Age ratings in games?

OP

It is probably more conservative as they have to serve as the classification board for the entirety of Europe rather than what is appropriate in just the UK. I higher level of realism with the upscaled textures is likely to have been what caused the increase.

I am unsure of how they are rated by PEGI but Noclip did a good documentary on the ESRB recently.

Do you really think being in HD makes that much difference here though. 3yrs worth?

start at 0:20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jvYaUEu8SM

Interesting link, I shall watch some when i've got time. would be great to see one on pegi though.....

Reply 21

Arran90

20

If legislation was passed requiring video games to have legally binding age ratings by the BBFC or otherwise it would be a major blow to programming freedom. It would effectively outlaw freeware downloadable games and open source games.

It would also be hard to enforce if was confined to Britain as games could be uploaded to the internet or app stores in countries where there are no age ratings then downloaded in Britain.

Reply 22

ANM775

OP

20

Original post by Kevexia

Well how old is your nephew? At the age of 17, not gonna lie I always love a good Lego game

He's 11 with conservative parents.

I bought him a toy gun when he was younger and they took it away and wouldn't let him play with it

Reply 23

username4986690

19

Original post by ANM775

Do you really think being in HD makes that much difference here though. 3yrs worth?

start at 0:20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jvYaUEu8SM

Interesting link, I shall watch some when i've got time. would be great to see one on pegi though.....

Honestly the whole rating thing means absolutely nothing to me, I haven't followed it since I was 9 playing GTA3.

Reply 24

1st superstar

22

Original post by ANM775

I could I suppose, although I'd like to buy him a decent game ....but last time the game I bought wasn't a good one because I literally couldn't find anything that was "suitable"

I know If I buy him anything which is more than a year away from his age his parents are bound to take it away.

oh ok

Reply 25

Kallisto

Entertainment Forum Helper

22

Im general I think that most age ratings for games are inadequate. I can remember games which got a 16 year rating because of bloody scenes in the sequences and animations! ridiculous.

Reply 26

ZombieTheWolf

22

Does anyone actually follow the age ratings anyway? lol

(edited 4 years ago)

Reply 27

bailwillharr

1

It doesnt really matter what the age ratings say. Make your own decisions about what you want to play. If you’re under 18 most stores don’t really care anyway.

Reply 28

ozzyoscy

21

Ultimately age ratings are a guide. but in real-world practice they're only for those who are mentally troubled or have a condition (but then who can tell if yours is?)

Just use yourself as a guide. We were all kids. I was way more touched by the grittier stuff like the TMNT film (1990) and Sonic SATAM. Watching Terminator and Robocop at 7 didn't turn me into a serial killer, because why would it? It's a film.

(Although watching Ace Ventura did turn me into Ace Ventura.)

Reply 29

Kallisto

Entertainment Forum Helper

22

Original post by ZombieTheWolf

Does anyone actually follow the age ratings anyway? lol

I certainly don't! I decide for myself to buy the game, no matter what the age rating thinks about the violence.

Reply 30

Hasan Naqvi

1

Original post by ANM775

He's 11 with conservative parents.

I bought him a toy gun when he was younger and they took it away and wouldn't let him play with it

Aren't one of his parents a sibling? If so can't you persuade them into allowing him to play a game a little over his age range? you could use the FACT that video games have no link to violent tendencies in children.

Reply 31

ANM775

OP

20

Original post by Hasan Naqvi

Aren't one of his parents a sibling? If so can't you persuade them into allowing him to play a game a little over his age range? you could use the FACT that video games have no link to violent tendencies in children.

Yes, but Considering the way the toy gun was taken I really don't think there's much room for negotiation in terms of suitability. When I first bought the gun .. my parents saw it and were not happy, they then influenced my brother and he decided it was not suitable and for it to be taken away. I protested about the gun being taken but it was no use.

I very much doubt I'll be able to persuade anyone to let me buy him a 16 rated game when he's 11

OP

Original post by ANM775

Yes, but Considering the way the toy gun was taken I really don't think there's much room for negotiation in terms of suitability. When I first bought the gun .. my parents saw it and were not happy, they then influenced my brother and he decided it was not suitable and for it to be taken away. I protested about the gun being taken but it was no use.

I very much doubt I'll be able to persuade anyone to let me buy him a 16 rated game when he's 11

The crazy thing was, that when we were kids our parents bought me and my brother toy guns

Don't know why they've got so conservative all of a sudden. Maybe they've been watching too much news.....

Reply 34

Kallisto

Entertainment Forum Helper

22

Original post by Glaz

literally no one cares about age ratings. No one pays attention so who really cares, it could be rated a 12 or a 99 but it wouldn't make any difference

Exactly. Gamers should know by themselves what games they buy. Age ratings are outdated, young gamers even under 18 have another sense for violence anyway.

Reply 35

Ðeggs

22

I think it’s more to do with the themes of the games that make them inappropriate for children. 50 shades of grey is about bondage and hardcore sex, which just isn’t appropriate for a 12 year old to read, even if they understand the words. Same with a video game. Assassin’s Creed involves sexualised images of women, swearing, rape and sexual violence etc, which just isn’t appropriate for a 12 year old to experience, despite the fact that of course they know how to play the game.