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?

There are TONS of kiddie appropriate games on the Xbox too, that's the annoying thing. It's not like there's a dearth of content so people are being forced into these unsuitable choices. In fact, some of the best games on the 360 are 'kiddie' games. Mini Ninjas (PEGI 7+) is one of the best and most enjoyable games I've ever played on the 360.

PlaySchool - you're not the only one.

I was listening to a song the other month and I quite like it! Was .listening to the latenight radio and I was singing along going "I miss that lovin'! That lovin'! Oooooh no!" and then I went quiet. Turns out the edited version is about him missing her love, the explicit version is about missing her vagina.

Lends a whole new meaning to "I know another bee's been in that honey!" because apparantly "ooh, that pussy done changed."

Absolutely disgusting.

I'd just like to add that I'm 22 for crying out loud. The way I go on people wouldn't be blamed for thinking I'm 50!

Hi Stuntgirl

Thank you for elaboration. I find it a bit depressing the way this thread is going because I too can't understand why people want to let their kids play violent games on Xbox when as you say there are other games out there that are lots more fun.

I said ages ago upthread that I rely on PEGI ratings because I don't want to play the whole games myself - quite frankly I can't and haven't got time to. So my DS has complained a whole lot becuase we have banned seemingly innocuous ganes such as Skate 3 which is a skateboarding game but rated 16+. I think tis because of swaering and horrid things you can do to skate boarders you don't like. But why should I need to watch this stuff to find out - I can look at the rating and know its not suitable.

So poor old DS is restricted to things like FIFA (which he loves), Guitar Hero (which I quite like too & which has had the hideous side effect of him saying he quite likes Dire STraits ). The most violent thing we have let him try is Il Sturmovik (WW2 fighter planes) but have watched him like hawk when he is playig to make sure nothing too awful happens.

Will have a look at mini Ninjas but if you have any other good recommends for under 12s that would be nice.

The Lego games are quite good. There are of course all of the Sonic games too which are great.

And Minecraft you can get on the xbox now - it's a download only one. Really recommend that though for all ages - it's very addictive and both my DS (4) and DP (24!) get loads out of it.

Ah yes - we do Minecraft here too - music is v soothing and having watched DS play it is amazing how addictive a weirdly cluncky game can be.

I think part of prob with Xbox is the online game play. DS would love to play with frined online but if they are all playing Halo and he is playing some obscure PEGI 3 rated game selected by his aging parents this is also a cause of friction.

But ho hum - friction with DS ain't half as hard as friction with pre teen DD.

Haven't played Skate 3 but pretty sure its the one that has a section where you can create and customise your own skate park, and then fling yourself off every available surface and get points for the most sickening, bone crushing injuries

StuntGirl - They should include a section about how to explain to your DM why she has got to take time off work to drive you to the fracture clinic YET AGAIN - expect it would be PEGI rated 18 on basis of violence/ foul language & ritual humilitation plus dangerous driving.

Last year DS then 9 had rape explained to him by a boy in class who "did it" in Grand Theft Auto. As I hadn't done the big talk I then had to start with Rape and work backwards. Ds is still traumatised by the whole idea. He is one of only 3 boys out of 13 in his class who don't have COD black ops.

Slightly off topic, but I don't get the obsession with COD! It's good, but there are so many better games out there. I will giving my future children copies of all the Final Fantasies and let them get on with it

My 13 yo DS is the only boy in his group/his class/his school/the entire world who doesn't have COD

But he does have 'fantasy' like the Assassins Creed or Halo (because they aren't 'real'. Unlike COD which could be all too real)

I commented on this thread last night. I was a few drinks down so apologise for being a dick. Because I was a bit. At least in how I articulated myself.

missing I was a very accident prone child, and that was without video games to influence me! I can attest to the annoyed mother aspect!

Oh please give Mini Ninjas a try, it's fab! There's a demo online if you want to try it out. I also like Viva Pinata (PEGI 3+), Crash Bandicoot (generally about 7+), anything Sonic (generally 7+/12+). Skylanders (7+) is brill, if a bit expensive to keep up with!

If you're online then the arcade has a great selection. I quite recommend 'Splosion Man (7+), Costume Quest (7+), Trials HD (3+). There's also a TON of old retro stuff; Ecco, Sonic, Bomberman, Frogger, etc.

