A Parent’s Guide to Video Games By Technical Care Center
Did you know that the average age of a gamer today is actually 33? That's no typo. People of all ages are playing games, and so it stands to reason that, just like movies and TV shows, some games are simply not intended for younger players. It's important you know which ones are intended for younger players — and which ones aren't.
Since the establishment of the Technical Care Center Company in 1990, it has pledged to support the religious values and moral traditions of the society in our beloved state of Qatar.
Therefore, TCC (The Technical Care Center) Company requires all sales outlets to sell video games in compliance with the ESRB rating which is available on all games. Posters can be found in every branch of TCC explaining the classification according to age groups for all types of video games so that parents can choose what fits their children and what suits the morals and traditions of our Islamic society.
TCC has also compiled the following guide to help parents understand the rating and choose what is appropriate for their children.
Know the Rating
To determine if a particular game is right for your child, start with the rating on the package. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a nonprofit organization that assigns the ratings that appear on the front and back of virtually every game available for purchase.
The ratings are intended to be used as a guide so that parents can use their own judgment about what they consider appropriate for their children and family. A complete list of ESRB ratings, content descriptions, and their definitions are available at ESRB.org, where you can also search for a particular game's rating before going to the store.Stand Your Ground
As every parent can attest, it's natural for kids to want the things that older kids want. As compelling or compassionate as a child's plea may be, parents shouldn't hesitate to say "no" when a game doesn't seem appropriate for them. Saying "no" to your child may not be easy, but as parents, you can take comfort in knowing that you're not alone in standing your ground — even when they swear all their friends are allowed to play a game and you're the only one being so "unfair." They'll say something like, "All of my friends get to play it. What's the big deal? Don't you trust me? It's just a game!!!" The lobbying can be relentless, but you can be assured that, despite your kids' denials to the contrary, the overwhelming majority of parents say they never allow their children under 17 to play Mature-rated games.
Undoubtedly many kids will argue that all the "cool" games are the ones you don't permit. But that's not necessarily true — there are plenty of fun, popular, and suitable games for kids to play. In fact, Mature-rated games (which warns that the game's content is appropriate for ages 17 and older) represent only a small percent of games overall. Set Your Parental Controls
Parental control settings are tools that parents may use to manage the games their kids play and, if you have a new console or computer, they should be your second checkpoint. Parental control settings allow you to restrict the games that can be played on your system based on the ESRB rating you choose. All new video game console systems (Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation 4) have this function, as does the newest version of Windows Vista as well as handheld devices such as the Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP).
The way these settings function may vary a bit, so you should familiarize yourself with how your system's controls work. However, the premise is essentially the same: For instance, say you have an 11-year-old who you feel isn't ready for Teen-rated games (which are appropriate for ages 13 and older). You would set the parental controls to allow games that carry ratings up to E10+ (for ages 10 and older).
These settings are password-protected so only you can control or change them. No parent can be in the same room as their child all the time, so activating parental controls can make managing your kids' video game playing that much easier.Get Involved
Go straight to the source! Talk to your children about the games they play. Be adventurous and play video games with your kids to discover what they're like. Go on! Stop being so intimidated and take a trip into the virtual worlds of your children so enjoy visiting. Playing games can be a fun way to learn new skills, spend some downtime with your kids, and maybe even earn some bragging rights in the house.
