Age Ratings: Guidelines or Must-follow rules?

[Joshua112321]

umm... So well I'm sure some of you saw my last post, "Assassin's Creed: Is it really that bad?" In which everyone started saying I was a a minor and that I shouldn't be playing games that aren't for my age rating.

So as for the post, well my question is: When it comes to age ratings, are they just guidelines, or do you always have to be of age (in your opinion) to play said games?

I'll start:
I believe that this is not true for all cases, as you can't put an age rating on a game, or even movie, and expect all of the people of that age to be mature enough to play/watch it, or that some people may be mature enough to play/watch it before the guide-lined age. heck some people don't grow up at all, some people grow up slower than others and some just mature incredibly fast. And none of them are going to be the same, everyone grows up differently, the body parts are separate so most of your organs such as the brain, age differently and are more vulnerable to "the sponge effect", meanwhile others are near not susceptible to these effects.

note: during that topic I may have showed aggressive behavior towards people however I would like to apologize for that right now as Anything I may have said to offend you was said in the heat of the moment. So once again apologies for that

 

[Midnight Crossroads]

Age limits in all forms in video games are bull. I can see some sense in pornographic material, but in general it's like saying minors can't read A Tale of Two Cities because it's violent. Children are far smarter than most people give them credit for.

 

[MellowFellow]

I think it depends on the game, for example, my parents allowed my brother and I to play the first halo when I was 14 and my brother was 11, because they saw that it as a game that wasn't as gory as other M rated games. Some M games I think are okay for younger kids to play.

I also believe that many kids want to play M rated games because they are M rated games.

 

[Joshua112321]

I think it depends on the game, for example, my parents allowed my brother and I to play the first halo when I was 14 and my brother was 11, because they saw that it as a game that wasn't as gory as other M rated games. Some M games I think are okay for younger kids to play.

I also believe that many kids want to play M rated games because they are M rated games.

Ok, so say I chose assassin's creed 2, which I believe to be rated M in america. Now seriously, nobody can tell me or anyone that they chose that game because of the fact that it's rated M. The game has AMAZING scenery, with graphics to match; and the gameplay is so intuitive, and the game involves tactic, strategy, It's not just run into that place and kill everyone in there, because if you try that you're dead within seconds.

Hey, I agree with you on literally everything that you said, just sort of wanted to say that not ALL kids do choose games just because they are rated M.

K just about to post this when I noticed that you said some; but I'm still going to keep the post just to stick up for the kids out there

edit:
This is mainly based around the UK where they use actual AGE ratings, so 3+, 7+, 12+, 15+ and 18+. however people in the US can add to the conversation, as, if I am correct, each age rating has an actual age behind it, such as teen is for 13+ am I right?

 

[Therumancer]

Age limits in all forms in video games are bull. I can see some sense in pornographic material, but in general it's like saying minors can't read A Tale of Two Cities because it's violent. Children are far smarter than most people give them credit for.

Smarter does not mean mature. One of the things about adults is that in most cases we know when we're acting "immature" and can turn it on and off, kids cannot. Yes, this means that a lot of the adults acting like douches online are generally doing it with the full knowlege that they are being immature douches. Odd as it might sound, that is a way of letting your hair down so to speak.

What's more your arguement would ultimatly mean halting the progress of gaming as a medium, which is a no-no. I mean, who says games can't be porn or involve pornographic material? If you don't rate them properly because your not going there, the it means you can't ever go there based on your own arguements. That means no sex scenes and so on.

I believe a rating system is a good thing for games as long as it's done properly. Right now I tend to think that part of the problem is that a lot of "Teen" rated games are being labeled "Mature" so to speak. Companies "up rating" rather than bothering to fight for a proper rating system. "Teen" or PG-13 allows for things like breast nudity, snogging, and a substantial degree of violence especially if it's unbelievable violence (either with the details glossed over, or so over the top that nobody can take it seriously). I believe this give a lot of people the impression that the "M" rating can't be taken seriously, with parents buying "M" rated games based on their experience with over-rated titles. This is also why using those titles it's fairly easy to make a case for why not exposing teens to that material is over protective.

When it comes to "M" rated games, it's not so much the violence or sex itself that is the problem but the messages inherant in those games. Things like "Grand Theft Auto" and the like present and glamourize specific lifestyles and ways of doing things that are not socially acceptable. When we as a society are already dealing with kids joining gangs and turning to crime at a relatively young age, the last thing we need is to present material that seems to put a societal stamp of approval on those values and that way of living. An adult is able to differentiate that these things are wrong (fun perhaps, but wrong) and that no matter what kind of twisted code of honor might be expressed, this is ultimatly a story about the bad guys. Kids are less likely to pick up on that. The issue isn't that kids are going to become detached from reality and start whacking people to death with crowboars because they "don't understand the repercussions" but many might begin to see that things like selling drugs is okay, and being a pimp is a respectable job to aspire to. The games won't be responsible on their own but with pressures already leading kids in those directions the games can add to it.

