Video Game ratings
Does anyone go by the ESRB video game rating recommendations? You know the 'E', 'E+10', 'T' and 'M'? I have a BS8 and SS10. Does anyone think it's ok for these boys to play 'T' rated games? Would you take the time to 'review' the game and see if it really is inappropriate for these ages? According to ESRB, a 'T' rating can include any one or more the following
-Violence
-Suggestive themes
-Crude Humor
-Minimal blood
-Simulated gambling
-Infrequent use of strong language
Am I being overprotective to insist on waiting until maybe age 13 as the rating suggests and/or am I being selfish to not even want to review the games in case the one or more reasons why the game was rated 'T' just might be 'unreasonable'?
I'm not a prude but I am trying to raise my son in a Christian household. I spend almost $5k per year to send my son to a private Christian school since Kindergarten and I think it would be hypocritical and irresponsible of me to allow my BS8 to play these games. Starting this fall, the SS10 will go from a public school to begin attending this same private Christian school.
Further, if I forbid my BS8 to play the games, should the DH allow the SS10 (his son) to play the games when the BS is not home.
Any thoughts?
No
I would not allow them to be played in the house. The visiting kid will survive without it.
And definitely limit the time they waste on these obese making mind wasting things. Make em go outside and play.
PS: I love playing them don't get me wrong but kids go overboard.
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There's an exception to everything I say.
Thanks OC
I would like to add that we do limit their playing time to 2 hours a day. That includes the Nintendo DS, Wii, XBOX and Computer games. I think this should get reduced to no more than 1 hour a day once school starts but haven't discussed this yet with DH
My son is a video game
lover and I have been thoroughly appalled at some of the games I've seen him play. The ratings are very very lenient in my opinion. I would say let them do without anything you find the least bit questionable. Just please trust me on this one!
Research and Ratings
DH and I research the games the boys (SS7 & SS12) want by reading a review if there is one available. We also follow the ESRB ratings.
Sometimes the game will have and explanation as to why it's rated "T" or "E+10." Like rated "T" for Crude Humor. Then it's a judgement call.
We also have bought games the boys wanted that were rated "T" and played them to see what they were like. We didn't tell the boys and did this when they were not around. Then we decided whether the game was appropriate.
Right now SS12 wants "Call to Duty 4" which is rated M. It appears he played it while at boy scout camp - the older boys let him. I was not happy about that at all.
DH and I are undecided - I don't think he's ready for it but DH thinks he is - this is after reading the reviews. So we're going to buy it and play it and then decide.
~BettyRay
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"PROBLEMS ARE ONLY OPPORTUNITIES IN WORK CLOTHES."
-Henry Kaiser
Call of Duty 4
is very very graphically violent. I wouldn't let a 12 year old play it, but that's me and perfectson16 says I'm a weirdo. LOL!
Thanks for your feedback.
My situation is similar to Crayon and I'm feeling like the evil ogre because I don't even want to consider allowing 'T' games. I did allow Transformers which is rated 'T', very relunctantly I might add, as the boys are so infatuated with Transformers and were expecting the game as soon as it was released. I couldn't bear the heartbreak if they couldn't have it
The SS10 (just turned 10) has been playing 'T' and I bet even 'M' games for some time (long before I came into the picture). So he thinks they are 'normal'. Dad (DH) thinks most of them are acceptable.
The dilemma I have at the moment is that MIL bought several 'T' rated games for SS10 for this birthday. On the cover of every one of them is some 'thing' holding some type of gun. They are all they same in my mind. Nothing but violence. Not to mention what other inappropriate stuff is in them. My DH did agree that he can't play them and told him that we would play them and decide if they are ok. I really have no desire to do this. The violence by itself I find unacceptable. Why do I need to see it let alone play the stupid game? Maybe there is some violence that is better than others? Hmmm.. Further, there is a good chance we will disagree on the appropriatness of anything else we find in it.
To OC's point, I would love to send the kids outside to play (although I don't allow them to go play unsupervised - even in the front yard) but we live in Phoenix. It's 110-115 on a good day this time of year. No one goes outside if they don't have to in the month of July or August. It's flippin hot! The hair on your nuckles will curl! We don't have a pool so our choices are limited. I'm buying a slip & slide next week!