Grand Theft Auto for 12 year old?

[mrsmootoo]

DS, 12, has started asking for GTA because 'all his friends have it'. I have looked at various online discussion sites, some of which have parents who say it's not that bad; others feel the language and sex is OTT. I have discovered that DS does in fact have some '18' games and these do seem very violent, sadly, so maybe I'm being unreasonable about GTA. DS is at great pains to try and explain to me the difference between the 'story' game which you apparently have to download once you've bought the disc, and the 'playing online' version which he could do with his friends and supposedly doesn't have all the sex in it. Any thoughts welcome!

[KingIrving]

Even my DS14 keeps begging to have it and it is no. It is not so much the sex but parts where you get points if you kill a prostitute with your car. No way

[GherkinSnatch]

It's not the violence that makes GTA different, it's the sex. He's woefully uninformed about the difference between playing the story and playing online. My DH plays online with his friends and even if he's just driving around minding his own business (as it were...) the language is horribly offensive (not just your standard swears), and you are still surrounded by other players. There is no part of the game that would be suitable and untainted by the 18 rated parts.

[YoungYolandaYorgensen39]

Nope.

[Cakescakescakes]

Not in a million years

[MynewnameisKy]

Stick to your principles. It's absolutely dreadful.

Ds is 9 and "all" his friends play Halo online. I've spoken to a couple of the mothers and they apparently just turn the sound off.

It's not what I want for my nine year old.

[HappyLollipop]

It's not suitable for a 12 year old maybe when he's 14+ it'll be ok, tell him in a couple years maybe but currently it's a no! Also the online player base is quite ott and rude so I'd be rather worried about that aspect. How come didn't you know he already was playing 18+ games? You need to familiarise yourself with his game console in order to monitor him.

[Starlight2345]

If everyone has it ..Which is doubtful it is down to feeling pressure that everyone else's child has it..At some point parents need to say its not ok..Makes life easier all the way round..MY DS (10) asked for it ..It was a no its an 18 and refused to discuss it further.

[PersianCatLady]

There is a reason why there is an 18 rating for this game.

Aside from that, do you want your DS to be exposed to the disgusting attitudes shown in the game and to have access to the other people who play it online?

More than the actual content of the game, I hate the way that it objectifies women as sex objects.

[NinJingag]

Played my first rated M game at 9, forgot what game it was but I never copied it. If they can tell the difference between right and wrong they should be allowed to play whatever they want.

[FishCanFly]

How come didn't you know he already was playing 18+ games?

Some games "climbed up" in rating - such as Skyrim or Assasin's Creed series. Even supposedly "child friendly" titles like Spiderman or Lord of the Rings are 16 or 18.
GTA at 12 is a no. It's a cool game, but at that age it will look like glamorization of crime rather then a parody of society.

[SuperMommy63]

No. Never in a million years.

[fonxey]

I love GTA! But I'm not 12 and i wouldn't want my daughter playing it until she's older, definitely wouldn't want her playing it online just cos all her friends are.

[dadmode]

Download the game and give it a go yourself? (free on epic store at the moment)

Alternatively, go to the website 'twitch' and search for GTA 5. You can watch people play it in real time.

You're the one to make this decision and I'd say those are your best options for making an informed decision.


-ah, just saw that this thread is from 3 years ago. I wonder if he ever got to play it?

[Cherryrainbow]

I would say no, certainly not stuff like gta v.

Things involved include:

Strip joints and picking up prostitutes where you can do stuff in the car with them
Graphic torture scenes
Lots of swearing
Questionable language such as the n-word

Among other things

[KarenSmith1954]

Personally I do let my son play this game but all he is alowed to do drive cars and as for that fortnite garbage my 12 year old son swore (he said oh my god) and after that i was fuming so i smashed his brand new ps2.
i believe this game should be banned from the country to prevent more underage kids playing it. thoughts?

[maryd84]

My DP plays this game. Definitely not suitable for a 12 year old.

[DemarcusIguodala]

Yes it’s possible but really depends on the mature of the child but I would not recommend it I would let a 15 year old to play it Because the sex and how they speak bad language.