Videogames Age Ratings - Need your help

[RoGuE|SaBeR]

Yea the consoles are pretty much sorted, lot of Xboxs and PS2s for the projectors with plenty of multiplayer games.

Ideas are immense so far, really liking some of them

[Ferral]

The Elspa and PEGI ratings can actually be enforced, when I was working for Global Video I was reading up on this as we got a pack through about it. Basically its a recommended ratings system, however as a member of staff, if I thought that a particular game was unsuitable for a youngster I could refuse to supply it. Its down to the individuals thought on the matter basically.

As you mentioned the ones with the BBFC certs are 100% enforced, not to be supplied or used / seen by people that are under the age restriction. If allowed the person involved for allowing them acces can be fined etc...

So, at the end of it all its literally down to you if you allow them to play something with an Elspa rating of say 15+, you wont get into bother for it (unless it has a BBFC cert on it), just think on what the parents may think if they find out though, could cause you no end of grief.

May be worthwhile getting the word out to the kids to bring their own games and play it that way (as long as they are just the Elspa ratings), at least it will give you a bit more peace of mind in knowing that their parents allow them to play whatever.

[iranu]

If you want an FPS, try Jedi Knight 2 - the rating is only 11+.

Yep, that's really good. During deathmatch you can challenge an opposing team member to a lightsaber duel.

As for racing - Flat Out isn't bad and it's fairly easy. TOCA2 for the more advanced.

[Yohji]

Jedi Knight too is good fun, nothing like slaughtering endless stormtroopers.

[Matt1eD]

All the games mentioned are fantastic, but are they too long? imagine how frustrating it would feel if you were just getting into a game then had to come off

What about driving games???? Project Gotham Racing? Need For Speed Underground?

Midtown Madness 2, simple yet fun

[eddy50]

For the voluntary ratings, get the parents to sign a permission slip. I think you need to give a *bit* of leeway here, and if a kid is going to play a game rated older than they are anyway, they'd probably be far "safer" playing it in a situation where it's being analysed anyway, so that it's proof that it's not real life. If it was a 5 year old playing GTA then that's obviously a no-no , but most 12 year olds are experienced enough to cope with the content of a 15 certificate game. I'd advise against 12 year olds playing an 18 cert game though, personally I reckon that 16+ would be ok for that (15 at a push).

Problem being is that im 13 and last year everyone of the boys had played an 18 including me f.e Gta 3, vice city, San Andreas and LibertyCity stories and none of our parents had a problem and the vilence is more comical than nightmarish like shooting someones head off, and ive got the Godfather(Brilliant game)
lol

Saying that a good game imo would be a racing game f.e Need for speed

And if its football get fifa street nothing better than having em shout out stuff after a nutmeg very addictive in multiplayer and in the second you get a competition juggling the ball see who can get the most points

[RoGuE|SaBeR]

Almost exactly a year from when the last post was entered from this thread

Coincidently the camp is on again this year - this Monday!

[shelley bda]

Almost exactly a year from when the last post was entered from this thread

Coincidently the camp is on again this year - this Monday!

Cool! how did last years camp go?

[Ben_]

if its a christian thing how about virtual mass 4, they have all the hymns!

[Proplus]

Give them one biscuit between them.....

[Gr44]

Make sure the parents sign consesus slips. Infact, make a list of the games you intend to play and make the parents decent if their kid can play certain games. Include an idea of content of the game, and the rating.

Let them decent!! Most parents I would imagine would be OK with it, you might get a few who aren't, but hey. Just make sure you stick to what the parents decided and you can't really get moaned at.

On another note, I have Unreal Tournament 99' here ( which still rules ) and thats an ELSPA 15+... Maybe worth looking at? ( This is the GOTY edition, I don't know if later editions/more recent ones changed the rating? )

Most strategys... Infact, maybe something like Empire Earth, it's fairly educational as well.

[Ben_]

let them decent?

the funk does that mean

erm i wouldnt like the ideas of parental consent slips. cos then you have poor johnny who isnt allowed to play anything and has to read the bible and pray for your souls

[shelley bda]

erm i wouldnt like the ideas of parental consent slips. cos then you have poor johnny who isnt allowed to play anything and has to read the bible and pray for your souls

Yup not to mention that by having permission slips or not, it will be an offence to let under 15's have access to 15+ rated games, that's why the games are classified, to stop underage kids from playing them.

I help run a holiday club, we have an X-box and the games have to be 3+ ( we take children from 3 - 11 years ) even for the older ones because of classifications on the boxes.

[Ben_]

yeah best bet is to be overly careful with stuff like that

the last thing you want is to get sued because little kevins gone insane and is convinced he's a strogg (see quake 4 )

[RoGuE|SaBeR]

Thanks for the (new) suggestions guys but it's cool, we settled on the system last year and it worked quite well.

Although we are making an exception for Halo because quite frankly, having 4 projectors and 4 Xboxs... not playing Halo would be a crime

[shelley bda]

Thanks for the (new) suggestions guys but it's cool, we settled on the system last year and it worked quite well.

Although we are making an exception for Halo because quite frankly, having 4 projectors and 4 Xboxs... not playing Halo would be a crime

Shhhh don't tell anyone! ( yes not having Halo would be a crime! my 10 year old loves it to bits and has completed it numerous times over all the various levels - never said it, wasn't me )

Hope it all goes to plan for you and everyone has a good time