Comments on: Does it matter who buys video games?

Should age matter in video game buying? Don Reisinger discusses it.

[jafarm66]

Don's arguement makes sense in that the "forbidden fruit" is always the sweetest. If I were 8 or 9 and saw an M rated game with violence language and sex I'd definitely find a way to get it. The issue is with parents not doing their job and/or having to work several jobs in order to afford food and housing. The same tricks young kids use to get M rated games Teens use to get Alcohol and cigaretttes. I'm an example of the latter since as a teen working in a grocery store I was able to get beer from about 16 on back when the drinking age was 18 and even when it moved to 19 the clubs I went to at 18 still let me in at 18. All an age limit does is make some Politician more popular for re-election since they could really care less about the issue they just want the campaign contributions and votes. Yes I am cynical and sarcastic and very proud of it.

[moshelinho]

You are right no one can stop kids from getting their hands on M-rated games. dont we all remember when we were kids how we could go to any heights to get our hands on baseball cards (for americans) and cricket cards here in india, and we would get it somehow or from somewhere and bask in the glory of owning one, showing it to the world and share it with friends. its something like that. now with digital downloads and most importantly torrents, kids will get their hands on the games even if their parents approve it or not.

moreover, if every one thinks that M-rated games are dangerous for kids, i feel that even a non-violent video game is as dangerous to a kid. just think if any kid tries to imitate mario in real life!

Finally, i say that we have to agree to the fact that kids will play these games and no one can stop them (unless people stop making such games altogether). It all boils down to good parenting. regular counselling by the parent is required. Parents should take up responsibility to teach their children to live responsibly and respect each other (unlike in video games).

[jskrenes]

If I had kids, I wouldn't want them playing GTA. But I wouldn't put the responsibility on the clerk at Walmart. I'd tell them they are not to play M rated games and set consequences for them if they do. It's called parenting. So I do appreciate the ratings system as an informative tool for parents, but it obviously doesn't work to keep games out of the hands of youngsters.

[Lerianis]

Big deal. So kids can get M-rated games online.... don't really care, in all honesty. I started watching horror movies and such when I was 6 years old, when the first Friday the 13th was on our cable channels.
Did it 'damage me'? Hell no, I am more a pacifist than anyone else in this world, in all honesty. Started playing Doom when I was 11 when a friend of my father gave it to him and he had me try it.

The fact is that in most of these games, the violence is not very realistic, and I'm smart enough that when my children play games like this (yes, I let my children play M-rated games if they wish to), I am standing right nearby to tell them numerous times that things like they are seeing in the game are okay in fantasy, but not in reality..... and they have gotten the message.

THAT is the real problem: most parents are so 'busy' today that they are not being parents and telling their children that it is NEVER right to attack someone else in real life unless THEY attack you first and only to the point where they are no longer a danger to you, short of killing them.

[bornlikethis38]

It would make sense to just get rid of the law altogether or significantly lower the age of restrictions. I look at this situation from a psychologists point of view. Parents who purchase the game for the kids feel that their child/children are smart enough to know the violence is only a game and is not the way the real world works. (outside of military life). The few parents that are anti-video game and refuse to buy the violent video games because they believe that it will effect their mind negatively. It doesn't do that. Actually the use of violent video games is a good outlet of kids to calm themselves down when they feel irritated or frustrated or angry. There are cases that exist where kids have gone out to imitate certain video games. In all cases any kid who initiates that kind of extreme violence has serious mental problems that preexisted due to separate interior and exterior factors. Also the parents who are anti-video game also only allow their kids to play games below T or maybe T games. This video games usage is mostly limited to a an hour or so a day. Because the parents also believe that video games/TV/movies are a waste of time and entertainment should be rare and work more frequent. There is no danger to in my opinion to let a child age 10 and up play violent video games. Children younger can be significantly effected by the violence. It raises their adrenaline and their heart will beat rapidly which can create an immature destructive child putting stress on the parents which is always bad for marital relationships. The kids do start to grow out of it as they get older and that kind of attitude they display will die completely once the kid gets around 15.

thank you.

[c-net geek]

Like others have said, kids will be able to get the game. They'll get someone to buy it for them, buy online, or download an illegal iso. It can't be stopped. If the store won't sell to someone underage, that is fine, it's their choice. Parents should be logical in what games they let their kids play. That is most important.

[Durandal1138]

I disagree with this article. I work electronics at target and am 19 years old, and believe me, our system will not let us sell an M rated game to anyone without an id. And to assume most people my age would sell a M game to a minor just because he is a little bit younger then me or goes to the same school is just wrong sir.

