Do you guys think it's ok for children to play games that adults should only play?

[Titan]

I grew up playing violent games and I turned out fine. However, my parents were completely ignorant about video games. My mom wouldn't let me have Mortal Combat but had no problem buying me the original Grand Theft Auto, Syphon Filter or Metal Gear. The games had no effect on me and I grew up fine but theres definitely kids who are a little crazy. I don't have kids but if I did, honestly, I would not buy them violent games until they're older and mature enough to handle them. Then again, I know better and am up to date with video game news so it'll be hard for them to pull the wool over my eyes . Unfortunately, the parents that are the ones that complain about their kids playing violent games are the ones who have no clue about games, buy it for their kids without even so much as a Google search, then see what it is when their kids play, then blame the games when the kids act up (even though they are the ones to blame for not being more active with their kids lives). I have a good example of this.

A couple years ago, I was in GameStop preordering a game and I got stuck in line behind a woman and her young child. She's at the front and asks little Johnny "What game do you want?" He yells out Call of Duty (I forget which one, lol. Though they're all the same game so doesn't matter ). At the time I played so I was thinking 'great, another 8 year old to annoy me'. The guy behind the counter stops and asks the mom "Do you know what this game is about?" The mom said no then he began to explain the game. She turns to her son and said "You are out of your mind thinking I'm going to buy you this game." I think the kid threw a tantrum but I applauded the clerk. And if it wasn't for him stopping it, that mom would have just been another statistic complaining about games. Honestly, IMO, we need more proactive store clerks like that too to help educate moronic parents

 

[Oberon]

Not to mention that not only are little kids not allowed to buy CoD games but actually not allowed to play them,cause of being under age.
Depends on your country I guess,but Im sure its an M in the US and the equivalent in other countries,here in AUS its M15 or MA15+ and UK 16.
So all those little kids you hear in your headset while playing any CoD game are playing illegally then.

 

[alexiskilgannon]

It's really up to the parent. I probably wouldn't let my children play video games with a ton of profanity and violence at a young age, but that's just me. I grew up having fun with the basics and made my way up to the violence when I was in my teens and knew the difference between fantasy and reality.

 

[JaydonTyler]

Realistically, kids should not be playing games like GTA 5 for example. Not until they are older. some parents let young kids play games like these and it really does mess with them. Good parents are literally rare to come by now a days. Most people dont care about their kids even though they say otherwise. Focus on programming your kid for success rather then filling your kids mind with junk.

 

[Ciel]

No. Absolutely not.

Did I play M rated games when I was underage? Yes, but I think we can all agree times were much different then and that this current generation, these kids coming up, are... well... umm... someone help me out here...

 

[gamerteabwoi]

No I don't think so. Children have very fragile minds and unlike us as adults they don't have the mental capacity to know real from fake so they tend to want to do the things that they see being done in a video game. I have a young niece and a young nephew and I don't allow them to play any of my shooter games I just don't think that they should be playing them and that is the reason that I bought the WII so that they would have something that they can play and not feel left out.

 

[don_bidarian]

I used to play adult rated games when I was a kid, I brought up ok and never had a problem.

However I see in relatives, some children go overboad when they play adult games and try to recreate those stuff in real life which can be dangerous.

So I cannot make up my mind whether the games affect children or not. I guess it comes down to the kid's mental capacity.

 

[Heyshiloh]

I was just talking about this yesterday! My opinion might be somewhat frowned upon, so don't chew my head off please! My friend and I came to the conclusion that playing video games can really affect your outlook and views in the world, at least in a short-term sense. After playing GTAIV, I noticed the little urges in day-to-day life like running people over with my car or walking up to their Mercedes and stealing it. Now, of course I wouldn't dream of actually doing it, but it means something that the game leaked into my life in such a way. So, I think that in adolescents who may not have that kind of filter, it's a very bad thing for them to be thinking about and seeing in their daily lives.

 

[Ciel]

I was just talking about this yesterday! My opinion might be somewhat frowned upon, so don't chew my head off please! My friend and I came to the conclusion that playing video games can really affect your outlook and views in the world, at least in a short-term sense. After playing GTAIV, I noticed the little urges in day-to-day life like running people over with my car or walking up to their Mercedes and stealing it. Now, of course I wouldn't dream of actually doing it, but it means something that the game leaked into my life in such a way. So, I think that in adolescents who may not have that kind of filter, it's a very bad thing for them to be thinking about and seeing in their daily lives.

Not looked down upon at all. I warn parents all the time at work about different types of M-rated games--GTA in particular. I send plenty of kids home upset.

 

[Heyshiloh]

Not looked down upon at all. I warn parents all the time at work about different types of M-rated games--GTA in particular. I send plenty of kids home upset.

That's good to know. I just feel like a lot of people feel so strongly about how video games don't necessarily affect your thoughts that I might get some of that anger here. But it might just be because I've gotten in a heated argument in-person with other a couple of times, haha. I'm glad - thank you! I've seen quite a few children be negatively affected by it in terms of language and small acts of violence (and of course it's not totally the game's fault) that I'd do the same. On the other hand though, I know some teens can handle it, some parents may not use their best judgement and it tends to harm the kids who may be more mature and aware.

