I'd let my kid play manhunt as his/her first game but for the most part I agree with the idea of age restrictions. Some things have weird age ratings, I have seen 15's that I thought should be 18's and 18's that should be 15's (Friday the 13 series springs to mind).

 

[Marter]

Depending on maturity, that's how I would make my decision. If the child is mature, then they could play a game like Fable at around age 10. If they aren't, I might wait until the recommended age.

 

[Blair Bennett]

It totally depends on the person, if they can handle the fact that, though this game does contain a lot of these things which we find so controversial, it should not be replicated in any way through their own behavior, it's fine. If they're a complete psychopath/sadist who genuinely either is indifferent to/enjoys the suffering of others, probably not. Keep in mind, even the people who determine the ratings say that they are meant to be interpreted as more of a guideline than law.

 

[Kpt._Rob]

Well, I've played more than enough games in my time to realize that the people who rate games recently got off a very short bus, so I think I'd just do my best to evaluate any game my kid wanted to play, as opposed to going with the people from the rating system.

 

[Penguinness]

Would you only let them at those ages? Do you really think it's fair on these games and the kids?

Yes is the answer. The reason that games are rated 15 and 18 is because kids are not supposed to be playing them. It genuinely pisses me off when I'm forced to listen to pre-pubescent kids screaming over a mic whilst playing a game that is rated for adults.

I came across a guy with his son in a local game store a few weeks back. His son can't have been more than 4 or 5, he had a copy of Fear 2 in his hands. I was looking for Dragon Age Origins, and casually asked if the guy was a gamer himself. "No, these games are for the kids". I pointed out that FEAR 2 wasn't meant for under 18's, his response? "What can you do? The kids, they're all pow-pow-pow these days". I mean, come the hell on, what can you do? NOT BUY THEM THE FRICKEN GAME. 18+ = 18+, it's not rocket science.

What you've got to ask yourself is are you willing to give them other 18+ privilages. What would you do if you saw them drunk or smoking?

I think drinking and smoking are a different kettle of fish altogether. Personally though I was allowed to drink bits now and then as a kid like cherry liquor, bacardi breezers at bbqs or parties n what not, and 16+ I was always allowed a beer.

Personally I can't see the difference in Zelda and Fable.. except Fable 2 is a 15 and you can have a kid.. I think arse and knob are in there too..

I can't imagine what I'd be playing if I wasn't allowed to play age restricted games. I wouldn't be able to play Goldeneye or Perfect Dark (15 and 18) and 7 or 8 years later when I was old enough they'd be long gone. Counterstrike.. GTA 3 and Vice City. Amazing games.

 

[Lawnmooer]

I think I'd wait to see what my kid(s) are like before stating what ages they can ignore the restrictions, I stopped paying attention to the age restrictions at about age 11 as my mind developed fairly quickly after a traumatic (Apparently... when I tell people about it they are usually shocked that I'm still sane... It feels nice when people acknowledge my sanity instead of questionning it)

I may check to see how my nephew turns out (Started playing 18's like GTA and horrors (including Manhunt) at age 5, he couldn't read he just learned which buttons killed people...)

What is annoying is the fact that people can't sell games with age restrictions (Usually the best as I like horrors) to people who are underage, IMO it should be the persons resposibility whether they can handle the content of the game rather that saying "All people under the age of xx cannot play this game, Just because."

I still don't get why there are age restrictions that are anything but guidelines for parents that are buying games and want to know at a glance what type of maturity would be needed for the content, (I.E. Mass Murder of helpless civilians may need someone who has reached puberty... (No I'm not annoyed from playing MW2 online))

 

[A random person]

Having been to elementary school and realizing you don't have to be that "mature" to handle M-rated games, I'd let them play pretty young. I'd probably try to influence their gaming tastes (in the way that parents and siblings already do that) more towards RPG's and more strategy or puzzle-oriented games, however.

If they do go online, though, I'd exercise basic discipline about not being an asshole, like I would in real life.

 

[Lono Shrugged]

"What can you do? The kids, they're all pow-pow-pow these days". I mean, come the hell on, what can you do? NOT BUY THEM THE FRICKEN GAME. 18+ = 18+, it's not rocket science.

What you've got to ask yourself is are you willing to give them other 18+ privilages. What would you do if you saw them drunk or smoking?

They need to learn about the birds and the bees somewhere.

I'm with the OP's girlfriend on a lot of this. A video game like gta or saint's row would be very difficult for a child to grasp the irony, which is what stops a lot of people from not taking things seriously. I think if you did leave a young kid play Fable, I would supervise them pretty much throughout and would select games that I think would be good fun for a kid and turn it into a group activity. I would want my kid to play ff7 with me the same way I would watch my favorite movies or read my favorite stories with them. I think a parent should be heavily involved in their kids gaming not just to be careful for disturbing content, but because games kick ass and I want to pwn my great grand kids at "Halo 80."
We all have the distinction of being gamers and understand the difference between say Silent Hill and Mario Sunshine. If you accept some games are not for kids you won't go far wrong.

 

[wordsmith]

Would you only let them at those ages? Do you really think it's fair on these games and the kids?

Yes is the answer. The reason that games are rated 15 and 18 is because kids are not supposed to be playing them. It genuinely pisses me off when I'm forced to listen to pre-pubescent kids screaming over a mic whilst playing a game that is rated for adults.

I came across a guy with his son in a local game store a few weeks back. His son can't have been more than 4 or 5, he had a copy of Fear 2 in his hands. I was looking for Dragon Age Origins, and casually asked if the guy was a gamer himself. "No, these games are for the kids". I pointed out that FEAR 2 wasn't meant for under 18's, his response? "What can you do? The kids, they're all pow-pow-pow these days". I mean, come the hell on, what can you do? NOT BUY THEM THE FRICKEN GAME. 18+ = 18+, it's not rocket science.

What you've got to ask yourself is are you willing to give them other 18+ privilages. What would you do if you saw them drunk or smoking?

I think drinking and smoking are a different kettle of fish altogether. Personally though I was allowed to drink bits now and then as a kid like cherry liquor, bacardi breezers at bbqs or parties n what not, and 16+ I was always allowed a beer.

Personally I can't see the difference in Zelda and Fable.. except Fable 2 is a 15 and you can have a kid.. I think arse and knob are in there too..

I can't imagine what I'd be playing if I wasn't allowed to play age restricted games. I wouldn't be able to play Goldeneye or Perfect Dark (15 and 18) and 7 or 8 years later when I was old enough they'd be long gone. Counterstrike.. GTA 3 and Vice City. Amazing games.

Huge difference between "seeing them drunk" and "being allobwed a beer" though, right?

I'll level with you though- basically the only game I've played whilst under the age restriction was GTA3. My parents refused to get it for me (as they should do), so I did what any other sane-minded 13 year old would do. I paid my older sister to get the game for me, then hid the disk so that my dad didn't find it.

The reason Zelda and Fable are rated differently is exactly as you say- there's an arse and a knob in there. Until Link finally gets his act together and bags the Princess, it's a fairytale.

 

[mad825]

I would depend on the content of the media, games/films like SAW, GTA,28 days later and any softcore sexual content I would at least wait until 15 if the child has had no previous mental health problems.

 

[omega 616]

My dad bought me Die Hard when I turned 9, which in the UK was an 18 (I don't know if it still is), and didn't mind me watching it. The only things my parents really mind is drugs and extreme adult themes. Hell, my Dad still doubts I should be watching stuff like Oldboy even when I'm 16, but he has no problem with Kill Bill.

Oldboy is a fucked up film though. Somebody had a disturbing childhood.