today i was appalled at a so called play station game called "smackdown" which is based on WWe wrestling apparantly ...... the little guy playing the game sat there control in hand said to me.......hey watch me do this.i can beat this woman.....this game has a mix of sexes if you choose, to fight against..call me old fashioned but should we be allowing our kids to play games where they think its ok to hit, kick and generally smash to pieces the woman??? AND i mean literally kick and smack these women to near death ....... i thought we lived in an age where we taught our little guys not to hit women game or no game .......

women now fight men in professional boxing...

and i would suggest that the game probably had an age rating, and the kid shouldn't have been playing.

How is it worse than hitting a man? Both are out of order... but at the end of the day... IT'S A GAME!!!

When i was a kid i went round with a cowboy hat on shooting people... amazingly i have never done that for real though.

Yes, it's better them beating the poo out of each other on some 14" portable than in real life...

Alex

i never fort ov dat! lol .........just wondering what others thought

Games like this have been around for years.

not having a youngster my self now cos mines grown up .... i wasnt aware games could be so violent.........id heard stuff said but till you see it for yourself... i guess there are age reccommendations on the boxes/game but , it doesnt prevent the young uns getting them does it . i was just shocked how the youngster took great joy beating this woman in some awful and barbaric moves rather than fight the guys available to compete with on this game.......

Thats not violent, try playing GTA, thats violent. Getting to run over pedestrians and seeing blood splattered everywhere.

oh yes hes got that game too!!! i cant say im impressed by what ive seen whats classed as fun & games .......whatever happened to the hula hoop and whip n top lol

Its not actually the violence in these games that makes me wonder about them, so much as the roles that they make you take - all the recent popular ones seem to have the player being gangsters (sorry gangstas!), gettaway drivers, street racers or hit men. Maybe its time to throw in a few positive role models?

There are plenty of fun, non-violent games out there for the under 16's though. Parents do have a choice what their children play, but i'm guessing most don't read the labels on the games.

Originally posted by evildrneil
Its not actually the violence in these games that makes me wonder about them, so much as the roles that they make you take - all the recent popular ones seem to have the player being gangsters (sorry gangstas!), gettaway drivers, street racers or hit men. Maybe its time to throw in a few positive role models?

Yeah but kids won't find that fun lol.

Makes me think of that bible game that rodd and todd flanders play on The Simpsons. :P

Originally posted by nitelife40
today i was appalled at a so called play station game called "smackdown" which is based on WWe wrestling apparantly ...... the little guy playing the game sat there control in hand said to me.......hey watch me do this.i can beat this woman.....this game has a mix of sexes if you choose, to fight against..call me old fashioned but should we be allowing our kids to play games where they think its ok to hit, kick and generally smash to pieces the woman??? AND i mean literally kick and smack these women to near death ....... i thought we lived in an age where we taught our little guys not to hit women game or no game .......
I have to agree with this. I wonder whether PS2 has anything to do with the 'driving style' of some of the rissoles who tear about our streets?

Isn't blaming a computer game for crime a bit like blaming the teeth if you get bitten by a dog? It's not the games fault, millions of people play them and there is no harm or ill effect, its just a few people who would be causing trouble no matter what.

No doubt there will soon be another Tipper Gore trying to ban all violent games because of a few people who are already unhinged.

Originally posted by ianmitchell
Yeah but kids won't find that fun lol.

Makes me think of that bible game that rodd and todd flanders play on The Simpsons. :P

Why not - The Sims goes down well with a more thoughtfull player and that lacks the violence. If you must have an action oriented game then ring sports (like the wrestling one), extreme sports sims, military / espionage sims, playing the police / detectives rather than the gangsters (OK this one is arguable as to whether it provides a positive role model!). We quite happily sit and whinge about rising crime rates, violence on the streets et al but take a look at the media (of which video games is becoming a part) and you will see that increasing the 'bad guys' are taking a leading role as the 'heroes' of the day...

I agree with you evildrneil. There are better games, in my own and others views, but sadly I think we're in the minority.

I would say GTA, for example, is a bigger seller than The Sims.

On the other hand, on the thought of banning computer games we are underestimating the under 18 gamers' freedom of thought when playing 18+ games.

Surely they can resist to go out shooting people and going stealing cars.

