Are these game appropriate for a NINE year old?

[vivalahelvig]

as long as you keep the fucking mics away from them in multiplayer, im fine with that

 

[gamer_parent]

Eh, I don't know. While I don't think it'd traumatize him or anything, graphic imagery can still freak a kid out. I know Nightmare Before Christmas scared the shit out of me (even though I loved it). Particularly, those little vampire duck things. There was also that one time, when I was about 5, where I watched Jurassic Park every night until it gave me nightmares. Again, I don't think those things ruined me as a person, and I certainly don't have PTSD or anything, but I probably shouldn't have been watching them way back when.

Yeah, it's something everyone seems to have missed. Those games may not warp him into a killer but it's bad enough if they just scare the shit out of him. I know things are less tame these days but I watched aliens when I was 13 and it freaked me out for days. I mean actually freaked me out, I kept thinking I felt something in my throat and couldn't sleep without checking every dark corner. Aliens didn't affect me long term and it's one of my favourite films now, but it did scare me a lot when I was younger and I wouldn't let my kid watch it before they were about 16.

Incidentally, does everything need to be so horrible these days? I mean, I honestly think some people do have trouble distinguishing fantasy and reality and are desensitised to violence. Just look at the gore pictures on 4chan or any other image board.

I remember having a similar experience when my mom took me to watch The Black Cauldron at age 3 when it was first out in theaters. (My mom didn't know how graphic that would be)

Scared the living day lights out of me and she had to take me home because of it.

I don't know why everyone automatically thinks that parents are worried about their kid turning into serial killers. I mean, of course they are, but most of the time, maybe we just don't want our kids to get scared, or have to deal with that kind of stuff growing up.

 

[theironbat46]

Talk to your parents. I think he should be able to play AvP and L4D1&2. I mean does anyone care about aliens and/or zombies?

 

[Battenbergcake]

Kinda hypocritical since most of those games are rated 18 by the BBFC's standard, and you're seventeen so you're as accountable as he is.

 

[captaincabbage]

I'd say no to all of them, simply because he's freakin' nine. I'd have a serious talk to your parents about this if I were you, since they're exactly the kind of parents who give gamers a bad rap in Australia.
As you know, we have no R18+ rating for games here, and one part of the reason is that perents don't listen to the labels, or at least studies show that. If we get more parents working with ratings, instead of just buying kids whatever game they scream for to get them out of their hair, we could have a better shot at an R18+ rating. Hell, every little bit counts.

 

[Woodsey]

I'd say that it isn't appropriate for him, but letting him watch or occasionally play a little bit (i/e drive around in Saints Row and mess around) should be enough to satisfy him without getting him engrossed in that kind of inappropriateness.

Agreed.

When Mafia first came out my Dad used to let me just drive around in Free Ride and I was about 9. And he let me play Hitman 2 when it came out and I was 9 too; that was a 15 though and really not very violent for the most part.

For the most part I'd say ask your parents, but some stuff just depends on how mature he is.

 

[PaulaG]

Definitely talk to your parents about the content of these games. I know that may make them look at you a bit funny since YOU play them, but the age difference here is the important factor.

A lot of adult references do go over the top of most kids heads....just go back and watch some family movies and you'll see what I mean. But the online content/interactivity and the level of violence in some of these games deserves a closer look by your parents. Get them to watch him play, if they don't believe you

 

[squid5580]

Yes talk to your parents. Let them decide what if any of those games are appropriate for him. Although if they aren't gamers themselves show them some gameplay clips.

 

[Jekken6]

Go for games like Portal, Mirrors Edge and Batman: AA like some others have said. Maybe even STALKER or Metro 2033.

 

[Magnesium360]

Do you think it's having negative consequences for him?
ect. should be etc. as it is short for Et Cetera.

 

[The Last Parade]

Do you think it's having negative consequences for him?
ect. should be etc. as it is short for Et Cetera.

oops, thanks

I dont think it does anything to him violence wise but he's been swearing nonstop now *sigh*

 

[Magnesium360]

Do you think it's having negative consequences for him?
ect. should be etc. as it is short for Et Cetera.

oops, thanks

I dont think it does anything to him violence wise but he's been swearing nonstop now *sigh*

Characters swear a bit in Fallout 3 but nothing serious. Some swearing in COD but nothing too bad. Can't vouch for Saint's Row 2 but if it's anything like GTA IV then that aswell as Niko Bellic's Swear'N'Shoot fest probably cause, or at least helped your problem.

