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[zlatko]

I am not sure what my first violent game was when I was little. I suppose anything pre ps1 era doesn't really matter that much does it? Even so the PS1/N64 library wasn't really that violent in the sense that the violence shown didn't look that accurate.

However, PS2 era I was in middle school I believe, and I was purely a RPG player. I wasn't into any survival horror or FPS'. I can't think of many super violent RPGs I was into. FPS' for me really started at Halo 3, and soon after came CoD4. By then I had graduated high school.

I don't think playing CoD is a completely screwed up thing to let a 6 year old boy do, BUT I'd monitor him the whole time, and do it together. Online, no headsets, and everyone muted.

 

[clem84]

It's been proven that children 8 or younger have hard time distinguishing between reality and fiction. This plus the fact that this 6 year old kid would be interacting with the COD online community which would affect him in the worst possible way. Hard to believe some parents are ok with this.

 

[scar tissue]

I USED TO PLAY BARELY RECOGNIZABLE VIOLENCE GAME WHEN I WAS 6 THAT'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM MODERN GAMES

Especially since CoD is "realistic" violence with actual guns, whereas mortal combat/doom are essentially fantasy/scifi games.
At age 6, you should not be playing a military shooter, period.

 

[sixteen-bit]

The second game my parents bought me was Streets of Rage 2. They seemed really apprehensive about getting it based on the box art, lol.

 

[DarkKyo]

Mmmmmmm, I was within the NES era as a kid. So I suppose Double Dragon was my violent video at the time. My parents didn't seem to care. Hell, my dad played with me once in a while on 2P. Which was all sorts of badass. As for my kids, no. They'll get to play games but not the violent type. Until they get older, sure.

Totally different thing. A game about little sprite-dudes beating other sprite-dudes' asses compared to a game that's all about blowing the brains of other players out in realistic graphics.

 

[Dark Octave]

I remember blowing up Hitler's head with a rocket as a kid and only blinking at the fact that he called me a "damn" fool. Some of my favorite movies were Conan, Predator and Brave Heart. I played the hell out of Mortal Kombat in the arcades. All grown up and I'm a balanced, sane, non-violent adult who has never been in trouble with the law and enjoys non-violent entertainment just as much as violent entertainment.

I have a 6 year old cousin who has seen everything and pretty much has no boundries as to what he can and cannot see and play. He's a grounded kid who knows right from wrong. He peed on a bully in class once and that's the extent of his "violent" behavior.

My daughter will be playing/watching everything I play and a lot of stuff that I played as a kid.

Will I allow her to rip Kano's head off in Mortal Kombat, squish Goombas in Super Mario and stab Gannon in the forehead and chest in Zelda at the age of 6? Yes.

Will I allow her to watch Faces of Death? No (I don't even watch that).

She will have a firm understanding that games and TV are make believe and to never try and hurt someone in real life. That's my job as a parent.

 

[CrashPrime]

Doom, Wolfenstien 3D, Mortal Kombat, Killer Instinct,

Spoiler

Leisure Suit Larry

I played them all at far too young of an age that would be considered "appropriate". Didn't stunt my growth or anything.

However, I only had friends next to me to call inappropriate names, not Xbox Live. Honestly I'd say as long as he isn't subjected to the XBL voice chat, he's fine.

Totally different thing. A game about little sprite-dudes beating other sprite-dudes' asses compared to a game that's all about blowing the brains of other players out in realistic graphics.

I don't think I've ever seen brain matter in CoD. Blood spurts and ragdoll physics yes, but actual murder simulation grotesqueries aren't in the game.

 

[RangerX]

There were no restrictions on me growing up. I have fantastic parents who distinguished between fantasy and reality. I have a good moral compass but 6 is probably too young for COD. I was playing Mortal Kombat and Loaded when I was a kid. Although I was watching Robocop and Predator when I was 7 or 8. Every child is different. Parents should make sure children play outside a lot and have interactions with other children.

 

[sixteen-bit]

I don't think I've ever seen brain matter in CoD. Blood spurts and ragdoll physics yes, but actual murder simulation grotesqueries aren't in the game.