I think adults should be able to play (or for that matter, watch) anything they like.
It's the perents responsibily to control what kids do.
Parents are all for having stuff banned as it means they don't have to bother checking anymore.

Originally posted by Snook
How is it worse than hitting a man? Both are out of order... but at the end of the day... IT'S A GAME!!!

When i was a kid i went round with a cowboy hat on shooting people... amazingly i have never done that for real though.

True and there ia a massive variety of games avaiable for an equally massive audience.

Sex and violence sells, there are plenty of other good games out there tho new and old.that do not involve `Gangtas`.

Originally posted by ianmitchell
Yeah but kids won't find that fun lol.
Some people think arson is fun. That doesn't mean we should supply the matches.

Originally posted by nick2
I think adults should be able to play (or for that matter, watch) anything they like.
It's the perents responsibily to control what kids do.
Parents are all for having stuff banned as it means they don't have to bother checking anymore.

Good point, most of the 18+ games that are in underage hands were bought for them by their parents.

Originally posted by ianmitchell
Good point, most of the 18+ games that are in underage hands were bought for them by their parents. Perhaps the packaging should better illustrate the content? I worked in a shop one christmas where we were instructed to ask who the 18+ game was intended for. The number of grandparents who went skits at us for asking!!!!

Originally posted by ianmitchell
Good point, most of the 18+ games that are in underage hands were bought for them by their parents.

When I bought GTA San Andreas the shop was full of kids, who just handed the game to dad, he paid, then handed it back to the kid. You can't realy blame the shop for not caring, when the game is £40 a thow, but the parents should be made aware (assuming they arn't) of the games content.

I think we should ban the GTA games immediately. Especially the new one it is far too good and has taken up far too much of my time, I've already pulled several all nighters and I've still not got to the end. When will the Daily Mail do the decent thing and whip up a moral panic saving me from this filth.

Originally posted by Disco_Cat
I think we should ban the GTA games immediately. Especially the new one it is far too good and has taken up far too much of my time, I've already pulled several all nighters and I've still not got to the end. When will the Daily Mail do the decent thing and whip up a moral panic saving me from this filth.

I quite agree, have you found the jetpack yet, or seen the Bigfoot ?

Originally posted by nick2
I quite agree, have you found the jetpack yet, or seen the Bigfoot ?


Not the jet pack, got the parachute but was a bit disappointed but a jet pack sounds like i can solve all my problems, prey tell where it is located?

Got the Big Foot but I've not seen it since. What I'm really confused about is this crazy fast pick up truck type thing i found in Chinatown that I've not seen since.


ooooooooh your testing my powers to resist wasting an afternoon

Originally posted by Disco_Cat
Not the jet pack, got the parachute but was a bit disappointed but a jet pack sounds like i can solve all my problems, prey tell where it is located?

Got the Big Foot but I've not seen it since. What I'm really confused about is this crazy fast pick up truck type thing i found in Chinatown that I've not seen since.


ooooooooh your testing my powers to resist wasting an afternoon

I don't know where the jetpack is, I just heard someone on the tram talking about it. I should have asked them.

This is a good site for GTA though : http://gtadomain.gtagaming.com/

with some great videos

Originally posted by ianmitchell

I would say GTA, for example, is a bigger seller than The Sims.


Believe it or not, the Sims is the biggest ever selling video game series in the UK.

If we are banning violent video games, why don't we ban videos as well? But we don't, because people are responsible about videos, and the majority of parents and shops understand the age ratings, and don't let kids watch them. This is completely different to computer games, where shops and parents willingly let kids play and buy 18+ rated games.

Video games seem to suffer in the fact that, they are widely perieved to have a kiddy reputation. Acutally, the highest percentage of people that play games is 18 - 24 year olds, so why shouldn't they have games of an adult nature being made for them? IMO, parents should take responsibility for what their kids are watching/playing.

Originally posted by bigrods
Believe it or not, the Sims is the biggest ever selling video game series in the UK.

If we are banning violent video games, why don't we ban videos as well? But we don't, because people are responsible about videos, and the majority of parents and shops understand the age ratings, and don't let kids watch them. This is completely different to computer games, where shops and parents willingly let kids play and buy 18+ rated games.

