Why are all the good games rated "M"?

[Eggsnham]

There was a post a couple days ago about some kid getting in the age old ratings argument with his mom that got me wondering. Why are all the games worth playing rated "M"? This was a ***** to me a few years ago when both of my parents had the strict "No mature games in this house, no exceptions!" rule (turns out there was an exception, putting up a well organized argument apparently means I've matured, needless to say, I WTF'd and ran with it) but it was annoying as hell when a game that half of my friends wanted to play with me was rated "M". It seems to me that the line between "T" and "M" is blood, why?

What are your thoughts on this (keep in mind though, that if you're not going to contribute to any conversation, then please don't post at all)?

EDIT: let me clarify, I DO play games that aren't rated "M", and I love a good RPG or RTS. I'm not one of those testosterone high shooter junkies that can't enjoy a game if there isn't an explosion every ten feet, or a decapitated alien flopping on his screen.

 

[pantsoffdanceoff]

If it is rated M it mean it was made with less restrictions. Less restrictions means more fun.

 

[Cherry Cola]

It's all a conspiracy to get all the kids to play the shitty games in life!

Either that or this:

If it is rated M it mean it was made with less restrictions. Less restrictions means more fun.

 

[UberMore]

Because simulated violence/sex/drugs/etc sell the best, but are the most "edgy" and therefor the most highly guarded subject.

 

[Kollega]

Ratchet & Clank series are rated E or E10+. Make what you want of that fact.

As for the blood, requirements for videogames are far more strict than for films. Our very own Moviebob once stated that if there's realistic characters and/or weapons in a game, it's already T. The Legend Of Zelda series, for example. Damn moral guardians.

Besides - that most mainstream games are rated M, does not mean all E-rated ones are bad. I'm pretty sure than many turn-based strategies, economic strategies, etc. are rated E. Making an E-rated shooter (i.e. a game where you SHOOT people), meanwhile, is a challenge.

 

[MorsePacific]

If it is rated M it mean it was made with less restrictions. Less restrictions means more fun.

/topic

This stands pretty true, actually. When you don't have to worry about toeing the line the entire time you're making the game, you can do a lot more with it than you could with a game rated T.

Not to say that there aren't really, really good E or T games.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

The difference is the amount and they way it depicted. Take Mortal Kombat for example. There's also all the sex,drugs and alcohol is referenced as well.

 

[Hippobatman]

Buy Viva Piñata. It's great, I promise.

I don't get minors complaining about not being allowed to play mature games. The ratings exist for a reason.

Some things aren't healthy for a minor to see, even if he or she consider themselves as mature enough.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

I really dunno... my parents don't seem to mind and the guys at GameStation don't either. Either I'm a very convincing 21 year old or they don't mind me buying 18 rated games.

 

[Eggsnham]

Buy Viva Piñata. It's great, I promise.

I don't get minors complaining about not being allowed to play mature games. The ratings exist for a reason.

Some things aren't healthy for a minor to see, even if he or she consider themselves as mature enough.

I'm not complaining that I'm not allowed to play, that ship has sailed a while ago, I'm complaining because I know what it's like. And it's annoying. But I do see what you mean.

 

[boholikeu]

Actually, you are wrong. There are plenty of good games that aren't rated "M", but due to the whole "grass is always greener" phenomenon you forget about them.

Unless of course your sole criteria of a good game is the amount of blood and violence it has.

 

[Lord Beautiful]

If it is rated M it mean it was made with less restrictions. Less restrictions means more fun.

Couldn't have said it better myself, even if I tried. Hell, I wouldn't have been able to say it equally as well.

 

[koriantor]

Honestly, there are some games that are M. Such as GTA. There are some games out there rated M that should be T. Like Oblivion. I played it. Never saw a reason for it to be re-rated as M (besides some certain mods, but those shouldn't chagne the actual game's rating).

A good example I've seen is MW2 compared to CoD4. MW2's campaign is incredibly dramatic. It's intensity and action is a lot more than CoD4's. CoD4 should be T. MW2 is rated as it should be.

 

[Hippobatman]

Buy Viva Piñata. It's great, I promise.

I don't get minors complaining about not being allowed to play mature games. The ratings exist for a reason.

Some things aren't healthy for a minor to see, even if he or she consider themselves as mature enough.

I'm not complaining that I'm not allowed to play, that ship has sailed a while ago, I'm complaining because I know what it's like. And it's annoying. But I do see what you mean.

Right. I wasn't pointing you out. I should have made that clear, I apologize.

The general crowd of minors complain, which is slightly ironic since that means they're too immature to understand the meaning of a mature rating.

 

[FinalHeart95]

Buy Viva Piñata. It's great, I promise.

I don't get minors complaining about not being allowed to play mature games. The ratings exist for a reason.

Some things aren't healthy for a minor to see, even if he or she consider themselves as mature enough.

You mean like body parts flying everywhere? Because my parents let me see that movies, but if it's in a game it's like I'm a psychopath or something.

The only game that's M that they've let me own is Halo 3. Hopefully Bad Company 2 will be in that category as well.

EDIT: There are good T rated games though. You just have to search sometimes. GRAW 2 is great fun online. The Battlefield series is pretty much all T (except BC2). A lot of fighters, a lot of RTSs, a lot of JRPGs. If you're a shooter kind of person though, then you're out of luck. Also, WRPGs tend to be rated M.

 

[Azure-Supernova]

Buy Viva Piñata. It's great, I promise.

I don't get minors complaining about not being allowed to play mature games. The ratings exist for a reason.

Some things aren't healthy for a minor to see, even if he or she consider themselves as mature enough.

Well that's a matter of opinion isn't it? Ratings exist because people are just too protective of their precious little kids. Take Australia for example... think of the children -_- Bullshit.

 

[Kuchinawa212]

because then they can go all out when making it, getting the true nitty gritty stuff in there that we want

 

[Lowbreed]

The N64 begs to differ.
Oh, you can go further back but I think you get my point.

 

[boholikeu]

Buy Viva Piñata. It's great, I promise.

I don't get minors complaining about not being allowed to play mature games. The ratings exist for a reason.

Some things aren't healthy for a minor to see, even if he or she consider themselves as mature enough.

I'm not complaining that I'm not allowed to play, that ship has sailed a while ago, I'm complaining because I know what it's like. And it's annoying. But I do see what you mean.

Do you play many games outside of the shooter/WRPG genres? If not, I suggest you branch out because there really are a wealth of good games out there that aren't rated M.

 

[Insideout Ink Demon]

Because an M game can pretty much have all the sex n violence we want.
Then when the do gooders cry "thing of the children" we can say "rated M, they wont play it unless bad parents buy it for them"