Ratings?

[JaymesFogarty]

Everyone seems to be getting in a fuss about ratings these days. Parents are scared to death of their children playing satanic games, and the media has exploded this, when there really is no need for such melodrama. Here's a question for gamers like me out there:
"It's okay for a fifteen year old to play a fifteen rated game. It is not legal, however for a fourteen year old to play a fifteen rated game. But what are the moral implications of this? Does the game scar you that much more if you play it now instead of in one years time? How strict are you when it comes to age ratings?

 

[JaymesFogarty]

Everyone seems to be getting in a fuss about ratings these days. Parents are scared to death of their children playing satanic games, and the media has exploded this, when there really is no need for such melodrama. Here's a question for gamers like me out there:
"It's okay for a fifteen year old to play a fifteen rated game. It is not legal, however for a fourteen year old to play a fifteen rated game. But what are the moral implications of this? Does the game scar you that much more if you play it now instead of in one years time? How strict are you when it comes to age ratings?"

 

[Radeonx]

Don't bump your thread. Especially right after you post.
And I don't care about age ratings. I've been playing M games since I was little, and I've only killed a few people. I came out fine. Same thing for my brother.
It is illegal, and I acknowledge that, though. There are so many loopholes around it, however, that it doesn't really matter.

 

[tlozoot]

Well I'm not a parent (far off...) but I take those rating as guidelines rather than gospel. I'd let my child play whatever rated game if I personally believed he or she was mature enough to handle it.

 

[JIst00]

There is no difference, no more "scarring" or whatever, but unfortunately the line has to be drawn somewhere.

Ratings are a rough guidline, and they are more lax these days than they used to be when I was a kid, with movies at least. Terminator was an 18 way back when, today it'd be released as a 12a/15.

 

[Jordi]

I have never payed any attention to age ratings, but I'm not actually sure I violated any of them with videogames. My parents, especially my father, generally never payed any attention to movie ratings for me and my brother either. They would only forbid me and my brother to see something when they had a really strong suspicion it might not be good for us (based on everything but the rating).

However, I do feel they can help parents. But parents need to put in the effort. It seems to me that pretty much all games are rated, and they're rated excessively strict. There is absolutely no reason for them to worry about what their youth is playing as long as they make the effort of checking this rating. Or better yet, watch them play it sometimes.

I have doubts about how scarring the playing of a game or watching of a movie can be, but I'm no psychiatrist. I'm positive that there are children of age N-1 out there that can easily play age N rated games, but the point is that if you want to have a rating system at all, some lines have to be drawn. They could put them at the average (i.e. "the average 15-year old can play this") which would mean that there are a lot of 14 and 13-year olds could easily play the game, but perhaps also that some 15 and 16-year olds shouldn't. So they will probably not put it at the "average" but somewhere above.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

My opinion is legally binding age ratings are a good thing, as once in place, it means both the retail store and the video game industry are doing their part to sell their games responsibly, and it's then up to the parents to make an educated decision of purchase based on the very clear information put in front of them, and when they flatly ignore it and buy Chainsaw Murder Spree 3 for 8 year old Timmy just because he's throwing a fit on the store floor, we have some defence against dumb parenting.

I do think one small thing may help tho, a short, easy to understand guide to the ratings system, printed on the same sheet as the warranty card inside a new console's box.

It's the one piece of paper a lot of parents will bother to look at, so there's a chance it might get seen there, and the more we do to force the information in front of their eyes, the less all the blame can be dropped squarely at the feet of 'omg killer games aimed at toddlers!'.

EDIT: I hear movies and dvds are NOT legally covered by age ratings in the US, just a guideline, does that mean a 6 year old kid can go in and buy the Saw box set with their birthday money if they choose, and find a store that doesn't care? That seems pretty poor to me is all.

 

[Wolfram23]

I started gaming on NES and SNES, which was kinda before any ratings and I played games with plenty of killing although still not very gory. Then I recall on the PC, I actually played through Doom and Duke Nukem 3D. This was while I was in elementary. Actually, I didn't beat Doom because it was quite scary to me, but I enjoyed it. Duke Nukem tho I did beat (I still have it in my head, kicking the boss's eye through the uprights for a field goal, and then Duke Nukem logo with Duke talking, followed by some prostitute which he begins to ravage. Also, the tittie bar).

I really, really, really don't think gaming is going to cause a person to become violent. I think that's a part of your physical self, a part of how your brain is developed. It's in your genes.

I wouldn't even say that video games have numbed me. When I see most movies with plenty of gore I don't get squeemish, and same in video games. But on the other hand, I've seen some things on TV where they're doing operations and I almost feel like fainting. I just don't like blood. But my brain knows fake vs real.

The point is, one a person/child knows the difference between fake and real, many "violent" games are going to be ok for them. If I had a 12 yr old son I'd totally let him play most FPS, but I'd probably keep him away from a few of the really sick games (although at the moment I can't think of one because those types aren't my interest). I'd probably be a little more liberal with my kid seeing sex/nudity too than my parents were. Just have the sex talk early lol.

 

[Proverbial Jon]

I tried to buy GTA: San Andreas from my local game shop before I was 18 and completely forgot about the age rating. I had all the ones before it. I asked my mum and she bought it for me instead! I guess I grew up well adjusted enough for it to not be a concern.

Looking at my games collection now, it's shokcing to see how many games are 18 rated without me even knowing. I'm almost 23 now, so it's not a problem any more. But I guess it goes to show how desensitised we get to these things and how little they really matter.

 

[Sky Captanio]

My parents usually decided depending on the nature of the game. I can't play Left 4 Dead but I can play Mass Effect 2 even though they have the same rating. Space Epic? Yes. Zombie Slaughter? No.

