Thoughts on kids and age appropriate games...

jow

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So, my 4 year old is REALLY getting into these games. Dude is ridiculously smart, understands how to play them, but I think I should start thinking about what hes playing. Specifically Mortal Kombat, ha. Now, I'm all about the "parent is responsible" deal, and he hasn't acted out in violent ways by any means, but the dude is always asking "Daddy, can I play the FIGHTING GAME?!" and says "fighting game" in like a thug ass tough guy voice, ha. I love the game, but wasn't introduced to it until my Jr High years, so I was old enough to know not to try and do what I was seeing on the game. As a 4 year old, is it bad that hes around it? I would have no problem selling it, and picking it up again later on in life, I just wonder if its not the worst idea to get rid of it for now? What do you all think? Any of you with MK games have issue with your small kids playing? Ever leave em off when they are in the game room?
 
Let all kids play every game.

Teach them the difference between fiction and reality.
 
I started playing mk when I was four and am one of the most nonviolent people out there. My parents let me play any games, watch any movie, and listen to any music I wanted to all my life and Im told Im a well adjusted person. But I do remember a lot of sheltered kids turned into jackoffs in high school, so I think proper parenting is more important. I dont think theres anything wrong with violent games, but make sure to put things into perspective.
 
Yeah, Im def not about sheltering my kids by any means, but at the same time does a 4 year old really need to be ripping dudes heads off in video games? Ha. It made me think over the weekend since he is liking the game so much right now. Shit, its hard enough to get a 4 year old to listen in the first place ;)
 
i would say "no" on the mortal kombat for the young ones....

my boys are 2 and 4 and i would not want them playing that game (although i love the first 3 mk games meeself). just seems like of all the fighting games out there mk is THE most violent of those kinda games.

jow..... could this game be moved to the office?? maybe to a bro's house or somewhere else till the kiddies are 16 - 18 years old ;) or maybe just be a OUT OF ORDER sign on it for a few years.

just my .02 cents

oh.... i introduced my 4 year old to my old nes system and the kid is HOOKED on mega man 1-6. he eats, sleeps, talks mega man all day. he knows almost all the bosses names, dr wiley this dr wiley that..... wants to watch mega man videos on youtube!! he could care less about the cades in the garage right now. chris

Yeah, Im def not about sheltering my kids by any means, but at the same time does a 4 year old really need to be ripping dudes heads off in video games? Ha. It made me think over the weekend since he is liking the game so much right now. Shit, its hard enough to get a 4 year old to listen in the first place ;)
 
i would say "no" on the mortal kombat for the young ones....

my boys are 2 and 4 and i would not want them playing that game (although i love the first 3 mk games meeself). just seems like of all the fighting games out there mk is THE most violent of those kinda games.

jow..... could this game be moved to the office?? maybe to a bro's house or somewhere else till the kiddies are 16 - 18 years old ;) or maybe just be a OUT OF ORDER sign on it for a few years.

just my .02 cents

oh.... i introduced my 4 year old to my old nes system and the kid is HOOKED on mega man 1-6. he eats, sleeps, talks mega man all day. he knows almost all the bosses names, dr wiley this dr wiley that..... wants to watch mega man videos on youtube!! he could care less about the cades in the garage right now. chris
A bit off topic, but if your son loves Mega Man that much you might want to look into getting a JAMMA cab and either a Mega Man Power Battle or Mega Man 2 Power Fighters PCB. They're my favorite games in the series, great graphics as you play through remade versions of the boss fights from the NES games. You can fight the bosses as 2 player co-op too so you could play through it with him.

Okay, sorry, carry on. Just had to plug an ad for my favorite co-op JAMMA game when I saw the opportunity :D
 
I had a MK3 for a brief stint and sold it because I don't' think it is appropriate for that age group. We have 3 kids with our oldest just turning 5 last moth. I just don't feel there is any need to rush kids into growing up and exposing them to certain things. One thing I love about the classic arcade games is that for the most part you don't have to worry about the violence and graphic images that is prevalent with the XBox and PS games.

My sister has kids the same age as ours and we have very different parenting views. They let them watch pretty much anything and our kids are watching Nick Jr and Disney. It is quite obvious when they get together (we live in different states) the level of violence that they are exposed to and what they pick up. Our kids are wanting to play hide and seek or drive cars, and theirs are all about shooting people, fighting, and killing each other.
 
