Ask GD: Are These Games Worse than Those Games?
Zack has a question about whether or not he should be allowed to play a bunch of games. Here’s GamerDad’s answer!
I am a 13 year old boy and I am looking for suggestions. I
have an Xbox 360 and I am looking for some games to buy. I was
looking at Left 4 Dead, Bioshock and Mass Effect. I have Halo 1, 2
and 3 , Gears of War 2 (with blood turned off) Call of Duty 4 and
World at War, Fable 2, Assassin’s Creed and Resistance for PSP. My
mom is very open to games but I don’t want to waste her time with a
game that I’m not ready for. I have seen Fallout 3, GTA:4 and Rainbow
6: Vegas 2 and I know they are not for me. I know Bioshock has some
scary moments and I was not rattled by Friday the 13th or the Village
but I don’t really know how they compare. I also know that Left 4 Dead
has Blood and Gore but I would rather shoot zombies than innocent
people. If you could tell me what is reasonable to ask for, that
would be terrific. Or if you have some other suggestions, I am open
to that as well.
PS I am a big fan of your website it has helped my mom with decisions
that would be difficult otherwise.
-Zack
Complicated set of questions here. Let me see, you’ve played some of the strongest games in the M-genre (Call of Duty 4, Assassin’s Creed, etc.,), some of the least offensive (Halo 1-3), you want to avoid some of the most complicated M-rated games (Rainbow 6: Vegas – this one is on par with Call of Duty) and you want to play Mass Effect, Left 4 Dead, & Bioshock.
One thing is certain, you have good taste.
It depends on a lot of factors. Left 4 Dead and Bioshock are horror movies. The former having the advantage (disadvantage) of requiring teamwork (in multiplayer) and that’s good and bad – good because it’s co-operative, bad because people can be jerks. The latter is a horror movie that has the advantage of probing that Ayn Rand Objectivism doesn’t work too well, even underwater. If the latter sounds like College age philosohpy, it is. Mass Effect is a role-playing game that, like Fable 2, allows both good and evil actions. It also has some sex in it – go to YouTube and show your mom what that means exactly. It might require her to get a membership to do so.
The bottom line here is that I can’t help you. The movies you’ve seen are both terrible – one being just plain bad (The Village) and the other being sadistic violence (Friday the 13th). The games you’ve played are what I’d call “Middle M” and they’re no worse than the games you’re asking for really.
In short, given what you’ve seen, I’d say Left 4 Dead is fine (depending how she feels about horror), Bioshock is fine (same), Mass Effect is questionable (only because I don’t know how your mom feels about a minor sex scene possibility (that’s as graphic as the Sims 3 really – a Teen game).
Other suggestions?
Red Faction comes to mind immediately. Ghostbusters is what you should be playing though, in my own parental opinion.
-Your Friendly Neighborhood GamerDad
July 24th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
With the Sims 3 scene I wouldn’t really call it a “minor sex scene.” I would most likely call it a really really minor scene because all you see are the Sims go under the cover, some random Jibberish with some hearts. Though I usually agree with you on most things with him being 13 and you thinking he should play Ghostbusters, I would disagree. I myself are 1 years younger than “Zack” and I am playing Halo 3, “minor” , Assassins Creed, and Call of Duty: WaW. All of this because you have helped my parents see what is right. Though they don’t like Left 4 Dead which I see. And to you Zack I would agree with GamerDad saying if you have seen though movies and can play the games you are playing currently your mom should let you. But still ask her about the mass effect game.
July 24th, 2009 at 7:42 pm
The Sims thing is a BIG deal to some and nothing to others. But I was mainly talking about it to refute, or put into perspective, the severity of the sex scene from T rated Sims to M rated Mass Effect.
I’d say “glad to hear that my advice made the parents of a 12-year old let him play those games” but I’m actually not glad about it. I’m not unhappy about it either. It’s none of my business. Most people who do what I do have an agenda, mine is only to help parents make decisions.
My main agenda actually is just to show that games are no more dangerous than any media. That’s where the real idiocy lies.
Thanks for the message! Keep on gaming.
July 25th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Am I the only person here who LIKED The Village, albeit, admittedly, to a lesser extent than M. Night’s other films?
July 25th, 2009 at 11:37 am
I’m going with “yes” on this question. 🙂
July 25th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
True True, It could be nothing to someone but the end of the world for another. And I have not seen the Mass Effect scene so I can’t truly say anything for myself in defense. Also let me say that with these articles and pieces of advice it has not given me access to everything. Just the things my parents think are alright, yet I don’t think Assassins Creed was very bad. There were splashes of blood that would go up, “but” it wasnt stuck on the ground and walls with body parts everywhere.
July 25th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
This whole idea of sex being a bigger taboo than violence has always confused me.
Who cares about misery and agony? Anyone can watch gratuitous and gruesome grating, grinding, garrotting and gashing of human flesh. Sure little Timmy, you can witness the simulated crushing, twisting, chopping, slicing, dislocating and dismembering of our fragile bodies. That’s all fine and dandy.
The reason why we are all here, though, is something we need to banish from these children’s easily manipulated and influenced minds! The giver of life and blissful pleasure would corrupt these poor innocent souls! WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!!!!????!!!!????
It’s ridiculous.
I know that my mini-rant wasn’t entirely relevant but it’s still an important point in my opinion.
