Child would like unsuitable game for christmas HELP!

jellyhead

suited-aces wrote: »

To quote a friend's sister at seeing an ad for black ops

"I can't believe they're selling that, you have to rape a woman to win in it!"

That's the sort of ignorance us gamers are up against.

Was she thinking of the San Andreas game?

My son's downfall when everyone else had MW2 at age 12-13 was that I head about the airport scene and watched a youtube video.

Apparently you can turn that bit off, but my son went into school and said "Mum's seen that clip on youtube" and everyone just said bad luck mate, and invited him to play it at their house. They didn't laugh at him for having an overprotective mum, or ridicule my lack of knowledge about being able to play different modes, thankfully.

He's 14 and has black ops. This is the first 18 rated game I've bought for him, but his dad uses his discretion over some others. I'm not a gamer and I don't think I could make an informed decision really.

suited-aces

Even in san andreas, it was a straightforward consensual sex scene which you had to hack your console to watch.

Still didn't stop the idiots giving off though.

abby1234519

If everyone would just play super Mario bros on the nintendo 64 we would be a happier world

jellyhead

abby1234519 wrote: »

If everyone would just play super Mario bros on the nintendo 64 we would be a happier world

I've got it on the SNES My 5 year old gets a bit aggressive if he plays for long though, but in short doses he loves it.

jellyhead

suited-aces wrote: »

Even in san andreas, it was a straightforward consensual sex scene which you had to hack your console to watch.

Still didn't stop the idiots giving off though.

I've only seen a minute or so of it, when I collected my 7 year old from a friend's house. It never crossed my mind that the friend would be getting it for his 8th birthday.

From memory the character seemed to be having sex with a prostitute inside a car. The car was rocking but there wasn't any flesh on display. This friend turned around and told me excitedly that if you kill her afterwards you can steal her money and use it to buy guns. Nice. My 7 year old was sat watching Toy Story with the boy's mum, having got bored of asking his friend to put Mario on. The boys mum thought it was okay for him to play the game because she turned the speakers off so he didn't hear the swearing. He was in detention a lot after that for swearing in school though.

suited-aces

Yeah, I've always disliked that element of it, it adds absolutely nothing to the plot. And I wouldn't give it to a kid for that reason.

System

Is there anyone on this board who has let their kids play such games? And if so have they turned into homicidal maniacs yet?

jellyhead

xXMessedUpXx wrote: »

Is there anyone on this board who has let their kids play such games? And if so have they turned into homicidal maniacs yet?

Not at age 8, no.

My 14 year old has the COD game and hasn't changed since I bought it. We limit how long he spends gaming though, we're quite strict about things like fresh air and interaction with real people.

I watched the programme about WOW addicts and was surprised by parents saying that their child stayed up all night gaming - it's the parents job to send the kid to bed, surely.

So no, gaming hasn't affected my children but they only do it in moderation (and eldest didn't get an 18 game until he was 14). He doesn't play shooting games if 5 year old is around.

jellyhead

skylight wrote: »

He claims his friend have it already? Rubbish! I bet all his friends get to stay up late, eat what they like and never brush their teeth. In realitity all his friends are probably saying to their mums "but all my friends have it...."

There will be the exception to the rule as the odd parents do give in (and I bet we can all name some at the school gate) but most parents will not allow an 8yo and 18yo game. Just as you would not let your 8yo see the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or SAW, or the new Cold Blood.

Actually, re-reading your post, he is only 7 now and will be barely 8 by Christmas.

I would tell him that he is not having it and it not to borrow it either. If he does then you will remove all games and force him to play Fluffy Bunnies for 3yo. (Or whatever baby games exist). But then I am a mean mummy!

His friends might have older brothers or dads who play it, I suppose. They might even play it in front of young children. I would be very surprised if the majority of his friends actually own the game themselves though.

I live on a Midlands council estate and our school is considered 'deprived' yet I would be amazed if more than 1 kid in year 3 (out of 60 kids) owned it or got it for christmas this year. It's really not the norm, not at that age.

vik6525

jellyhead wrote: »

We did the same (years back) with a boring episode of Torchwood :rotfl: In a way it gave my boy even more kudos in the playground, because he'd seen it and could talk about it, but was of the opinion that it wasn't very good.

At the OP son's age (year 3) there are probably kids who aren't even allowed to watch doctor who.

I honestly think thats the way to go with things like this. Take the 'mystery' out of them, but do it in such as way that the 'mystery' is neither exciting nor interesting, its just boring....