Beautiful Katamari (3+), Boogie Bunnies (3+), Bubble Bobble (3+) and Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet (7+) are all various kinds of puzzley type games.

Can't quite remember how old you said he was but Plants vs Zombies, Earthworm Jim and Portal are all fantastic and PEGI 12+. And of course Lego ANYTHING is FAB (and all 7+)!

YY to everything balthier said!

You didn't come across as a dick to me ali :)

As a teacher I don't think I'd want to let my DS (3) to play violent video games when he's a teenager because the kids who do play these video games with each other at home (via headset or whatever) tend (not always) to be vile to each other, and often come across as arrogant, cocky and horrible. I think that the type of banter that these games encourage (and it is much much worse if they have unfiltered access to online communities as some do) really isn't nice.

Of course another problem is the kids who have X-boxes in their bedrooms and no parental control over bedtime who end up as underachieving zombies at school, but that can happen with 'nice' games like Minecraft too.

I third Balthier's suggestion of giving your kids Final Fantasy to play. If you can get them hooked on fantasy RPGs, you're laughing! They'll never look at a shooter again

My personal reccommendation would be FF9 for a kid's first FF. It's the easiest to play imo, and would ease them into learning RPG systems nicely, without too much micro-management.
Under no circumstances buy them FFXIII. Ever. It doesn't even deserve the name.

I don't allow violent real-world play so I don't allow violent video-games. PEGI ratings rule in this house.

Portal.

It used the same engine as Half Life and thus feels like a shooter for those obsessed with shooters and yet is one of the finest puzzle games (zero violence) out there, it is cerebral, intelligent and has one of the most stunningly beautiful plot lines in any game out there (especially when you move onto Portal 2) to add to the story. Not only is it brilliant for all ages, but it'll make them think too.

Make sure you play Portal 1 first though, or number 2 will make a lot less sense. The one "issue" is that the only way I know of to get Portal 1 on the XBox or PS3 is as part of "The Orange Box" which includes Half Life (a shooter) in the box...

My DD loved both portal games at 4, though I needed to help a lot (I.e. do much of the game for her) to get her through it. :). It's perfect for any child IMO

Ds1 (15) plays all the 18+ games and I'm happy to allow that; ds2 (7) does occasionally go into his room while he's playing but rarely stays long unless FIFA or minecraft is on, he's quite happy with skylanders.

I also think that as women/mums we have to look at what boys/sons like to do, we may not like it, understand it, see what they enjoy/get out of it, but we are not boys/sons and they are different to us. You have to respect that and balance what you feel is appropriate for YOUR child to play. With my 11 yo DS we have an agreed written contract that we drafted together about all his X-Box play, when, how often, Live rules etc etc and he know he has to stick to that or he can't play. Right now he is not allowed on the X-Box for being grumpy and rude and not getting off when he was told, so no X-Box for 24 hrs which he is totally understands. He does not play it all the time and spent most of yesturday fleecing us all at Monopoly!

I'm having issues with DS at the moment. He is desperate to have 15/18 games because 'all his friends have them' but I won't allow it.

Last night, I adjusted the family settings on the Xbox but it now seems to have blocked him playing any online games with his friends.

I don't want him to think I'm being unfair to him, I want him to understand why I don't want him to play some of these games.

At the moment, the Xbox is causing me much stress and I wish DS had never bought it .

It is good to hear game recommendations, stuntgirl. I'll see if I can get any of them on lovefilm for DS to try out.

I second Portal, it is a wonderful game!

"I also think that as women/mums we have to look at what boys/sons like to do, we may not like it, understand it, see what they enjoy/get out of it, but we are not boys/sons and they are different to us."

I'm a gamer, I totally get the appeal in violent video games. I play them myself. And I think it is precisely why I disagree with ignoring the PEGI ratings.

Portal was tricky! When I was a teenager we were all obsessed with Mario Kart. How things have changed!

I'm pg now with a gamer husband, and I don't think I'd let them play the violent stuff together. There's not hard evidence of damage caused (that I know of) but with so many great alternatives out there, why do it? (I say before being subjected to arguments that everyone else is allowed to do it!)

YANBU. I always wonder whether those parents who give kids these adult games have played them themselves. I was a gamer before DD and I would never let DD play call of duty until she's an adult.

And yes to noblegiraffe about people being vile over the headset. Get yourselves on xbox live and hear for yourselves.