I don't even recall ragdoll. Aren't the death animations canned?

 

[mrklaw]

It's been proven that children 8 or younger have hard time distinguishing between reality and fiction. This plus the fact that this 6 year old kid would be interacting with the COD online community which would affect him in the worst possible way. Hard to believe some parents are ok with this.

this is an important point. Regardless of whether that is a proven study or not, you can't just say 'its up to parents to choose'. There are going to be situations where the parent doesn't have the knowledege to make an informed judgment.

eg in this case, if it is true that kids under 8 can't differentiate fully between reality and fiction, then even if you think your johnny is a smart mature boy who understands, then science disagrees.

so you need a parent that understands when a rule can be flexed based on the abilities of their own children, but is also aware of information around the subject and is humble enough to act on that when appropriate. Thats a pretty rare breed, and is why classifications are there to help.

I think its sadly far more likely that a parent will go 'oh its just a videogame, thats like a cartoon right?'. hopefully as we grow up with games we'll be more educated when it comes to our kids.

I don't think I've ever seen brain matter in CoD. Blood spurts and ragdoll physics yes, but actual murder simulation grotesqueries aren't in the game.

doesn't the latest one have a lengthy scene at the start where someone burns alive in front of you? And previous ones had you murdering civilians? they're pretty grotesque

 

[Shambles]

6 years old? That's crazy. At that age I was playing Oregon trail and number munchers. It would be another 2 years before I even start on Commander Keen. I agree there's a large grey area as to when childrens exposure to violence should be ramped up but at six? That's just bad parenting. Another case of letting the boob tube raise the kids because it's easier.

 

[Coconut]

My son doesn't like killing other people in games. He'll only play if it's aliens or skeletons as enemies.

His preferences are platforming and racers it seems at this point. He's had the choice to play more violent games, but doesn't take an interest in them.

Your son is cool.

 

[Sub_Level]

I USED TO PLAY BARELY RECOGNIZABLE VIOLENCE GAME WHEN I WAS 6 THAT'S NOT MUCH DIFFERENT FROM MODERN GAMES

With respect to the influence (or lack thereof) it can have on a child's brain in regards to violence? No, I don't believe they're all that different at all. By the time we got to Quake II, violence was pretty recognizable lol

I don't even recall ragdoll. Aren't the death animations canned?

They're ragdoll, they're just not always the ultra obvious badly done ragdolls you're used to seeing from the PS2 days. Most games do ragdolls okay nowadays, bodies simply crumple.

 

[diunxx]

Violent games fucked up my social skills.

 

[Vigilant Walrus]

This isn't conclusive. You can't go "it's proven that 6 years old can't seperate between reality and fiction". It's different for everyone.

Different things are scary to us. When I worked with kids aged 5 to 7, I remember some of them playing terrorists and execution type games, but that was from the shit they had heard on Fox-like fear mongering news. At the end of the day, human curiosity is often attracted to the grotesque, to the scary, to the gorey. It's interesting because its abnormal.


Some kids would not be scared of the campaign in COD, but they would be terrified of a zombie game, or a ghost game or an alien game. I think parents should learn their kids well and spend time with them, and let them see some stuff, if they think if they can handle it.

Many of my friends have tried sneaking out of bed as kids, and gone into the other room to be terrified at a movie like Halloween or Cannibal Holocaust or something, and then getting nightmares for a week. I think that experience is a part of life too.

 

[Bison11]

I remember watching Terminator and Predator when I was in about 1st grade. I played Duke Nukem 3D when I as 8.

It's not so much what the kids are playing....its the parents that need to make sure that they know that its a game and its not real. I came out fine. Its when the kids start to think that its okay to act like the game in real life when it becomes a problem. If your dad thinks the little dude can handle playing Blops then fine.

 

[Dave Long]

As a 40 year old parent who's seen a lot of kids go through age 6, no kid is really ready for that and the ones that play these games that young often don't turn out too well-adjusted. The problem is mostly the parenting though as it usually means the parents don't care about what their kids do outside of videogames too.

