M rating games now-a-days are just as good as other rated games just covered with blood, gore, sex, guns, profanity, drugs. Although it just happens that most of the best games today are just M (most games today are M anyways). I have no problem with letting 13 years olds play CoD, Halo (barely any blood, I think it should be rated T) as long as they know killing and hurting people is wrong and that there's a consequence. But there's plenty of game rated E and T that are better than most M, like Rock Band/Guitar Hero, Burnout (basically any racing game), Final Fantasy, etc.
Do you think younger gamers who arent alowed to play Rated M games are missing out?
- Thread starter SUPA FRANKY
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I don't think they'd really be missing out on much, that and the ratings are there for a reason. I guess this hypothetical "13-16 year old gamer" will just have to wait.
Or maybe just play at friends house.
Or maybe just play at friends house.
Depends on the kid. Some young teens are very immature and can certainly get the wrong idea from games like GTA and Saint's Row. Like, if it's the type of kid who just LOVES his Disney movies and such... on the other hand, some kids "grow up fast" and can handle it. They know that it's just a game, that you can feel awkward if a game get's all sexual or just disturbing and know how that reflects on you (ie: you're not the kind of person to murder or rape or whatever) but if you're too young to understand it's like "oh murder is FUN!!! YAY!!!!" and it can somewhat warp your outlook.
Problem is, the more strict parents are, the harder it is to "grow up" and especially if the parents are more of the "ignorance is bliss" kind and not the "let's analyze and discuss why this is not good so you can grow up to be a proper human being" type. I think it's good to be exposed to M games but only if you already "get it". Maybe start with watching movies with adult themes (with parents), as a maturity check. For me, my parents shielded me from anything sexual but violence wasn't really an issue. For example, they rented Dusk till Dawn one night and I was allowed to watch until they got into the bar and there was boobies everywhere... That's when I was sent to bed. But sexuality also made me uncomfortable so I guess it was all good. As far as gaming goes I can't say my parents ever censored what I could play, but I also grew up in SNES and N64 days where I have to say, sex and extreme violence were nearly obsolete. I mean, the airport scene of MW2 is not even close to the same as when I blew people away on a side scrolling Robocop game (or Ninja Turtles or Super Star Wars or w/e else) as a kid.
Still, I'd say yes, M games can deliver a much better experience but you don't need violence or sex or swearing to make a good game. Half Life I think is a game pretty much anyone (Teen+) should be able to play because - although it has scary bits - the message and morals are pretty good and proper, the story is epic, and there's no improper sex.
Where sex is concerned, I don't think the problem is with video games, but with Hollywood. We (as a society, or at least the media outlets) create roll models by plastering their faces all over tvs and magazines and the net and so many of them are terrible role models. Look at Britney Spears...
Problem is, the more strict parents are, the harder it is to "grow up" and especially if the parents are more of the "ignorance is bliss" kind and not the "let's analyze and discuss why this is not good so you can grow up to be a proper human being" type. I think it's good to be exposed to M games but only if you already "get it". Maybe start with watching movies with adult themes (with parents), as a maturity check. For me, my parents shielded me from anything sexual but violence wasn't really an issue. For example, they rented Dusk till Dawn one night and I was allowed to watch until they got into the bar and there was boobies everywhere... That's when I was sent to bed. But sexuality also made me uncomfortable so I guess it was all good. As far as gaming goes I can't say my parents ever censored what I could play, but I also grew up in SNES and N64 days where I have to say, sex and extreme violence were nearly obsolete. I mean, the airport scene of MW2 is not even close to the same as when I blew people away on a side scrolling Robocop game (or Ninja Turtles or Super Star Wars or w/e else) as a kid.
Still, I'd say yes, M games can deliver a much better experience but you don't need violence or sex or swearing to make a good game. Half Life I think is a game pretty much anyone (Teen+) should be able to play because - although it has scary bits - the message and morals are pretty good and proper, the story is epic, and there's no improper sex.
Where sex is concerned, I don't think the problem is with video games, but with Hollywood. We (as a society, or at least the media outlets) create roll models by plastering their faces all over tvs and magazines and the net and so many of them are terrible role models. Look at Britney Spears...
Honestly you do miss out but not too terribly much. In this day and age, the only way that ESRB can remain a legitimate rating system is for them to scrutinize every detail in a game. I can literally pick up a game today that is rated T and see things like "Cartoon Violence" and apparently that alone is enough of a reason to rate it up. Nowadays really if anything has anything more than just "cartoon violence" then it seems to be rated M. I think that you are missing out on certain games but only in the field of "new games". Also, since I am a being of thought, I can't help but suspect that you are one of these teens. In my opinion, I think that you need to be the one to PROVE that you are mature enough for these games. Let them know (tactfully of course) that ESRB rates things not because of age, but because of how mature you SHOULD be. If your parents think that you playing a game that has some cuss words in it will make you cuss a lot. You should disprove their theory by showing them that you know what is immature, wrong, and you wouldn't do such a thing. In my personal opinion, your really not missing out on the greatest games of all time however. Really this is kind of an imaganitive "reccession" for game companies. All that is coming out today is really just additions on to something else, other peoples ideas only with a "twist" or just sequels that is just the same as the first only with some new stuff. Nothing truly great has come out in a long time, and you aren't missing much. Stay with the older games too. They generally have more class (Mario, Super Mario RPG (best game ever), Zelda (any Zelda just pick one), ect.). Generally these games are cheaper, don't throw the f word around like they just bought a truckload at the dollar store, Don't make everything into a sexual induendo and don't have the Xbox Live community (nuff said).