PS. No hard feelings to GTA IV, great game.

 

[dontcallmemuffin]

i wouldnt, kids react differently to films and games, they may like it at first glance but the game can be very difficult r scary at that age, i remember when i was nine and i saw mars attack for the first time, everyone at school loved it, i had nightmares for a month.

 

[Straz]

I'll be the party pooper here.

When I was young, the worst game I had was Mortal Kombat. If you know anything about the first 3 Mortal Kombats, you'll know they weren't exactly realistic.


Now a days, games are pretty realistic. I'm not saying your 9 year old brother will turn into a psycho killer, but I am saying that the games have a rating for a reaon. I mean, maybe your brother might repeat some of the language he hears, which (judging by your lit of games) could really get your ass into trouble.

It's mostly what your parents want in the end though. Honestly, I suggest you buy a game like Halo (it escape me how it got a M rating), Halo has little to no harsh language and you're killing aliens.

It now has an MA rating, actually.

As long as he understands the difference between a game and real life, sure, they're completely fine. I was playing games like that at his age, and I'm not emotionally unstable and susceptible to going on killing sprees.

I concur with that statement. Make it clear to him that they're just games and even though he probably already understands that, there's still a tiny margin of kids that go psycho due to such misunderstandings, and even if you disregard those kids as extreme cases, you DO NOT want him to adopt anti-social behavior from playing online.
Honestly. Online play will probably influence him the most because it is there where (If you let him) he interacts with actual, relateable people, who may treat him kindly, will probably hate him for his voice (Not to mention the attitude towards video games which his impressionable mind will begin to take from such exposure) and he will be treated (If my guess is right) quite poorly.
However, there is no need to censor him from actually playing games, as long as he is able to make the distinction (Which he likely can) from video games and reality, because the games themselves probably won't influence him that harshly anyway.

 

[Kukakkau]

Modern Warfare 1 - High Level Violence

Since when? Only truly violent things in it are 2 executions and shooting Zakhev's (sp?) arm off

Out of your list I would say Modern Warfare 1 and the L4D games should be okay

But really it's your parents word on it that counts

 

[Straz]

I'll be the party pooper here.

When I was young, the worst game I had was Mortal Kombat. If you know anything about the first 3 Mortal Kombats, you'll know they weren't exactly realistic.


Now a days, games are pretty realistic. I'm not saying your 9 year old brother will turn into a psycho killer, but I am saying that the games have a rating for a reaon. I mean, maybe your brother might repeat some of the language he hears, which (judging by your lit of games) could really get your ass into trouble.

It's mostly what your parents want in the end though. Honestly, I suggest you buy a game like Halo (it escape me how it got a M rating), Halo has little to no harsh language and you're killing aliens.

It now has an MA rating, actually.

As long as he understands the difference between a game and real life, sure, they're completely fine. I was playing games like that at his age, and I'm not emotionally unstable and susceptible to going on killing sprees.

I concur with that statement. Make it clear to him that they're just games and even though he probably already understands that, there's still a tiny margin of kids that go psycho due to such misunderstandings, and even if you disregard those kids as extreme cases, you DO NOT want him to adopt anti-social behavior from playing online.
Honestly. Online play will probably influence him the most because it is there where (If you let him) he interacts with actual, relateable people, who may treat him kindly, will probably hate him for his voice (Not to mention the attitude towards video games which his impressionable mind will begin to take from such exposure) and he will be treated (If my guess is right) quite poorly.
However, there is no need to censor him from actually playing games, as long as he is able to make the distinction (Which he likely can) from video games and reality, because the games themselves probably won't influence him that harshly anyway.

I disagree about not wanting people to adopt anti-social behavior from online play, but otherwise, agreed. Now, I must ask, why did you resurrect this thread?

Far out man, because I went somewhat inactive on this site and I had some mild input to add and it's only fresh meat anyway. Two weeks off isn't so bad.

I'll edit this: Man, I understand that obviously not all gaming culture is horrible, but I guess allowing your child on the internet to talk to people is kind of like taking your child onto the street to talk to strangers only minus the social stigma and inevitable awkwardness, and plus anonymity which basically let's the stranger do whatever the frick he likes.
Plus, ten year olds can be really, really reaaally annoying on XBL. Especially when they swear.