 

[sixteen-bit]

They're ragdoll, they're just not always the ultra obvious badly done ragdolls you're used to seeing from the PS2 days. Most games do ragdolls okay nowadays, bodies simply crumple.

Hmm, I haven't really played a COD game since 4 so it's probably changed since than.

Violent games fucked up my social skills.

easy scapegoat

 

[GungHo]

Back in my day, we used to have to go outside and shoot BB guns at each other to experience combat, and it was against the "Geneva Condition"(sic) to pump twice. Oh, and petrified doodoo was hand grenades.

I was watching snuff films at 6.

And look how good you turned out.

 

[MisterLuffy]

I remember playing Mortal Kombat 2 when I was a kid. It didn't affect me that much because I knew it was just a game. Sigh, saying that makes me think that I'm lying to myself lol.

 

[Lmo911]

When it comes to stuff like this, I consider myself extremely lucky. I'm in my 30s, so when violent games like MK, Doom, Carmageddon, etc. started coming out, I was already in like 7th-8th grade. Violence before that was there, but it just never seemed as front and center content wise as it is today or as detailed.

Now-a-days it's not just that it's more detailed graphicaly, but the tone of it has changed as well. Mortal Kombat has always had a huge helping of cheese in its serving of blood and guts. Violent games aped Jason, Freddy Kruger, indiana Jones, Rambo and Conan. Most sat at a happy Star Wars level.

Games like Black Ops have a different tone, less goofy/extreme and more cold about the violence. Like say making someone eat glass or playing Russian roulette. Maybe it's just me but that bothers me more than Sub Zeros spine rip ever did. Now Krato's version, once again that graphic detail and malice just takes it up a level.

I didn't really let my nephews play games with "graphic content" until the same age I started playing them. I felt like it was a fairly natural transition, so I'm going to keep on that path. As I aged, so too shall their games.

 

[Teknoman]

I will chime in again to say that I dont think violent games desensitize anyone to violence or blood in general. I cant use anyone but myself for an example, but i've seen lots of violent scenarios in game, but its not like I can commit an act of violence against another living thing without remorse (bugs aside...but thats another story) or can just look at something bloody or gory without being shocked or wanting to turn away.

Even certain actions in games still make me wince (the Killzone 3 eye gouge). Same with movies (28 days later eye gouge).

 

[GreggTheGrimReaper]

My nephew is almost like that, he turn nine in 3 months but the only games he's playing are COD and GOW. I tried talking him into a Wii but he thinks "Mario is kiddy shit". LOL, makes me feel like I totally lost touch with todays youth.

Speaking of which, what would you say to a modern day kid to get him into more whimsical stuff?

 

[Dion Blaster]

My nephew is almost like that, he turn nine in 3 months but the only games he's playing are COD and GOW. I tried talking him into a Wii but he thinks "Mario is kiddy shit". LOL, makes me feel like I totally lost touch with todays youth.

Speaking of which, what would you say to a modern day kid to get him into more whimsical stuff?

Tell him grown-ups find those violent games even more kiddy.

 

[GreggTheGrimReaper]

Tell hi grown-ups find those violent games even more kiddy.

It's really funny because I genuinely enjoy the whimsical stuff while he's into the grimdark stuff. The youth of today, I say.

 

[Hot Coldman]

Eh, the only issue is him growing up thinking Oliver North is "that man from the game I loved when I was little", as opposed to The Worst Person

 

[Danielsan]

I played a ton of Mortal Kombat II around that age. As long as he doesn't play online with voice chat enabled and he's a normal kid who knows the difference between game an reality, there's nothing to worry about.

 

[88random]

I played MK, GTA, Quake and I'm completely normal (or so i think, lol). It's down to good/bad parenting, enviroment and childs mentality. My mom was a little concerned about it at the begining but I could understand the difference from the start and I was puzzled how any game could influence me into anything. I was a smart kid Now she thinks I shouldn't play games at all because that's for kids, so yeah

 

[plagiarize]

I don't know what you mean. Have you ever read about changes in US communities from a sociological perspective?

society is always changing. I don't personally see people bowling by themselves as any cause for concern.

