When Are Kids Old Enough to Play Videogames?

[indstr]

Now I sit on my ass all day and play on the computer and occasionally fix a computer or printer. I'm getting paid right now to post on this forum and I owe it all to video games! :-P

great story. heartwarming even.

[ojdon]

I've been playing video games since I can remember, mainly Sonic. It's hasn't done me any harm what so ever, it's just something I do in my free time.

[Shadowblind]

that makes me sick to my stomach.

i

Quiet. All You've shown me is the immature attitude you have on these things.

Your points themselves are very intelligent. However that kind of mindless rampage is far worse then any game could scar someone.

I will admit that as I played Doom when I was young, the graphics were so terrible I just thought "hee hee hee, I'm clicking the button and the image is changing!". Todays games are far different. With the kind of experience they pull these days, MAY crucially effect the minds of weaker and more feeble minded children.

However, none of this gives you any right to condemn DarthPaul's actions. Even if they may not have been the best, DarthPaul is certainly not the one who could cause his brother to play the game, and children who play those games learn far before they are capable of mimicking the actions on the TV that they will result is dire consequences for them.


You have your point, and so does he. So do I. But that was simply immature how you handled that in your post.

[R4mbo]

I think always. But when younger then... 10-12 maybe together with parents only. Some lazy parents just put their kids in front of videogames, so they dont bother them and have child-free time and then wonder why the kids get aggressive and destructive to get attention. I also think that the rating-systems are ok, so when parents stick on the age-restriction they are on the safe side.

[robman84]

My youngest started on educational games at the age of about 18 months (as per the age rating on the box). It definitely helped his early learning and development.

He's a big fan of games but I make sure he doesn't play anything above his age rating. Likewise with movies.

[darkness angel 777]

the first game I ever played was sonic the hedgehog from my cousin's genisis.

[Cerepol]

I'd say pretty early is fine, wehn they can hold the Gameboy, Controller w/e, then why not? My little sister started playing my gameboy when she was around 3ish. She loved playing Mario, I don't care what anyone says about Mario, but his games really are great for anyone. My dad started playing games around the time I first got my NES. (when I was 5ish)

[Cap'n 1time]

I say start in the womb. How you get a controller in there is your business.

[cal360]

Well it depends on the games. I first played a mario at 3, but I would recommend 4/5. Video games have been more realistic and it can wreck kids childhoods if they get immersed in them.

[Nicko01]

Reading?? Who READS anymore anyway? Books are obsolete...
lol

Well, I've been playing video games pretty much all my life, I started with computer games at around 3. I was first allowed to play M rated games somewhere at 12, but my parents didn't like it. Now, at 15, they don't care very much except they don't want me playing games like manhunt (which gets boring after beating the first level, even with the uncut PSP version).
I have learned a lot from MMORPG's. The first I played was Runescape, but now I just play WoW.

Gaming is also what got me into programming, which has taught me a lot about math.

I believe it is a great idea to give younger kids video games because of the good results that may come from it. Start with educational games, then move into strategic games and then action games, which require fast thinking.