Call of Duty Wii games - DS wants them

[Cretaceous]

My DS has just turned 11. I have said he can't have this game on principle, as I don't like war games. But most importantly, the COD series seem to be for age 15+. However, I've since discovered that just about every lad in his class has these games. And yesterday a girl in his class told him that even her brother in Year 4 plays it.

I'm a bit of an old dinosaur, hence my name. Do I need to lighten up? My DS is so good, polite, doesn't swear, is not at all aggressive and is kind to his sister. (He has plenty of faults in the dirt and mess areas, but they aren't relevant here!) Last night, he left a long persuasive letter on our pillow, ending "This is a wonderful opportunity, and a decision you will not regret, as prices [of old games] are down by about £5 now that COD7 is out!" He obviously thinks I'm an old miser

Has anyone let their children play this game? Is it really violent? What have you done? I can't really discuss the issues with my friends, as it's like I'm criticising them for allowing the game.

Thank you - the replies have all been so useful. A few weeks ago, I started to discuss this with the parents of one of DS's friends. This led to the couple having an argument, as the husband hadn't thought it suitable, but the wife had nonetheless bought it, as she didn't want her DS to be left out.

Deaddei - loved the pun. I am sticking to my guns.

Mummypumkin - blimey, surely Grand Theft Auto isn't suitable for adults either! Can't believe they'd let an 8yo watch it.

Altinkum ? I think the age rating isn't really to do with how easy the games are when it comes to 15+ etc, but more how graphic the content is. Therefore, a game is rated eg 18 because it has strong violence or language in it, not because it is harder to play iyswim.

DS did understand when I told him. He's not bothered about being the odd-one-out, he just really liked the game. He's now trawling the web for evidence of the effects of COD. Apparently, it has no ill-effects on boys whose families loved them ? I explained I couldn't stand the sight of him, so we obviously couldn't possibly get the game, a kind of Catch 22.

He came back from school last night with a 12+ game a friend had lent him, because the friend is obviously so sorry for him having such a cruel mother! I said 12+ games are ok, although this one is subtitled Total War. Guess I'd better check it out!

I've just watched the trailer. There is no way this is suitable for an 11 year old, even if all his friends have it.

Call me an old dinosaur too, but the age is on the box for a reason. I wouldn't let an 11 year old watch a film for over 18's that contained sex scenes either.

The main problem I have with this game though is that it make warfare seem attractive. Under 18's are very impressionable, no matter how mature they think they are. Fighting in Afganistan is not really something I want my DCs to be doing.

If he's a level headed kid then I'm sure he'll be able to handle a game like COD with maturity. Obviously every child is different, but when I was younger I played games that were 15 or 18 certificates and I managed to get through life without turning into a murderer or a rapist or anything.

It's good that you're actually thinking about this though, too many parents just buy their children the latest games without paying any attention, then blame the games and the game industry and try and get stuff banned. Like Grand Theft Auto, no you cannot rape prostitutes in the game. You can have consensual sex with them (like that's so much better!), but you don't see any nudity, just a car bouncing up and down. Of course, still not really appropriate for children, although I remember playing GTA when I was about 11.

Sorry I went off on a tangent there, just I'm a big gaming fan, just get annoyed by lazy media and parents!

My son aged 20+ plays it, & he thinks it's not at all suitable for a child (& apparently once, when he was playing with internet connections, someone posted a profanity & a mother come on to complain because her 12-yr-old was playing & shouldn't be exposed to swearing...)

How about not exposing him to COD in the first place, they all thought

I'm a games tester and have been a gamer for about 28 years, I own all the systems.

I don't believe monkey see monkey is a good thing, so what if the other kids have played it?, I don't play online games because of all the foul mouthed racist/sexist tweens on there playing 18 rated games.

Don't give your kid something you know nothing about, you wouldn't let em watch a film that was too old for em without watching it yourself first, rent it if you will and play it, or just stick to buying games for his age.

Violence is not an issue for me, it is the language and attitude portrayed by the characters/protagonist that I see as more important, after all the news shows real people dead on the street and such at 1 in the after noon.

I've just gone back and read the replies to the OP, I'm finding the amount of ignorance expressed extremely amusing .

for one thing how do you "rape prostitutes" in GTA? I've played every single one released since 1997 and would like to know where that feature is?. you can hire one, they get in the car, the car goes up and down a bit and then you can kill em after and get your money back.

All this crap about GTA stems from it's success back in the day they hired Max Clifford to advertise the game, he managed to get discussed in parliament which led to massive sales (nothing like the fear of a ban to get people to buy).

GTA's are very childish, no violent and disturbing freeform games you can do what you like in, for example I spent the whole of GTA:SA riding around on a BMX and playing pool.

You are all talking about COD as if they are one game, the Wii one is very different to the 360/PS3 games, plus there are two types of COD the Modern Warfare series and the others, COD4:MW and COD:MW2.

Modern Warfare 2 is the one with the Russian airport section which can be skipped but shouldn't because it is important in the story, the CIA agent you play in the airport section who gets killed by the terrorists he has infiltrated and left behind is the reason for the war with the US that the US general planned all along.

At the end of the day sex in games is none existent, it is handled in an extremely childish way, showing absolutely nothing with just a few oohh sounds to let you know, hay this is a sex scene. it's more out of fear that they show nothing, fear of media backlash.

BTW

Ineedsomesleep

Call of Duty: Black Ops isn't even out yet and is for 360/PS3 and PC, it's the next game by Trayarch the devs behind Call of Duty: World at war which was not the last Call of Duty but the one before that, the last Call of Duty (the one with the Airport section) was Modern Warfare 2 made by Infinity Ward.

Altinkum I saw that, it was less about the computer game itself and more about the way it displays on screen. The time on the game, although not helpful (and in that boys case - not what he wanted most) wasn't the cause, and he would most likely have had the same affect even with less time in the game.

That aside, age ratings are there for a reason. The games industry nowadays is much less aimed at children, so peer pressure shouldn't be a reason to allow children access to age inappropriate games. It's exactly the same as age rated films.

Ryoko has a lot of good points.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! DH has it and its violent and addictive as heck. Say no, for the sake of your own sanity!

My ds turned 11 in June . He has the 15 age one not the 18 rated one . I bought it because he has played it at friends without my knowledge . He is starting secondary in Sept so peer pressure will be huge . He is a good son dont get me wrong he is lazy beyond n belief and a bit of a soap dodger but he is polite and kind and trys hard at school ok the school bit might be a bit of an exageration but he does all homework without too much whinging . Also if you dont give it you cant take it away for not doing things that are expected of them . Time it and discuss it with him you might be surprised how mature boys of 11 can be .