Video game ratings

[royal_archer]

My opinion for what it’s worth, is that killing is killing. From Mario jumping on goombas, to shooting American soldiers in a modern war epic. But do not loose sight in that these ARE just games. If you and your family are aware and you talk about it before they go and become exposed to games like the later, there should be no problem. In addition games like grand theft auto, where there is sexual themes and such, I am also not against. Why? Because these are still just games. HOWEVER, no child of mine will play a game that isn’t appropriately aged for it. If they are old enough to buy them legally they are able to make up their own minds, and if you have done your part in parenting, then they will be able to make a sound decision and if they do decide to play and buy those games they will know that they are just that, games. I don’t think god is going to destroy us based on the Sodom and Gomorrah of video games.

Part of good parrenting is not allowing kids to play games that desensitize them to immoral behavior.

 

[CGDouglas]

On the other hand I am a fan of Dungeons and Dragons and other Tolkien based RPGs. Hack up orcs, find loot, upgrade armor, solving puzzels, etc. I don’t have a problem with blood and guts or the violence per say (at least not in a fictional setting). I do have a problem with profanity, sexual content, and game plots that encourage people to choose evil. I also have problem with violence in a real world setting (such as shooting American soldiers).

The gams my son is interested in (Halo, Modern Warfare, and Time Shift) are rated M and he insists that it is only for violence blood and gore. He is old enough to see alien blood and guts and dealing with battle against an evil enemy army but is still impresionable about the moral issues. I was looking for an independent and trustworthy reference for these games and ratings.

Any good references for how these games rate from a moral point of view?

Are there any full lists of ratings out there?

Random Fact: Halo is plagued with Christian themes all over the place, it’s pretty much a Christian story, it’s developers heavily religious. Modern Warfare 2 has a homicidal mission in an Russian airport (it’s skipable, players personal moral choice I guess).
Joe 5859:

Well, yes and no. There’s a very important difference between, on the one hand, cartoony Mario jumping on a goomba and having it go “poof!” and disappear and, on the other hand, bloodily gunning people down in full 1080p HD resolution.

Or with full 3D stereoscopic glasses.

God Bless,

Christopher.