For many parents, figuring out which video games are appropriate for their kids is a difficult process, and having the resolve to continually restrict their children from playing inappropriate games is even more difficult.
A new web site promises to make this process less maddening by providing parents with objective, matter-of-fact information about video games in “layman’s terms,” and a space for parents and other readers to post reviews giving play-by-play descriptions of the action their children see on the screen or simply sharing their subjective opinions.
These days, this very well may provide just what parents need due to the increasingly graphic and adult nature of video games.
For example, “Grand Theft Aut San Andreas” earned that spotlight two years ago when a programmer uncovered nude sex scenes hidden in the game that a software download made visible; and “Manhunt 2” is a game about a sociopath on a homicidal rampage.
Creators, Davison and Becker, believe parents should decide what’s appropriate for their children, but that they need neutral, objective information on the games their kids might want to play to do so; and though companies are making efforts to give parents more information and control (Microsoft Corp. created a feature on its Xbox 360 consoles that would let parents limit the amount of time their children spend playing video games), the information is not complete enough to make an informed decision that will withstand kid’s scrutiny.
Do many students with whom you work play video games?
What resources do you use, or provide parents with, to keep up to date and in touch with what students are playing?
