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  3. What were your parent's rules on video games?

What were your parent's rules on video games?

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  • R [email protected]

    None, before my mom saw me play Soldier of Fortune and shoot a dudes' ball off. After that she bought me an "educational, age appropriate game", The Logical Journey of the Zoombini. I wasn't supposed to play violent games, and instead play this game I was supposed to get bored of because it's educational, and go play outside.

    Jokes on her, I loved that game, and played it a ton.

    Of course I ignored the rule of violent games and just learned to alt+tab as a reflex if I heard someone open my door. Useful skill in other parts of life as well...

    T This user is from outside of this forum
    T This user is from outside of this forum
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    wrote last edited by
    #9

    Oh man, I remember doing that for NSFW games on newgrounds as a young boi.

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    • T [email protected]

      I was talking with a coworker about what games my parents allow me to play, and what they let their kids play. My parents were fine with most things bloody things, like Resident Evil 4, Left 4 Dead and Gears of War, mostly because you were fighting like aliens or zombies. They were fine with military shooters too, and got really interested in the Modern Warfare storylines.
      The game that they really had a problem with was GTA, of course, but later, when my little sister started playing it, they got invested in GTA 5's story, so eventually we could just play whatever we really wanted.
      How bout you all? Did your parents have any weird or strict rules in games or movies?

      kolanaki@pawb.socialK This user is from outside of this forum
      kolanaki@pawb.socialK This user is from outside of this forum
      [email protected]
      wrote last edited by
      #10

      i don't recall ever having any.

      kamenlady@lemmy.worldK 1 Reply Last reply
      1
      • T [email protected]

        I was talking with a coworker about what games my parents allow me to play, and what they let their kids play. My parents were fine with most things bloody things, like Resident Evil 4, Left 4 Dead and Gears of War, mostly because you were fighting like aliens or zombies. They were fine with military shooters too, and got really interested in the Modern Warfare storylines.
        The game that they really had a problem with was GTA, of course, but later, when my little sister started playing it, they got invested in GTA 5's story, so eventually we could just play whatever we really wanted.
        How bout you all? Did your parents have any weird or strict rules in games or movies?

        P This user is from outside of this forum
        P This user is from outside of this forum
        [email protected]
        wrote last edited by
        #11

        None, really. I'd play Mortal Kombat with my much older sibling as a child and also grew up playing games like Diablo and GTA (the old ones). I really liked Carmageddon and Postal, too. TBH what I enjoyed the most about GTA was stealing cars and driving around in them. XD Or blocking traffic with a bunch of cars.

        T 1 Reply Last reply
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        • kolanaki@pawb.socialK [email protected]

          i don't recall ever having any.

          kamenlady@lemmy.worldK This user is from outside of this forum
          kamenlady@lemmy.worldK This user is from outside of this forum
          [email protected]
          wrote last edited by
          #12

          Parents, Rules or Video games?

          kolanaki@pawb.socialK 1 Reply Last reply
          3
          • T [email protected]

            I was talking with a coworker about what games my parents allow me to play, and what they let their kids play. My parents were fine with most things bloody things, like Resident Evil 4, Left 4 Dead and Gears of War, mostly because you were fighting like aliens or zombies. They were fine with military shooters too, and got really interested in the Modern Warfare storylines.
            The game that they really had a problem with was GTA, of course, but later, when my little sister started playing it, they got invested in GTA 5's story, so eventually we could just play whatever we really wanted.
            How bout you all? Did your parents have any weird or strict rules in games or movies?

            libb@piefed.socialL This user is from outside of this forum
            libb@piefed.socialL This user is from outside of this forum
            [email protected]
            wrote last edited by
            #13

            I was never much into video games, but my first real interest was for Doom and then for StarCraft. I was also heavy into C&C... I was already an adult and fixed my own rules, deciding on what I wished to spend my time and waste my money.

            The first video game I played as a kid was some kind of Pong version, on an Atari console. So, yeah... not much video games for me as a child. With the other kids, we played cards, board games, we played outside too (it's great), we played chess and checkers, we also played doctor, we read a lot too. And there was no real need to set rules or limits (even less so on what we were allowed to read), not even when we played doctor, mind you—not even to tell us what was then obvious but that seems very much forgotten by too many nowadays, to not be a dick, because acting like one would warrant instant karma feedback from all the others players/participants involved... and that was kinda very quickly formative 😉

            T 1 Reply Last reply
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            • T [email protected]

              I was talking with a coworker about what games my parents allow me to play, and what they let their kids play. My parents were fine with most things bloody things, like Resident Evil 4, Left 4 Dead and Gears of War, mostly because you were fighting like aliens or zombies. They were fine with military shooters too, and got really interested in the Modern Warfare storylines.
              The game that they really had a problem with was GTA, of course, but later, when my little sister started playing it, they got invested in GTA 5's story, so eventually we could just play whatever we really wanted.
              How bout you all? Did your parents have any weird or strict rules in games or movies?

