Age Ratings in Video Games

JupiHornet · Postby **JupiHornet** » Sun Mar 01, 2015 2:10 pm

For some reason this came up in a thread about school (idk either) so I thought I'd make a topic about it.

Now, there was a time when I was stupid and I thought that it should be illegal for kids below 17 to play M rated games. I don't really care now, though.

Teens playing M games is also proven to decrease the teen crime rate: http://www.polygon.com/2013/2/13/398383 ... uth-crimes
I'm not sure how this works, but it does.

So what are your thoughts on all this?
Does it matter that underage kids play M rated games?

Zeldamaster12 · Postby **Zeldamaster12** » Sun Mar 01, 2015 2:15 pm

As long as they're not the type to get violent vibes out of it, it's fine. I've been playing CoD since I was 11, and I don't have violence issues in the slightest.

FallingSnow · Postby **FallingSnow** » Sun Mar 01, 2015 4:30 pm

Turtwig wrote: Teens playing M games is also proven to decrease the teen crime rate: http://www.polygon.com/2013/2/13/398383 ... uth-crimes
I'm not sure how this works, but it does.

Watch your wording. Nothing was proven. For all the researchers know, it has literally no effect on the teen crime rate whatsoever.

What the researchers did note is a relation between crime rate and video game sales. Yes, crime rate peaks in the summer. Yes, video game sales peak in the winter. Does one cause the other? Probably not. What is likely is that there are lurking variables affecting both of these statistics. You can draw the same conclusion by comparing the temperature with crime rate. Yes, crime rate peaks in the summer. Heat also peaks in the summer. They both fall in the winter. Does heat cause more crimes? Do video games cause fewer crimes?

No where in the article you linked did anyone say that Teens playing M-rated games decreases the crime rate.
To quote my psych teacher: "Correlation does not equal Causation."

Turtwig wrote:So what are your thoughts on all this?
Does it matter that underage kids play M rated games?

There's a clear maturity level difference between 10-year-olds and 20-year-olds. I'm not saying 18 is the best cutoff age and should restrict younger players. It's different for different people. However, there are definitely a lot of people who probably aren't ready mentally/emotionally to be playing those games.

John The White Yoshi · Postby **John The White Yoshi** » Tue Mar 03, 2015 2:34 pm

May I note that M rated games CAN BE a learning experience, Falling Snow? Take Grand Theft Auto for example. It not only reflects what other people think of our country (Rockstar is a game company is North Britain), but also reflects what happens in the United States, not completely but it does give a good example. I don't think is should be illegal, parents just need to take more responsibility when buying games for their children, and kids, remember "Just because it looks cool, doesn't mean you should have it". I know I'm 16 and I play games like GTA and COD, but I have an understanding of life and what happens in the world and I know what's right and wrong. As long as, say a 12 year old understands life and what happens in the world, and they know what's right and wrong, and that you shouldn't do these things in real life, then I would let him/her play. -_- AND NO EpicMCer61, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IT ALL.....

TangledLion · Postby **TangledLion** » Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:11 pm

I feel the Burden should fall on the parents to ensure what their children are playing enriches them. I have been allowed to play some M-Rated games Since I was 12, all of them morality based RPGs. My Parents have a rule that can turn these games into a thought provoking learning experience, "Don't do anything in a Game you would be Unwilling to do IRL" In games like skyrim, I don't really DO the thieves guild quests, And Every choice is well thought out and gives it's own unique lesson.As for games rated M for Gore, and Gore alone? Well, My MOM has said "I Don't care much about gore as long as it's realistic, and not Mortal Kombat level".

Danny · Postby **Danny** » Tue Mar 03, 2015 4:45 pm

Guys did you know that the M rating is literally "Mature"? As in, "It is recommended that you are mature enough to play this game". Age =/= Maturity. I know some people over 18 that aren't really mature enough to be playing M rated games.

Also in all honesty the rating is just a letter slapped on the box so parents and news reporters can freak out when something happens and blame it on video games.

Devixicus · Postby **Devixicus** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 12:58 am

I feel like ratings should only be treated as a recommendation. A responsible parent should be able to tell if a game is okay for their child at their current maturity level. When I was 9, my dad gladly gave me Metal Gear Solid to try out, but I couldn't even go near God of War or Grand Theft Auto. When I personally play games, I usually don't really mind the rating, becuase I normally know what I'm getting myself into. I will tend to avoid gore and gratuitous sexual content, since I find both of them needlessly "adult" for the most part. However, if there's a game that's received really well that happens to have those, and the game seems like something I'd be interested in, the rating and content isn't going to stop me.

