Guide for Video Game Ratings for Parents that Do Not Play Video Games

The other day I visited my sister's house. My two nephews 8 and 12 were rambling on about their excitement of the impending release of Sony's Play Station 3. They are relatively new to video gaming; they received a Sony Play Station 2 last Christmas. Like most boys their age, they have a favorite game.

I was taken back by what that game was: Grand Theft Auto III. What? I asked my sister if she knew that the game was rated mature. She said at the time she bought it she did not realize the rating system. The boys had told her that it was a game that they wanted. So like most parents, she got them what they wanted. My sister was never in to video games and had no clue on video game content. Here's a guide for video game ratings for parents that do not play video games.

Video game ratings give a quick and easy way to judge age appropriateness of a game. The rating is found on the back of video games near the bottom. The ratings are: E for everyone; Y for youths; T for teenagers; and M for adults only. Usually, the rating will also include a statement for why a game is rated T or M. Many games rated T are given a T rating due to blood and depiction of violence. Sometimes a game rated M is only rated mature due to course language. Before buying your children a game make sure to check the rating of the game.

Video game ratings like motion picture ratings are assigned via a board of conservative people. Have you ever watched an R rated picture and walk out after the movie trying to figure out why it was rated R? Well, sometimes the same thing happens with a video game. While I would not recommend ignoring the video game rating on a game, I would recommend exploring why a game is rated the way it is.

If you were a gamer, you could go down to Blockbusters and rent the game. By playing it, you could quickly judge whether it is appropriate for your child. Since you are not a gamer, that is not an option. What you can do is go to a video game specialty store and speak to an associate. The workers there are often die hard video gamers in need of outlet to express their special acquired wisdom. You may pay a little more for a video game at a specialty store then at a big box retailer, but you will have access to people who know video games. Their knowledge is valuable to a parent buying games blindly for their children. They can even recommend games in the proper video game ratings for your child's age.

Video games rated E for everyone are a great choice of games for parents to buy for their children. Most sports games are rated E as well as a few role playing games. They even have collections of classic games from the eighties that you might enjoy playing with your children that are rated E. Games rated T are tricky. Ask a sales associate or a gamer why the game is rated T. Some times a game is only rated T due to depiction of violence. Find out what type of violence is in the game. Is it a war game? Is the violence glorifying random acts of violence? The context of the violence is important when judging if you're 13 year old can handle the game rated T.

Video game ratings serve as a tool for parents picking out games for their children. Just because your child asks for a specific game they seen on television, does not mean it is appropriate for them to play. Just because another kid in their class has the game doesn't mean you would want your child playing it. Take the time to look at the ratings on the video games. Also, consider shopping for video games at the video game specialty shops where you can ask associates for input on game titles and their ratings. With some selectivity, you can insure your children get great gaming fun that is appropriate for their ages.