July 26th, 2009 at 9:43 am
So you are saying that you would let your 6 year old kid see Black Hawk Down or Saving Private Ryan? So you’d be fine with them seeing all that and still be fine and hope he’s alright and think he is. So you are saying we need to banish sex from childrens minds but not intense violence, violence like torturing, dismembering and people being chopped into tiny pieces…..? May I need to go on? I know all these things are bad but you saying you’d let a very young kid see terrible things happen to people and be all right? If so there is a serious issue.
July 26th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
At its most basic Some Guy, I think the parents who fear children seeing sex and such isn’t that they prefer violence it’s that they figure violence isn’t harmful because they’ve experienced the fake kind come away unscathed.
But if you consider that some believe seeing even knowing about sex (the abstinence crowd) will cause kids to have sex, then the taboo makes more sense.
Rationally it doesn’t. Abstinence-believing families tend to have a higher rate of teen pregnancy etc., than permissive ones. And kids are hardwired to want sex with little outside prompting. Violence too, actually.
That said, as a dad, I see both sides here. I’d actually rather explain why this virtual violent act is funny and why that one is horrifying than what those people are doing with their bits and peices. I’m not a prude at all – but my daughter is 9.
For me, actually, and I try to review games this way as GamerDad, it depends on context. I’m less offended as a parent by tasteful sex and tasteful (um… you know what I mean, I think) violence than crude versions of same. I’d rather they see Playboy than Hustler (man, am I old? Does that even matter today?) and I’d rather they see Blackhawk Down than Hostel. By a long shot.
July 26th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Here I do agree with you Gamerdad (the last paragraph). I also agree with most of it all and its the intensity and choosing between the bits.
July 27th, 2009 at 8:51 am
“(Rainbow 6: Vegas – this one is on par with Call of Duty”
How? Rainbow Six’s language is very strong.
July 27th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Also, its refreshing to see a 13 year old not complaining about what games he can and can’t get, and actually admitting some games are too mature for him.
July 27th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Well, the ESRB makes no distinction at all between the language of one and the language of the other. And since language means very little to me in a world where people blast explicit rap out of cars….
Still, good point Wampa, I’d forgotten about the language aspect. Man, see how hard this is? I’m supposed to remember everything about everything. I’ve played both but remember noticing gratuitous language in either.
July 27th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Yeah, i understand. You’ve played so many M games its probably hard to tell some from the others.
July 28th, 2009 at 8:54 am
How about just following the ESRB rating? Period. It may not be perfect, but at least it gives some guide to what may be appropriate. Also, take your mom along while making your decisions. I am sure she will help. Peruse the websites and read some of the reviews/previews. When making a choice, make sure it is an informed one. That will help not only in your gaming but the rest of your life as well.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I think it is great that Zack is not only aware of what he is capable of handling and not, as evidenced by his reference to Fallout 3, and that he doesn’t want to waste time and effort asking for games that are way out there. Kudos to you Zack. And to your Mom for understanding that not all “violent” games are the same.
GamerDad’s advice is, as usual, spot on. The bottom line is Zack and his mom need to work together to make an informed decision. All GamerDad, and the rest of us, can do is tell them what is in the games and let them decide what is and isn’t acceptable for Zack.
Personally, I have played Mass Effect and a little of Bioshock and I think that Bioshock is by far the scarier and potentially more harmful of the two. The violence in Mass Effect is no worse than the other games he has played, and is actually less than them. And the “sex” scene in it is tamer than what you see on prime time and daytime tv. But that’s my 2 cents. Like GD said, video of that scene is readily available on YouTube and his mom, and others, can make that call after viewing it.
August 16th, 2009 at 6:40 am
Hey Gamerdad,
I’m a parent of a 14 year old and a seven year old. They’re both boys (if that is applicable – I’m not being sexist) and my oldest wants to play Left 4 Dead. I know it’s M, and I know my youngest isn’t going to be even near it, but is it suitable for my 14 year old? I’m not too keen on violence and blood, but I would rather have him kill zombies than innocent children.
And, if I do get him L4D, is it illegal? Sorry I’m new to these M and AO games.
Thanks,
Krazy Koala
August 19th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Krazy Koala, It’s not illegal to buy your kids M rated games, I’m 17 (and been “illegally” buying them since I was 14) and Left 4 dead, eh, It does have quite a bit of blood and gore, but what you want to look at is the reasons it’s happening. I.E zombie horde coming after you, self defense or get eating alive? also even though it has alot, It’s not as depictive as let’s say Gears of war, or Call of duty World at War. It has minor language (which, let’s face it every kid on the face of the planet has heard ATLEAST one F or S word from their dad accidentally spilling oil into his face while fixing the car).
All in all, I think with, like every other M rated game in existence, it boils down to the kids capabilities to discern reality from virtuality, the maturity level(not HIS AGE). So, Even though I’m not even an adult yet, I think he could very well handle it without any repercussions…..hahahaha if you call anything that could happen a repercussion>.>
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Hey Gamer Dad. Like Zach, I’m 13. I Also, Have To Take Some Resonsability For What’s Right And Plain Wrong(Grand Theft Auto 4,Saints Row 2).I Was Wondering If Left 4 Dead And Red Dead Redemption Were Appropriate For Me. I Have Seen Saving Pvt. Ryan,Black Hawk Down, Every Rambo, And Aliens Vs. Predators. Love Your Site And Thanks In Advance.
August 21st, 2010 at 10:30 pm
thebeatlesgamer
i am 13 and think red dead redemption is mostly fine although there is one achievement that says you have to place a hogtied women on train tracks and witness her death but of course you dont have to do this and left for dead is fine it may have blood and gore they are zombies and therfore are not alive so its not like going up to an innocent man and shooting him