So I'm sitting here at work and I'm trying to quit smoking, thinking about all types of dumb shit. Reading the C-blogs, looking for some interesting shit. Of course, Excremento comes through with the goodness, something worth reading. It gets me thinking about my wife and gaming, which leads to my kids. Should I let them play games when they get older? Maybe make them wait until they're older before I purchase them a console? Tough decision.



My wife has said from day one, no consoles until they're at least 14. But you gamers know this is unrealistic. How would it be possible if I myself own all the systems at any given time? She says stick with the portables until they're older, but will that be enough? I would honestly feel bad if I got to play the Xbox 720 or whatever it is while they were stuck with the DS 2 or some shit. Portables are great, but that's all they really are: Portable games. They just don't compare to the real deal in the end, especially in the eyes of an impressionable child.



Then there's also the question of what games to allow? I used to think parents should never worry about the ratings, but then I had kids myself. Plus, I've seen my brother grow from a baby to a teenager and seen the effect being a hardcore gamer has had on his upbringing. My own mother let me play whatever I wanted, and I remember Mortal Kombat II as being the first bloody game I ever recieved, as a B-Day present from Grandma. I didn't realize at the time that the game really wasn't that great, but I loved the gore and blood like many young kids did. I ended up being a bit fucked up, as I was quite the agressor in my Elementary and Middle School days.



Conversely, my little brother was not allowed to play violent games really. Some did slip by dear old mom, but he wasn't into them as much because of his lack of access to them. He stuck with Nintendo games, which my mother was ok with. But when I let him play my copy of GTA3 and she heard the dialogue and saw what was happening, she went berserk. Frankly, after dealing with my ass getting thrown out of school for serious personal injury to a fellow student, I don't blame her. And the great thing is, he turned out ok. He's not violent at all, just a regular teen who says and does stupid shit. He listens to rock, I listened to rap. You know, the music filled with violence and hatred towards women and white people. So I definitely feel it matters what you let them play.



I figure if anything, we'll start where I did: With my old pal Mario. He's not violent or bloody, and the games are fun and simple enough. The only thing with that is the addiction factor. I'd be afraid my kids would enjoy Mario games so much they would become video game fanatics in no time at all. Keep in mind, they are both under 3 years old, a boy and a girl. But time flys when you're a dad, so I know my son will be 5 and 6 before I know it. He absolutely loves to dance when my wife plays Guitar Hero 3, and he enjoys watching me play most Nintendo games. We even let him think he's helping her play the Guitar in GH3 sometimes, something he gets a big kick out of. And when she wasn't around, I did some WarioWare mini-games with him, let him try and hold the remote to his nose and shit. He loved it, laughed his little butt off. I really enjoy the interaction even at such a basic level. It reminds me of when my dad played with me.



Dear old Dad and I used to play A Link to the Past together. He helped me with the tough spots, and sat and watched intently while I played. We took turns if I couldn't beat a boss or whatnot. Those were great times. But as I got older, it stopped. I don't blame him, as today's games are not for him. He wouldn't have been able to play the games that were around when I was a teenager. But I remember the old days so fondly. I sometimes hope to have the same bond with my son, but keep it going. I would certainly enjoy playing a game like Halo with him when he's a teenager, as violence is generally ok with me at that point. But the wife is making this tough for me. Who knows really? It's a touchy subject, one that could have any number of different effects on his development and upbringing. But I have to be real careful, otherwise I might end up with a kid like this:



I think I would shoot myself if this was my kid.

Anyway, what do you think out there in Dtoid land? What's an appropriate age or appropriate games?

BTW, I'm only 20, will be 21 on December 10th. Just to give you some perspective on how my life and mind work.