Debate: At what age should kids be allowed to play Mature level games? Page 3

Started by Atmageth January 9th, 2014 3:28 PM
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At what age do you think kids should be allowed to play Mature level games?

Male
Seen November 11th, 2022
Posted November 2nd, 2014
113 posts
9.7 Years
I understand what you're saying too, but I still feel it matters. For example, in my opinion if a kid hasn't even gone through puberty, he/she shouldn't be playing video games that show something he/she is truly not mature enough to be doing personally. If I had a prepubescent child that hadn't already been properly educated about sex and what's right and wrong, I wouldn't want him/her "rocking around" in a vehicle with a prostitute from GTA! You can't fully understand something is fictional unless you know the facts.
Again, I think pokemasta92 makes a great point, and i feel this extends to all types of entertainment. Alot of kids' first experience with these mature concepts is in games like GTA, and while i don't revel in disgust at these games (GTA V is sitting on my shelf right now) i think that if a kid was to be taught correctly about these concepts and understand them before seeing them in a game, then they would be ready to handle that content. I think to say if a kid can understand that a game is fictional is not very good criteria. To go back to GTA V, its a fictional game that is based in our society (Although it can be quite exaggerated in many aspects), now many kids with parents who aren't exactly responsible learn about our socety through these games. They understand it is fiction, however they are applying what they have learned from the game to real life because their parents aren't the ones teaching them these concepts.
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SoulSilver(8/16)
Male
Somewhere in the universe
Seen June 2nd, 2015
Posted November 25th, 2014
666 posts
9.6 Years
I really think it depends on how the mature a kid is, and what kind of content it is. Example: a 8-10 year old shouldn't play gta because of sexual themes, and language. Same goes with zombie games with a ton of gore and scary images. At age 12, if they are mature enough, they should be able to play some shooting games with little to no language, gore, and sexual themes.
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深き海の彼方
Seen July 19th, 2022
Posted December 17th, 2017
4,904 posts
9.5 Years
I think 17 is a good age, but no rating system is perfect because it completely depends on the person, and why it's rated mature. For example, not all kids are as impressionable as others. In general, I wouldn't allow my kid to play any game with sexual themes. But if I trusted my kid enough that I know they're not going to go out and repeat everything they heard their favorite video game character say, I wouldn't have any problem letting them play a game with language, provided it's not too heavy. As far as violence goes, it's really hard to avoid violence in any kind of media. So whether or not I'd let them play depends on the role the violence plays in the game. There's a lot of factors, and I don't think a single letter stamped onto the box covers it all.
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Xander Olivieri

Seen 6 Days Ago
Posted November 8th, 2022
5,616 posts
13 Years
Age to play isn't really restricted. The restriction is a basis on age to buy based on the lowest common age to purchase non-harmful materials, that are still considered "bad" for public display. A lot of parents will frown upon children playing M rated games, but playing the games is up solely to the parent's discretion.

If that parent can make it known, the difference between fantasy and reality, and that the content within a M rated game should not be mimicked in public, then they are doing proper parenting. The ESRB is a content rating, not an age restriction. They are recommendation set by a specific standard.

Sales of said material is the only thing that has rules situated around. I believe the current "rules" set around the purchase of certain materials is an appropriate one based on level of target audience.

Mature rated games are made to target older players because we can process what's going on and know the rights from the wrongs. 17 to buy the games is an appropriate age as its the age in which a majority of teenagers have more responsibility forced upon them.

As far as playing them though, there really isn't any specific age. It depends on parents and parenting skill.
Male
USA
Seen December 27th, 2021
Posted July 4th, 2014
322 posts
9.8 Years
Age to play isn't really restricted. The restriction is a basis on age to buy based on the lowest common age to purchase non-harmful materials, that are still considered "bad" for public display. A lot of parents will frown upon children playing M rated games, but playing the games is up solely to the parent's discretion.

If that parent can make it known, the difference between fantasy and reality, and that the content within a M rated game should not be mimicked in public, then they are doing proper parenting. The ESRB is a content rating, not an age restriction. They are recommendation set by a specific standard.

Sales of said material is the only thing that has rules situated around. I believe the current "rules" set around the purchase of certain materials is an appropriate one based on level of target audience.

Mature rated games are made to target older players because we can process what's going on and know the rights from the wrongs. 17 to buy the games is an appropriate age as its the age in which a majority of teenagers have more responsibility forced upon them.

As far as playing them though, there really isn't any specific age. It depends on parents and parenting skill.
Very true, but unlike EC, E, E10+, and T games that are simply guidelines, M and AO games cannot be legally sold to minors that are not at least 17, at least in the United States. Just like a little kid can go see a PG-13 movie even though it's not recommended, but will not be let into an R movie because they are regulated.
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