As some of you will know I recently asked about why Guitar Hero 3 had a 12 rating and after being told it was only the lyrics that may be a problem I realised on that basis it may be unfair not to buy it for my 8 yr old sons birthday he hears worse in the street after all, but this morning he informs me that Grandma and Grandad (fathers parents) are saving up to buy him GTA4.

Now imagine my disgust I almost went nuts I played this game on the weekend and know from previous experience that this isn't anywhere near suitable for an 8 yr old child much to my sons horror I rang Grandma and told her she couldnt buy it and what the game was about she agreed after a while and said she'd buy something different.

Even more disgust to come when son tells me that he is allowed to play San Andreas at daddy's house, I shall be having a word.

 

As we have quite a few parents/aunties/uncles on the site I'd like to ask your opinion if a game is rated over the childs age would you buy it for them?

If so why?

If not why?

 

My reason for not wanting him to have the game well where do I start, petrol bombs, running people over in cars, prostitutes, killing people, extortion, things he really shouldnt have a clue about yet.

 

xXx

Granted I don't have any children - but I think age ratings should be advisory. As long as you can make the children realise that what they are playing is just a game, and that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable in real life, then its ok.

 

Except for, of course, the likes of GTA4/Condemned/Manhunt - mainly because of how graphic they are. If my child was say 14/15 - I think I might be ok with this - again given the rules above, but not 8.

 

I think each game should be looked at individually, and its up to the parent to decide whether they think they can trust that their child will get the difference between the games and reality.

Granted I don't have any children - but I think age ratings should be advisory. As long as you can make the children realise that what they are playing is just a game, and that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable in real life, then its ok.

 

Except for, of course, the likes of GTA4/Condemned/Manhunt - mainly because of how graphic they are. If my child was say 14/15 - I think I might be ok with this - again given the rules above, but not 8.

 

I think each game should be looked at individually, and its up to the parent to decide whether they think they can trust that their child will get the difference between the games and reality.

 

Basically i agree with Evil Monkey on this, if the game was like GH or Rock band i would buy regardless if the lyrics are cut or uncut with the idea of if they enjoyed playing game then maybe then they will pick up the actual guitar.

 

However games like GTA, manhunt, condemned, dead rising Resident Evil ect i wouldn't get for them because of two reasons, those games are mostly aimed for 15 to 18 year olds so once they hit about 15 then let them rip on them.

 

Oh and Reason two i personally think a 8 year old would not be able to tell the difference between the game world and our world.

Aye i'm in agreement with what's been said-we have GTA4 and DC and I agreed that it won't even be played with the boys in the room (bar Josh who isn't too fussed) even though I was informed yesterday that my 7 year old said the F word in school (guess where I have to go tomorrow). They may hear language like it on the street but giving it them in huge doses is different! Guitar Hero and those types of games aren't anything like GTA4 so I totally agree with what you are saying Taki.

 

It's the same as films and TV shows though-looking at the ratings, my Buffy and Angel DVD's vary between 1's and 18's but I have seen them and they are suitable for the kids. However, they won't be watching Dawn Of The Dead or SAW until they are FAR older!

I'm pretty strict with my son when it comes to what he cant and cant play/watch. I let him watch the Simpsons, but he isnt allowed to see Southpark or Family Guy. I let him play Resident Evil, but he doesnt play GTA games.

 

I let him watch certain horror movies (The Ring, Grudge etc) because, for whatever reason, he likes them and as long as they arent ultra violent (SAW for example), he can watch them with me.

 

I dont particularly go on age ratings, I use my own judgement on whether I find it suitable or not. I mean, in Harry Potter, the ginger kid tells Harry to "piss off", you are going to get the odd bit of language in most things these days.

 

Parental judgement is much better than what some company brands a product.

I'd go along with that really, as long as they have been raised well and have the right parenting as regards this then i dont really see the problem. I think games have also become an easy target for people who hear swearing etc on the streets.

I'd say 14 + would be fine with GTA, that's just going by myself at that age, anyone younger shouldn't be going anywhere near it.

I pretty much agree with what's been said. Ratings should be strictly enforced by retailers and parents should be told what is in a game or film too if it's obviously for an underaged person. After that it's down to the parent's judgement. I think most parents would have enough sense not to give GTA4 to a young child but a mature teenager would be able to handle things like GTA or an 18 rated action movie.

to be fair they always have to bet on stupid parents (and there are alot)

As long as it is not Landon or Jayden or anything stupid like that you'll be fine.

My parents have always been really easy with me in regard to what I can watch/play they never banned me from watching or playing anything infact.

 

I watched Predator when I was 5 years old and was playing GTA when I was 12 (going on 13) on the old Playstation, all they said to me was they don't like swearing and so don't do it around them or at school etc where I had been told it wasn't acceptable

 

Its easy to say without any kids of my own but I wouldn't ban my kids from watching anything or playing any game regardless of its content at any age, now I can see the need for game ratings much like I can for movies but in my experiance if you are brought up well with certain rules in place then a game or film doesn't have that much effect. Well it didn't with me anyway

I understand where you are coming from NE and if it was me I'd be frustrated I couldnt do it as I was watching the Nightmare on Elm Street movies when I was young and my fave film was Poltegiest and when I was growing up games didnt have ages on them so nothing to worry about and the graphics just weren't up to scratch enough to do what they can with games now.

