If a kid understands the adult themes in a video game, is it okay for him to play it?

[NewYork_Comedian]

Its a topic that ive been thinking about for quite a while now, as i am a student who plays video games [obviously]. While there is an innumerable amount of kids at my school who only care about pwning dudes in multiplayer when playing games, there are a few who play games for their artistic merit. From what i can tell they are willing to process the mature themes in a story, and able to understand that it is a work of fiction that would probably never happen. And before you say so, no, these are not people who are addicted to games and dream of slitting people a la Manhunt in their sleep.

I would like to think i am one of the latter category. I try to understand the mature themes and lessons from Bioshock or Heavy Rain, and relish in the immersion and atmosphere in Fallout and Mass Effect. As to quote Daniel Floyd, i believe games are an amazing medium like none before, and can do great things for each of us and the rest of humanity.

So, should these people and me play games that are mature if we are willing to dissect and understand their artistic value, even if we may be underage?

 

[RatRace123]

I'd say so. Especially if you're playing games that actually have narrative depth.

 

[rockingnic]

Well I thought the main reason there are restrictions is because of understanding the material so I think it's ok. If I had kids, I'd let them play games they want to play as long as they know whats right, wrong, true or false.

 

[smearyllama]

You see, I'm 14, and I play Fallout, Red Dead, and others.

I don't play GTA because I simply choose not to, and even if I did, I probably wouldn't be allowed to.

Lately, I've been trying to keep my purchases less mature, to challenge myself and to see the lighter side of gaming.

 

[yundex]

As someone who's watched the freddy and jason movies when I was 7, i'm not a serial killer and I hate violence in real life. I would go as far as saying that it doesn't matter what games they play as long as they are mentally stable.

 

[badgersprite]

How dare people try to better themselves through an artistic medium, or engage in any form of storytelling that I or the government haven't personally approved for them! Censor this shit!

...That was sarcasm, by the way.

Kids aren't idiots. They're almost always going to be enjoying games in a way that's appropriate to their maturity level, which is something that can't be determined by age. People know themselves and their families way better than some ratings board ever will.

Besides which, I think it's fair to say that nearly everybody here was playing games with adult themes and understanding those adult themes long before they were of the recommended age for it.

 

[twistedheat15]

Depends what'cha mean when you say adult themes. I'd let my younger bro's play something Fallout or a war game, but I wouldn't let them play something like GTA. As far as the "artistic" value of a game, then that depends on the persons view. A game like call of duty you play simply to "pwn noobs" not as much to explore the depths of the storyline which are about as deep as a puddle, while a game like Mass effect can be played for it's story or simply to run around shooting things.

 

[Razhen3]

From what i can tell they are willing to process the mature themes in a story, and able to understand that it is a work of fiction that would probably never happen.

This is where parents come in. It is a parents responsibility to understand what their kids can and cannot handle. That being said, I don't think anyone 16 and older should be restricted on their media purchases. While maturity doesn't coorespond with age, being 16 you know the difference between right and wrong.

If you are still young, I would recommend replaying any games you "love" that are more adult themed in nature when you are older. My favorite games growing up were Earthbound, Chrono Trigger, FFVI, and FFTactics. I recently replayed through these games (I am 24 now) and there were a lot of story and gameplay elements I didn't remember or couldn't understand when I was 8-10 years old. So, even if you can process reality vs fiction or can comprehend the adult themes behind a game, you are still going to be missing out on a lot of gameplay elements.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I still haven't gotten over automatically associating "adult" themes with the games I play, which tend to include sex. Not sure I approve of underage people playing those (though I'd probably define "overage" as 15-16 or higher).

For what you're talking about...I suppose. Technically, it's probably still better playing something with mature themes with someone who's at least nominally mature; they're the ones in the best place to determine your own maturity.

 

[hittite]

Yes. But! there should be some sort of cut-off somewhere. I don't care how mature the 7 year old is, here should be kept faaaaar away from RapeLay.

 

[insectoid]

I don't think anything magical happens at age 14 or 18 that suddenly makes everyone suddenly able to deal with the material. A panel (or panels) decided somewhere that, generally, as an average, people of X age have the capacity to deal with a certain type of information.

If you happen to be outside of that curve and have a slightly more advanced maturity level, why not?

This.

Though I'd add it depends on what you mean by 'understanding' the concept. There's understanding a concept in regards to what it is, but then there's understanding it in terms of what it means, possible consequences, and the 'bigger picture'. If you understand it in the first way, then I'd say no, but if it's the second way, then definitely.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Well, yeah. I mean, the whole reason that kids aren't allowed to play M-rated games is because it's assumed that they won't understand the adult elements of the game.

So if they did, it would negate the issue.

 

[Dragonpit]

I suppose, although if a kid DOES understand the adult themes in the game, I would think there is reason for concern.

 

[NewYork_Comedian]

I don't think anything magical happens at age 14 or 18 that suddenly makes everyone suddenly able to deal with the material. A panel (or panels) decided somewhere that, generally, as an average, people of X age have the capacity to deal with a certain type of information.

If you happen to be outside of that curve and have a slightly more advanced maturity level, why not?

This.

Though I'd add it depends on what you mean by 'understanding' the concept. There's understanding a concept in regards to what it is, but then there's understanding it in terms of what it means, possible consequences, and the 'bigger picture'. If you understand it in the first way, then I'd say no, but if it's the second way, then definitely.

Could a possible example be, say, Fallout 3?

You exit the vault, and now a massive world is open to you and you can do whatever you want. Im assuming that is "understanding the concept". But being able to look beyond that, you find that your first thoughts when you leave involve one thing: Survival. It all revolves around you trying to find the best way to cope in this world and have the best chances of living possible. And finally you find that you can bend the wasteland to your will. Choosing who to side with and who lives and who dies, and who will be your freinds and foes.

 

[Paksenarrion]

As a 27 year old, I speak for myself when I say that we need more younger gamers (not "kids") who not only understand the medium, but can also successfully defend it. Kudos to you.

 

[Vakz]

I'd say yes. Some kids simply mature faster than others. I simply don't believe that violent (and other adult themes of course, but I guess this is the most common) have that much of an impact on kids. In a few days, Dreamhack is held here in Sweden. There are more than 10k people there, and I'd bet at least half of those are under 17, and most likely, all of them have played 18+ games (there are a lot of people younger than 13 as well), but yet it is one of the most calm events held in Sweden. There are almost no one my age (19) who has NOT played games likes Counter-Strike or GTA when they were new (when we were around 10), and yet, I don't know a single person who has either committed a violent crime, not been the victim of one. We have one of the lowest crime-rates, when it comes to violent crime in the world (I don't have a source on this, but I remember reading it so many times, I'm sure someone else can dig up a link), but yet it's considered very normal for kids in their early teens to play very violent games. When a store here refuses to sell a game due to age recommendations (as we don't have real limits here, they are just recommendations), the parent will usually buy it for them.

 

[ExaltedK9]

Most definetely. Its a medium that lets you experience emotions and set pieces that you would otherwise not be able to, and I would like to think that it does mature youths with the correct mind set.

I am 16 and have always considered myself among the latter.

 

[radioactive lemur]

Even if they don't. It's just images on a screen. Anyone who claims it can cause lasting harm is an idiot.