Poll: What Age Do You Buy Your Child a Violent Video Game?
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Basically anything up to Teen is fair game, but past that, I'd play it myself and then decide for myself whether I'd let him/her play it or not. Put it this way, Jade Empire and BioShock are both M-rated games. I'd let them play Jade Empire in a heartbeat. As for BioShock? Not till they're older.
I ask you a different question which SHOULD have the same answer.
What age would you let your child (assuming he/she would want to, which is unlikely) watch the TV news on a regular basis ?
Or, another similar one.
What age would you let your child use the internet unsupervised ?
Forget "parental control" software, if it's a smart kid we're talking about, that software is next to useless. And there's always public computers.
My personal answer ?
Depends on the child (and on the game in question), but I'd say generally, between 7 and 12.
Basically, as soon as the kid is aware enough regarding the difference between make-belief and reality.
What age would you let your child (assuming he/she would want to, which is unlikely) watch the TV news on a regular basis ?
Or, another similar one.
What age would you let your child use the internet unsupervised ?
Forget "parental control" software, if it's a smart kid we're talking about, that software is next to useless. And there's always public computers.
My personal answer ?
Depends on the child (and on the game in question), but I'd say generally, between 7 and 12.
Basically, as soon as the kid is aware enough regarding the difference between make-belief and reality.
Just gotta talk to your kid, and see how sensible he/she is. If they're like "raaah murder all of dems!" then I doubt it's a good idea to let them play something like MW2. But if they have somewhat of a grip on right/wrong, the frailty of life, and difference between real and make-believe, I think it should be alright. Hopefully I'll be a good enough judge if that day ever comes. Better spend time talking to your kid first s'what I say, not all are the same and not all will reach a certain level of maturity at some specific age. There again, peer pressure plays a role, so it's not always easy as one might think, I can imagine.
I would agree with this, however I am very young (only 17) so at the moment it does not concern me. I have been playing MA15+ game's since I was around 10 (and in australia a lot of 17 year old games are pulled down to MA15+). it all depends on the person, there are 9 year olds more sensible and mature than 18 year olds. I played Doom 3 and fear at 12 so in my opinion a mature 12+ year old is fine to play mature game's (but that is just my opinion)JohnnyDelRay said:
Personally I've been playing M rated games and seeing R rated movies for as long as I can remember, so I'll probably allow my kids to do the same when I have kids. I mean, I'm not going to go out of my way getting them to play games like Grand Theft Auto, but I'd pretty much let them try out any of the games that I would play. However, I do think that this wouldn't be right for all kids, and if I thought that mine wouldn't understand that this was fake and not a representation of real life, then I wouldn't let them play some games.
I consider my self a good enough person to rise my (future) kid(s) into good persons, and part of it involves teaching them to enjoy violent entertainment without being violent them selfs, also maybe my kid(s) my never bee ready for does video games (though I don't see that coming). I played violent vidoegames since I was 7, and I haven't hit anyone in 10 years since the last school fight (it was self defense).
I put "I decide what age my child plays the game", if I had a child, I'd let them have any game they were interested in, including the violent ones as soon as they were actually able to play them. I'd teach my children the difference between fantasy and reality from the moment they were able to understand the words coming out of my mouth, like my own Father did.
I don't have a child, but if I did he'd probably be playing 18s by the time he was 10. If I've brought him up right (which hopefully I would have) then he'd know the difference between media and reality, and he'd know right from wrong. I was playing 18s well before I was 10, and I don't think they've negatively affected me in the slightest. I realise I'm likely to be a little biased talking about my own qualities, but I've never been in a fight, and I was never in any kind of trouble at school, so I can at least be fairly certain games did not make me more violent.
If I thought that a violent game would influence my child to do bad things, on top of worrying about my own parenting skills, I would of course not allow him to play them. Really, I think this is far less likely than people believe though. Kids are smarter than we give them credit for.
If I thought that a violent game would influence my child to do bad things, on top of worrying about my own parenting skills, I would of course not allow him to play them. Really, I think this is far less likely than people believe though. Kids are smarter than we give them credit for.
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It really depends on the game and the content therein.
I would absolutely let my 10 year old child play something like Halo 3. I'm actually not even sure why it's rated M. I mean, yes, there's a little spray of blood when you shoot enemies, but that's about it. No gibbing, no torture scenes, no ultra violence, really nothing much worse than many cartoons show these days. On the other hand, something like Metro 2033, Fallout New Vegas, or God of War I definitely would not let my child play until around the age of 14 or so.
I also definitely wouldn't let my child play online until at least the age of 14, when he/she enters high school, no matter what the game is.
I honestly feel that high school age is old enough to play any game though. The kids are going to be exposed to MUCH worse things in high school than they will ever see or hear in a video game, so there really isn't a point to "protecting" them from the outside world at that point.
I would absolutely let my 10 year old child play something like Halo 3. I'm actually not even sure why it's rated M. I mean, yes, there's a little spray of blood when you shoot enemies, but that's about it. No gibbing, no torture scenes, no ultra violence, really nothing much worse than many cartoons show these days. On the other hand, something like Metro 2033, Fallout New Vegas, or God of War I definitely would not let my child play until around the age of 14 or so.
I also definitely wouldn't let my child play online until at least the age of 14, when he/she enters high school, no matter what the game is.
I honestly feel that high school age is old enough to play any game though. The kids are going to be exposed to MUCH worse things in high school than they will ever see or hear in a video game, so there really isn't a point to "protecting" them from the outside world at that point.
Yeah pretty much this one. If I feel if my child is old enough to play I'll let them play. I'll watch them for a while just to make sure mind you. Hell I'll play with them as well, bonding for me and my child and I make sure he are she is still fairly safe.Tibike77 said:
A pointless question. What is this hypothetical game? Certain games are just violent, I'd probably let them play that. But the game might deal with some mature themes instead. Nothing really comes to mind, except Heavy Rain, but I haven't played that. Of course, I also have to ask what this hypothetical child is like, how mature are they, what games have they played before, do I think they can handle it, and of course, why the fuck do I have a child? That's the scenario anyway. As to the poll, I voted option 2. I'd decide at what age a game is appropriate for my child, on a case by case basis.
If I were to raise a child, it could play a violent video game when it could afford the damn thing itself. I'd have a selection of my games available for it to play... but none of my man-cave games would be available to it.
My answer in the store to my 10-year-old: "You want it, buy it yourself. Don't have the money? Mow more lawns."
Moot point, though. Never having kids, and my entire house is a man-cave.
My answer in the store to my 10-year-old: "You want it, buy it yourself. Don't have the money? Mow more lawns."
Moot point, though. Never having kids, and my entire house is a man-cave.
What is violent? A teen game? or an M rated game? If its teen as early as 7 if its M rated, than 17, because if I can wait then SO CAN THEY!
It really depends on the game. "The most violent video game" just isn't enough, sorry.
I know video games will get more violent by the time I am a parent, but I'll just judge by today's standards. Games I would NOT buy for a 10 year old include GTA and God of War. I would buy him call of duty, but I wouldn't allow him online without supervision, or if all voice chat was off.
At around 12 is when I would take the leash off and give him the freedom of choosing his own games. But first I'd educate him in not being a dick online.
I know video games will get more violent by the time I am a parent, but I'll just judge by today's standards. Games I would NOT buy for a 10 year old include GTA and God of War. I would buy him call of duty, but I wouldn't allow him online without supervision, or if all voice chat was off.
At around 12 is when I would take the leash off and give him the freedom of choosing his own games. But first I'd educate him in not being a dick online.
