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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Xbox games

27 replies

Ifonlyiknewalltheanswers · 09/01/2017 20:14

AIBU to not want my 13yr old son to have GTA5 to play on his Xbox? Apparently he is "one of only 3 boys" in his class who doesn't have it! I have casually checked with a number of parents, and yes their boys do have it so his claim could be partly true. OK, my son is 14 at the end of Jan but GTA5 is for 18. Not having played it, I'm basing my decision on the reviews I've read regarding its violence but is it worse than Call of Duty which his older brother has but 13yr old does play with?

OP posts:
whyohwhy000 · 09/01/2017 20:17

Point the other parents to the packaging on the front which says "18".

whyohwhy000 · 09/01/2017 20:19

It's also been banned in Australia because of the content.

TheInternetIsForPorn · 09/01/2017 21:36

No you aren't unreasonable. It's a great game but one where the 18 rating is important to listen to.

Mivery · 09/01/2017 21:38

Definitely not appropriate for a kid his age. There's a lot of commentary on violence and sex in the story that he'll take at face value.

Theweasleytwins · 09/01/2017 21:43

DH plays it and one of the characters is disgusting. Trevor I think his name is

Earlgreywithmilk · 09/01/2017 21:47

My ds13 has a couple of other 18's (battlefield and another one) but the rating is due to the goriness as its a war game so I only let him play it with the gory setting turned off. However he knows there's no way he's allowed GTA. It has all sorts of bad stuf, violence towards women etc.
also my nephew used to play it and he now is a no-good waster with a criminal record.
I blame GTA!

Allthebestnamesareused · 09/01/2017 21:49

We operate a no GTA in this house - youngest DS 15. Oldest DS 24 (own home) still asks me every Christmas for it - as a joke - still gets No as an answer!

BadLad · 09/01/2017 21:50

It's also been banned in Australia because of the content.

No, it hasn't.

HerBluebiro · 09/01/2017 21:55

I played gta at a similar age (it was not 3d then. But I remember getting extra points for running over a group of people). I'm now a professional who rarely drinks and has never done drugs and who would have to have a personality transplant before I did anything likely to result in jail.

I blame gta for my life choices too....

Magzmarsh · 09/01/2017 21:55

I know 5 year olds who regularly play this stuff with their parents. A boy in ds primary class got the day off school to play a version that came out that day, he was ten at the time. I've never had to worry about it because ds now 15 has no interest in it. It must be a very difficult thing to deal with if your dc is being ostracised for not (quite rightly) being allowed to play it.

Original poster
Ifonlyiknewalltheanswers · 09/01/2017 22:21

Thanks for all your comments.

OP posts:
BadLad · 09/01/2017 22:37

It's a brilliant game. I'd make him wait until he was 18, personally.

AnArrowToTheKnee · 09/01/2017 23:12

I'm a gamer myself, I actually quite enjoy the GTA games, but it's rated 18 for a reason - GTA has a lot of content that really isn't suitable for a 13/14 year old.

MummyIsAFreeElf · 10/01/2017 03:58

My DP plays the GTA games and they are downright disgusting! I'm not easily horrified but i felt like I was too young to be exposed to its content haha. My DP has a 14 yr old brother and he confiscated the game saying he could have it back when he was 18. I'm not one for sticking to game ratings but GTA is religiously adhered to 😂

Nataleejah · 10/01/2017 06:19

If he's the youngest/only child in the house, i'd maybe give in.
But if not, stick to no.
I allow plenty of 18 rated games, like Assasins Creed, but GTA is just bad taste regardless of how old you are.

Original poster
Ifonlyiknewalltheanswers · 10/01/2017 06:57

Grateful for all your opinions. Have a lovely day.

OP posts:
GunnyHighway · 10/01/2017 08:04

Disclaimer, I t think GTA is one of the best games around.

I think you should judge whether or not to get the game for a 13YO on how mature they are. It is a violent game there's no doubt. There is also a mission requiring you to torture some one for info. My own Dd didn't play it until she was 15-16 and then she made me play certain parts for her as she was to squeamish. There is also fairly liberal use of the word cunt. So maybe 13 is too young.

TheInternetIsForPorn · 10/01/2017 08:05

HerBlue the original GTA had nothing like the graphic content of GTA 5. I'm a very robust and experienced gamer and there was on scene in GTA5 that was a scene you had to complete to continue with the game that made even me uncomfortable.

The 2D top down GTA is a very different kettle of fish to the modern game of torture, assault and graphic violence.

IloveJudgeJudy · 10/01/2017 08:46

Same as Allthebest here. DS1 is 22, DS2 is 18. GTA will never be allowed in my/DH's house. The boys both still ask for b'day/Xmas, as a joke, knowing the answer will always be No. They can (don't bother any more) argue all they like, but GTA is never coming in! They can play it outside the house, at friends' houses now as they're both adults. Smile

EdmundCleverClogs · 10/01/2017 09:14

The GTA series is fantastic, still find it hilarious how hysterical some people become over it! However, in its current form it's certainly aged 18 for a reason. If it was my child, I may make a personal judgement on their maturity ages 16/17 (as with similar things such as Game of Thrones for example). It's a shame this generation wouldn't be interested in the original PC version, which may still be labelled 18, but is a lot milder than today's versions.

Eevee77 · 10/01/2017 09:17

15-16 maybe, but 13? No

user1480946351 · 10/01/2017 09:19

He doesn't "have to". Don't blame other people if you don't do your job. Who cares how many other kids play it?

HelenaGWells · 10/01/2017 09:25

The 2D top down GTA is a very different kettle of fish to the modern game of torture, assault and graphic violence.

This. Games are much more realistic these days. It's like an immersive movie and
It does affect you in a way older games never did.

As a gamer myself some 18's I would allow at 15+ and some I wouldn't. It's the same
With movies, some 18's are ok younger and some are not. It's common sense, knowing the content and knowing your child.

GTA contains a lot Of violence, swearing, sexual stuff, torture and some things that make adults queasy. It is definitely in the not until you are 18 category in our house.

HelenaGWells · 10/01/2017 09:28

Btw I wouldn't mind them playing the older top down GTA from younger as it's nothing like the recent incarnations. You can still shoot people and run people over but it's all so cartoony and clunky it feels lighthearted and just silly rather than immersive and realistic.

Islacornx · 10/01/2017 09:36

I definitely think 13 isn't mature enough for the content. Having seen people playing it it contains A LOT of violence, swearing and sexual content (strip clubs - where you can get a lap dance and prostitutes where you can take them to have sex in your car) the graphics are quite realistic so I would definitely wait until he's a bit older (15/16) and then reassess his maturity levels.

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