Should my son play shoot em up games?

Answer 1

Before anyone bombs you with any hokey "d00m m4d3 kidz sh00t up columb1n3!!111", I want you to take this moment to go look at the video games your child plays.

Usually, in the lower left or right hand corner of the case for the game, you'll see a letter ranging anywhere from "E" to "M". This is a label made by the ESRB [Entertainment Software Ratings Board] that gives parents an age frame that the game is suited for. Compare your child's age to that.

If he's 15-16, sure, let 'em blow someone's head off in a video game - if your parenting doesn't suck, he should have the sensibility and maturity to realize that the violent acts he or she is comitting is merely electronic, virtual, and FAKE.

Otherwise, don't. Pay attention to the ESRB ratings - that's what they're there for.

Answer 2

There's nothing wrong with playing videogames and anyone who assumes that if you play them you become brainwashed to go out and start shooting people are so patheticly moronic they sicken me. Computer games are not something to be feared for, they are a fun activity to participate in and can be beneficial to certain things (hand-eye co-ordination and such) if played, but like everything in life just don't excess.

And about the shooting games, there's nothing wrong with those games either, c'mon, unless your son is mentally retarded he can obviously tell reality from a fantasy videogame any day and it would insult your son's intelligence otherwise. But there are things that you should have concern for and is understandable, and the age rating on games, they should be taken seriously. Think about it, you wouldnt let you're son see an adult rated movie would you? No. The same goes for games. According to the age rating they may contain gore, sex, scenes of voilence, but it depends on the age rating and the game itself. So yea, there's nothing wrong with you boy playing shoot em ups, just please be careful and make sure you know what game he's getting. :-)

Answer 3

I used to think that such games were a waste of time until I had to teach Desktop Publishing and computer graphics. I quickly realised that the kids who played computer games (Doom was the main one at the time) had better developed basic computer skills, had problem solving skills and seemed more likely to meet deadlines. Above all they enjoyed it because they were more confident using computers. So purely in educational terms I'd say yes - let him. Ignore the hype about violence and computer games which in the main is media generated. The majority of kids have a well developed sense of the difference between reality and fantasy.

Answer 4

If u beleive that ur son cant take the wrong image like shooting anyone or like to fire when he play such games then do not let him actually do bcz these games makes person more brave and quick mind and by palying these games ur son can have better mind in strategies and shooting and he can distinguish in the wright or wrong . but if u think that ur son is going to be vry curios abt firing and wanna shoot and going wrong bcz when anybody plays such games he may wants such image like shooting its naturall phenomena brother .U know i also played many games like counterstrike and many more but i also like shooting but onnly if i had permission 4rm parents not on people but in round and to be the best at aiming targets like a stick and a can etc ..
May be brother u r satisfied with my answer thanks brother tae care.......

Answer 5

It depends, how old is he?

If he's old enough to know not to emulate everything he sees on television, in movies and in games, then why not? Otherwise, I would keep him away from the more violent games until he's old enough to know better.

Use the ESRB rating system and keep tabs on what your son is playing. Sit with him and watch him play. If you don't agree with the kinds of games he is playing, tell him so and take them away from him. Use your parental power to let him know what is okay and what is unacceptable while he lives in your house.

Kids are not as stupid as many adults seem to believe. Most of them know the difference between real violence and fantasy violence. I've been playing games--some of them violent--for most of my life, and real bloodshed turns my stomach.

Answer 6

depends on his age and his distinguishing between reality and fantasy, i have been playing games since i was 5 and my parents never restricted the games i play, they understand that unless you are mentally unstable, then a game will not affect you shooting somone in real life. games don't make you shoot people, being a phsyco does.


also i hope your not one of those parents who says its ok for their 10 year old to play mature games as long as its just blood and gore but when it comes to anything sexual OMG SEX IS THE DEVIL!, im really getting sick of this new age of parents thinking violence is ok over somthing natural.


don't get me wrong i play all kinds of games, i wont not play a game because it shows nudity or because it has too much violence, my parents never made me stop either, you see much worse things on tv nowdays, like i said coming from a gamer since i was the age of 5 (now 17) i can honestly say i have played thousands of games from NES to xbox 360 and i can honestly say i have never had the desire to do what i do in games.



if your kid is not physco, look at the ratings, if you trust him fully that he won't do what he does in game in real life, let him play what he pleases.

Answer 7

It depends on how old your child is, and how grounded into reality he/she is. If a child is aware of the differences in reality and fiction, and can distinguish that what happens in movies and games should never be repeated by him/her in real life, then yes, I think it is ok. But if you question any of that in your child, you should sit with them while they play, and explain what the fantasy elements are, and why they should stay in the game and not be enacted by him/her.

Answer 8

If your son can distinguish between fantasy and reality then yes let him, my daughter played S0F2 for a few years and has never had the desire to shoot people for real

Answer 9

I tried to stop my sons from playing such games but I didn't have a lot of success - I think it's more important that they know fact from fantasy.

Answer 10

I work in a school and you can spot the boys who play and watch violence a mile off as they are the ones who are 'pretending' to shoot people in the head etc. Whatever happened to hide and seek?