If you have videogame system, what rating do you allow your 14yo to play

[Cafelattee]

My dh allows M rated games. I don't play so its hard for me to give a opinion.. But from what I have read and seen. I want them gone. I am just curious what is allowed in you home

[Ravin]

To me the rating is just part of it. For example, I would be more inclined to let a 14 yo. play an "M" rated RPG or war/strategy (of fantasy, historical, or sci fi genre in particular) than an "M" rated first-person shooter or a game like Grand Theft Auto, the very premise of which I find rather repugnant.

Some such games also have setting adjustments where, for example, you can go in and decide how much gore you want to actually show. I'd put them on lower settings for bloodiness factor.

[Mrs Mungo]

To me the rating is just part of it. For example, I would be more inclined to let a 14 yo. play an "M" rated RPG or war/strategy (of fantasy, historical, or sci fi genre in particular) than an "M" rated first-person shooter or a game like Grand Theft Auto, the very premise of which I find rather repugnant.

I agree.

I would honestly try renting them and playing them myself/watch the dh play before letting my child play. I don't have a problem with say..the Medal of Honor games but other games are definitely more gorey, are more killing for the sake of killing, etc. The game rating just doesn't tell enough of the story imo.

[j.griff]

I agree.

I would honestly try renting them and playing them myself/watch the dh play before letting my child play. I don't have a problem with say..the Medal of Honor games but other games are definitely more gorey, are more killing for the sake of killing, etc. The game rating just doesn't tell enough of the story imo.

Yup.

[JFS in IL]

None of our 'puter games is rated over T for teen (Sims). Our kids range from 16 - almost 12.

[RoughCollie]

Our kids are allowed to play games rated T. We do not allow games rated M into this house. Depending on the game, I may reconsider that when the kids are 16 or 17 years old.

[Night Elf]

We do look at ratings to know what the games might include, but we don't have limits. My ds11 has a couple of 'M' games, including Grand Theft Auto IV. The 'T' and 'M' games don't aren't anymore special than the 'E' games for us.

[abbeyej]

I find the ratings for video games a lot less reliable than the ratings for movies -- and I think we all know that those can be misleading. My own kids are younger, and I can't think of an M game I'd let them play, but there are T games I have no problem with, and E games that I think have absolutely no redeeming value. Unfortunately, the ratings just aren't all that helpful. (As a starting point, maybe, but beyond that...)

Is your dh playing these M games *too* -- especially *with* your son? In that case, I'd be more inclined to allow them (assuming you and your dh are relatively near the same page with regard to most parenting decisions / parameters). If he's not playing them at all and doesn't know the content any better than you do, I think you've got a problem on your hands. Some of the M games are pretty offensive (in a variety of ways, depending on what you consider "acceptable").

I hate to say it, but you may have to play the games. Or watch when your dh plays.

Going by ratings alone is unlikely to be useful.

[Deece in MN]

We have one game rated "M" that my ds (14 in a month) and dh play. I don't care for it because I don't like the bloodiness of it, but they like it so I stay out of it.

We have 2 games rated "T" (Guitar Hero and Legend of Zelda) and the rest of our games are rated "E".

I agree with others who have said that going by the ratings alone is not always accurate. It is a factor in our decision on buying/playing games, but it is not the only one.

[Lolly]

The rating system for games is totally unreliable. My policy is to rent them and see if they are alright for ds(11). He owns a few M rated games.