Rated R games.

[Sparky]

We have none in Australia. every time one goes to get released some big wigs put their foot down and ban it, way before we even get a chance to pre order it. but why?
Personally i feel that as long as its Rated R and it says it contains blood and gore, it should be allowed. nobody is going to pick up anything rated R and think "this will be a great game for my 8 yearold kid. If you want to buy a game that has graphic details why is that so wrong?. I don't understand why they are banning them. its not like it is going to corrupt kids minds worse then a non graphic game.

People should be able to pay for whatever they want. if they buy the game theyhave no right to complain about how gory it is. As it is plainley written on the case and the game that it is Rated R.

what is your opinion on it? should rated R games be banned? or not.

 

[Richard]

Games, no matter what the rating should be allowed for sale and it seems silly that people want to ban these games while music shops are stocking cd's and dvd's with pretty much the same level of content in regards to swearing, hate, racism, etc.

R 18 games should be allowed only if you have your parent with you to buy it or if you are over 18 yourself and it should be as strict as trying to by cigarettes or alchohol, if you don't have proof, there's no purchase and saying that video games are to be blamed for violence is pretty outrageous, I've played GTA since I was like 11 or 12 and I'm fine, it's up to the individual to make the choices in their life as to what is acceptable and what's not.

 

[klunderbunker]

Back in the 80s on the grandfather of modern video game consoles which was called the Atari there was a game called Custer's Revenge which I believe started the ratings system. The game is one screen and is very simple: you're a naked General Custer (American General from the 1800s who fought Native Americans) and you dodge spears to go over to a Native American woman and shove her against a cactus to rape her. It's as graphic as it sounds and the game had to be hidden behind the counter so kids couldn't get to it.

What does that have to do with the topic? That game was almost viewed as an urban legend and if you didn't know about it already you'd never know where to find it. It's not something you'd just stumble onto. Today there's a thing called the internet and anyone can find almost anything they want, even at a young age. It's not about what you need to hide from the kids, it's about what the parents needing to control their kids. Games like these exist and likely aren't appropriate for younger kids. If that's the case, parents shouldn't be allowing their kids to play them.

 

[Lee]

My pet hate is people coming in, aged 12 wanting GTA I say no and their parents come over and shout at me saying they're used to that sort of stuff. So if your 12 year old is used to crime, drugs and sex then by all means...go for it! Usually ends up in the parents leaving the store :/

But yeah, games are banned too easily and are used as a scapegoat, there is a rating for a reason and I honestly think an 18 rating should stick to an 18 rating, with maybe harsher penalties to gaming stores that sell to underage consumers.

 

[klunderbunker]

My pet hate is people coming in, aged 12 wanting GTA I say no and their parents come over and shout at me saying they're used to that sort of stuff. So if your 12 year old is used to crime, drugs and sex then by all means...go for it! Usually ends up in the parents leaving the store :/

But yeah, games are banned too easily and are used as a scapegoat, there is a rating for a reason and I honestly think an 18 rating should stick to an 18 rating, with maybe harsher penalties to gaming stores that sell to underage consumers.

That's very true. People that are very close to the legal age likely are used to things in the game. For example, Tuesday is my 21st birthday meaning I can buy alcohol. So therefore in the 4 days until then I'm going to gain the maturity and mental capacity to handle alcohol? I can understand people that are 12 not being able to get their hands on them, but for someone that is incredibly close like that I could understand bending the rules a bit. I'm not sure I would penalize the stores for a very minor infraction like that, but for many years like that definitely.

 

[Lee]

I would as you have to draw the line somewhere, some people mature faster than others, some slower so if you set a rate at 18th birthday lets say then there's no arguing that. It's the point though that the kids know if they want to buy a game and they're underage they go to Grainger games and not one of the big stores as they will get served there.

Back on topic though and I think with R/18 rated games there should be certain things not allowed, rape being one of them, but things such as violence and blood etc should be allowed, this aving been previously discussed in the gaming bad for kids thread.

