Gamers: Are we a sensitive lot? Do we need to grow some?

J-Cat

Shared on Mon, 11/24/2008 - 20:52

Came across a site called "what they play": a site for parents to learn about videogames. The site is fairly unbiased and factual from what I read. For instance the 7 things you should know about Fallout 3 are absolutely true. Basically, it's rated M, it's violent, there are drugs (but not "real" ones), it's open and it takes a really long time to play. It's not for all kids. GTA, they explain the concept of a sandbox game, and explain the violence and sex. Again: it's very fair: in regards to the sex, they expalin that you never actually see full nudity, or see graphic sex, but that's it's all a fade to black with funny commentary. They even mention how Nicko makes self depricating comments about his own life after sex with a prostitute. Here's a quote about Mirror's Edge:

Mirror’s Edge has been rated “T” by the ESRB, and carries descriptors of “Blood,” “Language,” and “Violence.” The blood is shown during combat, and if Faith is shot or hit by any of her pursuers the player’s view of the game is blurred, dulled, and there is a flash of blood seen. There are also some scenes as part of the narrative that include the red stuff, the most apparent being a character that is found murdered at his desk, his face in a pool of his own blood.

The violence concerns Faith’s interactions with the paramilitary forces that police the city. She is frequently chased by guards armed with a variety of different sidearms, and she is also regularly hunted by helicopter gunships that try to pin her down as she leaps from rooftop to rooftop. Faith can disarm the guards with a well-timed move, and use their weapons to kill them if need be, but the game structure primarily guides the player to avoid combat, rather than engage in it.

The language heard can be quite strong for a “T” rated game. Words like “damn” and “bastard” are heard frequently, and there are also occasional utterances of “sh*t.”

All in all, a great resource for parents who are not gamers, and may not know that much about the game their kid wants. Go there, read up on the game and see if it's okay for your kid. Hurray! this is the sort of thing we parents at 202play have been advocating. Get involved: get educated. Remember not all parents are the same: we all draw lines in certain places. If Daddy was an alcoholic, maybe Mommy doesn't want any alcohol references in the kids' games while everyone gets their life in order. Or maybe Jr. has problems with swearing, so the parents want games that contain either no or very mild swearing for their tween kid. See: these are things that, personally, I wouldn't bat an eye at, but in my examples they may be an important issue. The point is WTP really does seem like a site what goes a bit deeper into the ERSB ratings and tells me exactly what is in the game. AND as a bonus: they also give some back history into the game itself and delves into a bit of game design!

So, what made me blog? The Comments. Are we, as gamers, so insecure that if a site puts up something that can (perhaps) be taken as anti-gaming we have to make the tired old "of course gaming doesn't make our kids go nuts, it's the parenting" argument.  Or 'if you don't like it, screw off. Example from the Fable 2 review (and Fable 2 IS a rated M game....):

Ok i made this account to put this message through
what is this site for besides complaints,some people are so foolish
if you don't like something don't use or buy it.Its just like music if you don't wanna hear it change the channel and get on with your life
Ooh the game is full of sex, and violence what do you think the world is made of sunshines and unicorns? fable is a story...a very well done story at that one of my favorite titles out there and i was playing M rated games since i could hold a controller and do you know what effect that had for me?...alot less than what i see on the news in one sitting so if you dont want your kid seeing blood stick in viva pinata or table tennis

See: WTP is a great concept. Not everyone can be as up on gaming as we are at 202p, but parents want to be responsible.  We know that many of these games (the ones that I have mentioned) take hours upon hours to play, parents don't necessarily have the time (or the mad skillz) to play these games to understand if they are okay for their kid.

As older  gamers I believe that we have to make it okay for parents to question a game's content. But how? It seems like gamers don't want to hear it. Again, are we so sensitive that if anyone points out the obvious (yikes: Dead Space is creepy, and gorey) we take offense? A site like WTP is exactly what we need. No judgement calls: only facts. me likey.

But what do you think? Are gamers too sensitive? Are we too likely to make the "rock n roll was once considered the devil's music, so PFO, non gamer outsider." if someone points out a game's violence or sexuality?  How else are parents realistically supposed to figure out if the game is okay for their kid?

Comments

RyanFromVegas's picture
Submitted by RyanFromVegas on Mon, 11/24/2008 - 21:15
The founder of that site is on the 1upyours podcast quite frequently..I think he used to be an editor of egm magazine or something..anyways, he seems like a pretty cool guy on the show from what Ive heard of him. Anyways, you cant really put much stock in a few crackpots who comment on blogs..its probobly some kid who's parents said no to them over fable II. Anyways, his idea for fixing the problems mostly revolve around coming up with alot more descriptors and catagories. T or M with couple blurbs about language dont really explain much.
Gatsu's picture
Submitted by Gatsu on Mon, 11/24/2008 - 21:26
In some cases it doesn't matter how much information is out there. I mean look at how many parents ignore whats on the back of the games case itself. M Rated. 17+ for Graphic Violence, Language, Nudity, Drug & Alchohol Use.....but sure lemme buy it for my 12 year old.
J-Cat's picture
Submitted by J-Cat on Mon, 11/24/2008 - 21:32
I also clicked the banner add to det there! you can too!
CrypticCat's picture
Submitted by CrypticCat on Mon, 11/24/2008 - 22:13
I feel that if people feel the need to educate parents, they're overestimating the perceived inability of parents to educate themselves. The ESRB-rating in my experience is usually right and fair, but sometimes it raises my eyebrows... 16+ for Tomb Raider: Underworld? Must be for the low-cut outfit for Lara's doppelganger only... TR:U should've been PG, in my opinion. Point is, that the tools given on the back of the box are enough information for any parent two notches up on the sentience-ladder to decide if their kid should be allowed to play a given game. As a lurker to WTP-myself, I feel they're too cramped, focussing on areas in games that are functional to that game and point them out in such a way you get the unfounded fear that your kid is going to be traumatized for life.
revslow's picture
Submitted by revslow on Mon, 11/24/2008 - 23:40
A lot of parents want something else to blame a child's screw-ups for because they didn't take the time to know what the child could or could not handle I'm afraid.
Caesar's picture
Submitted by Caesar on Tue, 11/25/2008 - 07:25
great blog

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