Of course, my position has its downside: Myst. LOL
I’m not even going to get started on the parental issues…

Cheers,

Mitch

@NootTastic – I guess the problem is as Will Smith said, “Parents just don’t understand”

@Mark – It’s funny that you bring up guns because while I don’t have a problem with the right to bear arms, I’m def not a gun fan. I guess for me I NEVER hear any arguments about movies, just all about games. And I really believe that’s because 1) people don’t view games as art and 2) too many kids have easy access to games they shouldn’t.

And you didn’t rant so don’t worry (not that there would’ve been a problem if you did) (#);D

If it’s not already apparent, I haven’t played nor do I intend to play GTA or its ilk. When you mentioned that there’s a star system used to denote when you’ve committed a crime, well, I kind of find that amusing because I think it would only encourage the gamer to see how many they get while trying to keep away from the cops. Catch me if you can! LOL

But you’re right on the money, Bush, in that this game does glamorize so much of what’s wrong in society today. But after all, it’s just a game, right? That’s what the gaming industry wants us to focus on. Because if we’re stupid enough to act something out like having a romp in a car with a prostitute then beat her up and take our cash back, then it’s our problem, not the game’s, right? Hmm, sounds familiar when you apply it to the gun industry. Guns don’t shoot people; people shoot people.

Okay, I’ll end here. Hope I kept my promise by not ranting.

Great topic for discussion, buddy!

I think I made this point before but really there are just more options. I’ll say 20 years ago any game you bought your kid would have been fine. I think around the console resurrection and the video game market boom a real audience was found. Most of this audience were kids.

Sense then these kid’s have grown up with video games. Nintendo has stayed behind to target kids, while the Playstation was really a system that was geared towards the first “real audience.”

Now there are a slew of games that are geared towards 20 somethings. As long as parents realize how the market has expanded they can check the games to make sure they are safe for their kids. I wouldn’t really expect anyone under, I dunno, 14? to play GTA.

My little brother was about 7 when GTA san Andreas was released. It appealed to his age group more than any other one before, featuring bling, hop hop, the hood! and the whole MTV Gangsta feel.

So of course he wanted it and his friends has talked about it at school.

My dad being the cautious caring parent he is…. (that was harsh, just pointing out that he is like many parents). Just picked up the game and purchased it without even looking at it’s age or anything.

So… my little bro took it home and began to play it in the comfort of his own room without parents watching over.

I visited and went to play PS2 like I often did. He was playing GTA San Andreas, which shocked me a little but I was intrigued as I still had not played it. We played for a while and then he said…. let me show you something:

He went next to a prostitute got her into the car… the car wobbled around and he laughed, thinking that they were having a fight. When she left the car he got out and went and beat the crap out of her, taking his money back.

He found this incredibly amusing and to some degree so did I, mainly because he did not understand what happened in the car!

Anyway…. my brother is not the kid who will carry this act out in real life and recognizes it was a game but none the less, he should not have been able to get his hands on the game at such a stupidly young age.

Ater telling my father and to much protest from the bro, the game was taken away from him. Personally I loved the game and actually purchased a PS2 (for $20 from a friend!, I had to fix it as it was broken) solely for the game.

Wrestling was another one of his faves, this has no age rating and you can beat up literally anyone too!

I think these games need to be marketed away from kids, cartoon covers are a bad start, although they look great.

Boring covers and features in adult magazines would be the future. Pay to advertize in FHM and the like.

Also parents need to take charge of what their kids are playing.

I don’t believe in completely blocking bad stuff out of kids heads…. they need to see the reality of this world but their are more appropriate ways to do that.

Phew, gotta rush.I’m glad you are back bush….. oh be great if you could check out my new animal blog and if you have a pet then please do submit to Bloggers Pets. I’m sure I remember a dog or something of yours?