The columbine murderers went bowling together before they went into school and shot everyone. So... fat lot of good bowling socially did them.

Kids today are socially connected in different ways to we were. They aren't connected in some ways we were. They're connected in some ways we weren't. Wake me when there is actual cause for concern.

Kids today don't see much difference between hanging out with their school friends online, and hanging out with them in the same room. I don't think we need to panic over such changes.

 

[Ketch]

I'm not gonna say that violent games have or don't have an impact on children, but when there are so many better games out there then CoD that feature much less or even no violence at all... why even risk it?

Get your nephew a copy of Rayman or Mario or minecraft or Nuts & Bolts or whatever... the point is, if your gonna raise your kid on media at least don't make it shitty media.

 

[Scapegoat]

I'm not gonna say that violent games have or don't have an impact on children, but when there are so many better games out there then CoD that feature much less or even no violence at all... why even risk it?

Get your nephew a copy of Rayman or Mario or minecraft or Nuts & Bolts or whatever... the point is, if your gonna raise your kid on media at least don't make it shitty media.

???

If your kid loved One Direction would you force them to listen to Led Zeppelin just because you find the former "shitty media"?

What if your kid really loved cheesy horror flicks? Would you force them to watch Disney films?

 

[DocSeuss]

OP, your dad is very young.

 

[Dion Blaster]

It's really funny because I genuinely enjoy the whimsical stuff while he's into the grimdark stuff. The youth of today, I say.

I'm right there with you. There was a phase from middle-school to beginning of highschool where I was more into those types of games, but I mainly attribute that to the giant gap between Mario 64 and Galaxy.

 

[rCIZZLE]

I'd say the online community is probably a lot worse for him than the game itself.

 

[AltogetherAndrews]

tdoesn't the latest one have a lengthy scene at the start where someone burns alive in front of you? And previous ones had you murdering civilians? they're pretty grotesque

And COD4 had an intro sequence that ended with you getting executed with a bullet to the head. Anyone who deems this decent entertainment for a 6-year old is a dumbass. Give them something creative and positive, for fuck's sake.

 

[Seance]

You're dad's 6? How old are you then?

 

[Vice]

I remember Medal of Honor being a big deal when I was 9. Goldeneye was the thing before that. I don't see the problem with letting kids watch or play violent media. My parents allowed me and my siblings to play and watch very violent media and we all turned out rather decently. Currently, my sister lets her kids play games like CoD and MoH and they're all doing well and are very sociable.

 

[AltogetherAndrews]

I remember Medal of Honor being a big deal when I was 9. Goldeneye was the thing before that. I don't see the problem with letting kids watch or play violent media. My parents allowed me and my siblings to play and watch very violent media and we all turned out rather decently. Currently, my sister lets her kids play games like CoD and MoH and they're all doing well and are very sociable.

But why? There are creative and positive games available, yet some parents opt for a game where a cool intro involves execution. I honestly question if that in itself is a sound mindset. Maybe the kids will turn out alright, but it doesn't feel to me like the parents are alright.

 

[Zaventem]

Hate this "positive" games shit.It's always in one of the arguments against violent games.A game doesn't have to be positive or teach math and increase brain activity and all that bull you see spouted in these discussions for a child to enjoy it.

 

[Vice]

But why? There are creative and positive games available, yet some parents opt for a game where a cool intro involves execution. I honestly question if that in itself is a sound mindset. Maybe the kids will turn out alright, but it doesn't feel to me like the parents are alright.

Because the kids enjoy them. Violence and entertainment go hand in hand for a lot of stuff kids enjoy. As long as they understand the difference between reality and fiction then games like CoD don't seem bad. It's like an evolution of playing cops and robbers with friends or war with army men.

 

[DarkFlow]

Our 7 year old girl plays COD online. We have her mute everyone when she's in the lobby so she won't have to listen to them run there mouth. She understands its a game and not real and she's well behaved so we don't see a problem with it. She also likes to play assassins creed and red dead redemption, but mainly because she can ride a horse lol.