 

[klunderbunker]

Yeah there's some stuff that's put into video games that just makes me think why? Games are supposed to be just that: games, implying something fun. I have yet to see an instance where rape or decapitation is fun. Seriously what's the point? Realism? Very rarely do I see things like that in the real world and very rarely would I want to either. I can get that some people would be into that kind of stuff I suppose, but at the end of the day if it's in there, I don't want a 12 year old anywhere near it.

 

[Mr. TM]

I know in Canada, any game, or movie for that fact that is rated 18A or rated M, has to be bought by someone 18 years of age or older. Games do not get banned here, they just need someone over the age of majority to purchase them. This is a nice system, because typically you need your parents to buy you the game if you are underage. Then it is the parents who decides what game you get to play, not the government. I played games that were rated high, but my parents knew that I was mature enough to play them.

 

[Lowez]

I don't think they should be banned. The ratings are there for a reason. The games shouldn't be banned. Someone earlier said games are being used as a scapegoat. I completely agree. They're being used as a scapegoat for bad parenting.

If little Tommy who's only a young kid, gets say, GTA4 for his birthday, then goes out and starts acting it out in real life. What's going to get the blame? The game. Not many people stop to think for a second, and ask how he got hold of this particular game in the first place if he's under the certified age (in England we have age classifications: PG [for all], 12, 15, 18). 9 times out of 10 the parent/s would have bought it for him. Now okay, I accept that he could've gotten it as a gift from another relative (in which case they should know better too), or he could've borrowed it from a friend, etc etc. But in my eyes, alot of parents' attitude is that if little Tommy's nice and quiet playing on his Xbox or whatever, it's less trouble for them, instead of him screaming and shouting about being bored or something. They don't check to see what he's playing or anything like that.

(Note, I'm not saying all parents are like this. Quite the contrary, in my opinion. I'm just using examples)

 

[Ms. TM Canada]

I'm not a fan of censorship or banning anything in general, and like TM, I think Canada's system is a good one. If a game is rated 18+, you have to be 18 to buy it, just like everything else for adults only. There's no point in banning things completely, because if people want it bad enough they'll get it anyways.
If a parent feels his or her child at 16 is mature enough to handle an adult game, then the parent can buy it. Not saying it's something I'd buy my kid, but I'm not going to judge unless you're buying GTA for your 8 year old. It's important to realize that there probably are teens out there who have more maturity than some of the adults playing the game, and in those cases, discretion is left up to the parents (who, in some cases, have terrible judgment, but that's another can of worms).
As Lowez said, the problem isn't the games, it's the parents who are buying them for their young children. Rather than just outright banning something, why not put more responsibility on the parents? I completely agree that too many parents just let their kids sit in front of the TV or Xbox for hours on end because it keeps them quiet, and have no idea what they're watching or playing.

 

[eXtremely-Priceless2K9]

I think if kids have a parent with them then than it can be sold but i hate scapegoats soooooooo much

 

[Cena's Little Helper]

Hell no, R Rated (or Mature) games should not be banned. While I sympathize with those who worry about the effect such games may have on children if said children get their hands on them, people need to realize that gaming is no longer something only kids do. Gaming obviously appeals to adults as well. Sure, playing games such as Mario and Sonic are fun every once in a while, but, at my age, I enjoy such games as Resident Evil and Leisure Suit Larry. And, I would gladly pay to play such games. So, I don't want my enjoyment sacrificed for the sake of some child, as I am not harming said child in any way by playing games that are R Rated. I say just put the games behind the counter and make parents take responsibility for what games their children play.

 

[mhz gusto]

people need to realize that gaming is no longer something only kids do.

Honestly, I feel that’s where a problem lies. It’s entirely common for those outside the gaming medium (such as parents) to have developed a presupposed concept of video gaming strictly being a child’s activity. Games will be viewed (and purchased) under this pretense, and once parents actually become aware of what they’re child is playing, indignation occurs.

If more time were invested in understanding, perhaps gaming wouldn’t have acquired such an awful reputation.

However other problems exist. Particularly, incidents, much like the South Vermilion Joker event, promoting the idea that violence in entertainment will cause violence in reality.

should rated R games be banned? or not.

No, it’s unnecessary. Parents, and retailers, should adhere to ratings.