that games are an 18 certificate for a reason?

[theluckiest]

Friend on FB has posted a pic of his nephews glued to their xbox. Headsets on, big gamer chairs, not moving for hours. This is actually not the issue but I admit to cracking out the large (super stretchy thanks to Xmas) judgy pants when I saw the conversation under the pic. Kids are 6 and 8. They were playing Call of Duty, Black Ops which is an 18 certificate game. Quite a few replies from other people with witty comments about 'starting them early' and that they will be beating their dad soon enough.

I admit I huffed and tutted. Asked dh what he thinks as he is an occasional gamer and he was horrified as he plays this and it is very graphic. Do people not realise that games have certificates? Or not give a shit as it keeps the kids quiet?

And yes I am prob BU and my judgy pants are straining with the effort but I am a teacher so get judgy about stuff! Last year one of the kids in my class used to include some horrific stuff in his writing about heads exploding, people on fire, shootings. He spent hours playing COD, Grand Theft Auto, etc. with older brothers (he was 7).

Maybe I have finally become an old fuddy duddy stuffed shirt.....I remember watching 18 cert horror movies but am sure I was a young teen then (not 6!!) and games seem far more insidious as you become involved iyswim?

YANBU!

Ahh this old chestnut

YANBU

DS is about to turn 12 and until recently i only let him race cars, play football and the disney/lego games.
Have to admit my DH (not dad) plays the xbox and the rules have relaxed but not by much - he can shoot aliens now! tbh its not the shooting etc that worries me the most - its the language. DH got far cry 3 for xmas and he isnt allowed to play it if the kids are in the room and to be honest I want to leave too its that bad!

Chill out. Games are often graded in relation their difficulty to complete.

My DNephew is 8 and playing CoD. Amazingly, when we sit down to watch family films he has no attention span and asks when the 'good' bit is. He means violence.

Based on what, Alisvolatpropiis? I think it is pretty much always content they are rated on.

My brother likes those type of games but only plays them when dc's (10 and 7) are in bed. He says they are not appropriate for children under 14. I don't know as we just have some tame wii games.

MrsTerrys I think you'll find COD and similarly categorised games are more difficult to complete than Mickey goes to Hollywood. The blurb of the game in question usually gives similar information.

errrr, games are no more rated on their difficulty to complete than films are rated on the complexity of their plot.
i'm of the opinion that it's very important to censor the games that children play. it's been shown that playing violent video games can have a negative impact on children's behaviour. i am a gamer myself and no way would i let my 8 year old play CoD.

Call of Duty.

Soft Play centres.

Smoking.

It's mumsnet.

okay then,whatever obviously Disney games are exactly as easy to complete as games with a higher certificate.

I'm not saying you should let ^your* children COD OP btw.

From the Games Rating Authority website:

"It should also be noted that the ratings relate to the content of the game and not to how difficult the game is to play. A chess game would probably have a 3 rating but would hardly be recommended for toddlers."

Games are rated by PEGI based on content. All games are rated by age. This is why shops can't sell COD to anyone under 18.

If games were rated by difficulty, yet often have up to 6 difficulty settings, how would that work, exactly?

This is a popular misconception. DH works in the industry and was amazed when I told him people think this.

Disney games are often aimed at younger players but isn't this due to their content and therefore they need to be easier!!

Absolutely wrong ali. Game ratings are 100% based on content, they are never based on difficulty. PEGI are the official body who rate video games, you can read their grading criteria here.

alis that is completely wrong and normally what kids tell their parents so they can play COD. 18 rating - not for children!

Disney games are frequntly 7+ or 12+ as they are action adventure games which require the player to 'fight' or 'kill' 'bad guys'. There are some exceptions, Club Penguin or Disney Princess for example, but these tend to be games specifically aimed at the very young.

Disney games aren't neccessarily easy eiher! One of the hardest to complete games I own is Lilo and Stitch on the GBA!

Oh ffs, think that's proof its my bed time

there's also a disney game that is an 18. it is not becuase it is difficult, what a niave thing to suggest, but it is becuase it is violent.
I often play games that are 18, and there is no way I will play when younger children are in the same room. Just in the same way I will not watch Saw or any unsuitable film.
It really gets me how some people simply dont understand what ratings are about.

Is there sounds? Which game?

apologies,its not. disney one. its a fairy tale one, probably why i was thinking disney. little red goes on a slashing frenzy.. But sadly, those uneducated about games will think well its totally fine for children to play.

Personally I think PEGI was the absolutely wrong way to go after the Byron report; there should have been a brand new regulatory body set up and a campaign to educate parents/guardians on it. Games are such a different media to film the BBFC could never adequately rate them and PEGI is just a bloody joke, people are mostly unaware of just who/what the fuck PEGI are. Waste of time appointing them.

YANBU.

Can you elaborate StuntGirl?

I'm just a parent who finds computer games pretty dull so hasn't got time or inclination to try out evry game before giving to DC's to play. Hence have to rely on PEGI ratings to decide if suitable or not.

I usually find film ratings pretty OK with a few minor aberations (generally due to films being rated 12+ due to swearing which I think is OK whereas fi,s with sexual content being rated PG which I think is not OK)

Sorry - meant to say - so if film ratings OK why not PEGI ratings?