              R This user is from outside of this forum
              R This user is from outside of this forum
              [email protected]
              wrote last edited by
              #14

              I remember my mother briefly being resistant to getting me a violent game at some point. She was not that motivated to moderate what games I bought though. And eventually she didn't seem to mind anything I was playing.

              In my opinon; if you let your kids watch rambo, you better allow them to play rambo.

              T 1 Reply Last reply
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              • R [email protected]

                I remember my mother briefly being resistant to getting me a violent game at some point. She was not that motivated to moderate what games I bought though. And eventually she didn't seem to mind anything I was playing.

                In my opinon; if you let your kids watch rambo, you better allow them to play rambo.

                T This user is from outside of this forum
                T This user is from outside of this forum
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                wrote last edited by
                #15

                100% agree, my dad watched GoldenEye with me like 15 times as a kid.

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                • libb@piefed.socialL [email protected]

                  I was never much into video games, but my first real interest was for Doom and then for StarCraft. I was also heavy into C&C... I was already an adult and fixed my own rules, deciding on what I wished to spend my time and waste my money.

                  The first video game I played as a kid was some kind of Pong version, on an Atari console. So, yeah... not much video games for me as a child. With the other kids, we played cards, board games, we played outside too (it's great), we played chess and checkers, we also played doctor, we read a lot too. And there was no real need to set rules or limits (even less so on what we were allowed to read), not even when we played doctor, mind you—not even to tell us what was then obvious but that seems very much forgotten by too many nowadays, to not be a dick, because acting like one would warrant instant karma feedback from all the others players/participants involved... and that was kinda very quickly formative 😉

                  T This user is from outside of this forum
                  T This user is from outside of this forum
                  [email protected]
                  wrote last edited by
                  #16

                  My dad really likes arcade games, he would always challenge my brother and I to Galaga, since there was a Galaga cabinet at a restaurant we would frequent. He loves C&C, specifically we would play Tiberian Sun and Generals Zero Hour together.

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                  • P [email protected]

                    None, really. I'd play Mortal Kombat with my much older sibling as a child and also grew up playing games like Diablo and GTA (the old ones). I really liked Carmageddon and Postal, too. TBH what I enjoyed the most about GTA was stealing cars and driving around in them. XD Or blocking traffic with a bunch of cars.

                    T This user is from outside of this forum
                    T This user is from outside of this forum
                    [email protected]
                    wrote last edited by
                    #17

                    Yeah my sister liked the cars and story in GTA, she never really went in killing sprees whenever she did play it, cuz driving around and falling off buildings was more fun for her.

                    I personally never really liked GTA, except GTA4 because of the physics and story.

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                    • T [email protected]

                      I was talking with a coworker about what games my parents allow me to play, and what they let their kids play. My parents were fine with most things bloody things, like Resident Evil 4, Left 4 Dead and Gears of War, mostly because you were fighting like aliens or zombies. They were fine with military shooters too, and got really interested in the Modern Warfare storylines.
                      The game that they really had a problem with was GTA, of course, but later, when my little sister started playing it, they got invested in GTA 5's story, so eventually we could just play whatever we really wanted.
                      How bout you all? Did your parents have any weird or strict rules in games or movies?

                      K This user is from outside of this forum
                      K This user is from outside of this forum
                      [email protected]
                      wrote last edited by [email protected]
                      #18

                      One hour of Gameboy every other day. We had Tetris (of course), Super Mario Land 1 (the Egypt themed one) and 2 (the one with the big coins), Star Trek TNG, and Bugs Bunny Crazy Castle. Maybe one or two others that I don't recall. No other video game systems.

                      Movies, we weren't allowed anything past PG until our late teens, and my mom was constantly trying to shove G-rated stuff down our necks. We saw Babe, Toy Story, and It Takes Two in the theater; I was 14 and way too old for that shit. We got Shirley Temple videos in our Easter baskets every year (we did not like Shirley Temple).

                      Basically we were way too sheltered. It was awful for my social life!

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                      0
                      • T [email protected]

                        I was talking with a coworker about what games my parents allow me to play, and what they let their kids play. My parents were fine with most things bloody things, like Resident Evil 4, Left 4 Dead and Gears of War, mostly because you were fighting like aliens or zombies. They were fine with military shooters too, and got really interested in the Modern Warfare storylines.
                        The game that they really had a problem with was GTA, of course, but later, when my little sister started playing it, they got invested in GTA 5's story, so eventually we could just play whatever we really wanted.
                        How bout you all? Did your parents have any weird or strict rules in games or movies?

