Acmlm's Board - I2 Archive - General Gaming - GTA: San Andreas given AO rating
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Colin
Posts: 9637/11302 |
It tells them what's in the game so they don't have to approve the game for themselves.
I think that makes sense on a standard level; obviously a parent will know right away what objectionable content, if any, is in the game. On the other hand, they should at least sit with Billy or Susie and watch them play the game to see for themselves if it's acceptable or not. |
The Guru of Furu
Posts: 202/240 |
Yeah, parents are allowed to supply their kids with R rated movies and stuff like that whenever they feel like it. it's the parents job to determine if their child is mature enough to handle the games and movies and allother media they are exposed to. Also, I don't understand the need to have the rating bigger, I mean, it's not like it's ambiguous or hidden or anything. Hell, it's even on the front of the game, unlike movies, where the rating is in the bottom oif the back of the dvd allong with all the legal credits and what not, and there's no need to supply a justification for the ratings in movies. Most movies just say R, PG, or whatever, with no way to tell why. Maybe it's because of sex, maybe just language, maybe violence, it's not stated on every movie, where as all games are given ratings and then reasons for them. I just think it's funny that games get attacked while movies don't just because parents actually pay attention to movie ratings. |
NSNick
Posts: 3201/3875 |
Originally posted by Kasumi-Astra
If parents supply rated games to their children they should be criminals.
That's going way too far. The government doesn't need to be telling parents how to do their job, let alone prosecuting them for it. |
Kanji
Posts: 34/47 |
I don't like the idea of using law enforcement to prohibit game purchases, except in extreme cases (pornography is where I'd draw the line). However, there should be a larger warning label, and some sort of law passed that places the burden of checking the game to the parents, and immunizing the game companies from most lawsuits, except in cases where things are left off the warning... And of course, data unlocked through means not supported by the game companies should be off limits from persecution.... |
Kasumi-Astra
Posts: 1673/1867 |
I think as it stands, ERSB is a prime example of where ratings are going wrong. ERSB is a good example of parenting being dumbed down and life being made more convenient for parents. It tells them what's in the game so they don't have to approve the game for themselves. Parents should be more involved with what their children play and watch, not have systems in place to remove them further.
If parents supply rated games to their children they should be criminals. There should be a national identification scheme so that all kids are given id with proof of age. No id, no sale. If a kid misleads a shop assistant to buy a rated game, they're the ones who should be punished accordingly. |
Colin
Posts: 9628/11302 |
Oh, I have a funny feeling that the Daily Show will touch on this in some way when it's all said and done. 
The game being banned in Australia isn't a big story because... well... Australia's pretty conservative when it comes to ratings. |
Cymoro
Posts: 1930/2216 |
Dear Jon Stewart and fellow correspondents on The Daily Show:
As you may know, there is a debate going on in the video game world about Grand Theft Auto and the content that was locked out by Rockstar. There's two leaders of the front; Hillary Clinton, and Jack Thompson, a Miami lawyer who's been trying to get rid of video games for a while. Now, when I say 'video games', I mean that in a general sense, ranging from children's games, to extremes like Grand Theft Auto. The man wields an undying hatred for all that is video, and all that is game. Even the combination of the two makes him somewhat mad. Now, a lot of people in the gaming community have shot off well-constructed letters to him, in hopes of an intelligent debate with the man, only to get responses such as "go to a mental institution", "yeah but you werent on 60 minutes", and "nope". That last one was a response to this person, who was just trying to find out Mr. Thompson's motives behind his 'crusade'. Another person's dialogue with the man can be found here.
He's not the only one to be met with hostility from Jack. According to an article on Wikipedia (a public encyclopedia that is kept updated by people signed up there), he has also insulted others, stooping down to a lower maturity age than those that send the e-mails (a large portion of the community over at Penny-Arcade, which is one of the largest, is in the mid teens, and can type articulately). He has also recently staked a false claim that The Sims 2, which is by EA, has nudity in it, showing, in his words, "pubic hair, genitalia, and labias". Even the president of EA has stated "If you remove the blur that we put over the various scenes with nudity, you'll see they're as smooth as Barbie dolls". Another thing I want to mention, he was on 60 Minutes discussing his views on Grand Theft Auto, discussing how he wants to "Destroy video games", and even the man interviewing him (whose name escapes me at the time) thought he was a little, well, odd.
We feel he is being a bad influence on those not knowledgeable on the issues, and believe everything he says about the games. Our community has seen what you can do, Jon, and we worship you every day. We were there during You vs. Tucker Carlson, and you are a mighty man. Please, interview him, and let the world show how he is just baselessly attacking the wrong people. It would be much appreciated. Our current discussion of the topic is here. We also feel he's equatable to Lionel J. Hutz of Simpsons fame. Take that as you will.
Many thanks from all of us at PA Forums, and especially me.