 

[Derri]

Definitely not. A prime eg is GTA V.Have you played that?
See here: http://ps4forum.com/35-other-gaming-talk/2043-violent-video-games-perception-comes.html
These types are extreme games types.

But even games that may be M rated like CoD games,while it depends on the individual and we know many younger kids play it someone who is 6 should defo not play that either.

But do you think it has a negative impact on children?

I think very young children who're below 10 then maybe its a problem but I don't think it has an impact on children who're mature enough to realize that video games aren't real life.

 

[Cpt Blackadder]

I'm a foster parent and the answer to this question as per the Op is simple.

NO kids should not play games that are for adults.

The reason is, kids are still learning, some have been brought up correctly others haven't. If a child that can understand right from wrong, is well adjusted as they have had great parenting, then they could mentally cope with adult games, break down that what they are playing is just fiction.

If a child HASN'T had a proper upbringing to know right from wrong, filling their minds with adult games only makes it worse and it WILL effect them.

I'm sure we all know people that just leave their kids to play with their PS3/Xb's in their rooms for hours on end, simply to give the parents some peace. It's wrong. I know some will say i did that and i'm fine, but that's probably because you had a loving parent bring you up.

In short your playing with fire letting underage kids play adult games.

Look at it this way, if you let your 12 year old son play COD that's 18 rated, where's the difference from then letting him see hard core porn, also rated 18 ? You can't have it both ways. Ratings are there for a reason, to protect our kids.

Kids are becoming grown up too fast these days. Protect them from the horrors of the real world until they are able to cope with it, not before.

 

[wowtgp]

No, absolutely not. They shouldn't let kids play those games at all until they are 18 years old. I heard the news recently that a child shot his grandmother after playing GTA IV.

 

[Oberon]

But do you think it has a negative impact on children?

Well children (as any people) are different and while Im sure playing CoD or even GTA may not have an impact on some children,on others it would.

 

[SeanM]

When I was in my teens, I enjoyed games that were rate M for mature a whole lot better, GTA, Mortal Kombat, Max Payne etc, and I'm just fine, I'm not a coompletely sadistic bastard bent on doing or emulating what I've seen in Video Games...

 

[wonderings]

The title of this thread answers the question.
"Do you guys think it's ok for children to play games that adults should only play?"

They are games meant for adults, not for children. Let children be children.

 

[Haymansafc]

I'm fairly moderate on the subject, to be honest. Firstly, I will say that any game that features nudity in sensitive areas, or sexual suggestions/comments is something children should definitely not see. Children need to be children before growing up. I'm a strong believer in that. I'd also refuse to buy them anything that is heavily focused on gambling.

Personally speaking, if the child (I'm talking about them in their teens – not single figures) have shown consistently that they’re mature enough to handle more adult content, then I'd have no real issue with handing them the game - maybe with a bit of supervision. For instance, I played the original 'birds eye' GTA game when I was 12 (launched in 1997 if memory serves me) and it was actually bought for me whilst I was in the shop. I was mature enough to know it was just a game and everything therefore had to be taken, in GTA's case, with a very large pinch of salt.

As already stated, every child learns maturity at different rates and whilst it's probably safer to tar the lot with a negative brush, it can have a really bad effect on those mature beyond their years wanting to be given a chance and always refused. I actually witnessed this happen to one of my old school buddies. Without going into detail, it really wasn’t pleasant viewing.

Obviously on the other hand, if it's clear the child is still learning and not mature or clever enough to genuinely understand that the contents of these games are actions you can’t do in real life, I would have no hesitation in refusing them. However, even if you tell them "no", then I'm sure they'll have a friend somewhere who will have it and either go around to their house to play it. Unfortunately, a lot of parents today seem to want children but don’t actually want any of the responsibility or the sacrifices that comes with parenthood. So whilst you may have done right at your end, another parent elsewhere will be more lax. It’s a sad fact of life, unfortunately. In light of that, it’s up to you as the parent to ensure your child isn’t lead down the wrong path and explain what they are doing is wrong.

I highly doubt you'll ever stop under 18's playing games meant for those who are at least 18. There will always be a way around it.

 

[Alex_68]

I do not let my son (9 years old) playing with anything except LEGO Marvel.

GTA V is horrible when it comes to people who shouldn't be playing it.

I had the same bad experience. It's really sad to ear screaming kinds insulting each other all the time, with the mouth full of vulgar words. The natural question which comes is: where the hell are their parents? GTA is a violent game indeed, but this is not a good reason to be aggressive with the other players.

 

[iamthenight90]

I do not let my son (9 years old) playing with anything except LEGO Marvel.




I had the same bad experience. It's really sad to ear screaming kinds insulting each other all the time, with the mouth full of vulgar words. The natural question which comes is: where the hell are their parents? GTA is a violent game indeed, but this is not a good reason to be aggressive with the other players.

if you want to introduce him to a more adult themed game make it something like portal 2 or the last of us. just a suggestion:Onya

 

[Alex_68]

if you want to introduce him to a more adult themed game make it something like portal 2 or the last of us. just a suggestion:Onya

Actually I was thinking about Spider Man or Batman. I played TLOU and also finished the story: I think it's too early for him so far. Portal 2 is a good idea, thank you