You’ve Given Me a GTA Headache
JARED, A “DAD” ASKS: My 9 year old son wants grand theft auto iv or grand theft auto ballad of gay tony for xbox 360. I want to know if the game is so bad for my son. I let him play games like x-men origins wolverine uncaged and prototype and saw and halo 3 and left 4 dead and call of duty. Also I got him gta chinatown wars for his dsi and he tells me its not bad. My son always tells me that it’s not bad it’s all fake. I take him to see movies like the friday the 13th remake and halloween 2 and watchmen and zombieland and my bloody valentine. Would the gta games be so bad for him?
See? See what I have to deal with here sometimes? Of course I’m extremely skeptical that this is actually a Dad writing- but for kid or Dad, this is still a remarkably lazy and ignorant question. Grand Theft Auto is pretty much the high-water mark in M-rated gaming. I know for a fact that Rockstar games would tell you, in no uncertain terms, that they don’t want your kid playing their games. Period. The ESRB makes it clear with the rating AND by giving GTA every warning descriptor in their arsenal. Our entire media and the forces that loathe gaming consider GTA the top of their hit-list. This is a no-brainer!
Here’s my answer in full: NO!!!
NO!!
NO!
No.
no.
No
I don’t think ANY of the games or movies listed in this “question” are appropriate for a 9-year old and I wouldn’t let my own 9-year old BOY or GIRL play or view ANY of these things. Since, in game terms, GTA is pretty much the high water mark, the most M of M-rated games, then OF COURSE it’s not appropriate for a 9-year old.
There. Is that the answer you wanted? What answer did you expect?
Now if you are a Dad then, given the clear lack of ANY limit on what your child can view or play then clearly you’re going to do what you’re going to do. And for the record, that’s 100% your business. I really believe that, my position is not to tell you HOW to parent. “GamerDad does not moralize” said National Public Radio.
But just because I don’t care what you do with your kid I do care if parent or child tries to use me, my credibility and my expertise to justify willfully ignorant and lazy parenting. Do what you want to do “Dad,” just leave me out of it because you clearly don’t care yourself. And since I think you’re actually a kid – let me add:
GROW UP and stop wasting my time.
Now I have a headache.
Ow.
February 14th, 2010 at 10:45 am
UGH ME TOO! The sad part is, gamerdad, this could very well be an adult. You would be surprised at what some parents let their kids play. While gaming popularity is still growing there are quite a lot of parents who still think video games are toys and not a device for entertainment of all ages. Before my current position I worked at a GameStop in a fairly urban district and it would disgust me how many parents will let you sell their kid GTA. I even had to ask a lady to never come back to my store when she willfully admitted that GTA is the best babysitter she could find.
I play GTA sometimes, for a quick 20 minute gaming session it’s fun. But honestly I could do without the entire franchise. I used to be REALLY into GTA1, 2 and the 1969 London expansion for PC and the PS1. When I played GTA3 for the first time I thought it was a great idea but way to over the top. I really enjoyed the increased physics in the new game but overall I think Rockstar would do a great service to the gaming industry to quit making these games. Sure they are fun but it creates way to much controversy and is so frustrating trying to be a responsible retailer when parents insist that their 13 year old can play GTA. In which case I usually encourage the parents to at least play the game with their child, but most probably don’t.
I don’t have children, yet. My wife is due May 7th and I just hope I can be as good a gamer dad as you are. Thank you so much for the advice you give and the great reviews you write. If you ever try to get your own publication I will subscribe.
February 14th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Yeah I don’t think that Jared guy’s question was even worth your time. –Cary
February 14th, 2010 at 10:34 pm
Yeah, this may surprise you coming from someone of my age, but I’m fifteen and I know GTA is way over my head. I would never even consider asking my parents for this game because I just don’t see the point. It’s a lot of swearing and sex for no reason. Rock Star is just trying to shock people into buying their games. It truly does bother me when anyone from five to fifteen really wants to play GTA or God of War or Manhunt because most of these games are just too over the top for no good reason. NIXOR, I applaud you for telling the woman to get out of your store when she talked about GTA being the best babysitter. That was a noble thing to do. GamerDad, I’m sorry you’ve gotta put up with dreck like this, and IF this actually is a parent, he should be ashamed of himself for letting his child watch/ play any of this, and in the more likely case that this is a child, you’re stupid to get off on all that torture porn that your dad lets you watch.
February 16th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
I pretty much agree with your assessment, although I don’t think that this Dad’s lack of boundaries for his son is really the bad thing here. What clearly shows this parent’s incompetence is how he justifies it. “My son always tells me that it’s not bad” is a terrible justification and shows clear laziness and carelessness. If he researched the game and its contents and decided that his son was mature enough to handle the content, that would be a reasonable explanation, but this parent’s reasoning is just pathetic. On a side note, this guy’s grammar is also rather appalling.
