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Anyone who has been refused a game because of their age will share my opinion that it is especially embarassing when you are in front of a huge queue in a shop. This happened to me a long time ago, but till this day I can still remember the pain. Not only because of the embarassment but also because I couldn't play the game everyone was talking about. Since then, there has been a huge increase in age tags on games. Now, EVERY game has one!
Is there any need? I mean, isn't gaming supposed to be for everyone to enjoy? When all the 16bit and below consoles were around, there were only the odd one or two games that had age limits to them, but the rest didn't, and everything was just fine. Then somewhere, things changed.
I blame two things - ideas and influence - one more than the other. Game creators began to think of ways to spice up their games, to make them better, and they only had good intentions, but their spontanious ideas only triggered something else off, something worse...gaming influence. More and more games after the release of the Playstation became more and more violent, so really developers had to protect themselves from any blame of causing influence, so introducing more age tags. Ideas are far from bad things, but there are the odd one or two developers that take their games a bit too far.
Realism in games is very good, but once again it encourages influence. Consoles are at their peak of displaying the best and realistic visuals, and it's not much of a surprise that more action and violence in games has increased. Children are rightly encouraged not to play such games by the age tags, but just because a game has a tag on it doesn't necessarily mean children aren't going to play it any other time.
I was in Game the other day, and I was pretty shocked at what I saw. When I walked in I saw two children that didn't look more than ten running riot around the shelves. They got in my way a few times, but I forgave them because they were only little and didn't really know what they were doing. Then when I was queueing to pay, I saw these same two kids with their parents, who were buying them a PS2 and 'the Getaway'. It was obvious to tell that this was their christmas gift and not the parents, but they still sold them the game. 'The Getaway' is an (18) with 'Parental Advisory' written on because it contains swearing, killing and loads of bad activity from start to finish. And this was what parents were getting their tiny little kids for christmas. It's no wonder more and more young offenders institutions are being made!
You may feel cheated when you are younger, but it really is for your own good that you don't play certain games because little minds grow with what they see around them. Maybe if I was sold that game that wasn't for my age, I might have turned out a serial killer or something. But the bad thing is so many games have age limits on them and only about 5% of where they are being sold stay loyal not to sell them to under-aged children. Most places don't even check the label to see what age the game is for, which is good news for desperate kids, but it could be bad news for their future.
It may not seem fair to miss out on all the fun of certain games at a certain time because of how young you are, but age limits on games are a good thing, even though they are not being enforced properly in places. As you will all one day realise, the world is a very strange place with a lot of strange people, and these are the people easily influenced by such funly intentional things like games. My only criticism about age tags on games are how they are judged and by whom because no-one can really decide what age group is perfect for a certain game because like I said before everybody is different.
Be sure to notice a dramatic improvement to this issue in the future.. hopefully.
Thanks for reading
Dr ~Z~
Is there any need? I mean, isn't gaming supposed to be for everyone to enjoy? When all the 16bit and below consoles were around, there were only the odd one or two games that had age limits to them, but the rest didn't, and everything was just fine. Then somewhere, things changed.
I blame two things - ideas and influence - one more than the other. Game creators began to think of ways to spice up their games, to make them better, and they only had good intentions, but their spontanious ideas only triggered something else off, something worse...gaming influence. More and more games after the release of the Playstation became more and more violent, so really developers had to protect themselves from any blame of causing influence, so introducing more age tags. Ideas are far from bad things, but there are the odd one or two developers that take their games a bit too far.
Realism in games is very good, but once again it encourages influence. Consoles are at their peak of displaying the best and realistic visuals, and it's not much of a surprise that more action and violence in games has increased. Children are rightly encouraged not to play such games by the age tags, but just because a game has a tag on it doesn't necessarily mean children aren't going to play it any other time.
I was in Game the other day, and I was pretty shocked at what I saw. When I walked in I saw two children that didn't look more than ten running riot around the shelves. They got in my way a few times, but I forgave them because they were only little and didn't really know what they were doing. Then when I was queueing to pay, I saw these same two kids with their parents, who were buying them a PS2 and 'the Getaway'. It was obvious to tell that this was their christmas gift and not the parents, but they still sold them the game. 'The Getaway' is an (18) with 'Parental Advisory' written on because it contains swearing, killing and loads of bad activity from start to finish. And this was what parents were getting their tiny little kids for christmas. It's no wonder more and more young offenders institutions are being made!
You may feel cheated when you are younger, but it really is for your own good that you don't play certain games because little minds grow with what they see around them. Maybe if I was sold that game that wasn't for my age, I might have turned out a serial killer or something. But the bad thing is so many games have age limits on them and only about 5% of where they are being sold stay loyal not to sell them to under-aged children. Most places don't even check the label to see what age the game is for, which is good news for desperate kids, but it could be bad news for their future.
