Poll: What Age Do You Buy Your Child a Violent Video Game?

[MasTerHacK]

Well, I chose the second one. And, I played Doom when I was two years old. Hasn't affected me at all to become violent. Even more so, I despise violence and can't understand it. I also played MK3 when I was about 5-6 with my sister who is 2 years younger than me. I have yet to experience any ill effects.

 

[Yopaz]

Using the age rating as a guideline at the very least, but also considering what the game actually is. Let's take Super Smash Bros. That's been rated 12 due to violence. Will it be too tough to handle for a kid of 5? Well the controls and the fast paced combat might make it too hard, so I wouldn't buy it. Pokemon is the kind of game I wouldn't buy to a kid younger than 10 because your kid needs to be able to make decisions on how to play it. I don't see much harm in a 12 year old playing Saints Row 2 either. There's little realism and the kid has most likely seen its like on TV. Also I doubt the kid would care to watch the cut scenes framing the fact that killing is fun.
I believe in judging the game more than the kid.

 

[Zantos]

The following post is hypothetical as I don't have a child, and is instead based on my upbringing and my experiences with my friend's children.

I wouldn't blanket it, I'd do it on a game by game basis. Same with everything really. There are big gaps between all sorts of films and games in the same age bracket, so I couldn't really do it based solely on that. For example, God of War and Grand Theft Auto Vice City (or any really, that's just my favourite) are both 18 rated games. If my kids were about as mature as I was at that age, I could probably let him or her play GTA 4 or 5 years before they were old enough for it. God of War on the other hand, I'd want them to be quite close to the actual rating.

So in summary, I wouldn't stick to the rating system like it's the one true voice, but make decisions based on the type of game it is and if I think it's suitable. Which will make a brilliant excuse for going out and buying lots of video games. Although I think if they could save up their pocket money to afford a £40-50 game then I'd get them it out of principle.

 

[noble cookie]

I played Mortal Kombat when I was about 10. I don't have thoughts about killing anyone sadistically, I just thought it was cool, bad-ass and entertaining.
I guess if I felt like my kid could handle it then I'd let em play it.

Also, why did kidragakash back on page 1 get a warning?

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

I voted: 'I decide what age my child plays the game.'

I think some kids are more mature than others. If my 9 year old nephew was asking me for an 18 game I would say no and try to find him something more suitable because he has nightmares.

It depends on the kid.

 

[Astoria]

It depends on the child's maturity. I'd probably introduce them to violent movies first and see how they react. I'd think 11-12 would be around the age most kids are hitting that level of maturity but again depends on the child.

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

I would do what my parents did with me, I would not to allow my kids to play games that they are below the age rating for. However I would make exceptions if I think my kids of mature enough to handle the content, but that would be the exception not the rule. I hate hearing about eight year olds playing 18 rated games, because their parents cannot be bothered to take an interest in what their kids are doing.

 

[Alexander Cunningham]

I gave my 8 year old cousin a copy of fallout 2 and deus ex last year. Shows what kind of person I am.(the awesome uncle)

 

[Jacob.pederson]

Depends on the nature of the violence.

If it is a game which glorifies the military and recruits youngsters to its cause, then my ten-year-old will NEVER be old enough to play it. But, on the other hand, he's been playing Halo since age 6 and there is plenty of violence in that.

 

[JamesStone]

It all about the situations. It is one of the reasons I disagree with the current classification system. For example, my mom gave me the right to play violent videogames since I was 10 (14 years ago) but my sibling only got to play the same games when he was 13, because, in her words to him:
"Your brother is more mature than you, and you´re just no ready to play such games"
It might not have been the best tactic, but the point is, a parent should allow a kid to buy violent videogames, but only if he thinks that his son is mature enough to "handle" it.

 

[Amphoteric]

I would be a massive hypocrite seeing as I was playing 18 games when I was 14.

The ratings that games come with are not relevant at all.

 

[DestinyDriven]

I don't have any kids, but I can still put my thoughts across.

This is a really hard thing for me to decide. I have one part of me saying "I was allowed to watch more mature things at 10" but the other part of me is saying it may be irresponsible.

