to wonder why youd have COD black ops for kids way under 18?

[bettymoody]

or is it really not that bad?

My son received Grand Theft Auto when he was 14, it's an 18 rating I think.

I didn't see too much wrong with it until one day when I entered his room and saw him and his friend shooting a prostitute that was being raped in the back of a car by another player.

I immediately took the controllers off them all and ejected the disc.

A game? Never in my life have I been so horrified.

DID - "I still don't see why I need to justify myself to you." As I said earlier, you don't. I was curious as to any reason that anybody would buy it. You seem to have taken it personally and that's not what was meant.

But you still seem to think that parents who've bought it for their kids need to give you a reason. There is loads of research literature on media violence, both positive and negative, and plenty of debate. Same goes for sex in the media.

On online play: you can turn the in-game racist misogynist chat off. Then it's just running around shooting at people and trying not to get shot yourself. You could also choose to skip the controversial airport scene in MW2.

maryz: there have been plenty of leaks and it's really very similar to the previous few iterations.

In any case, the way it works in our house is that DS is allowed to play online (which is pretty much identical to previous iterations in content), but doesn't get to do the story mode until DH has completed it and decided it's OK. That's how we deal with it, others will do things differently. We don't let DS play GTA, and DH only ever played it when he wasn't around.

Also, we don't expose other kids to it in our house unless we know their parents think it's ok (having spoken to them). Same with films, anime, etc. I don't see why you have to assume otherwise.

Mostly, we just encourage DS and his friends to play skate, which they love.

If I make a parenting decision that goes aginst the grain i.e. buying a game with an older rating, then I would have thought about it and have reasons for doing so. If I have reasons for doing something I have no problem explaining to others. Why get so defensive if you feel you are doing the right thing?

Amusing title given that Cod is actually on black ops at the moment

I'm not actually defensive. I really just don't see why I should have to explain myself for 'going against the grain'.

If I choose to feed the kids steak pie for breakfast, should I have to explain it to anyone else?

Oh DS isn't allowed to talk to anyone he doesn't know online. He can only use the private chat.

SparkleSoiree I am assured that the prostitute would have been paid for sex, not forced.

The shooting, however, would not have been in the agreement, of course.

For the record, I love computer games, and I'm always going to pay a great deal of attention to age ratings. I think we will only deviate from recommendations if one of us has played through the game first.

steak pie doesn't have an 18 rating. I agree with Maryz that you can't assume as default that parents who let their kids play it won't allow other kids to play it without asking. Not an assumption of you personally DID, but a sensible general assumption borne out of experience.

sparklesoiree v similar experience with grand theft auto
my boys don't play computer games now
ds friends play cod he is 7

Eh? It's an 18 cert. It's not "for kids" even slightly under 18.

What do you suggest? That we ban everything meant to be for adults only? Booze, decent films, drama, plays, driving............

You know these games actually have affected soldiers with PTSD- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. If its violent enough to trigger grown men who have actually been in war, I think Its pretty violent. Ya it may be just a game but kids shouldn't have to see that. My boyfriend plays these games but he is 25. This game is very realistic and I personally do not recommend anyone under 16 or 17 play them. But of course thats just my opinion and when i have kids I will definatly be monitoring the games played.

My own particular bugbear is Grand Theft Auto - I've seen a kid, couldn't have been more than 4-5 in a games shop with mum (yes I'm a gamer and I'm not ashamed of it) and her getting him to point out "that car game you wanted" and it was that. I'm not easily offended, I'm not particularly bothered by video game violence - but GTA offends even me and I've come across a heck of a lot of kids very young you've played that one.

COD - not come across as many as young playing that kind of thing.

Yes empty shell. I have found that parents of children buying 18 rated games fall into the following categories:

1. Those that are just not aware of what is going on. Their child has told them it's a car game and they accept it.

2. Those that know the games are rated and don't give a shit, it keeps the child quiet so this is all that matters

3. Those that are aware of the ratings but say "it's not the same as a film, it's just a game". They also tend to think that age ratings on games are difficulty ratings.

I lost count of the times I went through this situation. Explaining to parents what was actually involved in a game of GTA. Some were shocked and would thank you, some would tell you to fuck off and mind your own business.

To suggest though, that there is no reason that anyone over the age of 18 would play games is just insulting. There are plenty of decent, well made, entertaining games out there, made for and played by adults. It is a massive industry, and to write it off like that is silly and simply indicates that you don't understand.

I would argue that like films, it is up to the parent to assess the character of their child and make the decision. The problem with this is that it is harder to assess the content and suitability of a game than something like a film. Regardless, I would certainly say that there is no child out there under the age of about 13 that should be playing an 18 rated BBFC title.

YANBU. It maes me sick. There's enough evidence that games like this damage development in scary ways....many violent crimes perpetrated by youths have been commited ater playing violent games. People are stupid and ignorant.

War and death should never be equated with game playing. Nor encouraged....and yes, I mean kids playing soldiers too.

I always find it so funny that people are willing to attack videogames for violence that really isn't that extreme.

Even the "Nastiest" examples of my hobby, RE: MANHUNT, MANHUNT 2, aren't that bad compared to the things you hear on the news every single day.

Murders, rapes, wars, serial killers, floods, global warming.

I would rather when I have kids, have to explain

"Dad am I killing people?"
"See, whe you press R1, the Fantasy gun, fires a fantasy bullet, which kills a Fantasy man. This is ALL make-believe"

Compared too

"Dad, why are we sending people to the desert to die on a lie?"
"Well, you see son, people are corrupt and awful and greedy, and think nothing of throwing away the lives of real people like me and you if it gets them a little more money."

If I got too save my kids from the horror and shit of the real world by letting them play a little "Call of Duty" or whatever, Then im going too, reality is SO much worse than anything in any game.

"Even the "Nastiest" examples of my hobby, RE: MANHUNT, MANHUNT 2, aren't that bad compared to the things you hear on the news every single day.

Murders, rapes, wars, serial killers, floods, global warming."

I would agree with you except that when you see that in the news you get sad or shocked or angry at what you see. Possibly you will even take steps to try and make this world a better one. I really do not think you get the same feelings from a video game.

How is a war game going to save your kids from the horrors and shit of the real world?!?!?!?!

nerdy...the news is not something chilren participate in...I choose not to let my child see those images as she is too young. To allow children to play fantasy games of violence is a totally dfferent thing.

FYI, SparkleSoiree is wrong. AFAIK rape is impossible in any GTA, especially not in the back of a car given that normal sex only happens off-screen anyway, even with working girls
Sounds like someone made up a story from the sensationalist media they've heard to justify not giving their child video games - when you don't need to justify it, as it's YOUR decision.

Your child, your decision as you know how well they'd handle it. This isn't a problem for me as mine is only a wee one, but my little brother (now 16) has played video games for a long time, including things like Black Ops and yes, even the dreaded GTA .
Mum knows he's a sensible kid, and the only problem that's arisen from him playing violent games is that he sulks when he loses to someone. He doesn't see any correlation between the game and real life because he has a brain

And to those saying anyone over 18 shouldn't be playing games as they're "for kids", do fuck off and do your research first. I think nobody over the age of 15 has any business watching the X Factor, but if I said that to anyone who does I'd get flamed to hell and back, when it's all a way of keeping yourself entertained.