In summary I suppose that you should just wait. You are missing out on "What is current with games today" but at the same time; if you were to play "what is current in games today" you wouldn't be too impressed.
In summary I suppose that you should just wait. You are missing out on "What is current with games today" but at the same time; if you were to play "what is current in games today" you wouldn't be too impressed.
Are you kidding? Where do you live? 'Cause in America, parents tend to be negligent, ignorant morons who don't know how to control their kid's media consumption, far from what you are saying.SUPA FRANKY said:
OT: I don't think so. That model is way too strict, considering that age range is more than old enough for pretty much any T-rated game, but sometimes kids just shouldn't be exposed to certain things. They can catch up on the M-rated classics when they're mature enough.
If they're going to be analytical of the E games, one way you could get ahead is having them be analytical of T or M games. There are honestly some M-rated games that, if I were a parent, I might be okay with because of the particulars of their content. For instance, there are some games that depict a lot of violence, but none of it is caused by you.
I disagree. Think about it, if it weren't for the ESRB then someone else would be in control of said rating systems. In this case, let's just say it was the government. If this were the case, it may come to the point where the only games that do come out, would be things like tetris and pinball and the like. Games that exist today (ie: Fallout, GOW, MW2, ME2, ect.) are only really able to come out because of these fellows and their scrutinizing nature. I would like to think that "the devil you know is better than the devil you don't".Malf said:
No it wouldn't, there is plenty to life outside of M rated videogames, there's plenty to videogames outside of the M-rating. I get that it's probably hyperboly but if you need lots of blood and violence to enjoy something then the problem isn't the parents it's you.SUPA FRANKY said:
Um...yes. As much as I hate to say this, M rated games are the most fun to play. All my games right now are M rated because they let you do so much. The only exception though is HAWX which is T rated but that game does so much right that it doesn't need all the goodies you get in M rated material. For me T rated games need to do ALOT of things right for me to enjoy them.
But...this guy has a point. There are some kids who play games like MW2, Gears, and Halo 3 who shouldn't be since LIVE is one the best, if not THE best, place to learn every curse word in the book and use them correctly.dsmops2003 said:
I'm going to take a guess and so OP is too young to play M rated games.SUPA FRANKY said:
*looks*
Yup.
Other than the misuse of "there smart" (should be "they're" champ), your injection of a swearword where it's not needed gave you away ("life would be fucking hell"... "life would be hell" is all that's needed).
Anyway, at the original post, no I don't think they are. If the parent is "smart" (read: a decent parent) enough to take enough of an interest to sit and watch them play, then their opinion is worth a lot more than you give credit for.
Honestly, just wait a few years. Play it when you can buy it yourself. The only thing I have against underage gamers is when they open their mouths and start talking over the mic. And by "talking" I mean "Incessantly screaming like an untrained chimp".
As for not letting people play because of Sexual Innuendo, Shrek really suprised me with this. I watched it with a mate when we were about 11, hilarious film. We ended up losing touch, eventually met again when we were 17, started dating. We were round at her house one day, decided to put Shrek on for old times sake (what, her parents were in...). It's stunning how many jokes we missed when we were 11...
Point is, sexual innuendo =/= Teen rating.
nah. Unless they can handle a game like Oblivion adn bioshock with their complexities in greater amount than grandtheft auto or some shit like that. There's some good games but also really shitty ones in all ratings levels. Gives them a chance to enjoy the actual GOOD ones before tossing that out, becoming more immature and not being able to handle five minutes of gameplay unless there's someone getting ripped apart.
I'm actually allowed to play mature rated games, just not aorund my underaged sibling. Also, I'm wondering what gives you the right to tell me when and how I should use my swear words?wordsmith said:
There are games that have very little to no gore at all. Also, there owuld be several experiences in video games that would falter greatly if their "mature" content was removed, so yeah: It would be hell.Del-Toro said:
I'm not saying that a parent not allowing their child to play rated M games would be bad. It will help then from getting nightmares or talking crap. All I am trying to ask you all is Key words : IF THEY ARE MISSING OUTs69-5 said:
Also, yes, I know that there are plenty of E-to rated games that are good without the blood and violence. I am a fanboy to a good sum of them.
I still believe we need a ratings system in place, as it's the only thing allowing us to say (entirely fairly) 'Hey, we've rated the games and made it very clear on the advertising and the game case as to the content and the suitable age range. It is now down to parents to do some parenting.'
The moment we remove a ratings system, we pretty much hand the stupid people ammo to say that we're marketing Madworld and GTA to 5 year olds.
I actually prefer the UK system, where the video games go thru the cinema system, and for any game with an age limit (12/15/18), it has exactly the same symbols as movies and dvds, giving parents zero excuse.
The moment we remove a ratings system, we pretty much hand the stupid people ammo to say that we're marketing Madworld and GTA to 5 year olds.
I actually prefer the UK system, where the video games go thru the cinema system, and for any game with an age limit (12/15/18), it has exactly the same symbols as movies and dvds, giving parents zero excuse.