 

I'm enforcing this now on this game before I get the mummy I've had a bad dream status, some kids grow up too fast I want my kids to enjoy the freedom of childhood not worrying about gamer points or how to kill "That Filthy Russian".

 

Age ratings have changed a lot on stuff I was watching as a kid though, I remember Arachnophobia being an 18 when I was younger I watched it the other day and it was on middle of the day with a PG rating were we really scared of stuff like that back then.

 

I know kids are becoming more and more desensitised to violence but that doesnt mean we have to shove it in an 8 year olds face, and what makes it harder is my 6 year old thinks he can do/watch/play whatever his brother does and the fact I find out they have already played Vice City I'm rather annoyed with the irresponsibilty their father has shown in letting them do so. Its unfair to them to get told off for something that isn't their fault as they know no better.

 

xXx

I dont particularly go on age ratings, I use my own judgement on whether I find it suitable or not.

Parental judgement is much better than what some company brands a product.

 

 

100% agree.

 

On my 12th birthday I got Look Whos Talking (12) and Commando (18) on video. OK I asked for them, but I wasnt a stupid or immature kid (I was probably more grown up than I am now in some respects) and understood the reasonings behind them.

Check it first, then decide. if you cant check it err on the side of caution.

 

edit:

 

Taki, Arachnophobia was never an 18 in the UK. :lol

Edited May 20, 200816 yr by Paul

I can see your side too Taki, As I said I don't have kids so its easy for me to say what I would do, I am always complainging abou kids being made to grow up too fast these days without really thinking about my own childhood and how I grew up really fast watching the things I did which were made for people much older exposing me to things, like you said that I shouldn't have been exposed ot such as murder, violance, swearing sex etc

 

That said I was always 'mature' for my age, I have a school report firn my first year in school which says "David is very mature for his age, mature well beyond his years infact" and every report form all the teachers I had in junior school after that said the same thing about me too

 

Right now I would say I i'd not restrict anything my kid could watch or play but thats me saying it as someone who doesn't have to deal with bad dreams etc, every kid is different and needs different treatment so while I say it now if I had a kid i;d likely totally change my tune on the issue

I can understand where you're coming from Taki. As a smaller kid though my parents were loose when it came to me watching and playing things, if I wanted something they weren't going to say you're not ever going to play that. Like when I was 11 I was playing GTA and others similar and when I was 10 I watched Texas Chainsaw Massacre. But 8 years old is a bit young, and I can definitely understand your perspective, i'd probably be the same actually.

I led a Bl**dy sheltered life. I was not allowed any computer games above my age range, sonic gets boring after 8 years of playing it which is why i think i never went down the gaming route. The only 15/18 i saw before i reached the age was IT and that gave me nightmares proved my folks right and would not allow them in the house. I did not get the internet until i was 17 in case it currupted me so i think if you are 14 upwards you are pretty much old enough to play any game really as you are not going to see/hear anything you have not already encountered before.

You cant even watch soaps these days without getting corrupted.

 

As for age ratings on games, it should come down to parental discretion.

 

I have pretty laid back parents, they let me play all kinds of games, but they always sat and played them with me,and would make judgements based on my reactions, then if necessary, take the game off me if they found it a bit too much.

I never really bothered with the Age ratings.

 

I played gory games at a young age, now some people might call that irresponsibel parenting, but it made me the boy I am today.

 

Playing games ( that are over my limit) made me more mature in a way, its the reason im a mature boy.

 

I dont bother with age limits on videos either :P

As one of the older (age wise) members of the forum with a teenage son I feel quite qualified to answer your question Taki.

 

I take into account the ratings on the games but Joel has been playing mature rated games for a few years now. He knows that it is a game and nothing more and has no resemblance to what happens in his day to day life. I didn't throw them all at time at the same time I followed Belty's example and gave him gradual exposure to them.

 

I think parents know their kids better and anyone else and while I appreciate the video game industry trying to help I will decide when my son can and can't play a game or watch a movie.

You cant even watch soaps these days without getting corrupted.

 

As for age ratings on games, it should come down to parental discretion.

 

I have pretty laid back parents, they let me play all kinds of games, but they always sat and played them with me,and would make judgements based on my reactions, then if necessary, take the game off me if they found it a bit too much.

 

My mum and dad don't really care what I play now, but when I first got my Playstation my mum would check age ratings on games before I bought them or played them. My dad wasn't as protective as my mum was, he'd let me play my first game rated 15, Metal Gear Solid, but wouldn't let me play anything like Silent Hill.

 

Now I can just say "Oh, I need you to buy me a game as it's rated 18" and they don't mind, same with my brother who is almost 16.

 

Though I don't think my mum would be too happy if I was playing something like Playboy The Mansion. :lol

Theres a very sensible solution to all this hubbub. If you reckon the little uns are indeed, "susceptible" simply dont buy them. Whereas, some kids, are actually well balanced, well brought up, and have the proper sense of right and wrong, i dont see the problem there. Ultimately, its (yet again) all about taking responsibility.