                        wytch@lemmy.zipW This user is from outside of this forum
                        wytch@lemmy.zipW This user is from outside of this forum
                        [email protected]
                        wrote last edited by
                        #19

                        I don't remember rules about video games. My house was chaotic and unpredictable, and my parents don't understand boundaries. Besides, video games back then were primitive and family friendly. They were seen as just another toy.

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                        • T [email protected]

                          I was talking with a coworker about what games my parents allow me to play, and what they let their kids play. My parents were fine with most things bloody things, like Resident Evil 4, Left 4 Dead and Gears of War, mostly because you were fighting like aliens or zombies. They were fine with military shooters too, and got really interested in the Modern Warfare storylines.
                          The game that they really had a problem with was GTA, of course, but later, when my little sister started playing it, they got invested in GTA 5's story, so eventually we could just play whatever we really wanted.
                          How bout you all? Did your parents have any weird or strict rules in games or movies?

                          truite@jlai.luT This user is from outside of this forum
                          truite@jlai.luT This user is from outside of this forum
                          [email protected]
                          wrote last edited by
                          #20

                          I think my parents looked at the PEGI logo, or whatever it was before, and respected it until I was 13 or 14. But I was a sensitive child so I didn't want to watch violent movies or killing zombies.

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                          • kamenlady@lemmy.worldK [email protected]

                            Parents, Rules or Video games?

                            kolanaki@pawb.socialK This user is from outside of this forum
                            kolanaki@pawb.socialK This user is from outside of this forum
                            [email protected]
                            wrote last edited by
                            #21

                            lol

                            Rules on video games.

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                            1
                            • T [email protected]

                              I was talking with a coworker about what games my parents allow me to play, and what they let their kids play. My parents were fine with most things bloody things, like Resident Evil 4, Left 4 Dead and Gears of War, mostly because you were fighting like aliens or zombies. They were fine with military shooters too, and got really interested in the Modern Warfare storylines.
                              The game that they really had a problem with was GTA, of course, but later, when my little sister started playing it, they got invested in GTA 5's story, so eventually we could just play whatever we really wanted.
                              How bout you all? Did your parents have any weird or strict rules in games or movies?

                              P This user is from outside of this forum
                              P This user is from outside of this forum
                              [email protected]
                              wrote last edited by
                              #22

                              Didn't really have much in the way of rules on that, though my papa was rather disappointed with me when I had him help me buy my GameCube and didn't realize how violet the games were. Resident evil got a pass, but Mortal Kombat was one I was surprised he was upset about the violence in it lol

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                              • T [email protected]

                                I was talking with a coworker about what games my parents allow me to play, and what they let their kids play. My parents were fine with most things bloody things, like Resident Evil 4, Left 4 Dead and Gears of War, mostly because you were fighting like aliens or zombies. They were fine with military shooters too, and got really interested in the Modern Warfare storylines.
                                The game that they really had a problem with was GTA, of course, but later, when my little sister started playing it, they got invested in GTA 5's story, so eventually we could just play whatever we really wanted.
                                How bout you all? Did your parents have any weird or strict rules in games or movies?

                                P This user is from outside of this forum
                                P This user is from outside of this forum
                                [email protected]
                                wrote last edited by
                                #23

                                For the most part they trusted me. It helped that my step-dad played videogames before he met my mom. It probably also helped that I never gave them any concerns. I was a fat nerd who never got into fights or showed any signs of violence. My parents were concerned about me spending too much time indoors and not getting enough physical and social activity, but never concerned with the content.

                                I also was a smart enough kid that I knew the limits of what I could ask for. I wasn't going to ask them for Leisure Suit Larry or BMX XXX, for example.

                                There were a couple of exceptions where my mom heard things about specific games through the media. I remember the marketing campaigns for God of War and GTA3 really leaned into the controversy. Although I did end up getting GTA3 eventually.

                                Ironically, there was only one case where I felt like I was allowed to play a game before I was ready, but it wasn't one I asked for. My step-dad bought Twisted Metal Black. I had played a bit of the Twisted Metal series earlier, but preferred the much more whimsical Vigilante 8. I still remember getting nightmares about getting my head locked into a mask like the one character (I think her name may have been Dollface?). As I am remembering it now I realize it was probably a metaphor about identity, but as a middle schooler I was just freaked out about it.

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                                • T [email protected]

                                  I was talking with a coworker about what games my parents allow me to play, and what they let their kids play. My parents were fine with most things bloody things, like Resident Evil 4, Left 4 Dead and Gears of War, mostly because you were fighting like aliens or zombies. They were fine with military shooters too, and got really interested in the Modern Warfare storylines.
                                  The game that they really had a problem with was GTA, of course, but later, when my little sister started playing it, they got invested in GTA 5's story, so eventually we could just play whatever we really wanted.
                                  How bout you all? Did your parents have any weird or strict rules in games or movies?

                                  mp3@lemmy.caM This user is from outside of this forum
                                  mp3@lemmy.caM This user is from outside of this forum
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                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #24

                                  Born in the 80s, when I started playing video games around 6 they kept me on games adequate to my age until I reached high school.

