id let my kids play any game they wanted, as long as it did not contain swearing or sex. violence is ok. i played duke nukem and turok 2 seeds of evil as a kid and i turned out fine.
Age Restrictions
- Thread starter Penguinness
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Yup, hence the different kettle of fish. You can be allowed a beer and allowed to play a game, not sure what you could compare the drunk to... raiding on World of Warcraft maybe.wordsmith said:
Out of interest, what games did you play up until your 15th birthday? I'm 20 now and can't remember what age I was when GTA3 came out, but if I had to remove all my ps2 games because I was underage I'd only have Crash Bandicoot - Wrath of Cortex remaining... and possibly FFX but that's 15 in some places.
Yes it's worse but it's so much more epic. Bloody good film indeed. My problem with the age ratings is that I feel they are often too severe. I play a game then wonder why it was an 18. That may be because I am relatively unfazed by violence although I do think making games like Bioshock 18's due to a little blood is a bit ridiculous. Just remembered how scary it was but that's besides the point.Penguinness said:
thats not true!Deiphagia said:
I'm 14 and 'cus my parents trust I'm muture enough they allow me to have some (not GTA) 18 games though i do see where you are coming from some people my age and above and below are right tards/whiners/chavs/immuture.
So I rekon that it is up to the parent to decide wether a kid is allowed to buy a game or not I mean it is there child not the Ratings socioty/governmnets.
If I had kids, I personally would try to find some general gameplay form the game to figure out if it's appropriate or not.
The age ratings in some games can be a little odd. I've seen some rhythm games with no curing or anything offensive or mature in the lyrics of visuals, but they are rated B anyway (about E10+ or T in ESRB ratings). So I wouldn't go by the label, but i would try to at least know what's actually in the game's content before I decide.
The age ratings in some games can be a little odd. I've seen some rhythm games with no curing or anything offensive or mature in the lyrics of visuals, but they are rated B anyway (about E10+ or T in ESRB ratings). So I wouldn't go by the label, but i would try to at least know what's actually in the game's content before I decide.
As I'd raise my children to be intelligent, I wouldn't need the ratings system. A game is a game is a game.
I see what you're saying, but once they're the legal age to watch/play the game/film/etc you can't actually stop them from viewing it. However, if it were me I'd simply enforce the 'rules' until they were the permissible age. If they started acting on a film/game, for e.g. starting trash talking about stealing cars cos it's done in GTA, I'd take it away, simple as.Penguinness said:
Honestly, My child will not be playing many, if any, video games growing up. Not because i am going to withhold them from him / her but because I intend to be very active in there life. I hope I can be the kind of parent who is always there if not my wife. Always ready to read a book with, throw a ball around, go for a walk. Around 10+ I realize my child will begin to want to do other things and when and if video games become one of those things I wil ldo what my mom and dad did.
I'll sit with them and talk about it. Ask simple little questions. I remember playing DMC and my mum sat for a good hour watching me playing asking questions but what was going on and why I was doing it. Never anything invasive or stupid like "You think you can do that in real life?" but more like, "Neat, how did you do that back flip?" or "So what kind of monster is that?" or when dante pulled himself off the sword that impaled him "So how come he can yank himself off a sword and be fine but i just saw you get beaten to death by a doll?"
My dad and I played Postal 2 together taking turns a lot as well.
However, I will not be letting my 12 year old play GTA X or manhunt 7. T games till 16 unless i feel otherwise.
I'll sit with them and talk about it. Ask simple little questions. I remember playing DMC and my mum sat for a good hour watching me playing asking questions but what was going on and why I was doing it. Never anything invasive or stupid like "You think you can do that in real life?" but more like, "Neat, how did you do that back flip?" or "So what kind of monster is that?" or when dante pulled himself off the sword that impaled him "So how come he can yank himself off a sword and be fine but i just saw you get beaten to death by a doll?"
My dad and I played Postal 2 together taking turns a lot as well.
However, I will not be letting my 12 year old play GTA X or manhunt 7. T games till 16 unless i feel otherwise.
From memory? Morrowind, FIFA, Pirates of the Carribean, Legend of Zelda, Mario & various rally games. To answer the "drinking to games" comparison, I'd say that Mario is to GTA as a beer with dinner is to a heavy night out. Opposite ends of the scale.Penguinness said:
I guess my experiences were dampened quite a bit by circumstance- I didn't get into gaming until I broke my arm when I was 10, and then it was a Gameboy that got me started. Pokemon, Zelda, Mario... Then I got my first Colin McRae game, to be honest I decided I wanted GTA3 because I could drive wherever I wanted. The violence and the missions had no interest for me, I just wanted to get in the fastest car I could find and blast around the streets.
My parents aren't gamers, my dad's always been pretty anti-violent games. To give you an idea, he decided WoW was "a bit excessive violence wise". Guess he's just lucky I've never been hyped enough to install that copy of Manhunt I got in that SteamDeal bundle...
Drinking age here is 16, and most people start drinking at 14-15. There is talks about lowering the voting age to 16 as well.wordsmith said:
Personally I think age ratings is a bunch of crap. I dont need other people making judgements for me, I can do that myself thank you very much.