It may not seem fair to miss out on all the fun of certain games at a certain time because of how young you are, but age limits on games are a good thing, even though they are not being enforced properly in places. As you will all one day realise, the world is a very strange place with a lot of strange people, and these are the people easily influenced by such funly intentional things like games. My only criticism about age tags on games are how they are judged and by whom because no-one can really decide what age group is perfect for a certain game because like I said before everybody is different.
Be sure to notice a dramatic improvement to this issue in the future.. hopefully.
Thanks for reading
Dr ~Z~
BEARDS. wrote:
> I don't think the age regulations are actually law, I think that
> they're just suggestions that game shops choose to apply.
>
> I could be lying though. Someone go look it up.
There is something about them also that can get the retailer fined if they sell it to someone underage. Sometimes they send in "undercover agaents" as my wee brother likes to call them and can get fined if they sell a game to someone.
Also, only a few days ago, I was embarrassed at the fact that the Woolies guy wouldn't sell me TImesplitters 2. I'm 15 on Thursday so I would legally be able to get them then, but it's not as if a few days will make a difference. Plus, he said I'd need ID. What kind of 15 year old holds ID? It's because I'm short (even though I'm just above the national average height). It's not fair. Plus, the guy in GAME said I should get GTA: VC when I looked at some PS2 games, so I wish THEY had Timesplitters 2 in stock when I went. Damn.
> I don't think the age regulations are actually law, I think that
> they're just suggestions that game shops choose to apply.
>
> I could be lying though. Someone go look it up.
There is something about them also that can get the retailer fined if they sell it to someone underage. Sometimes they send in "undercover agaents" as my wee brother likes to call them and can get fined if they sell a game to someone.
Also, only a few days ago, I was embarrassed at the fact that the Woolies guy wouldn't sell me TImesplitters 2. I'm 15 on Thursday so I would legally be able to get them then, but it's not as if a few days will make a difference. Plus, he said I'd need ID. What kind of 15 year old holds ID? It's because I'm short (even though I'm just above the national average height). It's not fair. Plus, the guy in GAME said I should get GTA: VC when I looked at some PS2 games, so I wish THEY had Timesplitters 2 in stock when I went. Damn.
BEARDS. wrote:
> I don't think the age regulations are actually law, I think that
> they're just suggestions that game shops choose to apply.
>
> I could be lying though. Someone go look it up.
ELSPA ratings - and the new version coming in April - are not legally binding and as such a retailer cannot be prosecuted or criticised for selling an ELSPA 18+ game to anyone under that age - it is up to individual retailers to make their own polivy on ELSPA ratings.
BBFC ratings are, as I'm sure everyone knows, legally enforceable and must be enforced by retailers.
> I don't think the age regulations are actually law, I think that
> they're just suggestions that game shops choose to apply.
>
> I could be lying though. Someone go look it up.
ELSPA ratings - and the new version coming in April - are not legally binding and as such a retailer cannot be prosecuted or criticised for selling an ELSPA 18+ game to anyone under that age - it is up to individual retailers to make their own polivy on ELSPA ratings.
BBFC ratings are, as I'm sure everyone knows, legally enforceable and must be enforced by retailers.
BEARDS, I think the age regulations are placed there by the creators of the game to tell those selling their product the age in which customers are allowed to buy. So, yeah I think you are right. Shop assistants don't really care about games that don't have the red (18) label on them anyway, like all the GTA games.
And Memorandum, I was refused (I think it was) one of the Mortal Kombat games for the mega drive, and I was about thirteen at the time. I must have appeared younger to the shop blokey because he was having none of it.
And Memorandum, I was refused (I think it was) one of the Mortal Kombat games for the mega drive, and I was about thirteen at the time. I must have appeared younger to the shop blokey because he was having none of it.
BEARDS. wrote:
> I don't think the age regulations are actually law, I think that
> they're just suggestions that game shops choose to apply.
>
> I could be lying though. Someone go look it up.
I'm on it
> I don't think the age regulations are actually law, I think that
> they're just suggestions that game shops choose to apply.
>
> I could be lying though. Someone go look it up.
I'm on it
I don't think the age regulations are actually law, I think that they're just suggestions that game shops choose to apply.
I could be lying though. Someone go look it up.
I could be lying though. Someone go look it up.
age limits don't bother most people, after all my little cousin (now 13) still wouldn't be allowed to play goldeneye if he'd followed the age restriction and there is nothing wrong with him at all, what game were you refused??
lol! Cheers Fosbe
:D
:D
Oh yeh nice post.
I remember one really embarrasing time when i couldnt buy a game. A bit of advice to young guns dont back chat unless you like security guards.
Anyone who has been refused a game because of their age will share my opinion that it is especially embarassing when you are in front of a huge queue in a shop. This happened to me a long time ago, but till this day I can still remember the pain. Not only because of the embarassment but also because I couldn't play the game everyone was talking about. Since then, there has been a huge increase in age tags on games. Now, EVERY game has one!
