If/when you get a kid, will you introduce him/her to gaming?

[Pickel Surprise]

I'll probably do what my parents did for me. I won't bring it up, but if my children are interested in it, I'll wait until they're at least a certain age. This isn't so that they won't be exposed to violence or suggestive themes to early, but rather so that they won't become addicted to video games as I have. I'll make them have a few years of sentience without video games so that they can experience and learn to love other things.

Above all, if they actually get into video games, I'll personally look into every M rated game they want to get until they're of age. I will not, under any circumstances, be one of those parents who buys a graphic game for a child and ends up regretting it later on.

This topic made me think a little bit about something:

We're really the first generation of the hardcore video game age, so I have a feeling that when we're parents, not so many of us will rush in to buy Manhunt for our twelve-year-olds. I suspect that we'll be too well versed in gaming to make that mistake.

 

[PureChaos]

i'll give them the option to play games but if they don't want to they don't have to

 

[mkg]

I guess, I wouldn't want to dictate how my kids grow up, but there's alot of things I wish my mom had pushed me to try when I was little, like playing an instrument or maybe martial arts, that I've only been able to really try as an adult. Instead I played really only two sports or three sports when I was growing up and gaming was a really big hobby. I don't ever regret the experiences I've had as a gamer but I wish she had been a little more stern with me showing that sometimes instant gratification doesn't always instantly come with a new experience.

 

[ConnorCool]

I will still be playing, so they will know about it, if they wanna get into it, cool

 

[jj90]

yeah they will be gaming ASAP

 

[Ken_J]

Can you stop them?

 

[The_Echo]

In the unlikely event of me spawning an anti-christ of my own, I would let them play games if they showed an interest. I would wait until they are mature enough for the older ones (behaviour-wise, not age).

This, but perhaps without the anti-christ involved...

 

[A random person]

Hell yeahs I would. I'll admit my rationale the most logical, I just want to show them the same experiences and knowledge that were defining for me.

 

[spindle]

I'll punish it by making it play PS2

 

[Smokeydubbs]

I wont let my kid play games as much as I do/did. But I would definitely want to beat my kids ass in game a few times. Preferably something along the lines CoD 12 or any of the FPS of that day. I can see myself crying when they finally beat me.

EDIT
Ninja'd on the iteration of the game...

 

[Kajt]

Probably.
But who knows? I might have given up on gaming by then.

 

[spindle]

Me having children? LOL

I would brush the dust off my 360 when He/She was 13/14 and wanted a modern console, i would run to the attic and get it out, will play every gears game (up to #8) and all 12 Halo's, will be a literal blast!

LOL @ a 360 lasting that long

 

[RazielDethAngel]

...I will let him choose. Based on how he's gonna be surrounded by it with me planning to be a game designer. He may just be a bit persuaded to start.

 

[TheEnglishman]

I'd let them play games if they wanted to. I'd start them out by letting them watch me as my Father did when I was a mere infant and see if they gain an interest.

Though might encourage them to read a little more than game. Than I'd probably buy them a DS or whatever equivilent we have 20 years from now if they liked it.

Maybe a handheld natal? :O

It would have to be in 3D and HD of course, only the best for my child.

 

[The_Deleted]

My nipper jacked his first car in GTA at 11 months (in my defence the sound was down). And now he's three he's playing the Transformers game (the old Activision movie one and the decent Atari one). He just likes pressing triangle to make them transform and drive. But he's rapidly figuring out what the other buttons do.

But I think games can and do help with certain areas of development and concept skill.

Obviously you have to be careful what they play but I really think he gets a lot out of it just as he does his books and playing with his toys.

 

[CruzChaos]

My 7 year old daughter enjoys kiddie style games on her leapster and plays little big planet with me on occasion. She loves to play with Rock Band/Guitar Hero and the Wii when we go shopping so it seems she will be a gamer but I also keep her active in other activities.

 

[Boxpopper]

I would definitely allow my kid to play games, but not smother them with them (causing them to lose interest). If I have a daughter I definitely will raise her with nerdy things the best I can (if she wants to be social and feminine I can't stop her however.)

 

[FallenRainbows]

Me having children? LOL

I would brush the dust off my 360 when He/She was 13/14 and wanted a modern console, i would run to the attic and get it out, will play every gears game (up to #8) and all 12 Halo's, will be a literal blast!

LOL @ a 360 lasting that long

Oh no you d'int