Actually, all that happens is a small black stain and red stain appear, and you go flying.

In Goldeneye, your weapons are far more realistic, and there's a lot more blood. It splatters on walls behind you, and covers you.

And I understand where the ESRB is coming from MZZT, and I think there should be a ratings system in place. Just not that one. Because it sucks.

And they don't have a PC that can run it. Nor can they rent it without renting an X-Box.

Finally--he did pick it up, go "Oh, rated M, no you can't play it" and that was that.

Like I said...they need a better ratings system.

Goldeneye > Halo

Agreed

I'm not saying that ESRB is perfect by a long shot. I think it could be vastly improved with more descriptive ratings of a game's content. In your friends case, his father made a parenting deceision not to allow his son to have the game. That's what parents do. I do think, however, that if he was only basing this decision on the ESRB rating that he may have been less-than informed when making it. A 16 year old - in most cases - I think is capable of handleing the themes in most M rated games - that is, an M rated game is akin to an R rated movie. If your friends dad allows him to watch R rated movies, then there may be a taste of hypocracy in his decision.

I'm not trying to debate wheter or not your friend should be able to own Halo - that is a parenting decision that varies depending on the parent and the child. I do think that an informed decision on the part of the parent would have to involve more than the ESRB rating - especially in this case where the kid is borderlineing on adulthood. ESRB is a good starting point - it's intended to be a guideline to help parents find what content is inappropriate for there kid - Without ESRB I doubt if an uninformed parent of a nine year old would have any idea what kind of stuff was in a game like Halo, the name certainly doesnt provide any kind of info. With ESRB that same parent can look at the game's package and say, "This is for kids 17 and up, maybe a Mario title is a little more appropriate for my child".

As far as this new 10+ rating goes I think that is very nice. Finally MArio and Zelda type titles that are not young child games but do not quite cross into the realm of 13+ have a place.

Although I was playing MArio and Zelda well before I was 10 years old.... But again, ESRB is meant more to be a guideline than an unbendable rule.

Well, he let him watch Schindler's List, and of course The Passion, so I see hypocricy.

Oh my God, please tell me you are being sarcastic or something? I can't believe you just said that.

Yoshi, the kid's father has every right to tell his son what he can and can't play. That's what parents do. You obviously disagree, but what you think is irrelavant.



No. Schinder's list is not mindless violence. It's a historical drama that accurately (for the most part) portrays events in history. Passion of the Chirst is sort of in the same boat for people. Video games are mindless violence in a sense, and they don't sevre an educational purpose like the movies do.

It may not be mindless, but it's still violence abound. I just don't really see the point in it.

And I'm not saying he doesn't have the right--once again, I'm just ranting in an online forum :p. If I were trying to take away the parent's right to parent then I wouldn't be here, I'd be railing to some pointless organization, or something. I'm just expressing my disapproval of his parenting. But it's really not relevant to the subject, either way. The subject being that I think the ESRB's crappy ratings can lead to kids not being able to obtain games that may not be all that bad for them.

But, just to argue a point, I personally don't see watching Schindler's List as an important historical representation of that era, though it may be. I see it as an entertaining film, because if you want to see a truly historical representation, you'd probably just watch the Hitler Channel all day. Er...History Channel...yes, History Channel.

And technically, The Passion's not a historical representation at all. Just an interpreted representation. They added a lot more things in there than were ever in the bible about the crucifixion originally to draw it out and make it a play. It was never meant as a correct depiction of the crucifixion.

Actually it was very accurate.

??? There is no blood splatter... Its just red blurs on their bodies.









Point out the blood splatter please.

I just woke up literally 15 minutes ago, so pardon me if I'm missing something obvious, but how exactly do you know it was very accurate?

Over half the stuff they include wasn't in the bible. How was it accurate?

And I suppose I was wrong about the splatter, Sol. Coulda sworn it was there.

There's that, plus the fact that the Bible has by no means been proven to be completely factual at all.

in australia, we have had somthing similar for ages, (G 8+). And I am sure that you also have it, so why is everyone complaining.

1) We don't have something that's 8+. 10+.

2) We're not complaining about this rating, just the ESRB in general.

well, we have always had 8+, that is because certain games dont make it here (uncut GTA3 for one, enven though we can get it from NZ uncut), also, 8+, or in your case 10+, is a ood idea, some games are just not suitable for the very young gamers out there. Also, most of those games are probably too complicated for them anyway.

Also, to whoever said the passion doesn't contain over half the bible, shut up. the reason why it doesn't is because it is about jesus, not the whole story of the bible. Even the new testiment talks about things other than jesus.

Hahaha, wow.

Oh man, this is some quality entertainment. Keep it coming alpha.

Look, would you rather have the ESRB and its self regulation, or government regulation (which we have to a slight extent in Australia, ****ing government, think we cant handle games with sexual content), or worse, local organisations regulating, like what happend with films for a short time.

The ESRB is the lesser of three evils. trust me.

Is that entertaining enough for you. :p

There's not just 3 choices...I can choose to have none fo them.