I wouldn't let a 4 year old play MK.

There's a difference between punching a guy, and punching a guy through the chest to rip out his still beating heart.
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one who was questioning myself, ha.

Like I said, hes not a violent kid, hasn't acted out violently, but these little dudes are so easily influenced its probably better to not have it around. Being 4, he still doesn't really realize when games go, so it wouldn't be a big deal. Should be an easy sell, too...
 
I wouldn't let my young kid play MK . They mimic anything they watch and act it out with their friends or siblings ......."Ok you be that green guy and I'll rip off your head " , is the scenario thats gonna be played out in the backyard .
 
My soon to be 3 year old is getting into the games. I have or had ones I won't let him play. POW, Rolling Thunder, and Commando are off limits. I don't remember Karate Champ, but I wouldn't be completely opposed to fighting games that don't rip off their heads and shove them up their ass. A fighting game that is a competition is different than a fighting game that has an objective of thuggery.
 
I have no problem with anyone letting their kids play violent games if they are talked to and monitored. I on the other hand will let my kids play anything leading up to a teen rating (I have a 5 and 9 year old). I will allow them to watch pg 13 movies (Harry potter, Goonies, gremlins) as long as I watch with them and can talk to them about any situations in the movie. I just think the mature games are a bit much for my 2 gamers.

When I worked at GameStop a grandma almost purchased a GTA 3 for her 10 year old grandson. I had to pull her aside and say I was not comfortable selling him a Mature game. She wanted to know what was in the game to make it mature. I said "drug dealing and killing hookers.". She said thank you and grabbed the grandsons hand and walked out. That was the first and last time I pried into someone else's parenting.
 
Let him play it. It's only a game, what's the big deal.

Hothman said:
My soon to be 3 year old is getting into the games. I have or had ones I won't let him play. POW, Rolling Thunder, and Commando are off limits.
These aren't even violent. With all due respect I think it is ridiculous.
 
you know what... i didnt realize it untill recently, but ive got those 2 games on my modded out old xbox system. ive shown them to my 4 year old and he loves them! ive got a capcom emu on my psp too and they play pretty well.

if i had mo' room id def get one of those power battles games. def alot of fun....

i need to shoot a vid of him playing mega man. he's actually pretty good for his age. when he gets stuck.... he asks for daddy's help :) just wish those mega mans werent so damn hard!!

A bit off topic, but if your son loves Mega Man that much you might want to look into getting a JAMMA cab and either a Mega Man Power Battle or Mega Man 2 Power Fighters PCB. They're my favorite games in the series, great graphics as you play through remade versions of the boss fights from the NES games. You can fight the bosses as 2 player co-op too so you could play through it with him.

Okay, sorry, carry on. Just had to plug an ad for my favorite co-op JAMMA game when I saw the opportunity :D
 
When I worked at GameStop a grandma almost purchased a GTA 3 for her 10 year old grandson. I had to pull her aside and say I was not comfortable selling him a Mature game.

Wouldnt you agree the MK series of arcade games are mature?

Let him play it. It's only a game, what's the big deal.

Do you have kids? Just a question, BTW. Im not calling you out, ha.
 
Wouldnt you agree the MK series of arcade games are mature?



Do you have kids? Just a question, BTW. Im not calling you out, ha.

I would agree mk is mature. But you have to agree the violent content of MK is a bit soft compared to GTA 3.

And the comment "just let them play" has to come from someone with no kids. (I hope)
 
My 7 year old son loves playing our Mortal Kombat...He walks around all the time talking about Goro? anyways, it is a violent game but all fighting games are...this one a little more. I havent done it but cant you tone the violence and blood down with the Dip settings? i remember seeing that when i went to figure out the free play mode on the dip switches. Also it is a jamma cabinet. why dont you instead of selling the game you like just pop in a more friendly jamma board to play....this way you still have your mortal kombat and you have a less violent game for the young one to play. I switch between my originally mounted MK1 board to a street fighter 2 board all the time that just sits in the cab. Yes i know both are fighting games but your second board doesnt have to be. just my thoughts.
 
Sell or trade the MK for one of these , your kid and his friends will love it .

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