The Needles: The Easiest Buyer's Guide Ever

[FROGGEman2]

Nice article, but two thoughts,

1. All good and well but I hardly doubt that people who aren't familiar with videogames are going to be on this site.

2. You misused the word "hyperbole" NOW YOU GO DIE!

My gods, the people. I was working yesterday, and someone insisted that despite my warnings, nah, Prey was gonna be -great- for their 10 year old.

You are not their parent. You don't know this particular 10 year old.

Did you seriously just say that? Wow..just wow..

Ahah, because relativism is for hippies, losers and communists, right? WRONG.

[small]I was being ironic.[/small]

~EDIT~

*Reads through posts*

Wow, I love the philosophical debate going on here.

I'm going for the relativist, non-censor side. "That is, le' th' friggin' kids do wha'ever they fuggin' want!"

 

[whaleswiththumbs]

HAha, the only games i ever get as a gift from anyone are little kids games that are atrocious. I have to buy all the games i want to play

 

[Deathlyphil]

In Britain most games are rated by the same people as films are, the BBFC. That means games like MW2, Gears Of War, L4D get proper 18 certificates identical to the ones on films and dvds. This means it's illegal to buy for, sell to, or supply anyone under that age.

I don't know how heavily it's been enforced since I haven't had to worry about age restrictions for a few years now, but it is technically the law and people can get in trouble for it.

 

[Deathlyphil]

Isn't it ironic that the very people who are against the videogame company, that being parents that buy kids games that could be considered the cause of mental issues, are also the ones that are causing the problem in the first place?

I remember reading an article ages ago where all the major companies were basically saying "for the love of God, please start rating our games. Then we wont get the blame when someone buys "Murder Death Killinator: The Bloodsplattering" for their little Jimmy."

Lazy parenting is the source of a lot more problems than games will ever be.

 

[UnravThreads]

No offense, but what's with this "article"?

1. This is a gaming website, so it's safe to assume we know about ratings.
2. As said in one of the first posts, if the parent doesn't care they won't look.
3. The company should also take responsibility, not just the parents.
4. Lose the attitude in it. People tend to take little notice if you're patronising them.

By all means, dispense advice on games, but this article was a waste of time. It's aimed at the reader (i.e. me, and everyone else), and is educating US on games - The reason we're here in the first place. No, I won't read the "damn ratings", why should I? I'm not buying for anyone but me. I'll read a rant happily, but this seemed to make the reader out to be the fault.

If you're going to write something like this, at least put it on a non-gaming website and lose the "attitude" you have going in it.

 

[Zerbye]

I agree with coldalarm. This article is a rant that is preaching to the choir. Parents who skip over the rating system are definitely not going to be interested in reading this article. I think the most productive use of this article would be if the users of this website forwarded the link to parents out there who need it. And hopefully they'll have the patience and understanding to read it.

 

[DTWolfwood]

well said sir well said!

Would be nice to bring some parental discretion and responsibility back into child rearing. It would almost seem like, from the media, parents don't exist anymore and that everyone is raise from TV and the Internet. The adult(s) living with the children is there merely to provide sustenance and NOTHING ELSE!

I agree with coldalarm. This article is a rant that is preaching to the choir. Parents who skip over the rating system are definitely not going to be interested in reading this article. I think the most productive use of this article would be if the users of this website forwarded the link to parents out there who need it. And hopefully they'll have the patience and understanding to read it.

Or for the readers to spread the word through word of mouth! It would seem that we have been made missionaries to the cause! I will do my part! XD (sadly i only know well informed and sensible parents)

 

[Mana Fiend]

Nice artle. I pretty much agree with all this.

Game stores really should stick up some signs around this time of year...
'IT'S NOT THE GAME YOU SHOULD BE HATING - THINK IT THROUGH AND CHECK THE RATING.'

My parents are getting my 15 year old brother Dragon Age, Left 4 Dead 2 and Assassin's Creed 2 for christmas, and though I told them about the rating, I also showed them the game content (except for AC2, as my brother borrowed it off a cousin and showed it to them). They watched them both through, and were alright with getting them for him, so at least they were being informed. I have no problem with that...

It's parents I see in shops this time of year being badgered into picking up 18-rated games, especially when they clearly have no clue about it all. Them I want to throttle...

 

[Andy Chalk]

if the users of this website forwarded the link to parents out there who need it

My god! That's so crazy, it might just work!

 

[Woodsey]

I find it hard to believe anyone who claims they don't know what the giant number on the front of the box means.

Letter.. But I hear you. I rage at all of the adult-parents I know about this. At least the ones I know will at least have been warned.

"Letter.." ?

 

[Falseprophet]

Now that I broke the hypnotic spell of your avatar I can respond. That is the big problem right there. Why did they choose this whole new rating system? I don't mean the kids under X shouldn't be playing this. I mean why didn't they stick with what people have grown up with for years. Rated R. Put a big fucking R and underneath that put restricted with the panther. Or PG, 14a or G. People know these letters. They understand that they shouldn't be taking little Jimmy or Jane to an R rated movie. You don't seee very many theatres that feel the need to have a description of what R means do you? Yet you walk into any gamestore (or dept) and plastered all over the place is M= bad for little Jimmy. The problem is if you have to describe the rating it isn't very effective.

The MPAA owns the movie rating system. The video game companies do not want to use a system that a) they'd have to pay royalties on and b) have no control over. You might as well let the government censor games then. The ESRB was established specifically to avoid government interference (just list the MPAA ratings).

