[Closed] halo reach and black ops - suitable for a 12 yr old?

I've got black ops. There's lots of killing as you'd expect but relatively speaking it's not particularly gory and not sadistic in the way some games are. 12 years? I reckon I was playing and watching similar at that age I reckon. It is rated 18 though....

Ta. I've no experience of gaming. He's not an esp savvy or streetwise 12 yr old!

Lots of swearing in Black Ops and killing graphical representations of people in a violent manner sometimes but to me it causes no harm if they play in moderation.

I'll let 8yr olds play Black Ops multiplayer and online (with headset sound off) but not campaign (swearing and story line not suitable) but a 12yr old should hear worse in the playground and can probably handle the storyline.. only you know if they can.
I always play any game rated 15 or above right through before letting younger kids play. not all 18s are unsuitable but some are very unsuitable.

Ah, fair point about campaign. I only ever play multiplayer/zombies

20 12 year olds playing against each other in the Library yesterday. Looked like Lybia. Library staff looked a little frazzled.

there's an age limit for a reason.

I would say the gameplay wouldn't be too offensive but if he played online then its another matter.

live can be a very fruity place and IMO no place for a youngster playing older age limit games.

If you feel he must play one then Halo reach would be the better option (for some reason i encounter far less idiots on reach than on COD possibly due to COD being an 18 and reach being a 16)

But the gameplay of reach again IMO is nowhere near the level of COD.

Viva Piñata?

Thanks a bit of a scary unknown for us.

Any other recos?

Halo doesn't have any swearing or particularly gory violence, although the storyline is fairly intense and most of your team get killed off along the way - I don't know how difficult that would be for a 12 year old emotionally (suppose it depends on the nipper).

The one to avoid is Medal of Honour - there's a level which requires you to provide sniper cover with a Barrett, and it's VERY gory, with limbs and heads getting ripped off according to where your rounds impact. Pretty gruesome stuff.

are you on live?

go and download a bunch of demo's you can vet them for suitability then he can play the ones you deem acceptable and may find a gem in there?

there's an age limit for a reason.

I would say the gameplay wouldn't be too offensive but if he played online then its another matter.

with the headset sound turned off? how so?

Sony's age limits are all over the place, usually far too strict for the content.

What they should do is provide this games as source code (with a few typos) in magazines, like they did when I was a kid. That way you had to work hard for the pleasure of firing a square at collection of other flashing squares.

there's an age limit for a reason.

I would say the gameplay wouldn't be too offensive but if he played online then its another matter.

Well they're there the same as movies so they can release more adult themed material, it's the parents choice at home if they want to let their children then be subjected to this.

Online play is not covered by the age limit as such, most will tell you that when you start up a multiplayer game. Disable online chat and it's less issue as there's often less gore on COD games with multiplayer for various reasons.

I'll differ - IMO kids get enough exposure to this kind of stuff already. 12 is too young. Blood splattered killings, offensive language and gangster rappa wannabes online. 18 may be on the protective side but not for 12 year olds.

The certification of both games is slightly different. Black ops is an 18 certificate, just like a film, whilst Halo reach is a PEGI 16. PEGI is an indicator of the content and the age range it is intended for. It is not a legally enforced certification. Black ops is a certificated 18 title and as such, the content is intended for 18 and over.

I have the joy of dealing with ignorant parents who coldn,t give a damn that their kids want 18 cert games despite not knowing the content or why it is an 18. Most just say their friends also have them and still buy it to keep them quiet. The debate on content and the effect it has will go on, but if parents dont give a crap then the kids wont either.

My daughter is 9, and has watched the odd 12 cert film (after we have checked) but i won't let her see a 15/18. I guess i'm a little old fashioned.

Also, bear in mind as has been said above, online 'chat' is a nightmare and will include homophobic, racist, ignorant comments as well as an awful lot of swearing. Mainly from our colonial cousins it would seem..

You can turn the sound off but for me the banter is a huge part of the game.

but then if you don't know any different...

tough one.

I still wouldn't but its your kid 🙂

bantering with adult strangers is not (and should not be) a huge part in any game for kids.

You can turn the voice chat off, you know.
I do that for myself anyway. Who wants to listen to the crap some people spout on Xbox Live?

GW - Member

bantering with adult strangers is not (and should not be) a huge part in any game for kids.

is it ok for it to be a huge part of my game though?

franciscobegbie - Member
Who wants to listen to the crap some people spout on Xbox Live?

you mean you don't get great satisfaction from stabbing up the n00b that just flamed you?

Online chat is a load of morons talking shit. Mute those muthas for a better life.

is it ok for it to be a huge part of my game though?

agree with SCXC/franco.. it can sometimes be entertaining but rarely intentionally. eg. hearing some 'merican dickhead getting PWNED by his mrs while playing MXvATV "Jeremy KyleE style.. ;D

Two things,

1) they might well 'hear worse in the playground' but by buying the games you're demonstrating that you think it's acceptable rather than something to be kept in the playground as an act of prepubescent civil disobedience.

2) there is a world of difference between 'online play' with friends and with random halfwits. I rarely do the latter as I object to being called a mofo by a 14-year old in a different country.

If you're looking for decent 'family friendly' games, I'd suggest the Lego series. I've got most of them, they're ace. Grab a second pad and spend some quality time with your nipper. (-:

1) My 9yr old is mature enough to know what language is acceptable allready. I'm not "demonstating" anything, like I said earlier I play any 15+ rated games to the end before deciding whether I deem them suitable.
1a) 12yrs old isn't prepubescent anymore

2)FFS! switch off the chat then 🙄

Thanks but I don't really like the Lego games much (they've got a few too) and I'm lucky enough to spend plenty quality time with them already.

1) "Demonstrate" is the wrong word. Condone, perhaps.

2) I was replying to the OP, wind your neck in.

1) "Condone" still doesn't work
2) you used an example I made then went on to talk shit using it so I think I have the right to pull you up for it.

It's good to see these games don't induce aggression though 🙂

sorry for the irrelevant post GW please accept my humble apologies 🙄

Aus

sounds a silly suggestion but Tiger woods golf is a little bit addictive, my mates who all hate golf can play it for days on end so you don't have to be a golf nut to enjoy.

Do you know what sort of genre your looking for as that may help the suggestions.

As a secondary school teacher you notice when new games come out... when Black Ops came out the attendance plummeted in second and third year particularly. So, either parents let them stay at home to play - or the kids feign illness.

Thanks all. Maybe as i'm not a gamer i will err in the side of caution. He's got fifa so maybe encouraging sports stuff is a good route forward

Tiger woods ftw 😉

Cougars right get the Lego series, my nephew loves playing co-op Lego Indy with me.

Games carry 2 different ratings. PEGI and BBFC. Pegi are recomended age groups and have a graphic to show why they are suited to that age group. BBFC are the same symbols as on your DVDS. It's illegal to supply BBFC rated games to people below the age group were PEGI are recomendations.

I'd steer clear of the 18 BBFC games till he's much older.

Sslowpace I'm gald to see a responsible parent, I worked in a games shop. Too many buying unsuitable games.