Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto: Would you let your 6 year old play?

Flyonthewall

No

StockportGerbil wrote: »

Halo and World of Warcraft (which at his age again I think is a no) have spawned loads of figures / toys clearly aimed at 5-6 years olds in supermarkets as well as toy shops. Burnout Paradise and Simpsons Hit and Run are OK according to the ratings but I do have some misgivings about content.

You don't need to have played the game to find the figures cool as a kid. Plenty of games kids could make up using the figures that aren't related at all to the game. Despite being toys, figures are also collectable items for adults. Collectors editions, for example, do sometimes have a figure with the game.

Been a while since I played the Simpsons Hit and Run game and I haven't played it the whole way through, but I can't remember any bad language or anything really violent in it. Can run things over/crash the car and stuff though. The TV show has a number of adult themes which I don't think are really included in that game. Wouldn't say it's the best game for a kid, but it's not too bad from what I played of it.

Burnout Paradise is largely just a racing game, although you can crash and take cars down in the Burnout games. It doesn't exactly teach good driving lol. Driving for real is nothing like in the game though. Aside from that there's nothing really bad about Burnout that i can think of (although online may be different if people swear, but you can always mute them). I think at 10 he'd be fine to play Burnout.

bob_a_builder

No

Grand Theft Auto is often quite cartoon-like in its violence as well,

Not sure thats a good description of the tourture scenes in GTA5 - where you have to participate rather than watch - no skip option either AFAIK

StockportGerbil

No

Flyonthewall wrote: »

You don't need to have played the game to find the figures cool as a kid. Plenty of games kids could make up using the figures that aren't related at all to the game. Despite being toys, figures are also collectable items for adults. Collectors editions, for example, do sometimes have a figure with the game.

I'd be surprised if the kids buying the figures had not some sort of exposure to the games. On the basis of my son he hasn't asked for them or shown any interest, but hasn't played WoW and only recently been allowed Halo. Sample size of one I know. I've never seen adults express an interest in the figures. I know about the deluxe editions of games but they include what I believe to be better quality figures?

My approach with games is to allow my son to play whatever the ratings say are suitable and other games that I know are acceptable. So Simpsons and Burnout he's been allowed since he was 7 (possibly a bit before) and they are good fun, but are they really that much more appropriate than the Xbox 360 / PS3 Sonic the Hedgehog rated 12?

Currently wrestling with requests to play Fable 3 (currently no as I don't fancy explaining the ladies of ill repute), Assassins Creed (at present my reaction is no, but it's not a series I've played - I am assuming the violence is going to be up close and personal) and NHL (Yes - language and violence not clever but he goes to Ice Hockey games and goes along to football where the language can be equally ripe.)

Online (as you note later) is a whole new minefield that I am trying to figure out how to negotiate.

Thanks for the interest

Kevin

(Should we start a list of kid friendly games on here? Christmas is looming)

Cberry_2

No

There is a distinct difference in cartoon violence seen in games like Lego Batman, and the violence portrayed in a far more realistic fashion of games like COD or GTA.
Its like comparing Tom and Jerry with Hostel.

It is why some things get rated U or PG and some get 18, there is a method behind the ratings systems.
If anyone cant get their head around that, then well, the entire discussion is lost on them anyway.

Ultimately its upto a parent to decide, but it should be an informed decision, and any parent who knows about the content of COD or GTA, wouldnt say 'yeah fine for a 6yr old', which was the original question.

If in doubt, go on youtube and search for GTA lapdance, its not exactly suitable for 6yr olds.


There is a good article about this on kotaku

kotaku.com/i-sold-too-many-copies-of-gta-v-to-parents-who-didnt-g-1371011511

Chickabiddybex

No

I would say Sleeping Dogs is a good GTA alternative. Not for VERY young kids as it is still pretty bad (it's a game about an undercover cop infiltrating a gang and there is plenty of killing etc) but I'd say its definitely toned down. For a kid not quite ready for GTA it's a good choice (I'm talking teenager appropriate)
A step younger from that, the Simpsons one is a good one. It depends what the appeal of GTA is and why the kid wants play it. Most likely because its popular! Posters everywhere, forbidden fruit, etc.
There are some awesome open world games out there that are suitable for kids. The Spider Man games are one example. Infamous is another.

Gordon_Hose

No

Treyarch introduced a good option on their CoD installments, where you could turn the graphic content/swearing off.

melanie-dorian

One of my friends posted a photo of her husband playing GTA with her 2 and 5 year old watching. No one on Facebook blinked an eyelid about it, apparently they just liked watching him drive the cars fast.

WiggyDiggyPoo

No

sherbie28 wrote: »

Is there an alternative like GTA but suitable for an 11 year old? We are having a heated debated with said 11 year old and was hoping to find an alternative. Thanks

Mercenaries 2 - World in Flames

Its a little dated (not as dated as Simpsons Hit and Run though!) and rated Teen - yes its lots of shooting but its not that bloody and lot of the game is played for laughs. IIRC the game punishes you for killing non combatants/civilians.

JohnStuart_2

No

nope.
you cant let him play gta.

Flyonthewall

No

StockportGerbil wrote: »

I'd be surprised if the kids buying the figures had not some sort of exposure to the games. On the basis of my son he hasn't asked for them or shown any interest, but hasn't played WoW and only recently been allowed Halo. Sample size of one I know. I've never seen adults express an interest in the figures. I know about the deluxe editions of games but they include what I believe to be better quality figures?

It could be parents who like the game who are buying the figures for their kids. Also, with birthdays and Christmas friends and family may buy the figures. Some may just throw them in a corner and others may just play them regardless of whether they know anything about the games.

As a kid my sister had an action figure from a TV show we'd never even heard of. Someone else bought it. She didn't use it much, but when she did it was with other toys like barbie dolls. I know these are current figures, whereas this one is much older, but it is now adults who will generally buy figures from this show either because they remember and loved the show or because they're a toy collector.

There are also people who will collect anything based on games and have rooms dedicated just to collectors editions, toys, accessories etc.

Actually a fair few collectors editions really aren't that good quality wise. People generally keep them boxed and/or on display though.