But I am a horror fan. Even when I was a kid I loved horror. I used to read lots of horror stories in books. I don't blame my parents for letting me watch more mature things. They knew I could handle it. I think they were right in doing so.

Actually, I remember playing the demo of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver. My parents didn't know about that PS1 demo lol. I loved playing it too. And thanks to my dad introducing me to Alien and Aliens (I can't remember what age I was though), I now am a huge fan. I also loved watching The Terminator too.

So I would have to think about it carefully. I would of course have to teach my child that fantasy and reality are different. If they understand that and if I think they could handle it, I would let them I guess. It also depends on what it is.

On another note, I happen to see a lot of kids posting videos on youtube which are to do with mature games and movies. Like, this one Kid has an Isaac Clarke and Alien figure, another has an Alex Mercer figure and has Ninja Gaiden 2. And these really are kids. Kind of makes me go wtf, are their parents even aware?

 

[xplay3r]

When I can sit my kid down, and they can explain to me the difference between reality and fantasy, they can play whatever they like. so It depends on the kids intelligence if they're 6 and they can show me they understand there is a line between the two, they can play whatever. If the kid is 13 and still can't show me that they understand the difference, then they'll be playing Dora's magical adventure still. lol
Honestly age doesn't matter, its about the child's ability to define reality and fiction. That's what's important.

 

[Slash Dementia]

I would probably do what my dad did for me. He bought me whichever game and let me play it. But he educated me all the way through, by explaining the whole "right from wrong" thing. But I wouldn't start as early as he did for me (I was three), I'd probably start at 8-10 or something. He or she should be reading and writing, and doing things that help with learning.

 

[Rawne1980]

I let my kids watch movies and play the games they want.

Our son is 11 and he's better than me at the GTA games. Fortunately he's not as good at Borderlands yet or i'd have to hang up my FPS gloves forever.

I've never sheltered my kids or wrapped them in cotton wool. They say/see/do more with their friends than most parents know about.

At least if I have my kids playing them and watching the movies at home I can keep an eye on them.

Our girls don't really game much apart from WoW so thats easy enough.

Fortunately none of our kids are mental so they don't play a game like GTA and then run out and mug old ladies.

I watched all the great horror films of the time when I was a kid in the 80's so it would be incredibly hypocritical if I stopped my kids from doing something they enjoy.

Tl;dr. I let my kids watch and play what they want. At least if they are doing it at home I can keep an eye on them.

 

[Quinadin]

Depends on the game and depends on the child. If I think my child can handle it then sure, he can play Fallout or Mass Effect at 14, He's not playing GTA until he's 17 though... And I'm kind of thinking the basic test is if he can complete both Portal games without help... idk, it's a long way down the road and I'll cross the bridge when I come to it...

 

[StBishop]

I'll take the same route my parents took with movies.

I'll try it out, and decide then. I'll also see whether the store employee has any advice about the content. As a general rule, my children won't be playing MA15+ games at 10 though.

This is because the games getting these ratings are getting them for violence and gore, which I don't want to encourage.

If it were sex I'd be less worried, but games with sex also tend to have violence.

It also comes down to context. If it's a zombie game, I'd be less phased. If it's a game where you're killing humans, I care more.

If it's a game where you're in a survival type setting and you're trying to get by I'd be more inclined to let them play that if you are a bad ass out looking to kill shit.

eg. I would consider DA:O with gore turned off, but I wouldn't consider GTA:SA.

I'd consider Bioshock, I wouldn't consider Gears. (actually, probably no Bioshock, it's got some pretty hectic scenes. The one where you first see a big daddy comes to mind.)

 

[GrandmaFunk]

I won't buy video games for my child. when he's old enough to pay for them, he'll be old enough to pick which ones he wants to buy.

 

[Swat_Kat]

My dad let me play Doom 1 when I was 7ish, we played in coop (it was hard setting up something like that in the old days let me tell you). I'm not a violent psychopath and am generally considered TOO kind soooo I tend to say:

Violence in games don't make violent children, but education does.

 

[Jimmy T. Malice]

If I do have children (which I most likely won't), I would let them buy games within a few years of the minimum age rating.