Here's an absolute shocker of a story for you: Microsoft discovered that over 75% of parents in Europe are concerned over the content of the videogames they willingly let their children play, while 43% of them were unaware of any kind of rating system. One of the three countries in which the survey was conducted was the UK, which doesn't have an obscure rating label at all. In fact, a massive red circle with "18" printed on it, exactly like our movies, is pretty bloody telling, don't you think? The other countries were Germany and Italy, and I'm sure that Germany's ratings are damn obvious too.
Parents also seem to believe that game playing should be limited to one hour per day, something they seem incapable of enforcing on their own. Thankfully, Microsoft is on the case since the new Xbox 360 dashboard update can impose such restrictions. This is because parents simply can't say "no" to a child, fearing their terrible psychic abilities.
Games writer Margaret Robertson added that the industry should be "giving [people] the information they need." Again, I point to the imposing red circle with a big "18" in it that mirrors the exact same logo used for DVDs. The only thing that needs to change on the industry side is for America to adopt the same kind of logos so stupid parents are less likely to be confused -- though from the looks of this survey, even such a clear and obvious signpost isn't enough for these morons.
When a game has an "18" on it, the same rating that has been on the cases of videotapes since the 1980s, I really don't think a parent claiming "oh I didn't know there was a rating" should be seen as a valid excuse. At all.
Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize.
Likes
PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3
Meet the rest of the team
| BBcode help |
| [b]Bold text[/b] |
Bold text |
| [i]Italic text[/i] |
Italic text |
| [url]http://www.dtoid.com/[/url] |
http://www.dtoid.com |
| [url=http://www.dtoid.com/]Web link[/url] |
Web link |
|
| [img]http://www.example.com/robot.jpg[/img] |
 |
Post a comment! You can also post a photo below:
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
46 comments | showing # 1 to 46
|
Comment with Facebook
Click connect and comment instantly!
|
Comment with Dtoid
New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds
|
Comments policy
Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?
Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!
Contest:
9:04 AM on 12.04.2007
| 
I love seeing things like this with parents. I'm actually working on a blog talking about kid's addiction with video games and how parents aren't much to help stop their kid's problem.
And this battle goes on constantly with toys, candies, sugar laced cereals, etc.
Anything that can help them enforce rules (like the 360 update) is welcome.
That said, parents should take the time to learn about what their kids are in to so that they can make better decisions regarding them. Videogames or otherwise.
Microsoft should do a Marketing campaign or something to raise awareness.
Do they have some ad with some kid playing his xbox while his mum yells at him?
Also, I find it humorous that stuff like this happens. I was just at Gamestop yesterday where a mother was buying her 9 year old Persona 3. I pointed it out to a guy behind the counter, and he put up the demo for the mom. Who watched as you BLOW YOUR OWN DAMN HEAD OFF to use your powers.
Yeah, the kid was pissed, but our point was made. We gave him Puzzle Quest instead. Crisis averted.
It's not hard to show parents what these games are about, and kids like this are the reason this kind of shit happens. Yes, I think that kids mature at varying speeds (mentall, you pervs). Yes, I was mature enough to handle something like Halo at 15 cause I could understand and comprehend the story. A 9 year old can't.
Also, was Umbrella Chronicles any good? I almost got it while I was there.
1) You get rid of the complaint that ratings are confusing since the MPAA has already done all the legwork for you over the years. Everyone in this country knows what those ratings mean from 5-95 year olds. This in turn helps you save money by not having to inform people about different rating system.
2) You can start laying the ground for videogames to be rated the same as movies in terms of violence. No more AO rated games like manhunt 2 just because of the violence. You could look over directly at movie violence and ask for a comparable rating.
The only problem i could see would be if the MPAA didn't want to license the use of their rating system.
Games have ratings on the box for a reason. If you cannot see them or choose to not pay attention, maybe you shouldn't be buying games and/or raising kids.
We live in a blame culture and its not going to go away.
exactly. they want others to do the paranting for them. what they should do is get a dog the ravishes their child if he/she plays to long, that'll teach them to listen to Maa and Paa.
Also, @PsychoSoldier:
High five @ Athena.
This is why I'm too disgusted to call myself an atheist. What the fuck did religion have to do with this before you brought it in? It's a shame. I would agree with you if you hadn't laced the whole statement with your brand of dogma.
------------------------------------------------------------
I think if you can't bother to observe the ratings on a game like you would on a movie (which I imagine they do), you're probably too irresponsible to be a good parent anyway. No amount of blame-shifting or dashboard-updating is going to convince anyone but other people trying to hide behind the same b.s. "but we don't understand it" excuse.
lol don't be so naive. I associate religion with ignorance.
Amen.
Hence my disgust. I must really be naive to form opinions of people on a people on a personal basis.
Yeah, that would go over like a fart in church. It needs to happen, but it won't because of a 13 year old drug users god given right to have children.
Stupid parents are stupid. Handle it!
Okay I need to be more specific. Have you ever noticed how parents always HAVE to have the most handsome, intelligent, athletic and bombastic kids of 'em all? Well, that's what you turn into for inserting (or letting someone insert) your (a?) penis into a (your?) vagina without previously performing a nifty scissors job.
So much for the evolution of the species.
Oh, and sorry for the spoilers if you didn't play Breed yet.
Its not hard to see..
If you have to have a major battle with your kid just to get them to stop playing a game, or to get a toy away from them, unless they're REALLY young, you've got a problem.
If they want to throw a fit, if they want to have a tantrum, if they want to yell and scream, punish them. Timeout, stand in the corner, whatever. If that doesn't work, then spank them. If you threaten to keep whatever they're crying for away longer, and longer, and longer, and longer, they'll learn that it's better to just shut up. They've gotta learn that it won't work sooner or later, otherwise you'll never have a peaceful anything.
It all comes down to parenting, period. If you don't show them that fighting and tantrums don't work, they'll do it infinitely.
:).
:).