 

[maverick40]

 

[pslayer666]

Because the kids enjoy them. Violence and entertainment go hand in hand for a lot of stuff kids enjoy. As long as they understand the difference between reality and fiction then games like CoD don't seem bad. It's like an evolution of playing cops and robbers with friends or war with army men.

Yeah, the problem here is though that 6 year old kids can't really understand the difference between reality and fiction. Well, at least most normal 6 year old kids.

 

[TrutaS]

I'd say buy him Skylanders, but honestly I'm not sure which is worse. I believe the best you can do is give him your opinion on the violence of the game. Forbidding a kid from contacting violence does not actually protect him, as much as it teaches him to pursue violence in secret. I believe that for most things you prevent a kid from experiencing. Stand by his side, give him your perspective, I believe that is good parenting.

I was never limited as to what games I could play, what shows to watch. It is true that now realistic graphics give you a whole other detail on violence, still I think the freedom to decide for myself led me to become more reasonable and aware. Of course this will not apply for all people, many kids will spiral down the violent path, with or without games or TV. That is just the way of things and over controlling parents only make the personality disorders less prone to ammend.

That is not to say that your father may just not care, and that is not what I am defending. As I said, parents should be attentive and make an effort to teach and demonstrate, just not force.

 

[Jockel]

All kids should be playing Yoshis Island. A decision founded by game design awesomeness, not violence.

 

[maverick40]

Our 7 year old girl plays COD online. We have her mute everyone when she's in the lobby so she won't have to listen to them run there mouth. She understands its a game and not real and she's well behaved so we don't see a problem with it. She also likes to play assassins creed and red dead redemption, but mainly because she can ride a horse lol.

Funny how things change. When I was 7, I was outside with my friends playing rugby and soccor. When it was raining I was making lego or painting warhammer or reading books.

Now parents let their children play 18's rated games with extreme violence and online capabilities and the parents see nothing wrong with this.

Bravo guys.

 

[SmokedMeat]

We didn't have really violent games back when I was a kid. No graphic depictions of someone getting their throat slit or slow motion shots of someone getting shot in the face.

Personally as a parent I don't think this content is meant for young kids. There's plenty of other great games they could be introduced to rather than ones full of violence and profanity. The sad thing is that most parents are oblivious to the content that they're buying their kids, or simply don't care. The game console is their kid's babysitter.

 

[Bumhead]

I never played a game like Call of Duty at 6 years old, but I distinctly remember that was the sort of age where we used to run around the playground playing army games pretending to shoot and throw grenades at each other. And basically beat each other up while playing wrestling.

Oh, and there was also "Bulldog", a game where one kid had to run from one wall to the other while dodging 30 other kids, and if he was caught he'd be tackled to the floor and piled on.

I became a Dad recently (a month ago today, as it happens) and I don't think I like the idea of my daughter playing something like COD at 6. But I'm also pretty sure that as soon as kids go to school they play, say, learn and do plenty of crazy shit I wouldn't necessarily want them doing as well.

 

[DarkFlow]

Funny how things change. When I was 7, I was outside with my friends playing rugby and soccor. When it was raining I was making lego or painting warhammer or reading books.

Now parents let their children play 18's rated games with extreme violence and online capabilities and the parents see nothing wrong with this.

Bravo guys.

Really now, you think that's all she does so you make a jab at my parenting skills? Fuck you asshole. She plays outside more then anything and I make her read a lot. Seeing as she's in advanced placement already, I think I'm doing just fine, but thanks for your useless input.

 

[plagiarize]

Our 7 year old girl plays COD online. We have her mute everyone when she's in the lobby so she won't have to listen to them run there mouth. She understands its a game and not real and she's well behaved so we don't see a problem with it. She also likes to play assassins creed and red dead redemption, but mainly because she can ride a horse lol.

and what people are going to miss, is that kids like games like this completely in spite of the violence. they play them because they're fun, for the most part. until they get older, 'sex and violence' doesn't really sell, or register.

but of course this thread will continue ignoring that, yet keep going on about how kids can't tell the difference between fiction and reality.