Happy holidays
Peaceful games FTW! Skate 2 and Skate 3 were among our Boxing Day purchases at EB Games in Vancouver at Pacific Centre
I am officially on vacation – and enjoying lots of offline family time. This year Santa brought my son a PlayStation 3 and we cleared out a spot in our little townhouse now known as “The PS3 Lounge.”
It’s so great to have this new area set up for my son to entertain his young guests and I look forward to hosting them more often. I’ll be ready with juice boxes and snacks, but I’m being a real stickler about the violent games – especially ones that include degrading treatment of women.
I took away Red Dead Redemption, which allows players to hire prostitutes and includes a rape scene in a saloon. He had it for a while on Christmas Day and took it to my parents’ to play after dinner. One of the other guests Googled the game and told me how harsh it is. Holy crap! Whatever happened to Asteroids and PacMan!?
I’m not sure if the gift-giver realized the content was so extreme, and I haven’t said anything about it yet – but for now the game will stay on the shelf in my office. As open-minded as I may be, it’s not something I want a 10-year-old playing!
My plan is to encourage my son and his guests towards fun, harmless games like Skate 2, Skate 3, Shaun White Snowboarding, Gran Turismo, and Little Big Planet.
I just don’t know what to make of all the violence and exploitation in today’s games. What effects does it have on a growing person’s view of the world? Does it de-sensitize? Or am I just being uptight, over-protective and behind-the-times?
I’m interested in all opinions – so please do tell me what you think. In the meantime, here’s a little photo essay of our trip to Pacific Centre on Boxing Day. We got in and out of there as quickly as possible!
Boxing Day madness! We took the Skytrain downtown, got off at Granville Station, and entered Pacific Centre through The Bay
How's consumer spending in 2010? Looks like they're out in full force at Pacific Centre on Boxing Day - with line-ups outside some clothing stores.
At EB Games, there are deals to be had - but it's a bit embarrassing when mom starts taking pictures with her iPhone.
The sign says it all "Must have games" .
I think you’re absolutely justified in censoring a 10-year-old’s games. Besides the fact that it normalizes violence & degradation of women when he plays these games, do you or whoever buys the games really want to support the makers of games with such content? Vote with your bucks & keep getting the other non-violent stuff out there.
I also totally agree. And I think for sure it desenitizes and gives wrong ideas of the world when kids view such awful things. I think you are a fabulous mom that you put thought into what you do. to many just go with the flow of everyone else (the sheeple) I agree with Lisa, vote with your dollars, don’t be quiet about being against such games, set clear boundaries with our children and their friends parents too! There is fun games (that’s why I love Wii… so much family fun) I’m sure you can find some more that you both approve of.. and of course you can always trade in that evil game for a game you like better.
Thanks. A few parents have said “good for you” even though they let their own kids play those games.
Really Susan. isn’t that interesting. I think some parents are afraid to “stand up” to their kids.. afraid to not be the best friend, when in fact they’re not. We’re moms and dad’s first. Sometimes, even if we know it won’t be fun we have to say “NO, this is not right for your life” they can get mad, but they’ll get over it. and in my experience, the familes that continue to be loving, close, together families are the ones that had limits, did not try to be best friends, taught right and wrong as best they could.
PS – we’re discussing your post on my FB page..
I totally agree. Santa broght dh a PS3 so that he can watch Netflix. I may ask him to change it for an XBox because it at least has some redeeming learning games. Otherwise it will be a long time before my kids aged 5 and 7 get to play video games. In my house or others or at least limited to twice per week.
May I suggest you check the game rating? All games have a rating and our house rule is that all games have to be rated E 10+ (E for Everyone aged 10 and up). We do have exceptions that are rated teen, but they are vetted by me. It’s harder to follow the rule when other people give games as gifts, and I’ve certainly ended up allowing games I wish I hadn’t allowed, but in general the rule works.
When kids (or adults, actually) are exposed to anything often enough, it normalizes it – whether we realize it or not.
Good luck!
And to Iska – maybe better to ask Santa to exchange it for a wii. Still plays netflix, many family friendly games.
I agree with Cassia – Wii is the most family friendly. I love when Jordan asks to play Wii, normally I tell him he has to go for an “island jog” first..consists of running in place for up to 25 minutes.. he waves at all the avatars! Hi Uncle Lars! Hi Mom! It’s fun, it’s exercise! then he can do his daily fit test, some balance games (core work!) and if he gets bored with that, he’ll go do some Mario or other sports games!