The MPAA ratings are also crap. I recommend the documentary This Film Has Not Yet Been Rated and this TVTropes article [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AvoidTheDreadedGRating]. Most of the time, an MPAA rating is as much about marketing as accuracy.

The ESRB ratings are just a guideline: it's still up to the parents to gauge their own children's maturity level. I watched R-rated Arnie and Stallone movies when I was 12 and the worst crime I've ever committed was exceeding the speed limit by 30 km/h. Also, what are you going to do when they visit their friend's house? It's a lot harder to police other parents' decisions.

 

[squid5580]

Now that I broke the hypnotic spell of your avatar I can respond. That is the big problem right there. Why did they choose this whole new rating system? I don't mean the kids under X shouldn't be playing this. I mean why didn't they stick with what people have grown up with for years. Rated R. Put a big fucking R and underneath that put restricted with the panther. Or PG, 14a or G. People know these letters. They understand that they shouldn't be taking little Jimmy or Jane to an R rated movie. You don't seee very many theatres that feel the need to have a description of what R means do you? Yet you walk into any gamestore (or dept) and plastered all over the place is M= bad for little Jimmy. The problem is if you have to describe the rating it isn't very effective.

The MPAA owns the movie rating system. The video game companies do not want to use a system that a) they'd have to pay royalties on and b) have no control over. You might as well let the government censor games then. The ESRB was established specifically to avoid government interference (just list the MPAA ratings).

The MPAA ratings are also crap. I recommend the documentary This Film Has Not Yet Been Rated and this TVTropes article [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AvoidTheDreadedGRating]. Most of the time, an MPAA rating is as much about marketing as accuracy.

The ESRB ratings are just a guideline: it's still up to the parents to gauge their own children's maturity level. I watched R-rated Arnie and Stallone movies when I was 12 and the worst crime I've ever committed was exceeding the speed limit by 30 km/h. Also, what are you going to do when they visit their friend's house? It's a lot harder to police other parents' decisions.

Alot of that I have already responded to so I won't rehash it again. As for Jimmy going over to his friend's house there is nothing that Jimmy's parents can do. Be it an M rated game or an X rated movie. That is part of being a parent. You can't watch them every second. There is nothing stopping Jimmy from playing an M rated game on the playground at school on Jane's PSP or DS. Or looking through the Playboy he found at the local park. The only thing the parents can do is be ready to answer the questions that will proceed this.

 

[TZer0]

Hehe, true words - read the labels if you're concerned.

My parents aren't gamers, but they still allowed me to buy any game I wanted. They had minor concerns that I might have nightmares because of playing a 18+-rated FPS-title when I was ~11-12 years old, but with that never happening and no effects on my behavior they let it slide. It is probably at that point they realized that gaming isn't as bad as they thought. I'm just glad that I have parents who trusted me when it came to games.

 

[Phyroxis]

I find it hard to believe anyone who claims they don't know what the giant number on the front of the box means.

Letter.. But I hear you. I rage at all of the adult-parents I know about this. At least the ones I know will at least have been warned.

"Letter.." ?

Spoiler

Letter.

 

[Woodsey]

I find it hard to believe anyone who claims they don't know what the giant number on the front of the box means.

Letter.. But I hear you. I rage at all of the adult-parents I know about this. At least the ones I know will at least have been warned.

"Letter.." ?

Spoiler

Letter.

Oh I see. Well, English. So number.

 

[Dhatz]

there is something rotten about ratings, they just sum up the facts of the game and completely ignore the purpose, GTAs always had blood, but such blood pool stretching symmetrically from one point or the famous outlines make it a symbol of it being a game and nobody would believe he is actually killing a person, and nobody ain't avoiding swear words in Real. the rating companies simply don't think before they stamp. i think there should be other criteria than age, because you can heve an above-average child or a totally demented 30YO.

 

[clairedelune]

Nice Hamlet reference

 

[Tonimata]

Isn't it ironic that the very people who are against the videogame company, that being parents that buy kids games that could be considered the cause of mental issues, are also the ones that are causing the problem in the first place?

I remember reading an article ages ago where all the major companies were basically saying "for the love of God, please start rating our games. Then we wont get the blame when someone buys "Murder Death Killinator: The Bloodsplattering" for their little Jimmy."

Lazy parenting is the source of a lot more problems than games will ever be.

Yeah I remember reading an article of the sorts. Specially because that game would've been awesome. But it is worrying that irresponsible parenting is the cause of these and many other problems, such as those spawned by irresponsible consume and understanding of heavy metal lyrics or gun possession. It just leads to the creation of mentally depressed childs that think about nothing other than suicide. And they usually achieve it.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

if the users of this website forwarded the link to parents out there who need it

My god! That's so crazy, it might just work!

But my inbox can't take that many forwards!

 

[Aurgelmir]

I read a lot of people saying they played violent games at young ages, and so did I.
But fact is, we need Fox News to shut up, and denying kids the M rated games is a step in the right direction for that.
Also, sure the kids can probably get away with playing the M rated games, and they might turn out fine. But the fact here is not about what the kids can handle, but it what the parents can handle.
It's the parents that create the sensationalist news, not the kinds, the kids are fine, but we the gamers have to suffer because other peoples parents are ignorant.

PS: Yeah I played violent games too, but my parents was at least looking at the labels when buying games for me and my younger brother.