Are these game appropriate for a NINE year old?

[Revolutionary]

Hitman : Blood Money Yes
Alien Vs Predator 2010 - Extreme Gore NO
Mass Effect - Sexual Referances, violence ect. YES
Modern Warfare 1 - High Level Violence NO
CoD World at War - Torture, executions ect YES
L4D 1&2 - Gore, not much but it's still enough to be MA+15 NO
FallOut 3 - Gore and Adult references NO
Saint Row 2 - what doesn't this game have NO
Grand Theft Auto IV - see Saints Row 2 NO

 

[Cerrax]

these days alot of games for a 9 year old are rubbish. There is no Crash Bandicoot or Spyro like I was raised upon, I mean theres a few but compared to mature games alot of them are quite weak, or I can't see most kids having the concentraion span required, at that age they just want to shoot things.

I call bull**** right there.

Lego Star Wars/Harry Potter/Batman/whatever- These are a blast, whether you are 9 or 90

Batman: Arkham Asylum- Some of the dialogue is racy, but not any worse than you'd find on prime time TV, and the problem solving and aversion to major violence makes this game ideal

Mirror's Edge- Again, a few swear words, but the game really pushes against using weapons and instead focuses on problem solving and developing spacial relations

Portal- nuff said

Just about anything from Nintendo (Mario/Zelda/Starfox/etc.)

I'm sure there are many others, but those are just off the top of my head

 

[Escapefromwhatever]

Hmm, given how you have described him I'd say that none of those games are appropriate, but here are a few he might like that are more suited for his age:

Batman: Arkham Asylum
Portal
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Super Street Fighter 4
(The below 2 I have not played, but they seem fine)
Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
Transformers: War for Cybertron (So he can scratch the shooter itch he seems to have, as long as you keep him offline.)

In situations like this, it is almost always better to give alternatives rather than say no outright. Besides, the above list is still "hardcore" enough for him, I would hope. Personally, I don't care if a game is cutesy as long as it's fun, but you know kids. They want to prove how badass they are.

EDIT: Get him and N64 and Super Smash Brothers, Ocarina of time, Majora's Mask, Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, and Kirby 64. Start the kid off right =P.

 

[themilo504]

as long as his parents say its oke or they dont care let him do it. i played 16+ games when i was 7. and beside with the internet and all of that a 7 year old can see sombody get pulled in pieces and eaten in one click.its yust the way games work. kids game are rare the only one who makes them are nintendo. thats what happen when things grow up with there fans.
so most children play mature games because they dont have a lot of other things to play beside mario.and with the web it dousent realy matter so much.sooooo yes they are sort off.

 

[elvor0]

these days alot of games for a 9 year old are rubbish. There is no Crash Bandicoot or Spyro like I was raised upon, I mean theres a few but compared to mature games alot of them are quite weak, or I can't see most kids having the concentraion span required, at that age they just want to shoot things.

I call bull**** right there.

Lego Star Wars/Harry Potter/Batman/whatever- These are a blast, whether you are 9 or 90

Batman: Arkham Asylum- Some of the dialogue is racy, but not any worse than you'd find on prime time TV, and the problem solving and aversion to major violence makes this game ideal

Mirror's Edge- Again, a few swear words, but the game really pushes against using weapons and instead focuses on problem solving and developing spacial relations

Portal- nuff said

Just about anything from Nintendo (Mario/Zelda/Starfox/etc.)

I'm sure there are many others, but those are just off the top of my head

eh, batman is a 15, if you're going by the rules you'd not pick it up, but yeah it wasn't anyworse than the cartoons really in terms of violence, maybe that bit where Bats explos-o-punches Joker in the mouth at the end was a bit brutal, but yeah overall cartoon violence.

The existance of the Lego games completely went over me, I never played any of them, cept the Lego Univere beta, which is AWESOME I might add.

Portal I can see being a bit finicky for kids, but yeah fair enough, I sort of forgot about the existance of quite a few games there, but y'know I think unless it's really extreme stuff, as long as the kid can cope with it, most mature games he should be able to handle.