And what's entertaining is the fact that you believe all that shti in your second post on this thread.

ok, fourth choice, noone makes any games with violence because people sue because they bought a violent (or pornographic) game for their 6 year old and their child was traumatised because there was no rating system.

would you rather that.

fitth choice. only those over 18 can buy any game but anyone can play it.

there is no way in hell that those parens groups (like the one that "invented killographic, dispite the fact there is a latin root word for voilence that they could use) would allow for there to be no rating system.

the ESRB is in existance so the companies don't need to worry about bannings by their games by local cenorship groups with the power to stop the release of games in certain areas, or government cencorship, as some people see that as a voilation of civil rights.

...Or 6th choice, we put a better ratings system in place.

7th choice, we brutally maim anyone who stands in the way of freedom of violence, and anyone who overreacts.

Yoshi, the rating system now is fine, it's people like you that don't understand the system. The system helps parents decide what games to buy/not buy for their children.

Why is the system so good you might ask? Simple. Everything bad in the game is listed in the rating reason. It's simple! If a game has violence, gore, and sexual themes, on the back of the game it will say M for Mature. For Violence, Gore, and Sexual Themes! If a game has drug use, and minor language, on the back of the game it will have the rating and then the reasons for the rating. I mean, it's so simple! What you want is for every game to be rated by YOUR standards. 'Halo wasn't THAT bad!' Well you know what, to some parents violence and gore IS that bad, so the ESRB comes along and rates the game MATURE because it has VIOLENCE AND GORE in it. 'But the parents don't even try the games first! They don't have valid opinions!' Once again, if a parent doesn't want their child exposed to violence, and the game has violence in it, that's all you need to know. Stop complaining about the ratings system. It works.

I agree with SAJN, the real problem is the parents who only judge it by the rating given, and not what the reasons for that rating are.

No. That's not what I want. What I want is something that puts reasons sensibly.

Violence, Gore, and Language. How ambiguous is that? Someone could say Damn, once in the game, and there's language. There could be a puddle of blood or urine in one level, there's gore. Violence is punching someone.

Hell, I've seen ostensibly worse in games meant for children. That's what I hate about the system--the ambiguity. They need specifics. Until then, the system will be nothing other than sub-par.

The ESRB is VERY specific in it's ratings....

* Alcohol Reference - Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages
* Animated Blood - Discolored and/or unrealistic depictions of blood
* Blood - Depictions of blood
* Blood and Gore - Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts
* Cartoon Violence - Violent actions involving cartoon-like situations and characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted
* Comic Mischief - Depictions or dialogue involving slapstick or suggestive humor
* Crude Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving vulgar antics, including “bathroom” humor
* Drug Reference - Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs
* Edutainment - Content of product provides user with specific skills development or reinforcement learning within an entertainment setting. Skill development is an integral part of product
* Fantasy Violence - Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life
* Informational - Overall content of product contains data, facts, resource information, reference materials or instructional text
* Intense Violence - Graphic and realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons, and depictions of human injury and death
* Language - Mild to moderate use of profanity
* Lyrics - Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol, or drug use in music
* Mature Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving "adult" humor, including sexual references
* Mild Violence - Mild scenes depicting characters in unsafe and/or violent situations
* Nudity - Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity
* Partial Nudity - Brief and/or mild depictions of nudity
* Real Gambling - Player can gamble, including betting or wagering real cash or currency
* Sexual Themes - Mild to moderate sexual references and/or depictions. May include partial nudity
* Sexual Violence - Depictions of rape or other sexual acts
* Simulated Gambling - Player can gamble without betting or wagering real cash or currency
* Some Adult Assistance May Be Needed - Intended for very young ages
* Strong Language - Explicit and/or frequent use of profanity
* Strong Lyrics - Explicit and/or frequent references to profanity, sex, violence, alcohol, or drug use in music
* Strong Sexual Content - Graphic references to and/or depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity
* Suggestive Themes - Mild provocative references or materials
* Tobacco Reference - Reference to and/or images of tobacco products
* Use of Drugs - The consumption or use of illegal drugs
* Use of Alcohol - The consumption of alcoholic beverages
* Use of Tobacco - The consumption of tobacco products
* Violence - Scenes involving aggressive conflict

The ESRB rating system is designed to give parents the information they need to evaluate a computer or video game before making a purchasing decision. The ratings are not meant to recommend which games consumers should buy or rent or to serve as the only basis for choosing a product. Rather, parents s hould use the ESRB ratings in conjunction with their own tastes and standards and their individual knowledge about what's best for their kids.

ESRB recommends that parents learn about games before making a purchasing decision. Game reviews printed in newspapers and publisher web sites can be excellent sources of information. To search for games that are appropriate based on age categories and content, use our online ratings search feature.

ESRB also urges parents to talk with their children about their favorite games. Playing the games with your children helps stimulate those discussions, and playing games as a family can also be a fun way to spend time together.

Do I win yet?

>.>
<.<

Goldeneye was a great game....

NEVAR! EET ISH NAE ALLOW-ED!

I've seen it.