Computer game age limits
Discussion
Where do you stand on this one? The woman sat next to me at work just told me about a trip to Tesco to buy Call of Duty 4 for her son. He is 14, the game is recommended for 15/16 and above.
Her son found the game and went over to pay for it, not thinking about the age limit. He got to the counter, handed over the game, with mum stood behind him. The lady on the till refused to sell the game to the son, even though the mother approved his purchase of it. The mum then puts the game back and waits for the lady to leave the till. Picks up the same game and queues to pay, by the time she is served the shop assistant is back on the counter and refuses to sell the mum the game, who is in her late 40's, saying she knows the game is being bought for someone underage. Mum leaves Tesco fuming.
Who would you side with on this?
Her son found the game and went over to pay for it, not thinking about the age limit. He got to the counter, handed over the game, with mum stood behind him. The lady on the till refused to sell the game to the son, even though the mother approved his purchase of it. The mum then puts the game back and waits for the lady to leave the till. Picks up the same game and queues to pay, by the time she is served the shop assistant is back on the counter and refuses to sell the mum the game, who is in her late 40's, saying she knows the game is being bought for someone underage. Mum leaves Tesco fuming.
Who would you side with on this?
Tis a difficult subject this, going back over the last 20 years + of my gaming life. Games have got so much better graphics and sounds wise. having say a 14 year old playing GTA, COD4/5 or similer games with sware words and violence is not a good idea. not like playing manic miner on the 48k
In the end it's up to the parents. But I would not be happy with a young child of mine playing a games with F words and hacking people to bits.
just my view though
In the end it's up to the parents. But I would not be happy with a young child of mine playing a games with F words and hacking people to bits.
just my view though
RemaL said:
Tis a difficult subject this, going back over the last 20 years + of my gaming life. Games have got so much better graphics and sounds wise. having say a 14 year old playing GTA, COD4/5 or similer games with sware words and violence is not a good idea. not like playing manic miner on the 48k
In the end it's up to the parents. But I would not be happy with a young child of mine playing a games with F words and hacking people to bits.
just my view though
Not really relevant as the parent had approved the purchase.In the end it's up to the parents. But I would not be happy with a young child of mine playing a games with F words and hacking people to bits.
just my view though
happygoron said:
I wouldn't be suprised that tesco has informed their employees to treat the recomendations the same as an age limit. "Responsible retailers" and all that. So the shop was perfectly correct really. Not that it's hard to get hold of it elsewhere mind!
That's more like it.Tesco going beyond their remit and acting as moral guardians for someone elses kids. The age on the box was a 'reccomendation' which the parent acknowleged and chose to ignor, as is her prerogative.
It is the same for most retailers. Back in the day, i used to work for Virgin Megastores, and we too were advised on game purchase ages, but these were specifically certificated games. If COD4 or any other game has a game certification (eg. 12/15/18) then it is illegal for the retailer to sell the game to anyone under that age. However, this was normally sidelined if being purchased by the parent while the child was present, as it is being purchased by someone who exceeds the age certfication.
If COD doesn't have any age certification (i can't remember off the top of my head!), then technically it is treated as a recommendation of playing age, and should still be sold, but with the supervision of a parent/guardian.
If COD doesn't have any age certification (i can't remember off the top of my head!), then technically it is treated as a recommendation of playing age, and should still be sold, but with the supervision of a parent/guardian.
I suppose the discerning parent could disable "gore" effects etc...
You can get done for manslaughter (and in some cases murder) for using a car... Does that mean that Burnout had to come with an "Age Restriction"?...
No, It's a blimin' game... stop taking them so seriously. The Parent probably knows nothing about the game and if they notice anything inappropriate you would expect them to educate their children so...
You can get done for manslaughter (and in some cases murder) for using a car... Does that mean that Burnout had to come with an "Age Restriction"?...
No, It's a blimin' game... stop taking them so seriously. The Parent probably knows nothing about the game and if they notice anything inappropriate you would expect them to educate their children so...
Its always Tesco you hear about. There was some dad with his two 20 year old sons who was refused alcohol because one of the sons didn't have ID.
Its ridiculous.
My 9 year old nephew has been getting his teeth into some 18 rated games like GTA San Andreas and other 15/16 games like Call of Duty and Red Faction.
I keep telling my sister to do something about it, but I don't think she has done.
I suppose its not that important at the end of the day, but you never know what sort of impact its going to have.
I went to see my first 18 rated film in the cinema when I was 15, with both of my parents, nothing ever came of it.
All sorts of people react differently to what they're subjected to though.
Its ridiculous.
My 9 year old nephew has been getting his teeth into some 18 rated games like GTA San Andreas and other 15/16 games like Call of Duty and Red Faction.
I keep telling my sister to do something about it, but I don't think she has done.
I suppose its not that important at the end of the day, but you never know what sort of impact its going to have.
I went to see my first 18 rated film in the cinema when I was 15, with both of my parents, nothing ever came of it.
All sorts of people react differently to what they're subjected to though.
I did some research into this after a barny with the Ex GF over games I was letting our son play...
Some games have a "proper" BBFC classification, typically its games with movie clips of "real" actors, anything with proper video MUST be approved by the British Board of Film Classification.
Selling a BBFC rated game to someone under the age limit is illegal.
Most games just have a PEGI rating, this is entirely voluntary and only a recommendation, typically it refers to the difficulty of a game rather than the content. For example, I have Starwars empire at war sat next to me, its got a PEGI rating of 12+, when all the films are rated U !! I purchased it for my 9 year old son by the way.
I wouldnt let him near Gears of War and certainly not GTA !!
Some games have a "proper" BBFC classification, typically its games with movie clips of "real" actors, anything with proper video MUST be approved by the British Board of Film Classification.
Selling a BBFC rated game to someone under the age limit is illegal.
Most games just have a PEGI rating, this is entirely voluntary and only a recommendation, typically it refers to the difficulty of a game rather than the content. For example, I have Starwars empire at war sat next to me, its got a PEGI rating of 12+, when all the films are rated U !! I purchased it for my 9 year old son by the way.
I wouldnt let him near Gears of War and certainly not GTA !!
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