GTA / Violence and Youngsters
I just purchased Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the DS from Play.com for the hefty sum of £10. I guess this heads up is part of the reason for this post.

I've had a long history with video games and well they tend to bore me these days, but for £10 you can't complain.

Anyway, after the hour or so I get bored of the pretty damn violent, pretty adult theme-ish game I'm planning on passing it on to my 9 year old nephew, in a typical "the cool uncle" kind of way.

I remember at that age watching such mind-warping videos as American Werewolf in London, 'Meet the Feebles', Childs Play and Hellraiser, so...

This isn't too much for a 9 year old is it? Too soon? I'm also hoping my sister doesn't lose the bap in anger. At what age should children be introduced to violence and murder?
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:45, 27 replies, latest was 17 years ago)

Meh
I read Stephen Kings IT at 9 and I turned out alright, well, except for the irrational fear of clowns! 'We all float down here, you will toooooo' Mwahahaha.

*ahem* Hmmm... maybe not.
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent "You is talking loco and I like it!", Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:47, Reply)

Still has the fear of Pennywise

( fuck shit up the best you never had, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:50, Reply)

most people around our age probably do

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:51, Reply)

I blame
my sister for most of the fear and Ronald McDonald, mainly my sister though as she used to tell me that when I flushed the toilet, Pennywise could jump through the u-bend and get me, so I used to flush and run!
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent "You is talking loco and I like it!", Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:52, Reply)

Pennywise
Bloody good band!
( SpikeyPickle wishes he was mabazaritchie, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:09, Reply)

I wouldn't give it to anyone younger than their teens.

(PsychoChomp, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:49, Reply)

that's not what the jury decided

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:49, Reply)

Pffft!

( Cawl, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:51, Reply)

It's an 18 certificate for a reason
But having said that, they're a lot more emotionally developed at 14/15, so I'd wait until then, or get them something more suitable
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:52, Reply)

How very sensible of you becky.

(PsychoChomp, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:59, Reply)

I studied film for a long time and the censorship of it
some films should not be watched by young children. Same goes for video games
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:03, Reply)

Why though?
Is any decent evidence behind the different certificates or is it a subjective decision?
( Captain V, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:08, Reply)

have you ever seen a kid after watching wrestling?

(PsychoChomp, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:12, Reply)

Yeah...
The oil...
The gleaming, sweaty bodies.

It fucks a kid right up.
( Cawl, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:18, Reply)

Well there's no sensible reason for the 12 or 12A certificate
The rules have changed over the years, but 15 certificate used to mean you could say fuck once - so long as it wasn't said in a sexual manner to a woman - and as many shits and buggers as you liked. That's now been relaxed. There was also a limit to how much violence could be actually seen on screen that's been relaxed a lot.
( fuck shit up the best you never had, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:17, Reply)

This is true
However 9 years in the future (when he's 18) we'll be playing video games with our minds while our robot butler flies us to work in our jet-car.
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:00, Reply)

My little cousin was playing it at 7
but he is a wee bit mental.

I watched the same vids at a young age and was fine.
It was Worzel Gummidge I had nightmares about. For years.
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:52, Reply)

I still
have a fear of Worzel Gummidge!! *shudders*
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent "You is talking loco and I like it!", Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:53, Reply)

Not just me then.
*relief*
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:56, Reply)

Nope
the dude is freaky! I also have a fear of porcelain dolls and ventriloquist dummies. Eep!
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent "You is talking loco and I like it!", Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:58, Reply)

ventriloquist dummies?
I hate those creepy things.
( Cawl, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:01, Reply)

Gend oger you naughty goy.
Yup creepy.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:05, Reply)

Indeedy,
its their freaky eyes, thats why I don't like the dolls either. My nan keeps telling me that when she dies (shes a morbid so and so) she is going to leave me her collection of dolls... ahhhhhh! :(
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent "You is talking loco and I like it!", Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:06, Reply)

Go by the recommended age until you get to the 15 certs.
I think de-sensitization is more worrying than whether or not they can cope with the concepts and morality.
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:01, Reply)

I've heard it's such a good game though!
Although the thought of his happy little face is kind of out-weighed by the thought of him going all Columbine on us in 7 years or so...
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:02, Reply)

It is a pretty
groovy game. Makes me feel like I'm playing the old school GTA games. I tend to go a bit bananas if I try to play it on the tube though, it makes my brain hurt as I concentrate too much on controlling the car.
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent "You is talking loco and I like it!", Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:08, Reply)

I doubt anyone will read this now but
there is a massive difference between film and games.
With a film you are passive, in a game you are active, you decide to kill someone.

This game should not be played by children under 15, and then that depends on the child.
( Mrs Entity is in hiding., Wed 10 Jun 2009, 22:28, Reply)