Violent video games

[angelica2]

Help my son, 12, yr 8, claims he is the only person at school who does not have any of these. Not quite true but very nearly. He wants to buy a game called Boarderlands involving shooting 'aliens' should i let him and be more relaxed about it, to stop him obsessing about them. Would still say no to Grand Theft A and Call of Duty.

Does anyone know any better games that are fun without the violence and glorifying of guns? I know it won't make him a killer but I object on principle. Am I being unfair?

[FluffyForLifeNotJustForXmas]

You're being fair IMO, they have age restrictions for a reason. I also get the "but fred/barney have got call of duty", I just respond by saying that they are not my children, he's my child and I'd rather he didn't play games like this.

I've not heard of Boarderlands, maybe you can google it to see what it's like? Stick to your principles, they are only children for such a short time.

[olderandwider]

Ignore the "I'm the only boy at school..." claim. If you don't think he should have it, stick to your guns (great metaphor).

My beef with computer games is how grumpy they make kids when they spend too long on them (more than 45 minutes, say). My DS (16) can play for hours (if I am not there to stop him!)and it definitely affects his mood for the worse. (Something to do with serotonin levels in the brain - players get little rushes of feel-good hormones when they make a "kill"/score a goal and then suffer withdrawel when the game stops. Sorry, way off topic!)

Have you looked at the new FIFA 10 soccer game? DS was very pleased to get this from MIL for Xmas, and afaik it is non-violent!

[olderandwider]

withdrawal, soz.

[webwiz]

DS(13) got Borderlands at xmas as part of a bundle of games with his new xbox. Its an 18 and looks vile so we have put it away. I am flexible about 15 games but 18s are a no no.

[inthesticks]

There have been a lot of threads on this subject. So far I have kept my head down as I seem to be in a minority.
I have a DS of 14 in year nine and he plays these violent on line games. He is a kind , gentle boy and I see no hint that they have a detrimental effect on him. I didn't agree easily to him playing them and I won't allow 18 rated games but I am much more pragmatic now than when I first had children.
While it's true that not everyone will have these games there is not one of DS's friends who doesn't have them. All nice boys from good families.
We are in a rural area and they can chat and play with friends without making the 10 mile round trip to each others houses.
I'm not saying that's all they do. And I have strict time limits.