My basic attitude is that censorship is wrong, games should engage in all the deviant sexuality and horrible violence people can stomach when rated for it, and neither goverments or private institutions should have any kind of control (even indirect) over regulating the content itself. I do however think that ratings are absolutly fine.

Right now I think the ratings system can only act as a guideline. The problem with making it a criminal offense similar to selling booze or cigarettes to minors (as some have suggested) is that as I pointed out the ratings are not consistant. Over protective "watchdogs" have force the industry to overrate. Get it so the games with a "T" (or PG/PG-13) rating are accuratly labeled, and the "M" (R rated) and AO (X - XXX rated) likewise consistantly have the kinds of content that warrent such extreme ratings... then perhaps it can be taken seriously. Right now there are plenty of games people can point to that justify an "M" rating, and others that really don't.

 

[CRoone]

For my part, I figure that Age Limits are ultimately just guidelines, but ones that really *should* be adheered to.

I understand that Sex and Violence are practically pervasive across the internet and most of the other sectors of New Media. To each his own, but a lot of parents (at least, as far as I've seen) don't seem to care too much about setting their kids straight about Sex and Violence. Kids are indeed smarter and more perceptive than adults give them credit for, but they're also impressionable and, subconsciously, are driven to do just about anything to gain the approval of the people they like. It stands to reason, then, that if a boy has an older brother that's into M-rated games, and said older brother doesn't shoo him out of the room for the more...meaty parts, I guess...the boy might begin to equate the Sex and Violence in those meaty parts to the feelings of acceptance, all while not being set straight about the real cultural attitudes one is supposed to have about those things.

I'm not saying that if older brothers let their younger brothers watch them play the latest GTA, the younger brothers will become crass, lewd punks before they've reached puberty. I HATE it when people make that arguement. My concern is that, with an ever-younger audience viewing the Sex and Violence once reserved for adults, more and greater efforts should be made to reach them and teach them the real social attitudes toward those things. Violence in a Video Game equals Good, Violence in Real Life equals Not So Good, etc.

Ratings Systems should be followed and adheered to, even if just voluntarily. Unfortunately, it just feels like many adults just don't care about what their kids are getting into. I hope that's going to change. Fortunately, now that more of the First Internet Generation (circa Early 1980s-Mid 1990s) are coming of age to have and raise kids, I figure that change will come.

...Or will it?...

 

[Funkiest Monkey]

I do believe they are guidelines. My younger sister is 8 (more mature than I am, in some ways!), and I vet what she can and can't play with me.

For instance; CoD is okay, GTA is not.

 

[BreakfastMan]

I would say that they are guidelines. For example, I would not mind 14 year-old brother playing Halo, Fable, Metal Gear Solid 2, or COD4, but I would keep him far away from stuff like Condemned 1+2, killer7, Silent Hill 2, Dragon Age, God of War, FEAR, etc. It really just depends on the game. Some M rated games are better than others in respect to mature content. I would even argue that some are even close to a T rating. It is really just up to the parents/legal guardians to decide what is best.

 

[Joshua112321]

I do believe they are guidelines. My younger sister is 8 (more mature than I am, in some ways!), and I vet what she can and can't play with me.

For instance; CoD is okay, GTA is not.

duuuuuuuuuuude awesome you have an 8 year old SISTER that plays call of duty, that is just so rare... speaking of, what's your PSN/LIVE/STEAM?

 

[Funkiest Monkey]

I do believe they are guidelines. My younger sister is 8 (more mature than I am, in some ways!), and I vet what she can and can't play with me.

For instance; CoD is okay, GTA is not.

duuuuuuuuuuude awesome you have an 8 year old SISTER that plays call of duty, that is just so rare... speaking of, what's your PSN/LIVE/STEAM?

SchindlersFist on Live

 

[Miumaru]

It depends on the child. However, parents should be aware. I certainly played Duke Nukem 3D on PC waaaaay before I was 18. Mouthy kids should be barred from society though.

 

[Nouw]

Guidelines for me. Must Follow for my Parents.

I can handle all kinds of violence and gore. I'm more mature than 90% of my age.

 

[Midnight Crossroads]

Age limits in all forms in video games are bull. I can see some sense in pornographic material, but in general it's like saying minors can't read A Tale of Two Cities because it's violent. Children are far smarter than most people give them credit for.

