Why Video Games Aren't For Kids

Disclaimer: Some games are for kids.  Adding that to the title would be less eye-catching.

In this next part of the series, we transition from looking at the good and the bad of video games to taking a look at video games in our culture.  Have you ever heard someone say something like this?: "Those video games are rotting the minds of our kids."  I actually think there's some merit to the idea that overexposure to video games can be harmful to children, but the previous blanket statement is simply too vague to carry meaning.

Whether or not video games are good or bad for children, I think it's time for all of us to start accepting that for the most part, video games are not made for kids.  They may have originally been marketed to children, back when the NES and original Gameboy reigned supreme, but nowadays there is only a small percentage of games that should be presented as "for kids".  Video games should be viewed on the same plane as movies.  In theaters, we get one or two blockbuster children's movies per year, as well as a few others here and there.  The vast majority of movies are rated PG-13 and above, meaning that they're not meant for children.  In case you missed it, video games have a rating system too, and most blockbuster games are rated T (Teen) to M (Mature).  It doesn't matter what video games used to be like, or who used to play them: in order to move forward, we need to accept that video games today are mostly made for adults.

Beyond content and subsequent ratings, let's look at the evolution of controls over time.  Do you think a 7-year old child is meant to pick up an Xbox 360 controller and feel comfortable with it?  My hands are only barely too big for the thing!  Does it make sense for a 9-year old child to have the dexterity to run, jump, aim, and shoot all at the same time?  Once they learn, sure, but these are skills meant for the more developed cortex and dexterity of an adult.  Sure, controllers from twenty years ago used to be a little directional pad plus 2-4 buttons.  That looks more like something meant for kids.  Even the Wii controller, heavily based on motion and featuring very few buttons, is clearly geared to be simpler and meant for either children or the more casual, perhaps less experienced gamer (though, let's be clear, I do enjoy me some Wii games too).  But an Xbox controller?  A Playstation 3 controller?  Those things just look like they're meant for grown ups.

For the last few years, I've read several articles discussing video games as an art form.  I think that more designers and writers are viewing the medium this way, and thus, we see the appearance of more gritty stories, more intense topics, and more emotional moments found in games.  Think about the change in video games over time like the Harry Potter series: the first book isn't meant for adults, and the last book isn't meant for kids.  Over time, it developed more intensity, given the content that it was dealing with.  I think that advances in technology and growth of the video game medium have allowed more talent to dive into making video games, crafting some of the most memorable moments I've ever seen on a television screen.  Grasping a lot of these stories and messages requires life experience.  Some can also require general knowledge, or a more developed ability to empathize with characters.  Kids shouldn't be exposed to these kinds of things.

Online capabilities are playing a bigger role in gaming than they did even five years ago.  There's a reason that every game provides the disclaimer that online activity in the game is not rated.  Not for kids.  Ever.  If you can be sure that your kid is only playing the game online with his friend then yes, that is probably going to be safe.  The internet, as we all know, is a dangerous place in general.  Just as we should monitor what our kids do online, we should be sure to monitor their online gaming activity as well.  I've spent a lot of hours playing League of Legends, the world's most popular online game.  The content of the game might seem more tame than Call of Duty or Halo, but the online interactions?  If I want to remain a gentleman, I probably shouldn't repeat about half of what I hear or read from random folks online that you end up in game with.  Again: not meant for kids, and not really good for teenagers either.

Let's stop framing video games as "for kids".  They're not, for the most part.  Video games have matured and subsequently are marketed towards more mature audiences.  Worry not, young parents: there are video games for kids out there, and they're fun, even for adults.  Do your research and take the time to find these gems.  You won't regret the results.

The series on video games continues next time with an entry on how to introduce games to a new gamer.  Keep your eye out for the next post!  Until then, keep on gaming!