JupiHornet · Postby **JupiHornet** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:02 pm

@SnifitGuy: well what if games contain cursing and have no rating? Little kids who play it will pick up the language and start using it. Now, you could argue that the kids shouldn't have those games. Is that true? Yes, but there will always be those parents that buy their kids ANYTHING. So disallowing ratings is a bad idea imo

Zeldamaster12 · Postby **Zeldamaster12** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:10 pm

Turtwig wrote:@SnifitGuy: well what if games contain cursing and have no rating? Little kids who play it will pick up the language and start using it. Now, you could argue that the kids shouldn't have those games. Is that true? Yes, but there will always be those parents that buy their kids ANYTHING. So disallowing ratings is a bad idea imo

If that happens, then that's the parents' fault, not the video game's. And I'm pretty sure that nobody picks up on bad words unless they're like 7 and under, and I highly highly doubt that a 7 year old would have a game like GTA. Even the shittiest parent wouldn't buy a 7 year old GTA because I mean, who would?

Postby **DarkMatt** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:21 pm

Turtwig wrote:Now, there was a time when I was stupid and I thought that it should be illegal for kids below 17 to play M rated games. I don't really care now, though.

It never really was illegal because the way to play M rated titles when you were a kid was to have your dad/mom get it for you. The only requirement is the parental supervision, (and not be in California) and this is assuming your local game store doesn't just take a look at you and see if you're mature enough instead of following some silly age line.

It depends on more influences than just not having enough age, honestly. Like, so long as you don't believe the violence is real and you can do it too, it's fine. The M rating is less a rule and more of a guideline in order for lazy parents to gauge how "mature" their kid is.

JupiHornet · Postby **JupiHornet** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 8:33 pm

Zeldamaster12 wrote:
Turtwig wrote:@SnifitGuy: well what if games contain cursing and have no rating? Little kids who play it will pick up the language and start using it. Now, you could argue that the kids shouldn't have those games. Is that true? Yes, but there will always be those parents that buy their kids ANYTHING. So disallowing ratings is a bad idea imo
If that happens, then that's the parents' fault, not the video game's. And I'm pretty sure that nobody picks up on bad words unless they're like 7 and under, and I highly highly doubt that a 7 year old would have a game like GTA. Even the shittiest parent wouldn't buy a 7 year old GTA because I mean, who would?

I know a kid who was 6 and had CoD

JupiHornet · Postby **JupiHornet** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 9:28 pm

SnifitGuy wrote:
Turtwig wrote: I know a kid who was 6 and had CoD
That's becoming more and more common nowadays. I still don't see why parents allow fucking 6-year-olds, who don't know reality apart from video games, to play this game. I'm getting more and more pissed off how younger kids are treated like their more responsible than me. It pisses me off...

Yep. And of course that kid cursed and yelled at us a lot. Did his mom care? Nope!

Zeldamaster12 · Postby **Zeldamaster12** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 9:35 pm

Turtwig wrote:
SnifitGuy wrote:
Turtwig wrote: I know a kid who was 6 and had CoD
That's becoming more and more common nowadays. I still don't see why parents allow fucking 6-year-olds, who don't know reality apart from video games, to play this game. I'm getting more and more pissed off how younger kids are treated like their more responsible than me. It pisses me off...
Yep. And of course that kid cursed and yelled at us a lot. Did his mom care? Nope!

Do you have a source for this?

JupiHornet · Postby **JupiHornet** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 9:41 pm

@ZM12: Um no, I don't believe he was on the news or anything.

Plus I haven't seen him in about 3 or 4 years, since he moved.

John The White Yoshi · Postby **John The White Yoshi** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 9:07 pm

Turtwig wrote:
SnifitGuy wrote:
Turtwig wrote: I know a kid who was 6 and had CoD
That's becoming more and more common nowadays. I still don't see why parents allow fucking 6-year-olds, who don't know reality apart from video games, to play this game. I'm getting more and more pissed off how younger kids are treated like their more responsible than me. It pisses me off...
Yep. And of course that kid cursed and yelled at us a lot. Did his mom care? Nope!

Ahhhh, a classic Kendall case....