I would probably let my kid play whatever the hell they wanted. However I would sit down with them for a while while playing it if it was a particualrily violent and disturbing game and make sure they understood that whats going on on the screen isn't real.
Age ratings are simply for lazy (or stupid) parents that dont want to spend time with their kids.
You know this site has an age restriction right?
OT: The ERSB handles are rating a little differently where the lowest restriction rating is 10 years old and most blockbuster games (Like Assassin's Creed 2, Bioshock and Halo) are all 17+. That said, I played all 3 games and loved them. And I only turned 17 three weeks ago.
The Age Restriction is a matter of maturity, not age. I've met 10 year olds who are more mature then some local 25 year olds. The ERSB make some good points when explaining, but I believe that if you're 2-3 years within the age restriction, you should be allowed to play it.
OT: The ERSB handles are rating a little differently where the lowest restriction rating is 10 years old and most blockbuster games (Like Assassin's Creed 2, Bioshock and Halo) are all 17+. That said, I played all 3 games and loved them. And I only turned 17 three weeks ago.
The Age Restriction is a matter of maturity, not age. I've met 10 year olds who are more mature then some local 25 year olds. The ERSB make some good points when explaining, but I believe that if you're 2-3 years within the age restriction, you should be allowed to play it.
I'd like you to meet a clanmate of mine who we lovingly call our resident squeaker. He's the 8 year old son of one of our best Heavies in TF2, a pretty gory game. He's a great sport, skilled player, very friendly and everybody loves him. Not every kid is the same, so don't treat them as such.wordsmith said:
Drinking and smoking are different as they damage you physically. Ratings are there to protect the poor, innocent little minds of those weak children. And fact is, kids mature at different ages. Now it's good that age ratings are there as a guide, but ultimately no one but the parents (and perhaps siblings) of an individual child can decide whether their child has mentally matured enough to play a certain game.
For instance, my little brother is 17. Technically he shouldn't be allowed to play 18+ games; nonsense I say. He's more than mature enough to play, say, God of War or GTA so I let him play any 18+ game I get and every 16+ game before he turned 16.
Someone attacked me for doing that before, and that person was talking out his ass; he doesn't know my brother, not even his name. I do. I've seen him grow up, I know how he is and no one else but me (because my parents are oblivious about games) can decide whether he's ready for a game or not.
To your first point: Don't get me wrong, I understand that there are under 18's who are immensely skilled and well behaved, I for one have played alongside a 12 year old and his dad in quite a few L4D2 games. His dad is a clanleader, we got talking a few years back and the rest is history. The reason I can put up with it? He's not screaming down the mic and calling people fags because they make one mistake. To use the metaphor, it's the difference between a 14 year old chilling out with a beer or two and that same kid getting rat-arsed and being a twat.Cowabungaa said:
As for the second point: Smoking and drinking might cause physical harm, but the point behind the ratings is to prevent against mental harm. I understand your point about how everyone is different, I know 40 year olds who shouldn't be allowed to drink, compared to 15 year olds who can drink me under the table (not difficult, but the point stands). The problem is that it seems that the vast majority of parents don't take the time to understand the game, something which is obviously different with you and your brother.
In short, not knowing what sort of kid the OP will have, not knowing what sort of childhood and upbringing they'll have, I'd say to follow the guidelines. If it turns out that the kid is level headed, by all means, go for it.
Depends on the kid and environment.
If I lived in an area with lots of drugs (actually Marijuana is pretty popular around here, but everyone is laid back about it) I wouldn't let them play a game glamorising drugs.
I definatly wouldn't let them play scary games, that shit would affect 'em.
If I lived in an area with lots of drugs (actually Marijuana is pretty popular around here, but everyone is laid back about it) I wouldn't let them play a game glamorising drugs.
I definatly wouldn't let them play scary games, that shit would affect 'em.
If a game had an 18 or equivalent rating on it, I wouldn't let my kid play it, even if they were 17 years and 364 days old. The same would go for 15 rated games. My folks were quite firm when it came to my playing videogames (more down to the time I spent playing them, ratings weren't as prevalent back then) so it may have rubbed off. 
Of course, these are just my thoughts, I know there are a lot of parents who buy their kids games that are above their age, either through ignorance or just plain not caring.
Of course, these are just my thoughts, I know there are a lot of parents who buy their kids games that are above their age, either through ignorance or just plain not caring.
I don't think age restrictions should exist at all.
Seriously, people. Give me one benefit they give us or society.
Seriously, people. Give me one benefit they give us or society.
As long as the child can distinguish fiction from reality I would let them play anything. The first M rated game I can remember playing is Mortal Kombat Deadly Alliance. I was fourteen when my parents bought it for me. They didn't even give it a second thought because they knew I wouldn't go to school the next day and try to rip someones heart out.
Well I can give you a bunch. They keep mature games out of childrens' han... oh wait... well um, they inform parents of game conten... well ok... um... they maximize retailer profits by encouraging parents to buy kid friendly ga.... oh... now I see your point.Jasonater said:
social engineering is not cool in any form.