GTA / Violence and Youngsters
I just purchased Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the DS from Play.com for the hefty sum of £10. I guess this heads up is part of the reason for this post.

I've had a long history with video games and well they tend to bore me these days, but for £10 you can't complain.

Anyway, after the hour or so I get bored of the pretty damn violent, pretty adult theme-ish game I'm planning on passing it on to my 9 year old nephew, in a typical "the cool uncle" kind of way.

I remember at that age watching such mind-warping videos as American Werewolf in London, 'Meet the Feebles', Childs Play and Hellraiser, so...

This isn't too much for a 9 year old is it? Too soon? I'm also hoping my sister doesn't lose the bap in anger. At what age should children be introduced to violence and murder?
(The Dirty Christmas Treeker I will bite your face off, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:45, Reply)

Meh
I read Stephen Kings IT at 9 and I turned out alright, well, except for the irrational fear of clowns! 'We all float down here, you will toooooo' Mwahahaha.

*ahem* Hmmm... maybe not.
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent Althegeordie *shakes fist*, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:47, Reply)

Still has the fear of Pennywise

( Mary's sexbox explosion makes me The Jesus, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:50, Reply)

most people around our age probably do

( Festivipros you caught my nose in your left castanet, love, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:51, Reply)

I blame
my sister for most of the fear and Ronald McDonald, mainly my sister though as she used to tell me that when I flushed the toilet, Pennywise could jump through the u-bend and get me, so I used to flush and run!
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent Althegeordie *shakes fist*, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:52, Reply)

Pennywise
Bloody good band!
(Spikey halls and boughs of Pickle fa la la la la, la, la, la laaaaa wishes he was mabazaritchie, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:09, Reply)

I wouldn't give it to anyone younger than their teens.

(Psyc-Ho-Ho-Ho-Chomp **bearer of the waki crown**, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:49, Reply)

that's not what the jury decided

( Festivipros you caught my nose in your left castanet, love, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:49, Reply)

Pffft!

( Cawl - King Of Wales, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:51, Reply)

It's an 18 certificate for a reason
But having said that, they're a lot more emotionally developed at 14/15, so I'd wait until then, or get them something more suitable
( Mary's sexbox explosion makes me The Jesus, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:52, Reply)

How very sensible of you becky.

(Psyc-Ho-Ho-Ho-Chomp **bearer of the waki crown**, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:59, Reply)

I studied film for a long time and the censorship of it
some films should not be watched by young children. Same goes for video games
( Mary's sexbox explosion makes me The Jesus, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:03, Reply)

Why though?
Is any decent evidence behind the different certificates or is it a subjective decision?
( Captain V, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:08, Reply)

have you ever seen a kid after watching wrestling?

(Psyc-Ho-Ho-Ho-Chomp **bearer of the waki crown**, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:12, Reply)

Yeah...
The oil...
The gleaming, sweaty bodies.

It fucks a kid right up.
( Cawl - King Of Wales, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:18, Reply)

Well there's no sensible reason for the 12 or 12A certificate
The rules have changed over the years, but 15 certificate used to mean you could say fuck once - so long as it wasn't said in a sexual manner to a woman - and as many shits and buggers as you liked. That's now been relaxed. There was also a limit to how much violence could be actually seen on screen that's been relaxed a lot.
( Mary's sexbox explosion makes me The Jesus, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:17, Reply)

This is true
However 9 years in the future (when he's 18) we'll be playing video games with our minds while our robot butler flies us to work in our jet-car.
(The Dirty Christmas Treeker I will bite your face off, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:00, Reply)

My little cousin was playing it at 7
but he is a wee bit mental.

I watched the same vids at a young age and was fine.
It was Worzel Gummidge I had nightmares about. For years.
(Boss Keloid Has 16 days off! Wooo!, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:52, Reply)

I still
have a fear of Worzel Gummidge!! *shudders*
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent Althegeordie *shakes fist*, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:53, Reply)

Not just me then.
*relief*
(Boss Keloid Has 16 days off! Wooo!, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:56, Reply)

Nope
the dude is freaky! I also have a fear of porcelain dolls and ventriloquist dummies. Eep!
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent Althegeordie *shakes fist*, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 11:58, Reply)

ventriloquist dummies?
I hate those creepy things.
( Cawl - King Of Wales, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:01, Reply)

Gend oger you naughty goy.
Yup creepy.
(porkyulelips Built for comfort, not for speed., Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:05, Reply)

Indeedy,
its their freaky eyes, thats why I don't like the dolls either. My nan keeps telling me that when she dies (shes a morbid so and so) she is going to leave me her collection of dolls... ahhhhhh! :(
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent Althegeordie *shakes fist*, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:06, Reply)

Go by the recommended age until you get to the 15 certs.
I think de-sensitization is more worrying than whether or not they can cope with the concepts and morality.
(porkyulelips Built for comfort, not for speed., Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:01, Reply)

I've heard it's such a good game though!
Although the thought of his happy little face is kind of out-weighed by the thought of him going all Columbine on us in 7 years or so...
(The Dirty Christmas Treeker I will bite your face off, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:02, Reply)

It is a pretty
groovy game. Makes me feel like I'm playing the old school GTA games. I tend to go a bit bananas if I try to play it on the tube though, it makes my brain hurt as I concentrate too much on controlling the car.
(Flim-Flam the Magnificent Althegeordie *shakes fist*, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 12:08, Reply)

I doubt anyone will read this now but
there is a massive difference between film and games.
With a film you are passive, in a game you are active, you decide to kill someone.

This game should not be played by children under 15, and then that depends on the child.
( Mrs Liveinabin is the only person left who uses indicators, Wed 10 Jun 2009, 22:28, Reply)