 

[ArxFatalis]

Never payed any attention to ratings, and neither did my parents. They're just like tlozoot said guidelines. For me it's the amount of gore, the type of language and other such factors. Of course I didn't play Leisure Suit Larry games or such type, but I did play pretty bloody games. I played Aliens vs Predator 1 & 2 when they were new, GTA all except 1&2 and I also watched horror movies or thrillers.
So to me ratings aren't all that important and I've passed the stage of: "Blood! WoooootT! That's so cool!"

 

[Vincenzo DeLuca]

Age ratings are necessary, but it does annoy me when a 17 year old is carded for an 18 rated game and is refused the sale. If the guy / girl can't handle violence and adult themes at that age then there's no hope for them period. I wish people would make allowances and say "Okay, maybe that 14 year old shouldn't be sold the 18 rated game but the 17 year old is fine, one year won't make that much of a difference". Age ratings should be more of a rough guideline not strict ruleset.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

As with movie ratings, the ratings on games are just a guide and are determined based on the maturity rate of the greater average number of people. Obviously different people mature at different rates. However the guide must be enforced for everyone because most children aren't very good at determining whether or not they're mature enough, as much as they'd like to think they are.

I've also noticed that only the people who're actually effected by the ratings are the ones complaining about them. Here's a tip, you want you to prove you're mature enough to handle that content? You can start by not whining like some sorta spoiled little brat!

 

[onewheeled]

My parents usually decided depending on the nature of the game. I can't play Left 4 Dead but I can play Mass Effect 2 even though they have the same rating. Space Epic? Yes. Zombie Slaughter? No.

Well, to me, that makes sense. An amazingly epic RPG, or blood and gore all over the screen as your murder thousands upon thousands of zombies?

OT: I really don't care about the rating system when I play a game, except if it's AO or something like that.

And I just realized the epic thing I posted before this had no revelance to the topic, so I had to delete it. Sad face.

 

[Rattler5150]

I believe that regulation should start at home. There were no ratings when I first started playing games. The rating system should be voluntary, plain and simple

 

[fuzzygenius]

My opinion is legally binding age ratings are a good thing, as once in place, it means both the retail store and the video game industry are doing their part to sell their games responsibly, and it's then up to the parents to make an educated decision of purchase based on the very clear information put in front of them, and when they flatly ignore it and buy Chainsaw Murder Spree 3 for 8 year old Timmy just because he's throwing a fit on the store floor, we have some defence against dumb parenting.

I do think one small thing may help tho, a short, easy to understand guide to the ratings system, printed on the same sheet as the warranty card inside a new console's box.

It's the one piece of paper a lot of parents will bother to look at, so there's a chance it might get seen there, and the more we do to force the information in front of their eyes, the less all the blame can be dropped squarely at the feet of 'omg killer games aimed at toddlers!'.

EDIT: I hear movies and dvds are NOT legally covered by age ratings in the US, just a guideline, does that mean a 6 year old kid can go in and buy the Saw box set with their birthday money if they choose, and find a store that doesn't care? That seems pretty poor to me is all.

You are right, movie and game ratings in the US are determined by industry groups, and they have no legal implications. Theoretically, a 6 year old could buy the Saw boxset if they really wanted to. In practice, many stores to enforce the age guidelines suggested by the product's rating. Its certainly true of movie theaters.

I'm definitely a fan of a ratings explanation with/on the warranty card for the console. That's actually a pretty good idea. Although it will eventually become a non-issue. Everyone's used to the movie rating system, since movies and their rating system have been around quite some time. The same thing is happening in the games industry. So, in the not-so-distant future, I have faith that parents will, overall, be much more knowledgeable and capable of making better decisions. At least, as good of decisions as they do now with the movies they let their kids watch.

I'm not supportive of any kind of government requirement of said ratings, though. In the US, most big box stores already enforce the guidelines as law anyway, so it wouldn't have much effect. But giving ratings legal force also often allows for government censorship - take some of the issues in Australia, for example. Allowing unrated games to come out helps the little guys, which I like.

Although I'm something of a paranoid when it comes to potential censorship issues. The less the government tells me I can and can't say or hear, the better.

 

[Judgement101]

Does it matter? A kid will get the game anyway.

 

[Keava]

I don't know hows the law in your country. But here it is not "illegal" to play a game with higher age rating than yours. It is illegal for a clerk to sell you one. It's like with alcohol, or porn, or anything else restricted by age. If you parents allow it, it is not illegal for you to do it inside your house.

The whole reasoning of all the age rating is just a safety measure. Since it is unknown how a youngling will perceive given game/movie/hardcore porn, the culture set certain bars, at which supposedly the individual is mature enough to be able to fully comprehend whatever is presented on the screen as well as allow parents to see what types of things their kids do play/watch.

It is not like when you turn 18 you are suddenly turning from a drooling idiot into mature person, but over those 18 years you had enough time to see different shades of the world so your psyche is much more resistant to shock effect. There is plenty of kids that will try to copy what they see. The older you are the less likely it is that you will just mindlessly try to do whatever was shown in game/tv. It's why long time ago we had those disclaimers at the end of shows saying "All you have seen is just work of fiction, do not try this at home".

A lot of the ratings however is influenced heavily by overprotective parents, but as the wise man said "Better safe than sorry", so industry figured that rating the games as M instead Teen protects them the chance of getting sued because some single kiddo decided to go postal after playing the game.

 

[squid5580]

There has to be a line somewhere. Is it ok for a 15 yr old to drive when the legal age is 16? Is it OK for an 18 yr old to drink when the legal age is 19. Sure you can say well I know a very mature 15 yr old who can handle driving. And I can point out a bunch of immature 16 yr olds who shouldn't. It is either w ego with the averages or we are forced into some kind of test to prove how mature we are before we get to do any of the fun stuff.