Don't buy these games! (...right)

[Bluedog]

Originally posted by LePaul
Wow, a group of Nuns telling folks what to buy.

Here's a tip, Sisters...go use your *powers* to get those stinking priests to leave little boys alone.  Once you clean your house out, I'll give ya a 2nd thought  

Hear hear!!
My thoughts exactly.

PS  Musta been a half decent game guns, you made it to volume 2!

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by Dowding
Neither six nor eight have 'teen' in the word. And those ages could not be classed as 'mature'.

So, what is the problem again apart your willingness to subscibe to a nanny state?

Problem? The problem is, a 6 or 8 year old can buy those games regardless of what is printed on the package.

Its a social problem of one where parents don't pay particular attention to their children, or what they do.  I realize that this not the gaming industries' problem, but we don't sell cigarettes to minors either.  

In a country where both parents working, its highly likely that the parents don't even keep up on the content of the games.  

I see nothing wrong with "developing standards for marketing video games that encourage/reward players for performing acts of violence and brutality, and that depict images demeaning to women and minorities" or preventing minors from purchasing/renting M-rated games by separating these from other games so that parents can shop for products appropriate for their children."

I preach "personal responsibility", this goes for both parties, the parents, and the gaming companies, a label isn't enough.  My son is BEGGING for Halo 2, its advertised on Nickelodeon, a childrens channel. Its rated M for Mature.  I have a problem with that(the advertisement on a childrens channel).

[texace]

The gaming companies have no obligation whatsoever to warn people of questionable content. That is left up to the ESRB. Game companies usually make games with all kinds of ratings to cater to a wide amount of the market. They are not responsible for who gets their product or how, that is the job of the marketers and the parents.

Advertisments, magazine ads, and television commercials must be purchased through the networks. They follow the same guidelines as every other commercial program out there. It's like having beer commercials on a network where kids may be watching during the prime time.

What we're left with are parents who will submit to whatever their child wants and usually pay no attention to ratings or warnings. When their child plays the game they buy and for some reason become enamored with what  he sees and starts to emulate it, then the parents will blame the game companies because they don't want to admit their mistake. They pass the blame because there is no way they could possibly make a wrong decision about their kids.

So, the game companies get to have lists like this made because parents around the nation don't know what's best for their kids. They make the mistake of buying M rated games whe they know their child does not understand the content of the game then go on a tirade about how violent games are destroying our way of life. They don't tell you that they paid money for he game usually because the child wanted it.

SO who gets the blame card? We have:

Game companies who are trying to make a profit.
The ESRB rating games to inform consumers.
Parents who are educated (like Rip) who know what games are good and bad for their kids.
Parents who do not know the content of games and are shocked when their kids emulate what they see because they don't understand it.

You make the call...

[moose]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Problem? The problem is, a 6 or 8 year old can buy those games regardless of what is printed on the package.

not around where I live. I got carded when I bought GTA and HL2. I looked at the sniveling kid behind the counter and laughed at him. He was serious and wouldn't sell me the game without seeing my ID.

nothing like a 16 year old who can't buy those games on his own giving someone 6 1/2 years older them him crap. i wanted to punch him and steal the money in the cash register then go jack a car outside and run over a few cops.

[AKS\/\/ulfe]

Don't forget to pickup a hooker Moose.
-SW

[indy007]

Originally posted by moose
not around where I live. I got carded when I bought GTA and HL2. I looked at the sniveling kid behind the counter and laughed at him. He was serious and wouldn't sell me the game without seeing my ID.  

That's getting common here in TX. They've toughed up their ID laws considerably, and the police run stings against any place that sells cigarettes, sending in minors to try to buy w/o ID. I got ID'd at Best Buy when I picked up MK: Deception. I don't have a problem with that, it's a good thing. Kids shouldn't be able to buy M-rated games on their own. Now, if we could make sure parents knew what their kids were playing and kept an eye on them, then we wouldn't have a problem

[moose]

whats worse is when the kid convinces their parents to buy it, sometimes even right in front of the store employee. i've seen that with gta:sa like 4 times now. one time the woman asked the clerk if it was too mature and he said it had 'some' bad content, and i started laughing behind her. she asked me why and i said that i wouldn't let anyone who couldn't see an R rated move by themself play that game it was that bad.

[RTSigma]

Kids will get their hands on the game in some way or another, trust me, I would know.

[Dowding]

Grand Theft Auto has an 18 certificate in the UK, as do many other violent/adult games. A child of 6-8 years cannot make a purchase legally in the same way they couldn't buy Reservoir Dogs on DVD. Sounds like America is behind the times on this issue.

Adults circumventing the law is a different matter altogether and has been around since video certification was introduced.

[LePaul]

All the games I sell at Sears specifically prompt me to verify the buyer is over 17.  Even the kiddie Nintendo games.  Store policy is to decline em if they cant provide proof of age.

If a parent buys, there's nothing stopping a youth from playing adult/teen rated games.  

What an outrage...a parent has to...gasp...take the lead and be a parent!