~Michael Squitieri
I shot that off to Jon Stewart. I hope he reads it <3 |
alte Hexe
Posts: 4879/5458 |
Overhaul the damned system so that it is more like the Pan European system. Make it so that all games come with a brochure cataloguing various "offences" rather than a tiny, barely noticeable little blip on the bottom of the package.
Parenting sucks these days, it is true. But at least people could attempt to facilitate these drooling morons in making sure that little Ebert at age 8 isn't playing God of War because the retarded game clerk said that it was mythology based. |
Grey the Stampede
Posts: 2802/3770 |
Ziff, you really shouldn't junk the ESRB on this one... They make it quite clear that it is the parent's, and the parent's responsibility alone to make sure the game is suitable for their child.
The entire parenting system nowadays is bullshit anyhow. Parents ask their kids what they want, rather than telling them what's good for them. Kids want GTA. Parents don't bother saying it's bad, instead they just give because they don't want to seem like the "bad" parent or the "not fun" parent. Plus, the kid screams and whines. I should know, I've seen it. It's horrible at toy stores especially, no matter how rigid our rules are.
When I start working in the game section, I'm not gonna let parents buy games for kids, either... That's like giving someone cigarettes knowing they'll pass them off to minors. The numbers are there for a reason. |
alte Hexe
Posts: 4877/5458 |
Originally posted by Colin
Not every kid isn't mature enough to handle that though.
If the parents know what the ESRB ratings/descriptions mean and their child's maturity level, they can judge what's right/wrong in most cases. I might let a 16-year old play GTA A if they know not to take the game seriously; on the flip side, I likely wouldn't let a 10-year old play Doom 3.
I'm not letting talking about TEENAGERS. I'm talking about when dumb ass parents give their 8 and ten year olds these games.
Xeo, I meant to quote colin. Sorry.
"its not only hurting the minors who want the game"
I believe that is what is called by many "The Point". The Point being that this game is not for minors. Too bad for them. |
Anya
Posts: 5110/5337 |
Originally posted by Colin
True but that's what the ESRB is for. If parents would take the time to read all the ESRB info, they'd definitely be better educated. (Not to say all parents aren't educated, but the majority could use some help.)
I know at least one person *cough*ANYA*cough* does check for ID, at least.
And if parents took the time out to teach their kids....
...but I'm not going to get into this debate, most people know how I feel anyway.
Half the time, parents have no clue what the game is or what it is about.
Heh.
Its all about knowing what is right and wrong and what is fake and what is real, and so on.
Now with GTAA off the shelves, its not only hurting the minors who want the game, but those who are old enough who waited for the price to go down, plus the company and the stores that sell the game. |
Xeolord
Posts: 2888/3418 |
I think you mixed up the point of my post Ziff.
I was saying, it would be BAD to allow kids to play such games, that are going to look so realistic and can be realistically gruesome. It could bring them nightmare's, and so on.
Sure, I grew up playing Doom when I was 5, but videogames are in a whole new age these days.
Back then you could look at those 2D sprites and say "Man, that's so fake" for people who had common sense. But now, with games these days we're saying the opposite. And that, could be bad for kids. |
Colin
Posts: 9577/11302 |
Not every kid isn't mature enough to handle that though.
If the parents know what the ESRB ratings/descriptions mean and their child's maturity level, they can judge what's right/wrong in most cases. I might let a 16-year old play GTAA if they know not to take the game seriously; on the flip side, I likely wouldn't let a 10-year old play Doom 3. |
alte Hexe
Posts: 4875/5458 |
Yes, because it's healthy for kids to see decapitations and being rewarded for committing acts of violence. |
Xeolord
Posts: 2880/3418 |
Originally posted by Colin
I don't really think the kids are "suffering" in the first place right now.  Pretty soon the children are going to become a footnote in this possible legal/federal battle.
Definitely.
Just look at that new horror FPS coming out for the next Generation systems (can't remember the name). With the next Generation of gaming coming, bringing in a even more detailed level of realism, things are probably going to get shaken up. Just think of gore, blood, and things like that. Videogames these days are getting to the point where we're saying "Man, that almost looks real". |
Colin
Posts: 9571/11302 |
I don't really think the kids are "suffering" in the first place right now. Pretty soon the children are going to become a footnote in this possible legal/federal battle. |
alte Hexe
Posts: 4869/5458 |
Too bad, parents are incompetent. Just like the ESRB. At least the the motion picture ratings are balls out on what they mean.
I don't want kids suffering because of some retarded adults and some retarded self-policing corporate entity. |
The Guru of Furu
Posts: 198/240 |
Originally posted by alte Hexe
Yes, because parents ACTUALLY know what the ESRB is!
Colin
Posts: 9562/11302 |
True but that's what the ESRB is for. If parents would take the time to read all the ESRB info, they'd definitely be better educated. (Not to say all parents aren't educated, but the majority could use some help.)
I know at least one person *cough*ANYA*cough* does check for ID, at least. |
alte Hexe
Posts: 4837/5458 |
Yes, because parents ACTUALLY know what the ESRB is! |
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