Okay Moms & Dads - I Need Your Input on PS2 Games..... ??

[Luna Sea]

I have a 15-year-old son who is asking for "Grand Theft Auto 3" for PS2 for Christmas. I just saw on Amazon that this game is rated M for language and "mature theme." Does anyone know anything about this game and what does it mean by "mature theme" - sex, naked hootchies, what??? OMG..... I want him to be about 5 years old again.

Thanks - I think I am getting a headache for the next 5-6 years!

[kdjsc]

Did you try going here to read reviews about it?

epinions.com

[ComradeX]

GTA 3 is definitely marketed towards adult gamers (although your 15-year old probably thinks he is an adult...)

There is lots of violence (including the ability to use a sniper rifle, blow someone's head off, and watch the fountain of blood shoot out of their neck), no nudity (although there is some implied sex with prostitutes), and some bad language.

The plus side is that it is a very fun and entertaining game, which is what makes it such a huge draw for the teenagers. I don't know what the tolerance is in your household for exposure to this kind of violence, but I would certainly not consider buying it for anyone that you wouldn't feel comfortable taking to see Pulp Fiction or something along those lines.

I would recommend Driver or Driver 2 for a much less violent alternative. For the PC, I would recommend the game 'Mafia'. There is violence in Mafia, but it also shows the consequences of living that kind of life.

Hope that helps! LMK if you need any other game advice.

ComradeX

[Luna Sea]

Thanks Kathy. .... and thanks ComradeX ...... I really wanted to hear from someone who knows this game. My 15-year-old does think he's an adult but I surely would not feel comfortable in letting him watch "Pulp Fiction" - one of my faves but certainly not for him - right now. I just asked his dad to read your review and he agreed - this is a bit over Derek's head. I am sure he's heard all about this game from his gamer pals and thinks it is the ultimate in thrill games. But I just don't think this is a good choice right now.

He wasn't too happy with me earlier but I got him to sit down with me and we looked up some games on Circuit City and Best Buy's websites and it gave him some alternative ideas on some PS2 choices for Christmas. He is interested in Driver and Driver 2, Crazy Taxi, Test Drive and Midnight Club - Street Racing. They all have much better ratings BUT if you have any pros and cons on these other games, I would be super glad to hear them. I mean, I want to get something he will really like and have fun with - but age-appropriate, ya know?

I actually let him read some reviews for GTA 3 and GTA - Vice City (his other choice) on some sites and he kind of settled down because he knew we wouldn't want him to have something like that right now... and then we looked up the other stuff. He was kidding with me by the end but man....... this isn't easy sometimes.

Thanks again and I appreciate any futher recommendations or critiques on PS2 games.

[aprilgail]

We were just discussing this game at work today. Most of the guys there (all adults) have this game and they all say they would NOT buy it for a kid. The more drugs you sell the bigger/faster car you get...the more cops you kill the better guns you get. They also have lap dances on it!

[ComradeX]

Well, I haven't tried out the others that you mentioned, but the reason I recommended Driver and Driver 2 is that they are both mission-based games with very well done story lines. In both of those games, you play an undercover cop, so while you get to do "bad" things, it is all because you are trying to stay in character. Once you complete the story, there are also arcade-style racing games that you can play. You stay in your car for the entire game in Driver, but in Driver 2, you are able to get out of your car and carjack other drivers. Carjacking is the most "offensive" (I put that word in quotes for my fellow 'Pulp Fiction' fan ) thing that I remember having to do in that game. There is some animated violence, but nothing graphic, and certainly nothing that comes close to GTA3 or Vice City.

Check out www.driver2.com to get a good feel of the game.

Of course, if he likes racing games, I would also recommend both Colin McRae Rally and Gran Turismo 3. Both are challenging, and lots of fun.

ComradeX

[Luna Sea]

Thanks Aprilgail - between what you and ComradeX have told me, I can see why those games are for adults. Some of the guys in my office have also been telling me some of the graphic details of these two games and no way............... ....... not for Derek.

ComradeX - thanks for the Driver website. I'll share that with my son when I get home from work and I'll let him check it out for himself. It looks very interesting to me and I like to play these games as well - if I can ever get hold of them for any length of time. (I guess I'll have to buy myself a PS console if I want any serious play time! I guess I could always play them on the PC..... hmmm. ) And I appreciate the info - it really helps me to make an informed decision. I may be asking you about some other games and stuff along the line.......

I want to check out the Mafia game as well and see what that looks like........... I am so out of the game loop. The last game I played and conquered was 'Diablo.'