 

[Medallish]

I would say if you were really worried you should talk to him about the games like you would talk to your friends, Tell about how you drove over someone or something like that, if you sense he can't sense the difference between the real world and the game, then yes it might be time to stop him from playing, but kids are usually able to see through this, especially games, since even today it doesn't look convincing, I know as a child I was told about how movies was made and I think that helped a little, I'm not completely sure because it didn't seem like I was convinced it was true either, it's kind of hard to tell what you did or didn't know or think. Kids are usually smarter than we give them credit for.

 

[Ravek]

In 1998, back when I was nine, me and my older brother played games like Half-Life, Mortal Kombat, Red Alert ... Now I'm hardly traumatised, or violent, or whatever.

Use some personal discretion, and make sure your parents well understand what goes on in the games he plays. If you think he can handle it, it's probably fine.

 

[kaiZie]

i put it like this, i wouldn't let a 9 year old watch 18 movie, so he can't play 18 rated games, such as GTA, COD, saints row and L4D. It works both ways, u wont watch a 9 year old watch an adult movie, so why let him do it if it's in a game? Of course, only u know how we acts with these things, but I'd be a bit ashamed if a 9 year old was walking round the playground swearing and talkin about his "hoes". Of course im only pointing out SR2 and GTA here, but the general theme applies throughout.

This is just me, and my opinion on the matter though. When I was 9 I wanted to play all the games like that anyway, so I can't talk much from the 9 year olds perspective, but I'm a little older, a little wiser by 13 years, and yes, more mature as it goes. Just take some control and say what needs to be said.

Some games are slightly more acceptable than others for a younger age. Mass Effect, being a Sci-Fi setting makes it easier to distinguish the difference in reality and fiction, though games set in "the real world" do come with conflicting values for the younger ages.

Just think about them games and what they say. I realise I'm getting a bit "Guns don't kill people, Video games do" on this subject, and consequentially ended up with quite the post, however, just take the issue to your parents, show them the game and put the responsibility in the hands of the parental units, since it is them that supply the games. Just give them an idea of what they are letting the 9 year old in question play.

Hope I managed to shine some light on this =] And sorry for the mammoth postage there guys lol

 

[Sovvolf]

Whether a game is suitable for someone depends purely on the person in question, and it is not something any member on this forum can decide except you yourself together with your parents.

They probably know their child better than anyone and you know what those games are like. Hence, you should work together to decide whether your little brother is mentally mature enough to play those games.

about 4chan mature, constantly making aboriginal and ****** jokes when he's not quoting game jokes and the simpsons

....Oh. Well, then I'd scrap pretty much every game from that list except Mass Effect, that game is pretty tame.

But that game as a black captain... Also there's the whole racial(?) undertone of the game towards your fellow crew members being aliens. Then there's the sex scene. Better idea... Lock your brother in a cubard and bring him back out when he matures.

Now if you brother wasn't 4chan immature... I'd say yes for all of them. Get your parent's permission first of course. But I don't see the arm in them, I grew up playing video games just as bad as that along with watching gory, violent movies. I (With the exception of the my hobo hunting) turned out just fine.

eh, batman is a 15, if you're going by the rules you'd not pick it up.

Well actually, there's no rule that says a 9 year old can't play a 15 rated game. The rating is a recommendation. Retailers aren't aloud to sell the games to a 9 year old (or anyone else under the age rating) unless they have permission from their parents or guardians.

 

[Sovvolf]

Sorry for double post, please disregard.

 

[AcacianLeaves]

It kind of depends. If his parents don't know he's playing those games, then its likely that he hasn't been given proper context and instruction in that kind of material. I played violent games and watched violent movies when I was younger, but my parents always explained the context and consequences of the actions on screen and how they would compare to real life situations. A 9 year old isn't necessarily able to make that distinction, depending on how intelligent, mature, or mentally stable he is.

