How old should you be for GTA3
 

I purchased GTA3 recently and the store owner was telling me about all the young kids (7-10) who's parents were buying it for them. I'd like to hear your opinion on how old should someone be to purchase GTA3. It has a mature rating. You can pick up and "use" prostitutes in the game. That's the one aspect of the game that makes me raise an eyebrow. Since it deals with sex, should you be 18 to buy it? What do you think? I'd mainly like to hear from non minors, but all opinions are welcome.

There has been sexual themes in many games, but I don't think you have to be 18 in order to play them. It depends on the person themselves. If they are like "Whoa, they're having sex! Oh my God!", then they aren't ready for the game.

I don't know what to say really, because you can't really put a number on maturity.

I'm thinking that if you're younger then, say, 10-12 then you probably shouldn't be playing it, but it all still depends on what kind of environment you're in.

Some children are very sheltered and if they played the game it could disturb them immensely, while others would not even think anything terrible of the game.

I grew up with two older brothers and four older step brothers/sister so I've been watching/playing/hearing/doing things past my age for a long time.

Also, whatever the generation coming after (some of) our Generation X, (Generation Y?) are most likely going to be a very un-sheltered group of individuals that have been immensely desensitized to violence and other "mature" subject matter (prostitution, sex, etc.).

I think that rather than limit the availability or usage of games like GTA3 with "questionable subject matter" it is up to the parents to be with their children to explain that this is not reality, and that in real life the main character of the game would be long dead or serving a life sentence in prison.

I just think that when I'm walking through the city seeing fifth graders sparking up a joint on a park bench or beating the **** out each other that playing a video game is going to do any more harm.

I know my thoughts were pretty scattered and some might've been contradictary, that's just what came off the top of my head.

I think you should be 13 :)
Im 15 and i could not get served for it so i had to get my mum to get it for me :(
I think it should be rated a 15

Yeah well thats my point. It's rated "M" meaning if you're under 17 you shouldn't be playing it. Obviously the ratings mean nothing as everyone can get it. So it's not ok for a 15 yr old to get a hooker, but its ok to pretend?

Good points there Makgsnake. It all depend on the parents. Now what kind of parent supports this. Good ones? Its not just the hookers, there are very mature themes throughout the game. "the Yasuka boss' lesbian overtones" I just feel that if I were a parent (and will be one soon) I would be setting a bad example by letting my kid play this type of game too young.

yeah some kids have parents that dont care waht they do or anything so it doesnt matter to them, but then theres teh parents that shelter the kids from EVERYTHING, then they go over to a friends house and play the **** out of every violent, crazy, well eerything there parents wouldnt let them play. So mainly it depends on the maturity level of the kid, some can handle it some cant. Maybe there should be a GTA3 test, you have to take it to know if your smart enough to shrug the game off as stuff that you SHOULDNT do lol...but ah well, hopefully i made some sense lol

Lets See........
 

Ure Right Sleazy.......U See......I Mean......I'd Tell U To Not Make Ure Child Play This Game.......Till He/She Reaches 17.

But U See Sleazy......If U Bring Ure Child Up Right..... He Wouldn't Wanna Play That Game Anyway.......I Mean.......I Remember. When I Was Young.....I Use To Listen To Songs, And If In Any Song....I Use To Hear A Female Making Moaning Noises. I Just Use To Turn It Off Right Away. Cause I Knew It That It Wasn't Good For Me And I Shouldn't Be Listening To It!.!

And At The Same Thing I Knew That Voilence Is Bad....!.....And Guns And Shooting People And All That Is A Very Bad Thing!.! I Remember I was In GRADE THREE And I Saw T2 A Rated R Movie!.! But I Knew It was All Wrong If I Do It On The Streets!.!

But BowevelJoe Said It Right Too......!.......If U Stop Them, They'll Do It More With THeir Friends..... And If U Allow Them A Little..They Wont Do It As Much Outside Out (The Nasty Things I MEAN)

I Have To Go Now. I'll Discuss This In Porper Manner Later!.! Cause Its A Good Topic To Discuss! :)

I know what you mean. I guess it's one of those topics that there's no right answer. I love the game, so I'm a hyprocrite in saying you shouldn't play it. right? But them I'm 31 and my minds been warped for some time now. Then I think to when I was 15. I would have loved this game! So I guess it depends on the kid and the parent.

yeah, i mean its a good game, its fun and innovative and all that good stuff, im 16, and i mean its an awsome game, but i dont get the urge to go and pop someone with a shot gun, or go steal a taxi and run over some hobos lol. Like i said it depends on the maturity of the child, the ability to tell reality from un-reality lol, and well thats about it lol..

Gotta Do It?
 

ah but that goes back to the maturity of the 15 year old, i agree, 12 and under are definant nono's thats way to little lol, but some kids can handle it at 15 or so and some cant, it depends on the way the kid was brought up is to where he can take it all in or not.

It's true what Makg said about guidance of parents compared to that of friends.
I would much rather be able to let my kids be fairly liberal in what they do, as long as they tell me about it, than have them lying to me and not knowing what they're up to all the time, and what weird stuff they're hearing from their friends.

My parents are kind of like that. They don't need to worry about me as much, because they know that when I go to parties I'll probably be drinking or smoking ____ occasionally. They feel much safer because they know that I'm responsible enough to be able to discern what is good and bad for me, and the amount I do these things in.
They know that I would not do any harmful drugs, or drink myself into alcohol poisoning, or ever do anything like that at or around school.

It's the same thing with games. My parents have seen pretty much all of the games I own being played and can tell that my personality and actions do not change because of them.

It's kind of straying from the point a bit, sorry . . .

Kids know whats real and whats not. I just tried to put myself in a parent mindset. You all have excellent points of view. Thanks for all the feedback. :)

I'll say 14 years old...

I think 15 :peoples:
A bit much Violence for the youth's of today!:laugh:

its a good game but if somebody cant handle it dont play it if you can you can. but if i was a parent i would test the game out first for my child and i would let him play it for a couple of weeks and see if the game has changed his attaitude.