Smarter does not mean mature. One of the things about adults is that in most cases we know when we're acting "immature" and can turn it on and off, kids cannot. Yes, this means that a lot of the adults acting like douches online are generally doing it with the full knowlege that they are being immature douches. Odd as it might sound, that is a way of letting your hair down so to speak.

What's more your arguement would ultimatly mean halting the progress of gaming as a medium, which is a no-no. I mean, who says games can't be porn or involve pornographic material? If you don't rate them properly because your not going there, the it means you can't ever go there based on your own arguements. That means no sex scenes and so on.

Wait, what? First, how does anything I say mean that gaming as a medium would halt all progress? How would suddenly stripping games of arbitrary age ratings prevent innovation in games? I said it would make sense to mark pornographic games as such. That makes sense as they're somewhat of a special case in gaming. Having something to identify them as such doesn't mean you can't continue to make them.

Also, I'm not understanding the first paragraph. Ratings for video games have nothing to do with their maturity(violence, gore, nudity, swearing, drug use, etc. all seem to actually be immature to me.) Nor does age equal maturity.

 

[Joshua112321]

@Therumancer

... I have actually had enough of you for today... seriously if you are only going to quote peoples comments and talk about their flaws, then you should probably leave, unless you feel like actually saying something on topic that is

 

[MellowFellow]

I think it depends on the game, for example, my parents allowed my brother and I to play the first halo when I was 14 and my brother was 11, because they saw that it as a game that wasn't as gory as other M rated games. Some M games I think are okay for younger kids to play.

I also believe that many kids want to play M rated games because they are M rated games.

Ok, so say I chose assassin's creed 2, which I believe to be rated M in america. Now seriously, nobody can tell me or anyone that they chose that game because of the fact that it's rated M. The game has AMAZING scenery, with graphics to match; and the gameplay is so intuitive, and the game involves tactic, strategy, It's not just run into that place and kill everyone in there, because if you try that you're dead within seconds.

Hey, I agree with you on literally everything that you said, just sort of wanted to say that not ALL kids do choose games just because they are rated M.

K just about to post this when I noticed that you said some; but I'm still going to keep the post just to stick up for the kids out there

edit:
This is mainly based around the UK where they use actual AGE ratings, so 3+, 7+, 12+, 15+ and 18+. however people in the US can add to the conversation, as, if I am correct, each age rating has an actual age behind it, such as teen is for 13+ am I right?

Sorry, I didn't mean to say that all kids did. I said it because that seemed to me to be one of the reasons my brother wanted to play m games, since they were something he could have at the time, and many other younger kids I have seen at game stores.

 

[Thedayrecker]

Age limits in all forms in video games are bull. I can see some sense in pornographic material, but in general it's like saying minors can't read A Tale of Two Cities because it's violent. Children are far smarter than most people give them credit for.

Actually you can't read a Tale of Two Cities, because it's like smashing your head against a brick wall.

OT: I just turned 17, so as far as I'm concerned age limits can go fuck themselves (except for the voting age limit)

 

[Pegghead]

I believe that they're more or less guidelines rather than must-follow rules.

 

[StriderShinryu]

I would say that, while they are there for good reason, ratings are more guidelines than rules.

Personally, I find actual content descriptors to be far more telling than a simple letter stamp on the box but I realize delving into that level of.. research can be too difficult for some people to handle. A qualified parent, or someone purchasing a game for a younger person, can learn a heck of a lot more just by reading basic content descriptors than by seeing an M or T on the box (though one could also say a qualified parent should be willing and able to actually search beyond that as well to the point of at least reading reviews if not outright trying the game themselves).

 

[squid5580]

They are ratings for parents not you. They are there to help parents/guardians decide whether or not their kid/charge are mature enough to handle the content within the box. So I guess they are guidelines to help parents establish the rules.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

Yes, I believe that it should be a rule. It already is in the UK after all and the Australians don't get anything that would normally earn an 18+ rating.

Why do I believe this? Because I've had one to many encounters with young kids playing Modern Warfare 2, and Halo and Left 4 Dead and Gears of War. All games with a 17+ rating and just from hearing the voices, I can tell these kids aren't even old enough to be playing a 13+ game. And the things these kids utter over Xbox Live. I met one kid in Left 4 Dead who, whenever he pinned a survivor, would call them a ******.

I know that there is a law in place about banning the sales of 'violent' video games to minors, but saying that leaves numerous loopholes for people to exploit. Almost every game has violence. Even the stuff made from chidlren's tv shows have violence in them. What I would support, is a system in which the sales of Teen and Mature rated games was banned from those who do not show proper identification and do not meet the specifications asked by the game rating.