The video game is released this week , and carries an ‘M’ ratiing in the US for violence, sex, drug use…

From Al Mohler’s blog.

That’s right—this is the most popular game among 12- to 14 year-old boys.  This shocks even one of the game’s creators, Lazlo Jones, who told the Post, “If you let your child play this game, you’re a bad parent.”

Any thoughts on this?

Are there some video games around that SA readers would recommend for younger teenagers?

The new Wii stuff looks pretty cool.

Harry has 2 X-Box games that are pretty cool. (This is the old “black box” he was given as part of “Make a wish” stuff, not the 360.)

“Metal arms” and “Scrapland”. Both are problem solving first-person shooters — but involve Robots, not people. It makes much more sense, the Robots can be rebuilt and repaired. Also,"robot gore” is funny...there’s moments when the little droids have to put their heads back on!

The 2 person competitive shoot out often has Harry and I rolling around on the floor laughing hysterically. It’s a real father-son bonding thing.

Having said that, many years ago I enjoyed Duke Nukem because it had a fun sense of humour, but some of it was a bit seedy. But the violence was like a cartoon — and multiplayer was a classic! You could shrink you’re mate down and step on him, freeze him with a freezer gun and then shatter him… Gordo, sometime you’re going to have to acknowledge that nothing says “I love you” to an Aussie male like spraying his innards across the wall and asking, “Did you like that one?”

But here’s the thing: modern graphics are too realistic. The Duke was fun because it was like a cartoon. Some of the stuff out now leaves me feeling quite ill. There’s a graphic level that’s approaching reality, and a kind of gore that is just not fun any more. Some of it is not like a slapstick sport any more… it’s just plain gross.

However, games like Unreal Tournament have a gore setting that adults can adjust, and then it’s back to being more of a “sport” than a gore-fest.

This Videojug video, “What is computer game addiction?” has some good points on the violence in these games being more about sport than violence… but I still maintain that some of these games really leave me feeling creeped out, and I’ve already admitted to enjoying the “cartoon” slapstick.

BTW — Videojug is amazing. Joy has learnt new knitting stitches, and how to fold a T-shirt in 2 seconds. II’ve learnt some stuff on sleep hygiene and patching drywall. Way cool!

Dave Lankshear - 02 May 2008 11:37 AM

Gordo, sometime you’re going to have to acknowledge that nothing says “I love you” to an Aussie male like spraying his innards across the wall and asking, “Did you like that one?”

Yeah, that’s fair enough. :-)

I get seasick if I play first person shooters for more than 3 minutes, much to my disgust.

Nothing beats a good old Adventure Game,

I highly recommend Monkey Island 3: The Curse of Monkey Island!

Complete with singing rhyming pirates…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AawQvD8L_h4&feature=related

Did you say ADVENTURE GAME!???

I noticed a WoW version of the same song!

I don’t know if that’s the most disturbing, WoW also have a gnome that sings “We will rock you” and Orcs singing “Can’t touch this”. Hmmm, disturbing. Some people have no lives.

Maybe when I’m old I’ll plug into one of these computer games and have some fun. Right now there’s a 5 year old daughter’s birthday to prepare.

The Monkey Island games were/are the best!!! I am rubber, you are glue.. I’m shaking, I’m shaking, lol.. 

There’s an emulator for the engine those games run on called ScummVM which is quite popular today. Sam & Max Hit the Road and Day of the Tentacle are absolute classics also. No child should be deprived of these games! ;)

Mario Super Kart on the Nintendo 64 for everyone.

Age Of Empires, 2 PCs, multiplayer co-operative play with 11 and 6 year old boys.

Nintendogs for 8 year old girls.

Dora the Explorer for 3 year old girls, por favor.

BUT Dads have to be responsible and play it first. And be man enough to admit defeat when the 6 year old snots you in a Kart race.