GameCritics on GTA IV, Kids and Parenting in the Videogame Age
By Shawn on Sunday, May 4th, 2008 at 1:15 PM PST In Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Gamer Life, Games, Grand Theft Auto, Microsoft, Rockstar, Sony, Take-Two
GameCritics has a piece up on Grand Theft Auto IV commenting on the role of parenting in enforcing Mature rated Videogames. The article doesn’t spare any feelings or give a political correct treatment to the subject, which is why I feel it’s worth reading.
To all the ignorant adults, pandering politicians and neglectful parents who rail against the ‘evil’ games industry for turning America’s naïve offspring into Columbine clones and sexual deviants, the answer is simple—
Don’t let your kids play this game.
As a parent of a miniature clone army myself and an owner of GTA4, I agree whole heartedly. It’s every parent’s right to choose what their kids can and can’t consume; whether your talking food, drugs, books, tv, movies or videogames. I personally keep the game away from my kids and will not play it while they’re in the room. Is it convenient? No. But it’s conscientious parenting.
Adults have the right to adult entertainment. Those parents too lazy, busy or what ever their excuse is to pay enough attention to their kids to guide them as they mature have no one to blame, especially not the gaming industry, if their little darlings turn into criminals.
Unfortunately I fear this article will only be read by the educated, like minded individuals and miss the ignorant masses it’s aimed at.
via GameCritics.com
He has really got it right at GameCritics — just don’t let young people who are not responsible on or with what they play or watch, or even listen to — play this game — it really is as simple as that — good on them…
It’s sad, but you’re right. I read this article and found it entirely full of truth, nothing left to be said on the matter. GG GameCritics.
I played GTA 3 at 13 or 14, and knew full well it was fiction. The kids in my high school class that went out and picked fights were people who played sports, and if they played any games they would be sport related.
straight truth. im 16 and allowed to play because my parents know i know whats right and wrong. im not even allowed to swear in the house yet.
It’s kids that do not know the differece between what is reality and what is fantasy that are the problem. And their parents, or lack thereof are to blame for that.
Go Marlins!!!!
ah well im 16 and i swear around the house what can i say but i also do know whats real and whats not whats wrong and whats right etc and i belive this article got it right i have a few friends across the road when san andreas came out i told there father that maybe he should not get that game for them cause his youngest was 6 at the time and said father did not listen to me now this child swears consntally and he wants to start a gang as does one of his older brothers now im not sayin the should cut out the swearing just an option of turning on off like they do with blood effects
Thank you “GameCritics.com” — finally someone’s got the right and simple answer.
Truely right. But I would like to know what the definition of a kid is. 16? 14? 5? 10?
I mean can’t they say something like not for anyone who is younger than a teenager? Just really putting it straight.
“It’s every parent’s right to choose what their kids can and can’t consume; whether your talking food, drugs, books, tv, movies or videogames.”
Not true when it comes to drugs, if you’re talking illegal drugs. If the parents and the kids live on their own planet I think they can do whatever the **** they want. Just not when others have to deal with it.