Is there any need? I mean, isn't gaming supposed to be for everyone to enjoy? When all the 16bit and below consoles were around, there were only the odd one or two games that had age limits to them, but the rest didn't, and everything was just fine. Then somewhere, things changed.
I blame two things - ideas and influence - one more than the other. Game creators began to think of ways to spice up their games, to make them better, and they only had good intentions, but their spontanious ideas only triggered something else off, something worse...gaming influence. More and more games after the release of the Playstation became more and more violent, so really developers had to protect themselves from any blame of causing influence, so introducing more age tags. Ideas are far from bad things, but there are the odd one or two developers that take their games a bit too far.
Realism in games is very good, but once again it encourages influence. Consoles are at their peak of displaying the best and realistic visuals, and it's not much of a surprise that more action and violence in games has increased. Children are rightly encouraged not to play such games by the age tags, but just because a game has a tag on it doesn't necessarily mean children aren't going to play it any other time.
I was in Game the other day, and I was pretty shocked at what I saw. When I walked in I saw two children that didn't look more than ten running riot around the shelves. They got in my way a few times, but I forgave them because they were only little and didn't really know what they were doing. Then when I was queueing to pay, I saw these same two kids with their parents, who were buying them a PS2 and 'the Getaway'. It was obvious to tell that this was their christmas gift and not the parents, but they still sold them the game. 'The Getaway' is an (18) with 'Parental Advisory' written on because it contains swearing, killing and loads of bad activity from start to finish. And this was what parents were getting their tiny little kids for christmas. It's no wonder more and more young offenders institutions are being made!
You may feel cheated when you are younger, but it really is for your own good that you don't play certain games because little minds grow with what they see around them. Maybe if I was sold that game that wasn't for my age, I might have turned out a serial killer or something. But the bad thing is so many games have age limits on them and only about 5% of where they are being sold stay loyal not to sell them to under-aged children. Most places don't even check the label to see what age the game is for, which is good news for desperate kids, but it could be bad news for their future.
It may not seem fair to miss out on all the fun of certain games at a certain time because of how young you are, but age limits on games are a good thing, even though they are not being enforced properly in places. As you will all one day realise, the world is a very strange place with a lot of strange people, and these are the people easily influenced by such funly intentional things like games. My only criticism about age tags on games are how they are judged and by whom because no-one can really decide what age group is perfect for a certain game because like I said before everybody is different.
Be sure to notice a dramatic improvement to this issue in the future.. hopefully.
Thanks for reading
Dr ~Z~
Is there any need? I mean, isn't gaming supposed to be for everyone to enjoy? When all the 16bit and below consoles were around, there were only the odd one or two games that had age limits to them, but the rest didn't, and everything was just fine. Then somewhere, things changed.
I blame two things - ideas and influence - one more than the other. Game creators began to think of ways to spice up their games, to make them better, and they only had good intentions, but their spontanious ideas only triggered something else off, something worse...gaming influence. More and more games after the release of the Playstation became more and more violent, so really developers had to protect themselves from any blame of causing influence, so introducing more age tags. Ideas are far from bad things, but there are the odd one or two developers that take their games a bit too far.
Realism in games is very good, but once again it encourages influence. Consoles are at their peak of displaying the best and realistic visuals, and it's not much of a surprise that more action and violence in games has increased. Children are rightly encouraged not to play such games by the age tags, but just because a game has a tag on it doesn't necessarily mean children aren't going to play it any other time.
I was in Game the other day, and I was pretty shocked at what I saw. When I walked in I saw two children that didn't look more than ten running riot around the shelves. They got in my way a few times, but I forgave them because they were only little and didn't really know what they were doing. Then when I was queueing to pay, I saw these same two kids with their parents, who were buying them a PS2 and 'the Getaway'. It was obvious to tell that this was their christmas gift and not the parents, but they still sold them the game. 'The Getaway' is an (18) with 'Parental Advisory' written on because it contains swearing, killing and loads of bad activity from start to finish. And this was what parents were getting their tiny little kids for christmas. It's no wonder more and more young offenders institutions are being made!
You may feel cheated when you are younger, but it really is for your own good that you don't play certain games because little minds grow with what they see around them. Maybe if I was sold that game that wasn't for my age, I might have turned out a serial killer or something. But the bad thing is so many games have age limits on them and only about 5% of where they are being sold stay loyal not to sell them to under-aged children. Most places don't even check the label to see what age the game is for, which is good news for desperate kids, but it could be bad news for their future.
It may not seem fair to miss out on all the fun of certain games at a certain time because of how young you are, but age limits on games are a good thing, even though they are not being enforced properly in places. As you will all one day realise, the world is a very strange place with a lot of strange people, and these are the people easily influenced by such funly intentional things like games. My only criticism about age tags on games are how they are judged and by whom because no-one can really decide what age group is perfect for a certain game because like I said before everybody is different.
Be sure to notice a dramatic improvement to this issue in the future.. hopefully.
Thanks for reading
Dr ~Z~