Grand Theft Auto

[Thesleepykettle]

Does anyone allow their 14 yr old to play GTA? I hate the game and all it entails. I told my ds14 that I wouldn't allow it in my house but naively said that before he got an online Xbox and he downloaded it. Don't ask about restrictions and parental controls because I cannot get into any of his tech without absolute fights. Currently there's a stand off that until he agrees to delete it, his controller is locked in the safe.

I let my oldest have it at 13 only because a friend gave it to him, it was a big deal to him at the time too but he only played a handful of times and hasn't touched it since (now 15). So I think maybe the idea of it is more exciting than the reality?

Nope absolutely not. It's a horrible game with awful themes in it. My sons friends knew not to bring any GTA to our house to play because it simply wouldn't be allowed when they were that age.

Aren't those a bit old now? I get that they're distasteful, but at 14 i'd give up. It's only a pretty silly game.

Absolutely not.
If DS cannot abide by the rules that you set, then you’ll have to put controls on the Xbox.
I have similar controls on my DS laptop and it’s fab, turns off at certain times or only allows a specified number of screen time hours a day. Takes all the arguments out of it now that he’s used to it. I also control internet connection to other devices (phone, echo dot etc) via the router.
If you come across a game that you’re not familiar with, you can look it up on common sense media which is usually a pretty balanced view.

Foul game. I won't allow DS to have it. It is rated 18 for a reason

Yes the age restrictions are a big clue OP. A lot of parents don't care though. I wouldn't want any ds of mine to play 'games' in which women are targeted and murdered, but then again most porn now is violent and rape based so there isn't much difference. How lovely.

No way on this house. I would take the device whilst they were out and it would go in the boot or the loft

Yep the controllers still in the safe and staying there. I just don't get why people even make games like this..

We've been fairly liberal regarding gaming but my dc know I won't have that game in my house. Ds1 is 16 now and probably has played it at friends' but hasn't asked for it at home for a couple of years. It's vile.

@Thesleepykettle

Yep the controllers still in the safe and staying there. I just don't get why people even make games like this..

Because they're fun to play? Kids can now check the news and see war crimes in Ukraine, yet the game where they can run around in a very fictional setting shooting their mates and have a good joke is the bad guy

@CatsArePeople distasteful? Have sex with a prostitute and then murder her to get your money back. I would say a bit more than distasteful. Plus murder, violence and mafia wars. Banned in my house and my sons are almost 19 and almost 16.

They do play military style games but not call of duty mainly Ds1 though as he plays with his mates.

hiimjackie can't you tell the difference between actual real life news and game? What a dumb comment. Why is it OK to have a game which turns murdering women into a sport? Because there is a war in Ukraine ? Jesus wept. Misogynistic, much?

@KaptainKaveman

hiimjackie can't you tell the difference between actual real life news and game? What a dumb comment. Why is it OK to have a game which turns murdering women into a sport? Because there is a war in Ukraine ? Jesus wept. Misogynistic, much?

Have you played GTA? Funnily enough in the story mode of the game you don't canonically kill one woman, obviously in the free roam section you can kill women but that's up to the player?

GTA is not what it used to be, you can now fly about on flying bikes and have very cartoonish laser weapons, maybe you should give it a go it might lighten you up a bit

Oh it's up to the player. Well that's all right then. And what could be more normal and healthy for a growing boy tha to be playing a game where you can chose to kill women like bugs.

No , no GTA in this house. No COD either.

My two (14 &17) have GTA, they rarely play it. I think once they reach high school you're lost control about what information they receive and have to rely on the foundations that you have built with your children.

I also let them watch they want, they wouldn't choose (well, the younger one wouldn't) to watch anything that was really horrific, it's just not their cup of tea. The 17 year drives, studies & works, the idea of censoring what he plays/watches is hilarious!!

Primary age children playing GTA is wrong on every level though.

obviously in the free roam section you can kill women but that's up to the player

Well done for justifying casual violence against women . You're a disgrace.

And telling me to "lighten up" because I'm against games where people casually murder women? Fuck me you're weird.

...ok so apparently he's playing Online version and after looking up on IMDB it's "tamer" than story mode. No drugs, no prostitutes, no killing women, no kneecapping or torturing which I read that happens on one of the games. I still don't like it..

Jeez it's a game, does he watch horror movies or general TV? Because ya know, even in the news bad things happen. I played it growing up, I have never murdered a woman to my knowledge... if you have a kid that ends up doing stuff like that gaming isn't where it came from.

Also. Women aren't targeted and murdered in the gams. Crass as it sounds, in free mode anyone is fair game... so again. Sounds like a you problem if that's what your kids decide to do with a game.

It's a foul game and the age ratings are for a reason! He is a child. You are on control and you pay for the braodband