Who was an "underage" gamer? and the disconnect between us and the past decades

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The Funslinger

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Sep 12, 2010
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Matthew94 said:
Yup, I loved the responses I got from the "old" gamers.

I asked if any waited until they were 18 until they played DOOM. Both people said "no, but my parents didn't allow it" as if that was somehow better. No, it isn't, you still played the game when you "shouldn't" have.
I've no issue with kids playing games rated above their age. The parent, however, does need to make sure they actively make sure the kid's understanding it all, and not being "that sort of kid", etc. There's a difference between that and mindlessly giving your child the latest Cawadoody without paying attention.

When I end up bringing a sprog into this world, he or she can play whatever games he or she likes so long as he or she consistently shows he or she is mature enough to handle it.
 

Trololo Punk

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May 14, 2011
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I played pretty much anything I wanted. The only game that was kept away from me for a long time was Grand Theft Auto. But that was more to do with my dad being a police officer/chief.
 

Ickorus

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Mar 9, 2009
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Most of the time I see that kind of argument is when the parents is moaning about the evils of games and how their kid committed some stupid crime because a game 'told them to'.

In those cases it is entirely the parent's fault, if you don't want your stupid kid to play violent games don't bloody buy them for them.

Otherwise it's entirely the decision of the parents whether they let their kids play violent games but even then if the kid is a rude, loud, obnoxious, immature little prick online the parents should take it away from them or at least disable their internet access so they can't annoy the rest of us.
 

Dys

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Sep 10, 2008
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Yeah my parents damn well knew what I was playing. My time playing video games was strictly controlled, and I barely played an 'M' or 'MA' rated game[footnote]note that as an Australian there were no R rated or 'adult' games above 15+.[/footnote] until I was well into secondary school (though I did admittedly play wolf 3d with my dad when I was younger, as that was literally with my dad, however, I rate it differently to kids being given unquestioned access). I didn't play any online games until I was nearly 17, and I sure as hell didn't have internet access in my room until I was older again. I generally think my parents did it right, it seems unthinkable to let children have free reign on the internet (console or computer based), just because it doesn't always end badly doesn't mean it should be endorsed!
 

gaoees

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Jul 18, 2012
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Plus, while I may not have been the brightest kid in the world, I could tell reality from fiction. I could watch a film or play a game and not want to murder hordes of people to bring about the birth of the demon lord of crap tasting ice cream.
 

spartan231490

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Jan 14, 2010
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Not an excuse, you are still responsible for your children's actions. That's the beginning and the end of it, and before you ask, no I'm not a parent. But you know what, I am an uncle, and I watch my niece and nephew all the time, and when I do, I'm responsible for their actions.

Also, look at how many parents do keep their children from spending hundreds of dollars on these micro transactions, can't be that hard.
 

liquidsolid

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Feb 18, 2011
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When I was 10 I played Grand Theft Auto III, the first M game I ever got my hands on. I grew up to be a responsible adult. Parenting has more to do with social ills than violent video games. There is a rating system in place and parents don't really have the "I'm old and technology is scary" excuse because the rating system for film is nearly the same thing. Parents shouldn't blame video game companies for making games that older gamers demand.
 

JWRosser

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Jul 4, 2006
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My dad came home with a Sega Mega Drive one day when I was about four, and I've been playing games since then. On my first system, I had games that ranged from Sonic, to Road Rash (beating people off bikes with clubs) to Mortal Kombat. So, yes, I was definitely an underage gamer. I was aware of how bloody and violet Mortal Kombat was, but it didn't affect me in any way (saying that, the first time I accidentally pulled off a fatality, it was Scorpion's, and that freaked me out majorly).

Come PS1 time and once again I had games ranging from Mickey Mouse to GTA. Whilst playing GTAII once, something came up about drug dealing, and I shouted out "aww not drug dealing!" to which my mother entered the room, irate, and asked me what I was playing. By this time I was around 6 or 7, and probably understood, in the simplest terms, what drugs were, and that they were bad, m'kay. She banned my younger brother from playing GTA, or watching me play, but she let me play as I was old enough to know that what my character was doing was wrong, and that I had no intention of doing anything like this irl. I was also never one of those people to sit on a mic and shout profanities like these "CoD kids" do....although, I my parents didn't allow me to play games online against people I didn't know when I was younger, which was probably a good thing - I mean, the majority of the time, playing against a young kid is aggravating. And on the other end of the spectrum, playing as the kid, there are all sorts of weirdos out there. I can understand why they didn't want me chatting with strangers: it's common sense. I think the first game that I played online with strangers was the first Battle for Middle Earth, which was probably when I was 11 or 12?

So I've always played games underage, but it hasn't affected me, because I am intelligent and a sensible lad. I don't condone those parents who let their kids play 18s when they're younger, as I did too. But it has to be taken with a pinch of salt. As a parent, I think that you have to definitely be aware of the content of the game, and whether or not this will affect your child. Similarly, I wouldn't blame a parent if they didn't let their 7 year old play a game like GTA. At the end of the day, it's down to parental consent.


In terms of spending all day playing a game, I think that we have all been there. I recall playing Final Fantasy 10 for something like 12 hours straight, bar one little break in between. It's just something you do as a kid. Obviously I would never let my child do this regularly, as my parents never let me do. They'd always want me off a good hour or so before I went to bed, and generally only let me play 2 hour blocks at a time. But playing all day every now and then isn't hurting. And, if it does begin hurting, the kid should have the common sense to stop.

Mr. GameBrain said:
Its not about age, its about maturity.
^This sums it up perfectly really.
 

pilouuuu

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Aug 18, 2009
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I think this is just the government and institutions telling us what to see or what to do. I understand why they do it, but we all played violent games as kids and we're not all criminals, right? I think that if someone has a tendency for violence it would be the same even if they didn't play.

And remember that many years ago kids would grow up with very violent fairy tales, which later were adapted by Disney, which would use violence to teach them how to avoid real life dangers.

Violence is part of life and the best way to avoid it is facing it and analyzing, not hiding or with control of people's behavior.