Although I’m certainly not on the side of this parent, I still disagree with the criticisms NIXOR and cross_breed have made against the GTA series and violent video games in general. Games like GTA and God of War are very good games regardless of the blood/gore/profanity/drug references/sexual content ect. In fact, I think it contributes to the games and their identities. The God of War series, for example, is set within the gruesome world of Greek Mythology where the violence is simply part of the theme and setting of the game. GTAIV also wasn’t as irresponsible with the content as the previous games in the series, providing a reasonable story, decent voice acting and a good use of the moral choice system (although it also, unfortunately, had pretty bad dialogue and pointless comic relief characters).
Even when the violence in games contributes to nothing but defining the game’s style and provides no substance, that’s still a purpose and a contribution. For example, no-one’s going to argue that the violence in Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” offered any substance but, despite this, it wouldn’t be the same movie without it.
Besides, how far will the industry be allowed to progress if adult content is feared and criticised, being looked at as unnecessary or a risk to children or an aid to irresponsible parents? I’d like to see the gore in games such as God of War kept and I think it would be a detriment to the game if it were to be removed, and I feel the same way for movies like Kill Bill and The Evil Dead (the latter faced censorship and heavy criticism in the UK when it was released).
February 16th, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Wow. This letter is a joke.
I don’t know that I really much to add to Some Guy’s comment, I think he pretty much nailed what I would have said. As another example, I’ve played both Gears of Wars with and without filters, and I must say that the game didn’t quite feel right without all the super-extreme arterial spray. It wasn’t even remotely necessary to put a chainsaw on the default rifle, or allow players to squish their enemies’ faces into the concrete with their boot. But it wouldn’t have been the same game without the extreme violence; it helped give some personality to the title, and contributed to the sense of harsh brutality GoW tried to create in its futuristic warzone.
February 17th, 2010 at 8:28 am
I must wholeheartedly disagree. While I do not think that video game violence can possibly harm children, and if you want to let your kids play God of War, I don’t care. That’s your prerogative. I, myself find it to be gratuitous and stupid. I think the same thing about Kill Bill (and most of Terantino’s movies). However, I think to ban any of these games or movies would be equally idiotic. Censorship isn’t right, but mindlessly throwing buckets of gore at people’s faces for no reason isn’t good either. I certainly accept the idea of artistic license, but tell me, what was the point of including the option to have sex with prostitutes in GTA? Would it not have been just as effective just to have the prostitutes propositioning your avatar on the sidewalk without giving the sex mini-game option? I ask you, why does Kratos have to have group sex in God of War? I’ll tell you why. It’s a marketing strategy. The leaders of the industry are trying to shock people just enough to get media attention, but not enough to get banned. Infinity Ward did it with “No Russian,” and Rock Star did it with… well… everything. I have no problem with people wanting to endeavor to give a more immersive experience through the use of gore. BioShock, for instance did a good job of this, as did Call of Duty 5. By the way, I’m not knocking the gameplay of any game that I’ve talked about in this rant. Just about every game I’ve mentioned has fluid and entertaining gameplay. If you’re into gore, I really don’t care if you or your kids enjoy any of these games, I just don’t think its necessary. Oh, and ROFLCopter, I’ve played Gears with blood off as well, and I didn’t think there was much missing, but that’s just me.
February 17th, 2010 at 11:40 am
Great points throughout and I do agree that gore and sex are legitimate story-telling devices. As gamers age, the standards will become more relaxed. No wait. They won’t. The whole thing will blow up again with 3D. Just you watch.
February 20th, 2010 at 9:36 am
I totally agree w/ everything GamerDad said.First of all coming out and saying your “A DAD” your obviously not “A DAD” considering that is relatively immature.Considering what you said I assuming I was a parent (which Im not) I would NEVER let you have this game considering (in my opinion the games all suck) and that they are EXTREMELY mature games.
February 26th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
ya i totaly agree. im 13 and my mom would of said the same thing. im working on an argument to show my mom that i can play all the halos. she says i need to show that gamerdad is a trustworthy website and that halo was miss rated. and i belive this is the perfct oppertunity.
February 26th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
sorry bout the random coment. just sayin wat im doin.
July 27th, 2010 at 6:39 am
This “Jared” who wrote the question is possibly a kid, as gamerdad said. He listed all of those violent and bloody games. It seems like Jared has to be a kid because I don’t know of any parent (that actually knows what the big M on the box means) who would let there kid play that. I’m 14 and my parents are unwilling to let borrow halo 3 from a friend even though I have call of duty modern warefare 2.
July 27th, 2010 at 6:40 am
Though there are some not-so-smart parents out there…