What's the harm in letting a child plan an 18 rated game anyway?

[GusHaines]

Having played a lot of games in my time I believe I am able to offer some advice here.

18 rated content in a game is the same as 18 rated content in a film.
Most games contain sex, violence, heavy swearing and drug use.

I remember the amount of people that let their children have GTA V for example. In this game there is a lot of sex, a rape scene, there are strip clubs, sex, prostitutes, murders, violence, drug use and an elevate amount of swearing.

One of the Call of Duty games has the word "f**k" said about 3 times in the opening scene. That should set the pace for you..

Red dead redemption has sex references including anal sex.

Fallout 4 has heavy drug use

All the above games contain excessive violence. The above games form a small part of the total amount of 18 rated games out there. Most of the hardcore content is hidden in the game and is not obvious until you have played the game for a while.

Before you buy an 18 rated game for your child this Christmas ask yourself a few questions;

1. Would I buy an 18 rated film that I have not watched for my child?
2. Do I know exactly what content is hidden in the game?
3. Is my child mature enough to understand right from wrong and am I mature enough to answer that question honestly?
4. Am I weak and easily bow to peer pressure?
5. Do I know exactly who my child will be playing and chatting to when they play online?

We all know kids are exposed to hardcore sexual content online, swearing at school and drugs and violence on the news and TV. But should we allow this to be the norm?

I am a dad and I like to play the games mentioned above.But I never play them in front of my kids.

I hope that's a little food for thought.

PS, remember the guy in the video game store probably has no clue of all the content within the game so may not be a reliable authority on this matter.

Thank you Gus. Interesting first post.

Gosh, I would have made such a big mistake if you hadn't posted this [wrings hands]

Meh, can't get worked up about it. DBro aged 14 plays 18+ video games. He is the loveliest, most mature teenage boy you could ever hope to meet (IMO).

As for swearing, in my family we are all swearers. Big deal!!!

PS no shit though, sherlock.

I don't think anyone should play them so no worries for my DC there!

Why the aggression, maybebabybee have you been playing too many 18-rated games?!

Joking aside, I totally agree with the op and there are far too many ignorant or lazy parents who go for the easy option. It boils my piss that ds (11) is under peer pressure to play cod, gta etc because all his friends do. He is excluded from many conversations about general gaming because he doesn't know what's in the games.

Me playing them? You're joking, I am such a wuss I can't even look at blood

Apologies if I cane off aggressive though, I just thought the OP's post was patronising.

Oh no, not at all maybe I was just imitating a pearl clutcher! The thing is, whilst it does seem to state the obvious, that's what is so bloody infuriating about the situation. Some parents are just so un savvy about what exactly is in these games. In the same way that most parents would baulk at letting their 12,13 yr ds watching porn that's exactly what these games contain. They are largely misogynistic and often quite racist. I admit to swearing like a sailor in front of my kids but gaming nowadays.is so immersive that it's the role playing I worry about.

Omg swearing really?? Will noone think of the children

(Like how the shooting people part was not the worst bit of cod)

Who are you talking to ottothedog