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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How old for PS4 games such as Grand Theft Auto/Call of Duty?

72 replies

BearAusten · 04/08/2021 19:11

I have a tendency to be over protective and I no longer trust my own judgement. I know my 11 year old son’s friends are playing Grand Theft Auto and Call of Duty. I looked at C of D and hated it. Thought it was awful. But friends and peers have all stopped playing things like Fortnite and Minecraft. Am I causing problems for him?

OP posts:
DelurkingAJ · 04/08/2021 19:14

They’re 18 for a reason. DH is a gamer and won’t let DSs near them until ‘at least 16’.

Original poster
BearAusten · 04/08/2021 19:17

Why is this that though?

OP posts:
gamerchick · 04/08/2021 19:18

Not for 11. GTA is completely banned in my house.

Halo maybe I would allow for 11.

DelurkingAJ · 04/08/2021 19:19

Hardcore, realistic violence. Porn. Ability to pay for sex. Ability to run over people.

Clymene · 04/08/2021 19:19

Never in my house. Both awful games which I won't allow across the threshold.

The argument that other children are allowed it is one you're going to have to toughen up against. Believe me, that one will run and run if you don't nip it in the bud right now.

Original poster
BearAusten · 04/08/2021 19:22

Thank you. I think it might just be banned completely and forever. Will have a look at Halo.

I take it then that not all the boys at secondary will be playing GTA and C of D then?

OP posts:
paddler78 · 04/08/2021 19:22

www.commonsensemedia.org/homepage is a good resource for opinions on game age ratings by both parents and children.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 04/08/2021 19:23

Enlisted is a bit like COD in some ways but not as vile.
I still don't think it would be great for an 11 year old but might consider in a moment of weakness.
Kid3 is 14 and plays enlisted.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 04/08/2021 19:24

Kid2 is 16 and kid3 is 14. They haven't played gta nor cod at my house - gta at their dad's, I think.
Kid2 has spent the day playing a legend of zelda game.
He hates the online types of game.

Original poster
BearAusten · 04/08/2021 19:24

My main fear is him being excluded from his peer group. Will have a look common sense website. Thank you, paddler.

OP posts:
SirSamuelVimes · 04/08/2021 19:24

Literally never. Not until they move out and have their own house.

No-one is role playing raping a woman in my house. Not fucking ever, matter how old they are.

Hankunamatata · 04/08/2021 19:25

Dh games. And he has said no to cod and gta. Then again we have limited fortnite as 13 yr old dc getting way too stroppy and aggressive

Insertfunnyname · 04/08/2021 19:25

Hardcore, realistic violence. Porn. Ability to pay for sex. Ability to run over people

What she said.

It’s an 18 rating so I’d say 16-18yr at the minimum. Preferably something so violent and sexist wouldn’t be in my house at all.

Original poster
BearAusten · 04/08/2021 19:26

I had no idea about the raping and prostitution aspects to the games.

OP posts:
Hankunamatata · 04/08/2021 19:27

We caved and let 10 year old play fortnite as all friends were playing it. His behaviour rapidly deteriorated and was getting so upset. So we stopped it.

Purplespup16 · 04/08/2021 19:28

My DH and I are gamers. We have GTA but DH wasn’t interested and I lost interest about 3/4 through. Neither of us play Call of Duty.

From experience both these games are played online and while you can have private games are more rewarding to play with strangers. This is the most concerning issue for us. The community can be extremely unruly and toxic with strangers telling anyone they like anything and it is not monitored. You can report people but by then the damage is usually done.

So no I wouldn’t allow an 11 year old to play either and I consider myself fairly relaxed when it comes to gaming. There is a social media platform called Twitch where you can watch people playing these games for yourself I highly recommend you do and for more then 2 minutes. It will give you better insight into why you are saying No.

Unfortunately if his friends are playing these then yes he will be left out/feel abandoned.

TheSkatesOfCoachBombay · 04/08/2021 19:28

Really not suitable. I mean in GTA you can literally beat someone to death with a baseball bat and there's rather graphic blood and stuff.

Call of Duty is also graphic in its nature and has some adult themes in the story line.

I get where you are coming from though OP. I sometimes feel I'm overprotective DS is nearly 7 and the only game I will let him have is Minecraft. He asked for fortnight last year and o said no because of the implied shooting violence 😳 he's never asked again though so I'll leave it for now.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 04/08/2021 19:29

We had COD but turned the blood off in settings, not at 11though more like 13/14.

GTA- never.

Halo is great and a good option to keep on with his peers.

Original poster
BearAusten · 04/08/2021 19:32

We only caved with Fortnite when my ds was 10 during Lockdown. However, I have been made to feel guilty for not doing it sooner.

OP posts:
DelphiniumBlue · 04/08/2021 19:35

Definitely not GTA in my house, ever. This was a rule for all 3 of my boys, and it wasn't a problem ,they still had friends. They knew why they weren't allowed to play it, although they probably did at other houses.
COD I didn't think was such an issue- realistic violence ,I felt ,was better than the sort of game where people get killed but in a more sanitised way. Killing people is bloody. I think COD is a 16+? Depending on the child, I don't think I'd let an 11 year old play it, but 14 is probably OK.

Original poster
BearAusten · 04/08/2021 19:36

Due to it being on PS4 I can see what his friends have been playing and it seems to be all GTA and COD. I have never seen Halo mentioned in any of the games they play. I just have to cross fingers that at secondary, there will be other boys who don’t play such violent games as GTA and COD.

OP posts:
CatsArePeople · 04/08/2021 19:36

CoD ok for maybe 12. GTA wait until 15-16

Maybe try to allow other "grown up" but decent games, like Skyrim? Assasin's Creed?

Original poster
BearAusten · 04/08/2021 19:38

I have heard of Assassin’s Creed but know nothing about it. I just presumed due to the name it would be just as bad.

OP posts:
Fernando072020 · 04/08/2021 19:46

I'm a ps4 player.
Assassin's creed isn't as bad as GTA and cod. Valhalla is a bit brutal when killing but in general, the series is not as "bad" as the others you mentioned.
It's up to you to judge what your children can handle, their maturity for which games. I was pretty much left to my own devices as a teen and was playing GTA from 13 years old. I'm not saying that it was right, but I'm not a violent person at all, never hit anyone, not aggressive in the slightest! I just love gaming and it didn't negatively influence me.
Gaming is talked about a lot in high school, when I was working in a school last year the 8th graders were mainly allowed to play assassin's creed, Fortnite, cod but not gta, far cry or red dead.

Fernando072020 · 04/08/2021 19:47

Sorry, my first sentence was worded wrong 🤦🏼‍♀️ I meant cod also isn't as bad as gta