Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Mature Video Games in the Minority

Posted by Zonk on from the most-folks-just-want-to-have-fun dept.

Steve writes "Of the record breaking $7.3 billion in video games sold in 2004, only 18 percent of them were rated "M". This is surprising, considering some media watch groups have great concern over inappropriate video games landing in the hands of children, even claiming that 60-90 percent of video games have violent themes. Filefront uncovers the real trend and includes quotes from ESRB President Patricia Vance."

7 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. "themes" by jeffy124 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    yeah, parental groups can easily say there's 60%+ with violent "themes". Their definition includes anything where something blows up, gets killed, burned, etc. Even the original Super Mario Bros and Legend of Zelda fall under their definition. We all know why they do it, so I wont waste teh space here. But things like this 18% of all sales are of M games is something that needs to be brought up, especially since it's firm fact, whereas the 60-90% figures are based on subjective measures. Unfortunately, the propogandist isn't interested in fact, they're more interested in public opinion.

    --
    The One Rule Of Chess You'll Ever Need: Don't play someone who carries a kit in their bookbag.
  2. Re:Huh? by gothzilla · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Oh god not that argument. Please.
    A parent defines what is inappropriate. Every parent has different views of what is appropriate and not. If a parent continually finds their child in possession of "inappropriate" materials then obviously the parent isn't parenting. Don't feel like sitting with your kid while they play X-Box? Then don't buy them an X-Box. Sheesh, it's really not that difficult.

    I hate people who want to be lazy parents and force the government to do the parenting for them. Oh, and btw, I have 4 kids (two are teenagers), 2 pc's, an N64 and an X-Box so I know for a fact that these types of arguments are nothing but an excuse for laziness. If people don't want to supervise their kids then thats their problem, not everyone elses.

  3. Re:18% by MyLongNickName · · Score: 2, Insightful

    So then, the critics' higher number isn't misleading, it is simply a different way of looking at the numbers. I love when folks use apples and oranges comparisons to make their arguments.

    I for one, like the blow 'em up games. I just don't like arguments based on bad math.

    --
    See my journal for slashdot ID's by year. Mine created in 2005. http://slashdot.org/journal/289875/slashdot-ids-by-year
  4. MOD PARENT DOWN by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful
    "What percentage do you have to reach before there's a legitimate issue of "inappropriate video games landing in the hands of children"? 90%? 185%? 18% seems well above that threshold to me."
    Let me get this straight - because 18% of games sold are M-rated, that means to you that these games are falling into the hands of children. First of all, that analysis is completely without any statistics to back it up in regards to what percentage of purchases are made by or for children, etc. Second of all, what are you proposing to do about this? And why aren't you complaining about the movie industry. I would bet that more than 18% of ticket sales are to movies rated R and the cost to see a movie are much lower than the cost to buy a video game. The same legal accountability is in place for those who sell tickets to minors for an R-rated movie as the person who sells an M-rated game to a minor - namely, none. And that is the way it should be. The government doesn't need to legislate this problem. Parents need to be aware of what their children are buying [especially since games are ~$50 and, presumably, children are buying games with their parent's money] and stores need to act in good faith to make sure M-rated games aren't sold to minors. Please, don't suggest the ESRB does not work without any evidence to back it up.
  5. "Not M" != "Not violent" by ebingo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Not having an "M" rating doesn't mean it doesn't have a violent theme. Medal of Honor is rated "T" and it looks like it's based on a violent theme. The fact it has no blood doesn't make it any less violent: You're still shooting people and they still scream in pain.

  6. Re:I must ask by myurr · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Fair enough, but more people would probably argue that 82% of games are not violent in nature. IMHO 82% of games being non-violent is more than adequate, and if those 18% that are happen to be the best sellers then that is due to market forces, and not anything underhand by the producers.

  7. Re:Huh? by mmortal03 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Regardless of the bad argument that only 18% of games are M rated, a parent still DOES define what is inappropriate, but that does not mean that we shouldn't have a rating system.

    A parent should treat the rating system as a means to good parenting, not an end. A parent cannot know about every single game in the video game industry and about all of what it contains. So, the parent makes use of the rating system, for what it is, and then the parent supervises and takes part in the child's gaming to see if there is STILL something in it that is questionable.

    To summarize, it is not the parent who makes use of the rating system that is lazy, but the parent who ONLY makes use of it.