ThunderPeel2001

If you're in the UK, that is: http://uk.gamespot.com/news/6212182.html?tag=topslot;thumb;2 In short: The harsher PEGI ratings are about to become legal. Think you have to be 12 years old to play Mass Effect? Think again, little man. Try 18. This might have the knock-on effect that the insane US cinema rating system has: Everything is toned down to reach a "wider audience". (Well, in the case of the US cinema, not "everything", just swearing and sex, but you get the idea.)

Lol. I see what you're saying now.... But we had movies when we were growing up, so we know what their impact was like on our fragile little minds Saying games are capable of having a similar impact to movies doesn't require us to revert into children make sure -- does it?

That would be awesome!

We've all been kids (which is why the "two men talking about an abortion" analogy is completely irrelevant). We all watched things above our supposed age range. We've all been affected by things. This isn't about bitching about parenting. (If anything it's about highlighting the problems that parents face -- ignorance of the potential power of games/technology that their kids are into.) It's also not about media hysteria. Nobody here believes that a child is going to go on a killing spree because of games they've witnessed, but some games could certainly upset and disturb them! As someone who definitely wants kids one day, I'm interested in finding a balance between respecting the intelligence of a child while not upsetting and disturbing them.

Wrong. Comics have had a rating system since the early 80s.

I don't think we need a study about this, but I see your point: For the people deciding on the "rules", how do THEY decide. I guess that only puts more pressure on parents NOT to take ratings at face value and for the rating makers themselves to err on the side of caution -- pretty much the situation we're in, I guess. Yeah, definitely. It's quite shocking that even oversized (they make them bigger on games) "18" BBFC symbols are often ignored by parents -- and it's upsetting that many parents don't understand that games have matured to the point where they can be as powerful as movies.

Lol!

It's pretty outstanding that parents can behave so annoyingly. I witnessed something similar with Vice City. A woman was asking about it for a present for a 10 year old child, the store clerk, said, "yes, it's a good game, but it's not suitable for a child...". Advice ignored, she bought it anyway, threatening to go ballistic when they clerk tried to chime in with, "I can't let you buy this if you're saying it's for a 10 year old" (the clerk was young, too, probably only 16!). She obviously didn't believe that the game contained anything too bad. I felt like saying aloud to my gf, "Oh yeah! That's the game you can have sex with a prostitute with, then cut her head off with a chainsaw and get your money back!". Admittedly, I'm sure it sounds a hell of a lot worse than it is actually depicted in the game (never actually done that), but dammit, the game REALLY isn't suitable for kids! (The clerk wasn't just trying to piss her off!) I had similar experiences when I worked in a record store: Parents buying South Park paraphernalia (Cds/posters) for their 8 and 9 year olds... Which happened a lot. (A LOT.) We used to think "do these parents KNOW what goes on in South Park??". They'd catch our expressions, or when it came to buying the CDs, listen to our warnings, and sometimes laugh and say things like, "it's only a cartoon!". Then, when one of them actually overheard the CD, they'd bring it straight back, utterly shocked, angrily complaining how "This isn't suitable for children!!!". No kidding, we weren't joking. I'm sure it's very difficult for a parent to monitor every little thing a child absorbs, but uneven rating systems like PEGI only potentially make it harder. Maybe a Thumbs parent could chime in?

Why did you write this? It feels like an attempt to provoke an argument about something which doesn't exist. (Ie. troll.) Miffy clearly wasn't saying this, and this discussion isn't really about it, either. I think we can all agree that children shouldn't be exposed to EVERYTHING.

C'mon guys, you CANNOT compare the likes of Mortal Kombat, Doom or GTA1 with modern gaming (I know no-one has mentioned MK, yet, but I can sense it coming). The storytelling has taken leaps and bounds over what we experienced, it's as sophisticated as and nearly as visually realistic as film. I stand by my comments about CoD4. I DO believe that someone around 15 is more than capable of dealing with it. But it doesn't make anyone a hypocrite to say that there IS a cut off point! None of us were exposed to the types of stuff in games they have now. Oddly enough, I don't think it's the "gore", but rather the intent. I watched Die Hard when I was about 12 and LOVED it. Sure, there is violence, but there was a goodie, saving the day! Same goes for Lethal Weapon and Aliens. Even Predator. But, for example, I watched RoboCop around the same time and was pretty disturbed/upset by the horrendously evil torture scene at the beginning... The intent was a lot different.

Actually, the PS3 version runs at "75% of the resolution" of the 360 version. Apparently.

Thanks, guys

You're absolutely correct (IMHO) Ossk, you're wrong: You can't change how people think, but you CAN address their concerns and frustrations. Ignoring them will lead them to seek other, uglier, alternatives. (Edit: Please ignore the above if the dust in this argument has settled... I haven't been in this thread for a while.) Also: Just broke up with my fiance

Lol! Awesome!

Awesome Do you know that if you go to: http://www.idlethumbs.net/index.php you get an "existence error"? (I thought the site was broken, but it's just my bookmark, apparently.)

Let me run that through eBay for you... http://shop.ebay.com/items/__dreamcast-vmu?_frs=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m359

My UK experience with the RRoD MS replacement service was equally awesome.

I've created an (unintentionally) massive guide to creating the ultimate Planescape: Torment experience. If anyone's interested, ye can see it here: http://thunderpeel2001.blogspot.com/2009/01/planescape-torment-fully-modded.html Now I just need to actually finish playing the game!

Oh, god. Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?

Well there's nothing less surprising than the surprise you were waiting for. (Or something.)

Oh no! Hurry up, game developers... I need to cry within the next four years! (Rodi, you're right of course. I hope I can remain as open minded as John Peel did. I really respected him for being able to do that. With him it was young people going, "what IS this your listening to?!". Pretty cool, lol.)

Do it and post your findings...!

David, I presume you've finished Watchmen by now, but don't get your hopes up about the ending if you haven't.

It was just TEDIOUS.

Lol, very true!