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Okay I know the ESRB is doing the right thing by putting ratings on the games. However, shouldn't they be doing a public service announcement or something? I was in Best Buy the other day and this 5 year old is looking at games and finds one. Then sees True Crime Streets of LA. A M rated title. And says Mom I want this game your a cop and you catch bad guys! The mom just grabs the title and heads to the checkout!

Some parents probably let their 5 year olds watch R rated movies as well so maybe this is not the problem the parents are just stupid.

I just wonder how many parents do not even understand the ESRB rating at all???

Based on my recent shopping experience I can now understand why Congress is trying to pass laws to move games out of the reach of children. The American public is too stupid to watch out for themselves!

This example has NOTHING to do with the ESRB. Movies are rated in the same "small-box" fashion - are we moving R rated moves out of reach of children? No. There's softcore PORN on BestBuy's shelves - did you miss that?

Again, this has NOTHING to do with the ESRB - this is the fault of whoever you were watching just then. I don't feel like suffering for a couple bad mothers who'll buy a violent game for their child then complain.

I think the ESRB does plenty. I dunno if it could be any easier, not only do they give you a rating but also they list the content on the back. Also, in most game stores there are signs that explain the ratings systems. If those aren't there and a parent has doubts then ask a clerk. You never really hear any PSAs about the movie ratings system anymore. Plus, if your kid is into games one would think it is your best interest to know about the ratings system.

The bottomline is parents either don't care or are indifferent. It's an awful thing but that's just what has happened.

Originally Posted by SolinariDotCom Again, this has NOTHING to do with the ESRB - this is the fault of whoever you were watching just then. I don't feel like suffering for a couple bad mothers who'll buy a violent game for their child then complain.

Yup. Look at the mother you just described. Do you think that EVEN IF the kid never saw True Crime, that he would grow up to be a better person? The mother is still going to be a bad parent REGARDLESS of what a store lets her buy for her kid. Videogames don't make a bad person, bad parents do.

I agree the parent is most likely worthless and clueless. I only hope the clerk had enough sense to tell them that this title is rated M. The parent did not even look!

I do not have children of my own so I was just shocked that some parents are so ignorant.

Yes you are right no law is going to stop the stupid people from being stupid!

I think parents think of video games like they were in the 80s. Pac-man and asteroids.

I am just afraid that if some more kids commit acts of violence and blame them on video games those of us who care about video games are going to suffer because no one wants to own up for their own Damn mistakes.

While I'm sure it's not the norm, I have often seen the workers at my local game stores giving parents advice on what the rating systems mean. Also on a few occasions I've actually seen a parent ask what a particular rating means and what they can expect to see in a game. And aback when I was under 18, I was just LOOKING at a game rated M and the guy made a point to come over and tell me that he wouldn't sell it to me if I tried. More of being an asshole than being concerned for my welfare, but it was just as effective.

At TRU I believe that they are now verbally telling the customer the rating of the games they are buying:

When the 2 for $20 deal was on the guy at the counter reminded me that one of the games was rated M. It was dumb cause was an adult with no kids with me, but it is good to see that they are informing ignorant parents.

The fact is that parents still think that video games are toys for little children. That is why there is so much outrage and lack of understanding when they hear about games like GTA, etc.

Originally Posted by Scrubking At TRU I believe that they are now verbally telling the customer the rating of the games they are buying: When the 2 for $20 deal was on the guy at the counter reminded me that one of the games was rated M. It was dumb cause was an adult with no kids with me, but it is good to see that they are informing ignorant parents. The fact is that parents still think that video games are toys for little children. That is why there is so much outrage and lack of understanding when they hear about games like GTA, etc.

Toys R Us is doing a good job. They warned me when I bought Mortal Kombat from them. Myself being almost 30 with no kids I kinda laughed. But I was glad because some non-educated people are buying games for their kids.

I received no such notifications last time I shopped at TRU.

Originally Posted by Scrubking The fact is that parents still think that video games are toys for little children. That is why there is so much outrage and lack of understanding when they hear about games like GTA, etc.

Good point! Public perception of gaming consoles is that it's a childs toy. People need to wake up and realize that consoles have evolved.

For the record, the ESRB DOES have PSA type commercials airing. I've seen two or three not too long ago. I don't watch much TV so I can't recall when or where though.

Not only that but at the end of nearly every video game commercial they give you the rating, saying "rated T for Teen", "rated M for Mature"....Those words alone I think are pretty self-explanitory, but even if they aren't parents should at least take note and look into it.

They are doing plenty. It's the stores that have to do more by being more aggressive about checking just who they are selling to.

It's mostly the store's responsibility to make sure that little kids aren't buying M-rated games. I've seen some teenagers able to buy M-rated games with no problems, and other times I'll see cashiers asking full-grown adults for their birth date. The ESRB doesn't hide its ratings at all - they're clearly displayed on the front of the game and explained on the back. If anything, maybe more games should have the explicit warning label on games such as State of Emergency and BMX XXX.

The ESRB isn't perfect, though. I like how they note the use of alcohol in Harvest Moon games, even if it's very minor, but they could've warned parents about the sexual content in GTA3. Also, in Twisted Metal Black, they list blood, gore, and violence as the only bad things in it, but if you watch some of the movies, you'll encounter some pretty harsh language. Except for such few faults, the ESRB does its job pretty well.

Originally Posted by Indiana I think parents think of video games like they were in the 80s. Pac-man and asteroids.

And look at Americans now - they consume more food, and are fatter than, people in any other nation. Those people grew up to be like some kind of Pac-man on asteroids.

Originally Posted by eldad9 And look at Americans now - they consume more food, and are fatter than, people in any other nation. Those people grew up to be like some kind of Pac-man on asteroids.

Haha, Pacman as the reason for America's obesity problem? "I learned it from a videogame!"

Something like this just happened in my neighborhood. Some kids drove up and down streets late at night shooting people's windows out with a BB gun. I think they were all 17-18. Well when they finally caught them, they're excuse was "We saw it in a videogame". It's people like this that ruin it for other people, because they see an "easy out" and take it, because they know that society will easily shift the blame from them to the games. These people are 18 years old, are you telling me they aren't responsible for their own actions?

Pisses me off....seriously.

Originally Posted by evilmax17 Haha, Pacman as the reason for America's obesity problem? "I learned it from a videogame!" Something like this just happened in my neighborhood. Some kids drove up and down streets late at night shooting people's windows out with a BB gun. I think they were all 17-18. Well when they finally caught them, they're excuse was "We saw it in a videogame". It's people like this that ruin it for other people, because they see an "easy out" and take it, because they know that society will easily shift the blame from them to the games. These people are 18 years old, are you telling me they aren't responsible for their own actions? Pisses me off....seriously.

That reminds me of this time back when I was in highschool. A few friends of mine were in a destructive mood so we dropped a piano on some guys head from a 23 story building. We just told the cops we saw Bugs Bunny do it and we got off scot free. I won't even go into the time we hooked up a piano key to a detanator to TNT......memories....

http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php...4-14&res=l

Most kids who do things because of "Video Games" just use that as an excuse. I am 17 (almost 18 in June) and I've been playing Videogames for as long as I remember. I was raised in a christian family but my parents never restricted video games. I remember buying Mortal Kombat 2 the day it came out, and I didnt turn out to be a mass killer. I've never gotten in trouble at school or been in trouble with the law. I agree that maybe a few kids may be influenced by games, but that number has got to be under 5%. Normal kids who are raised right are not going to take a game seriously.

So pretty much every post in this thread goes back to one major point: It's the parents responsibility.