My son has mentioned 'Grand Turismo 3' but I'll also look into the 'Colin McRae Rally' game as well.

And "Pulp Fiction" has some of the best-written dialogue ever, imo. I really liked it. Makes me hungry for a Big Kahuna burger!

Thanks so much!!

[kdjsc]

Luna the site I gave is from people that have purchased products and they write reviews about them.....It really is great I have written reviews myself and.....I love it for product info as people have really used the products...I hope this helps you...

[Luna Sea]

Thanks Kathy, I saved your site to my fave places and will check it out too - for the rest of the games on my "games to check out" list..... I had already read some reviews on some popular gamer sites yesterday about GTA3 and GTA-Vice City and that is what started all this hooplah to begin with....and we ended up having a wee "debate" at my house last night about what age one becomes an adult and then I let Derek read some of the stuff I had printed out. ComradeX gave me some excellent info and I added that to the mix. Derek calmed down right away because I don't even think he knew it was that "mature" of a game - or he could have been faking his surprise for momsey and dadsey..... lordy, you never know anymore.

"Golly gee, guys, I didn't know it was a bad game....."
(Yeah righttttt....... )

Anyway, I appreciate your help, too. I didn't mean to make it sound differently, if I did.....I was just in a hurry with not a lot of time to do research. Trust me, I'll need all the help I can get as time speeds along. I have two teenagers to get to adulthood without losing my marbles completely. Thanks to everybody!

[kdjsc]

Cool....no you were fine....I wanted to know about that game myself....and a few others as my boys are younger then yours.........So thanks for asking but I find that site very helpful and if you join and write re-views you get paid too when they are rated.....

[Luna Sea]

Cool info - thanks, Kathy! I definitely check it out thoroughly a bit later.

Those crazy kids.... always trying to slip something past ya!

Maybe THAT should be my new sig.

[ComradeX]

Lordy - mine's only four. I wonder what kind of video games will be on the market when she's a teenager .

[Luna Sea]

Bless your heart.....and there's no telling.........

[ComradeX]

Adding more fuel to the fire, here's a story about one teenager who was "inspired" by Grand Theft Auto to go on an automotive stealing spree:

http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/fun.gam....ap/index.html

I don't bring this up to show you how bad GTA is, but instead to point out how some people insist on blaming their own bad behavior on anything other than the fact that they screwed up. Apparently it's much easier than taking personal responsibility for your own decisions.

Apologies for the short rant. It's not my fault though, I'm just a victim of my environment.

ComradeX

[Luna Sea]

Thanks ComradeX - very interesting little news story. I agree with what you said - people always want to blame their stupidity/lack of good judgement on someone or something else......

I guess I better be thinking of what I'm going to lay the blame on when I do something stupid enough to make the national news........hmmmmmm.....



Sad isn't it?

[ComradeX]

Yes, it is pretty sad.

There is an upside in all of this though. I'm sure Rockstar games is loving the free publicity.

ooooohhh....I just had a great / horrible idea. You should all sit down for this one...ready?

Corporate sponsorship for criminals. Kind of like what Disney does, except in an evil way. Companies would pay criminals who admit they did wrong, but blamed it on a product, whose sales would immediately skyrocket.

Example:
LARRY KING: Would you mind telling us what went through your head as you were commiting your terrible crime?

SCUM: Well, Larry. I was thinking about my Kleenex Cottonelle toilet paper (+$5000), with it's soft quilted texture and superior cleaning abilities (+$1000). When I ran out of that quality toilet paper (+$750) this morning, it drove me insane, and I had to take my bitter revenge out on the world. So you see, Larry, it's not really my fault...

Well, gotta go and sell my idea. I'll post again when the $$ start rolling in!

[Luna Sea]

OMG - what a brilliant idea, ComradeX!! I can envision it all now - just how you portrayed it!! Corporate sponsors would have bidding wars trying grab celeb criminals for sure!! You sure made me laugh - thanks for that!


I was insane.....insane..... I tell you!! I was making breakfast and everything was peachy.....then I discovered that someone.....SOMEONE....had put my box of tasty Lucky Charms (ka-ching!) back in the cabinet....and it was empty....EMPTY I tell you except for one delicious and sweet green marshmallow (ka-ching) clover.... you know like General Mills says..... they never disintegrate in the milk and the crispy cereal (ka-ching!) never gets soggy...... and I just snapped..... and flew into a virtual rampage as I went in search of the person who robbed me of my Magically Delicious Lucky Charms!! (ohh, yeah.... big KA-CHING!!)

I am withholding the name of that celeb until the contract is finalized....

Over and out.....my mothership is here for me.