[jonathan_a]

That's why Parental Control exists on consoles! If a parent wants to buy their kid a console, then it's their responsibility to lock the console! If the parents are too stupid to know what a Play Station three or a Weeeee... or an Ecks Box Three Sixty is.... and their kids run around gunning people in a highschool or are very violent, then THEY ARE TO BLAME!!! The parents!!! Not the video game industry!!!!

What's next? Ban or stop the production of violent video games? That will just make things WORST!

[JazGalaxy]

Argument's like Dan's annoy me because they're based in this futilistic rational that pulls from all directions to arrive at "it's inevitable so why should we do anything?"

The bottom line is the question "Do you believe that all games are appropriate for all ages of people?". Yes or no. If your answer is yes... then... well, I'd probably try to direct you to some psychological studies that would disagree... but I guess that would end your examination of the matter.

But, if you're answer is "no, all games are not appropriate for all ages of people" then we come to the conclusion that SOMEthing must be done. Clearly sitting around like an idiot pointing the finger at parents is useless because... as Dan mentions several times, most partents don't care. So, what, we give up on the kids because their parents don't care? Is that what we do in child abuse cases?

And so we do what we do. We exercise what muscles we have, and we attack with what guns are available to us. Legislation if necessary.

[cnetblue]

Yeah why don't they just get ride of the M rating so kids can buy which ever game they want and then we can get ride of the age limits for cigarettes, alcohol, and guns since kids will either get those from friends or older siblings or just by taking there parents when there not looking.

[ccmike72]

All of you so up in arms over this article are exactly the problem and missing the point. The law is stupid and has no teeth. Adding teeth to it is a waste and law enforcement will never really enforce the law. Its a sham by politicians so they can say they are family values, just like what Hillary Clinton did a few years ago. Parents raise you damn kids. BTW video games are targeted at their largest segment Adults. The vast Majority of video game sales are to and for adults. these aren't innocent kids toys. The ESRB works fine but people are stupid and lazy and want the store to raise their kids. Will some one for the love of god take responsibility and raise their child and actually read a few lines of text on a game box describing the experience. It really shouldn't be very difficult for anyone with at least a 5th grade education.

[ccmike72]

SO what do we do JazGalaxy ask the government to take more responsibility for our daily lives and pull the weight for all the half wit slackers out there. I agree kids should have the games i tried to inform parents when i was a store clerk, but at some point it just is what it is. Better yet start buying great games that are inventive and clever and not the same old boring shootem ups so that devlopers can make the games they want no the super violent garbage the execs tell them to make because it brings in the money

[eddmarr]

It's about the same thing as with buying alcohol or tabacco(sp) underage. I work at my local grocery store as a cashier and many times we've seen underage teenagers steal the alcohol. They grab it, hide it, and run out the door. We usually just see them running, but are not allowed to chase after them in case they are armed.

If the retailers for video games checked IDs 100% of the time, there would also be game thefts. Especially when not all of the games are locked up. Kids will turn to stealing, and either way it's bad.

I completely agree that it doesn't matter who buys video games, because at the end of the day, it's ONLY A VIDEO GAME.

[JReefer]

I'm not going to add to the fire, they can do what they want....

[B00ST3R]

I couldn't disagree with you more. First off, yes, there are always kids who can get access to mature rated games, much like they can cigarettes, alcohol, pornography or anything else kids aren't supposed to have. But as an actually employee of a store that sells nothing BUT video games I'm telling you the rating system works. The parents that actually care about their kids are getting more and more involved with reading the ratings and finding out the what and why's than ever. And as for your theory that kids are letting their friends get the games? I don't know where you shop but every store in this area has all the cashier's and transactions monitored. The computer has us take IDs for evreyone that looks younger than 30. And so not only is there monitoring but the fine for selling games to a minor is huge. Sadly I don't remember the exact amount in Ohio off the top of my head but it's right up there with selling smokes to a kid.

The ESRB rating is something that is just now becoming understood but as always it comes down to the parents actually caring. We do are part. We give out little papers that explain the ratings. The boxes actually explain every in game act that earns it the rating. Look at the back of Fable 2, it narrows it down in a neat list of five items next to the M rating so parents know what they'd expose their children to. The problem is, like I said, the parents not caring.

Personally, as a game store employee, I look forward to the day when, like many game retailers in Europe, you have to actually be an adult to enter the store or be accompanied by one. I think that will eliminate a lot of it. Not all because it will never be, but a lot.

And finally, just as a reminder, the new systems have parental codes, in the case of the XBox 360 there's a four digit code that, as long as it's not entered, won't play mature rated games. The parents have the ability to stop their kids from playing these even if they're not there to see the kid try but parents just don't want to put effort towards them. The video games are their baby sitter, their legal tranq gun to get their kids out of there hair so when it backfires they blame everything but themselves.

OK, that's my two sense. Of course, in the words of the great Dennis Miller, "that's just my opinion. I could be wrong."