Video games seem to suffer in the fact that, they are widely perieved to have a kiddy reputation. Acutally, the highest percentage of people that play games is 18 - 24 year olds, so why shouldn't they have games of an adult nature being made for them? IMO, parents should take responsibility for what their kids are watching/playing.

Indeed. You beat me to it :)

Its frightening how many adults have no idea what kind of games are out there. It's the responsbility of parents to ensure that they don't let their kids get their hands on anything that they shouldn't.

With regards to the rest of the population - we are entitled to watch/read/play whatever we like. If you don't like it, don't play it.

Originally posted by bigrods
Believe it or not, the Sims is the biggest ever selling video game series in the UK.

If we are banning violent video games, why don't we ban videos as well? But we don't, because people are responsible about videos, and the majority of parents and shops understand the age ratings, and don't let kids watch them. This is completely different to computer games, where shops and parents willingly let kids play and buy 18+ rated games.

Video games seem to suffer in the fact that, they are widely perieved to have a kiddy reputation. Acutally, the highest percentage of people that play games is 18 - 24 year olds, so why shouldn't they have games of an adult nature being made for them? IMO, parents should take responsibility for what their kids are watching/playing.

We should clamp down harder on computer games. Videos/DVDs for under 18s is an issue, not as strong as the computer games issue of kids actually role playing murderers and thieves....

Originally posted by ianmitchell
We should clamp down harder on computer games.

In what way do you mean? Restrict the content of games?

Videos/DVDs for under 18s is an issue, not as strong as the computer games issue of kids actually role playing murderers and thieves....

In that sense I agree that kids getting hold of adult games is a huge issue - probably more so than films. This is mostly because many people are so ill educated about games content though. The point is the kids shouldn't be role playing murderers and thieves because they shouldn't own the game.

Originally posted by Leviathan
In what way do you mean? Restrict the content of games?

I really have no idea! Suggestions?

It's all about educating people on the ratings system. Adult content in video games is fine - for adults. I work in the video games industry and there's no way that I'd let my kid play any game inappropriate for their age. The same goes for TV shows, DVD, unsupervised Internet access and so on.

I hate how people blame games/music/movies/the Internet for corrupting their child. How about taking a bit of parental responsibility and checking what your child is looking at or playing?

Responsabilty!!! Surely thats a curse word these days! We seem to have evolved this very odd (not to mention untenable) position whereby we (using we to mean society) expect to be able to do whatever we want but still have someone there to blame/pick up the pieces if we screw up!!!

I dunno if thing's have changed since I was a bit younger, but to my knowledge the ratings on games are only guidelines arent they? I didnt think games actually had certificates like movies?

if i'm right and they dont... why not? although I vagely remember not being able to buy Mortal Kombat 3 and my mum getting it me... but i was about 12? lol

Originally posted by xafier
I dunno if thing's have changed since I was a bit younger, but to my knowledge the ratings on games are only guidelines arent they? I didnt think games actually had certificates like movies?

if i'm right and they dont... why not? although I vagely remember not being able to buy Mortal Kombat 3 and my mum getting it me... but i was about 12? lol

I believe that it's illegal for under 18s to purchase DVDs and games etc.

To be fair though, I reckon most of us had an 18 game or 18 film bought for us!

A few months ago I had to give money to my mum to buy apocalypse now redux cause the woman at the till wouldn't sell it me!

Originally posted by xafier
I dunno if thing's have changed since I was a bit younger, but to my knowledge the ratings on games are only guidelines arent they? I didnt think games actually had certificates like movies?


Not sure if things have changed since I was back in Blighty...but some games actually come under BBFC classification - just like movies (or at least they did). However, I think you're right that the PEGI ratings are voluntary (it was ELSPA ratings when I worked in the UK industry and they were definately voluntary).

But - ratings, whether voluntary or not - do not let adults off the hook for not vetting what their child plays. It's a similar situation here in the US - we have ESRB ratings which are voluntary. It's high time that ratings for video games stood behind the law as movie ratings do. Additionally, retailers need to be more vigilant and sell only to the audience appropriate for the game. I used to work at Virgin on Fargate and would not sell 'adult' games to minors. You can imagine some of the 'mouth' I got from the more polite members of society.