I have to commend them on taking a step to actually trying to inform parents on details in the games that may be inappropriate for children without trying to ban them or anything like that.
Timothy Plan Updates "Do Not Buy List" of Videogames for the Holiday Season
- Thread starter Greg Tito
- Start date
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Did anyone actually read the PDF? The list is...quite dull and rather sensible. I wondered at time if they were under the illusion that all games are for kids, but, other than that the list is pretty on the ball, the majority of games on it shockingly, aren't for kids.
The descriptions they give for the games are stunningly obvious for anyone who actually knows games, but it isn't for us, it's for parents, with info on -exactly- what they're going to get. No sugar-coating, and surprisingly little exaggeration either considering it's a Christian site.
The descriptions they give for the games are stunningly obvious for anyone who actually knows games, but it isn't for us, it's for parents, with info on -exactly- what they're going to get. No sugar-coating, and surprisingly little exaggeration either considering it's a Christian site.
I know, this is just a case of informing parents about games that may not match their beliefs and why they might not want their kids to play them. They just want to inform those of similar belief as to what they may find objectionable.T-Bone24 said:
They say something about it in their guidelines area.Ekonk said:
I find it funny that when I click on the link in the first paragraph I get to read this in big, bold, red letters "This is not an attempt to ban video games, or dictate whether people should play them."
I just read out a few highlights of this list to my guild mates, and the laughter was almost deafening.
Just as an example:
Alien Vs. Predator, an FPS game that is entirely focused on a 3-way life and death struggle between Humans, Aliens and Predators is awarded a 7, for sex, strong violence, and strong language.
CoD 2 Modern Warfare, an FPS game about counter-terrorism operations, garners a 6 for strong violence, harsh language, and some drug references.
CoD: ZOMBIES is AN FPS MINIGAME THAT REQUIRES YOU TO KILL ZOMBIES, and it only got a 4!? Are zombies okay because Jesus was technically a zombie?
They all involves killing people (or aliens, or zombies) in copious amounts, and yet WoW:WotLK get a 'worse' score, because it's got addiction potential, and your toon can consume alcohol. I couldn't figure this out last year, and this year I'm still completely baffled, but it's still as paralyzingly funny as a year ago.
Just as an example:
Alien Vs. Predator, an FPS game that is entirely focused on a 3-way life and death struggle between Humans, Aliens and Predators is awarded a 7, for sex, strong violence, and strong language.
CoD 2 Modern Warfare, an FPS game about counter-terrorism operations, garners a 6 for strong violence, harsh language, and some drug references.
CoD: ZOMBIES is AN FPS MINIGAME THAT REQUIRES YOU TO KILL ZOMBIES, and it only got a 4!? Are zombies okay because Jesus was technically a zombie?
They all involves killing people (or aliens, or zombies) in copious amounts, and yet WoW:WotLK get a 'worse' score, because it's got addiction potential, and your toon can consume alcohol. I couldn't figure this out last year, and this year I'm still completely baffled, but it's still as paralyzingly funny as a year ago.
I'm sure that they would remove Nier from the list when they learn that the character running round in lingerie and swearing like a sailor is actually a hermaphrodite.
In a way, I do kinda like this idea. Its saying, "Hey, I'm a paranoid parent. Here are the games that I'd rather not have my kids play. Here are the things that catch my eye as being questionable to me. But I understand other people have their way of looking at things, so use your own discretion. I mean, judging the beliefs of others isn't a very Christian thing to do."
I was a sensitive child. I'm glad my mother had discretion in the games she got me, 'cause certain titles like Mortal Kombat would've probably given me nightmares.
And they're not anti-video game; there's no issue to be had here.
I was a sensitive child. I'm glad my mother had discretion in the games she got me, 'cause certain titles like Mortal Kombat would've probably given me nightmares.
And they're not anti-video game; there's no issue to be had here.
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And this is news-worthy... how?
And the whole "justified context" doesn't float with many parents. Why should you be concerning yourself with saving your fictional child or murdering for your digital country in a GAME, a relaxing, switch-off-brain amusement, they ask. Since that's what many of those games are, it's a fair question.
They're not ALL like that, obviously, but parents are not interested in how complex or justifiable the story is, they want to know if they'd want their kid to be entertained by it. Timothy Plan helps them do that, so good on them.
And the whole "justified context" doesn't float with many parents. Why should you be concerning yourself with saving your fictional child or murdering for your digital country in a GAME, a relaxing, switch-off-brain amusement, they ask. Since that's what many of those games are, it's a fair question.
They're not ALL like that, obviously, but parents are not interested in how complex or justifiable the story is, they want to know if they'd want their kid to be entertained by it. Timothy Plan helps them do that, so good on them.
I just love the text Kainé shouts when you boot the game up. Kainé's swearing against weiss really sets the tone for the game. Gives me a smile every time i hear it.More Fun To Compute said:
Yeah since we all know looking at women in her underwear is much more wrong then shooting the "people"that try to kill you. Again the killing is ok until someone shows a nipple.
edit . looking at the short list all are M rated games. Since it about what parents shouldn't buy for their kids ... if you are 17+ aren't you old enough to buy your own damn games. If you parents are the only ones buying your games you are probably not even old enough to play anything on that short list (well except for allen wake)
They didn't say it was. It got on the list for unnecessarily skimpy clothing (1 out of 3 for offensiveness), violence (2 out of 3), language (2 out of 3), alcohol abuse (3 out of 3) and tobacco use (1 out of 3). Did not bother looking at source fail.D Moness said:
Good job, Greg Tito, for nicely decontextualizing something you didn't like. Very fair of you.
The PDF itself is also quite calm and collected. To cite some of their points-Ephraim J. Witchwood said:
Dragon Age: Origins said:
Mafia II said:
Godfather II said:
They never outright accuse the games of anything more then what happens. Hell, at the bottom of the PDF, they even include further resources for the parents to view.
What is the purpose of this article? From what I could glean, it seems its only function is to call unnecessary attention to a website that helps certain parents with certain values maintain those values in their homes. They are not pushing their beliefs on anyone, nor are they advocating any form of censorship as was previously stated. All that has come of posting this article is that people who do not share their values are mocking them for the perceived incongruities in said values. This seems to me little more than subconscious trolling.
"This is not an attempt to ban video games, or dictate whether people should play them."
For some reason, I'm not inclined to believe that. It may just be because I never trust a group who uses religious values to judge games on.
Their intentions may be pure, and they may be decent people, but in my mind I have to lump them in with the Parents Television Council... not a good group to share lump space with.
Actually looking at these people more closesly, I have to take back what I said. There are actually decent sensible people who can judge a game based on religious values without condemning or preaching.
Huh, never thought I'd see the day. Good on you Timothy Plan, you have yourselves another supporter.
I'm going through the actual list, and I am surprised that Dante's Inferno did not rank higher. I would've ranked it higher, there are some disturbing things in that game.
For some reason, I'm not inclined to believe that. It may just be because I never trust a group who uses religious values to judge games on.
Their intentions may be pure, and they may be decent people, but in my mind I have to lump them in with the Parents Television Council... not a good group to share lump space with.
Actually looking at these people more closesly, I have to take back what I said. There are actually decent sensible people who can judge a game based on religious values without condemning or preaching.
Huh, never thought I'd see the day. Good on you Timothy Plan, you have yourselves another supporter.
I'm going through the actual list, and I am surprised that Dante's Inferno did not rank higher. I would've ranked it higher, there are some disturbing things in that game.