 

[nohorsetown]

Keep him off the online games, obviously. As far as everything else, it's up to you, or ideally his parents. But, if he's the kind of little shit who just wants to play them because they're "forbidden", then something's already gone wrong, and it's probably too late. In my opinion. Maybe.

 

[The Last Parade]

Those games aren't appropriate, you should talk to your parents about this, and you're not overreacting.

Questions; who's buying these games for him? Do they realize what they're doing and what the games are? How long has this been going on?

It's been going on since december, and my parents buy the games, however they dont understand the games content or anything like that =\

 

[zacaron]

Hitman : Blood Money : no
Alien Vs Predator 2010 - Extreme Gore : no
Mass Effect - Sexual Referances, violence ect. : sure
Modern Warfare 1 - High Level Violence : sure
CoD World at War - Torture, executions ect : sure
L4D 1&2 - Gore, not much but it's still enough to be MA+15 : maybe
FallOut 3 - Gore and Adult references : yes
Saint Row 2 - what doesn't this game have : maybe
Grand Theft Auto IV - see Saints Row 2 : no

this is my opinion but my friend (16) his brother is six and has played most of these so I wouldn't be extra concerned about a nine year old but it does depend on the indivivual as well

 

[CZS PublicEnemy]

I mean I let my little brother play MW2, Battlefield, Counter Strike and etc... and hes seven. So far I haven't seen him get in any fights or start fires.. He'll play the games every once in a while and then go play with his friends like any other kid.

 

[The Last Parade]

these days alot of games for a 9 year old are rubbish. There is no Crash Bandicoot or Spyro like I was raised upon, I mean theres a few but compared to mature games alot of them are quite weak, or I can't see most kids having the concentraion span required, at that age they just want to shoot things.

I call bull**** right there.

Lego Star Wars/Harry Potter/Batman/whatever- These are a blast, whether you are 9 or 90

Batman: Arkham Asylum- Some of the dialogue is racy, but not any worse than you'd find on prime time TV, and the problem solving and aversion to major violence makes this game ideal

Mirror's Edge- Again, a few swear words, but the game really pushes against using weapons and instead focuses on problem solving and developing spacial relations

Portal- nuff said

Just about anything from Nintendo (Mario/Zelda/Starfox/etc.)

I'm sure there are many others, but those are just off the top of my head

eh, batman is a 15, if you're going by the rules you'd not pick it up, but yeah it wasn't anyworse than the cartoons really in terms of violence, maybe that bit where Bats explos-o-punches Joker in the mouth at the end was a bit brutal, but yeah overall cartoon violence.

The existance of the Lego games completely went over me, I never played any of them, cept the Lego Univere beta, which is AWESOME I might add.

Portal I can see being a bit finicky for kids, but yeah fair enough, I sort of forgot about the existance of quite a few games there, but y'know I think unless it's really extreme stuff, as long as the kid can cope with it, most mature games he should be able to handle.

Actually I'd say Portal would be right up his alley, he's very intelligent, just not very mature if that makes sense

 

[Mr Thin]

Those games aren't appropriate, you should talk to your parents about this, and you're not overreacting.

Questions; who's buying these games for him? Do they realize what they're doing and what the games are? How long has this been going on?

It's been going on since december, and my parents buy the games, however they dont understand the games content or anything like that

Hrm. I'd say you have a responsibility as an older brother to put in at least a token effort.

And a responsibility as a fellow human being to make sure he doesn't grow into a troll, cause - no offense - that's what he's sounding like.

EDIT: Silly of me to say no offense, I should've said 'regrettable offense'.

 

[SmartIdiot]

OK first, speak to your little brother about it. Make sure he understands that these games are all in a particular context. He probably does understand, 9 year olds are actually much sharper than people think. Remember when you were 9? Speaking to your folks about it is a last resort as no one likes being told on, particularly not by their siblings. For what it's worth I was playing Carmageddon at 9 and I was very aware that, fun as it was, running people over could not be carried over to the real world.

 

[VanityGirl]

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.