                                  After that they mostly let me play whichever game I wanted, the only conditions were that I had to get enough sleep (and if I didn't, not to complain that I was tired in the morning) and have good grades.

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                                  • T [email protected]

                                    I was talking with a coworker about what games my parents allow me to play, and what they let their kids play. My parents were fine with most things bloody things, like Resident Evil 4, Left 4 Dead and Gears of War, mostly because you were fighting like aliens or zombies. They were fine with military shooters too, and got really interested in the Modern Warfare storylines.
                                    The game that they really had a problem with was GTA, of course, but later, when my little sister started playing it, they got invested in GTA 5's story, so eventually we could just play whatever we really wanted.
                                    How bout you all? Did your parents have any weird or strict rules in games or movies?

                                    A This user is from outside of this forum
                                    A This user is from outside of this forum
                                    [email protected]
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #25

                                    The living room TV was for the Atari, the bedroom TV was for the Sega

                                    Living room hours were from homework done till dinner

                                    Bedroom hours were from after dinner cleanup till 9pm

                                    Swapping the systems, or playing them outside of hours without permission was 1 week no games.

                                    Weekends were negotiable, with bonus for sleepovers

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                                    • T [email protected]

                                      I was talking with a coworker about what games my parents allow me to play, and what they let their kids play. My parents were fine with most things bloody things, like Resident Evil 4, Left 4 Dead and Gears of War, mostly because you were fighting like aliens or zombies. They were fine with military shooters too, and got really interested in the Modern Warfare storylines.
                                      The game that they really had a problem with was GTA, of course, but later, when my little sister started playing it, they got invested in GTA 5's story, so eventually we could just play whatever we really wanted.
                                      How bout you all? Did your parents have any weird or strict rules in games or movies?

                                      E This user is from outside of this forum
                                      E This user is from outside of this forum
                                      [email protected]
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #26

                                      My parents weren't very restrictive. But one time, to get me to stop asking for a new game, my Dad said I couldn't get any new ones until I beat the last game I got.

                                      I think about that a lot still. I think it would have been a good rule, outside of some edge cases like games that were endless or too easy.

                                      But it was off the cuff, he didn't remember saying it. By the time I finished some game and brought it up, I think he said something like "well don't you have other games you never finished?"

                                      other_cat@lemmy.zipO 1 Reply Last reply
                                      1
                                      • T [email protected]

                                        I was talking with a coworker about what games my parents allow me to play, and what they let their kids play. My parents were fine with most things bloody things, like Resident Evil 4, Left 4 Dead and Gears of War, mostly because you were fighting like aliens or zombies. They were fine with military shooters too, and got really interested in the Modern Warfare storylines.
                                        The game that they really had a problem with was GTA, of course, but later, when my little sister started playing it, they got invested in GTA 5's story, so eventually we could just play whatever we really wanted.
                                        How bout you all? Did your parents have any weird or strict rules in games or movies?

                                        vanth@reddthat.comV This user is from outside of this forum
                                        vanth@reddthat.comV This user is from outside of this forum
                                        [email protected]
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #27

                                        No specific rules on content, although I'm sure a game would have been retroactively banned if our mom saw something gory. The rules were on time spent playing. 30 min per kid per school day, only after schoolwork and chores were done. 60 min per kid on weekend days, again after chores were done.

                                        Minesweeper was not considered a game, for some reason. So we were all hella fast at minesweeper on the highest difficulty.

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                                        • T [email protected]

                                          I was talking with a coworker about what games my parents allow me to play, and what they let their kids play. My parents were fine with most things bloody things, like Resident Evil 4, Left 4 Dead and Gears of War, mostly because you were fighting like aliens or zombies. They were fine with military shooters too, and got really interested in the Modern Warfare storylines.
                                          The game that they really had a problem with was GTA, of course, but later, when my little sister started playing it, they got invested in GTA 5's story, so eventually we could just play whatever we really wanted.
                                          How bout you all? Did your parents have any weird or strict rules in games or movies?

                                          Z This user is from outside of this forum
                                          Z This user is from outside of this forum
                                          [email protected]
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #28

                                          When I was maybe 10, I wanted Mortal Kombat on the Sega Genesis more than anything. My mother, who is an attorney, said it was too violent. So in order to convince her, I built a strong argument and plied her with it non-stop. I would argue that I was a smart kid and all that crap about video games making you violent was garbage. The argument that finally won me my beloved MK was that she had let me watch RoboCop the year before, and I hadn't gotten messed up by that. After that I was pretty much allowed to play or watch whatever.

                                          It's the earliest I can remember really forming a coherent argument with supporting facts and whatnot, and advocating for what I want. It's a skill that would serve me quite well going forward. Well played, Mom.

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