What were your parent's rules on video games?
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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?wrote last edited by [email protected]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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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?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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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?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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Parents, Rules or Video games?
lol
Rules on video games.
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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?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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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?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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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?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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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?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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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?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?"
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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?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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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?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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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...
Hip Hip! Zoombinis!
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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?As long as I was above the age limit on the box, I was fine. Some games rated 12 got an exemption if my older sibling was consulted.
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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?They tried, but I don't think they did a great job.
I was limited by time and duration. I wasn't allowed to start playing games until like 3pm, and wasn't allowed to play after dinner. (If I went to someone else's house, the rule didn't apply. If someone came to my place, video games were also allowed, but my parents didn't like people coming over). I also had to finish all my homework first. I remember just watching the clock on the weekends waiting for it to tick over to 3pm, then dashing up the stairs to the games.
For some reason, I was allowed to watch as my TV as I wanted. I'm old and tv was limited, and we didn't have all the channels.
What ended up happening is I would lie. I would say I had finished my homework when I hadn't to get that sweet, limited video game time. I would say I was watching TV in the basement but I was playing games with the sound down.
This trashed my school habits. I was doing all my homework the morning it was due. I was a smart kid so everything was still getting done well enough for me to get B's, but this wasn't great. When I got to college I had no study habits or learning stamina.
To this day I kind of find tv and other passive watching unsatisfying. I never watch anything on my own. Only with someone else.
I don't know what would have worked better. The clock based limit felt terrible though. Really hated that. Maybe if they had explained "if you put all your stat points in video games now, when skill ups are cheap, you're going to be underpowered later" it would have landed.
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We don't buy games in this house, we pirate them.
Any chance you'd know how to get fitgirl repacks to run on linux?
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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?wrote last edited by [email protected]My parents let me play whatever I wanted, even Mortal Kombat and Resident Evil, but first they taught me the difference between fiction and reality and said I could play for a limited amount of hours per day, and only after doing my homework or after studying. Except on weekends, on weekends they let me play for longer, but also made sure I was playing offline too and going outside. It was pretty good.
The funny thing to me is that my dad would sometimes say it frustrated him that I liked video games because he thought they were "for boys" and yet he was the one who bought my (jailbroken) console and (pirated physical copies of) games until I turned 18 lol
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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?"Use your common sense. You know what's appropriate and what's not."
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We don't buy games in this house, we pirate them.
wrote last edited by [email protected]We did too, but it was because my parents refused to pay full price for a game, so they bought pirate physical copies for dirt cheap and they worked great. Then of course I learned to torrent. Nowadays I only buy games when they're from indie devs or from small companies.
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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?wrote last edited by [email protected]My parents simply didn't buy any games beyond roller coaster tycoon 2, myst 3 exile, and MS combat flight sim WW2. So it didn't really matter what the content was in any other games because that was it.
I ended up pirating whatever I wanted and my parents didn't seem to care, I think it was more about being opposed to spending money on games. We didn't have any consoles whatsoever.
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Hip Hip! Zoombinis!
Man, I wish GOG would bring it back. Original was on quicktime, I've tried a couple of times throughout the years to get it working on a modern OS, no dice
Shameless gog dreamlist plug if you loved this game too (not mine)
https://www.gog.com/dreamlist/game/zoombinis-logical-journey-2001