GTA Online Parental Question

RumbleBee

RumbleBee

RumbleBee

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I finished the single player ages ago, but never got around to playing online, before sellign it.

Does the Online part of the game feature sex scenes like the single player. e.g. strip clubs, prostitues and missions such as filming that actress at the back of her house with the guy.

Just that my son is wanting the game. Same old story that all his friends play it. Gave a solid 'no' so as far as he's concerned he aint getting it. but thought I'd check what the differences are between the online part of the game and the single player. He only tends to play multiplayer games these days just to chat to his friends and it seems GTA is the current game of choice for them a lot of them.

Sorry if this is a sour point for some with or without children. I'm not asking for advice if he should or should not play it. The game is quite popular so hopefully someone can tell me if there any differences between single player and online or none at all.
 
You can bring a stripper back to your apartment for lapdances whilst high from a bong/drunk. If that upsets you then I suggest look elsewhere.

How old is your son?
 
This is an 18 cert game for not a reason but lots of reasons. It's not even a "soft" 18 but I would say pretty hard "18", from drug taking, murder, violence, swearing, sexual content and general theme.
 
Raymond Lin said:
This is an 18 cert game for not a reason but lots of reasons. It's not even a "soft" 18 but I would say pretty hard "18", from drug taking, murder, violence, swearing, sexual content and general theme.
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Indeed. Was a great game, but does the online mode feaure all of this. When I look at Youtube videos it just looks like the same team deathmatch you get in COD and lots of races too. Does it also include missions that feaure those things you listed?
 
RumbleBee said:
Indeed. Was a great game, but does the online mode feaure all of this. When I look at Youtube videos it just looks like the same team deathmatch you get in COD and lots of races too. Does it also include missions that feaure those things you listed?
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There is online Heist now. There are side missions like delivering drugs. The strip club opens. You can still cause mayhem on the map, there just isn't a story like in single player.
 
The Craig said:
You can bring a stripper back to your apartment for lapdances whilst high from a bong/drunk. If that upsets you then I suggest look elsewhere.

How old is your son?
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He's coming up 13.

If I did consider letting him play, it would be the online mode only with freind chat only. My question was to find out what kind of things he would be exposed to compared to my memories of the single player campaign. I assume no cut scenes will be present, and as someone has explained the strip club is aviodable.

Are the heists pretty much like the single player. e.g. rob a bank, escape on a train.

Any chance of a random Trevor scene popping up showing him getting it on with some girl?

All he wants to do is races and upgrade his car and fly some planes/choppers, but more importantly he just wants to play with his buddies.

Edit.
I've checked a few websites and it's a bit hit and miss, similiar to Call of Duty, which we allowed him to play with most concerns related to the violance. However most of the content reviews relate to the single player campaign and not the online mode.
 
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RumbleBee said:
Are the heists pretty much like the single player. e.g. rob a bank, escape on a train.

Any chance of a random Trevor scene popping up showing him getting it on with some girl?

All he wants to do is races and upgrade his car and fly some planes/choppers, but more importantly he just wants to play with his buddies.
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Heists are similar to SP, steal a car for the getaway driver. Rob the bank, destroy the getaway car.

You get calls from Trevor in online as you can do missions for him but you wont get a cutscene of him getting it on with a woman. Plus you dont even have to do the missions for him, its all optional.
 
Raymond Lin said:
This is an 18 cert game for not a reason but lots of reasons. It's not even a "soft" 18 but I would say pretty hard "18", from drug taking, murder, violence, swearing, sexual content and general theme.
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They get enough talk about drug talking and sex in their education at school. My 12 year old came home mortified at the level of detail they went into. That leaves only worrying about murder violence and swearing. Most 12 year olds already know most of the swear words used in GTA, they'll hear it all in the playground. Taking away worrying about swearing, leaves only murder and violence. But this is simulated computer violence and we've had endless discussions on this forum after the press alledge that somebody was violet or killed only because the game made them do it.

To drop a bombshell here, My 12 year old plays GTA with me and his friends at school. He's found the strip club and he knows about the hookers. I was listening when he did.. He's had the giggles with his mates talking about it, but now much prefers spending his time doing heists and running missions and isn't even interested in the sexual content. He's been supervised and observed throughout his play time and I'm happy that I've not seen any adverse change in behavior because of the game.

We have discussions with our child about drugs, smoking, alcohol and what teenagers get up to when in groups on their own. His only education on these things hasn't just come from games. He's aware that some perceive it to be glamorous and fun, but we've explained why they aren't, the same as the school have. Our child has a very strong moral compass so exposure to this sort of thing wasn't likely to affect him, and hasn't.

Bottom line, you're the parent. You know your child. You make up your own mind, don't let others sway you. You do what you think is right for your child as every child is different.
 
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I am not a parent, so I cannot speak from a perspective as a parent.

That said, I fully endorse the idea that you know your child best and his or her development and your right to control what he is exposed to and his or her education in all manners of life, the good and the bad.

However, it is quite a different argument to say it is okay for him to play GTA because it is the same topic he has covered in class or it is okay to play GTA because he hears it on the playground.

I am sure it is quite a difference between an educational environment about violence and drugs and going to glamorising it. There is also the fact that just because he hears it at the playground, surely you will agree that isn't an argument to okay it at home. What sort of precedents does that set? (I know you are now thinking your kid knows better than that, he won't do that. You are also thinking, what does he know, he isn't a parent).

My point is that it is 18 cert for a reason. By your reasoning are you suggesting we do away with 15 and 18 classification and put everything out there to PG?
 
Raymond Lin said:
However, it is quite a different argument to say it is okay for him to play GTA because it is the same topic he has covered in class or it is okay to play GTA because he hears it on the playground.
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The argument here is that GTA exposes children to these things that they wouldn't otherwise be exposed to. Same goes for all other forms of media such as explicit music, films and TV. Trouble is, 12 year olds are exposed to sex, violence, swearing etc. elsewhere outside of GTA. Hiding these things away won't prevent them from being exposed. (in my opinion) When children have been adversely affected by this type of media, its because this has been their only exposure and never understood the flip sides and only seen it glamorized in the media.

And that's if you take the parental direction of the americans where their style is to restrict these things until they are much older, as opposed to the more European style of exposing them to these things as soon as possible and educating them on the subjects.

All parents will find a balance inbetween the two styles. some will go the whole way in one direction or another. But ultimately, as a parent, its their choice.

Raymond Lin said:
My point is that it is 18 cert for a reason. By your reasoning are you suggesting we do away with 15 and 18 classification and put everything out there to PG?
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If every parent did properly asses their child, make their own judgements and properly asses that they aren't having an adverse impact on their children, we probably could do away with it.

Sadly however, not all parents are like that. Some have little to no involvement in what their children do, and the only thing stopping children who aren't capable of handling it from getting such material, is the 18 cert on the box. As always with any law, you have to legislate against the lowest common denominator. So the certs will always be needed.

For reference, I'm speaking as adult who was allowed to view 18 rated media long before he was supposed to be, and managed to turn into a fully functional normal adult.
 
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I don't believe the argument here is just because something you see in real life is okay to play in a video game and let's be fair here, swearing aside, you don't walk around firing fireworks launchers at grannies in real life do you? In GTA, these kind of behaviour is not only allow but encouraged. (Yes, I know about the argument about kids knowing the distinction between video game and reality). The argument isn't what you see or hear in real life makes it okay to play in a video game, as a 12 year old. The topic here is whether GTA, a 18 cert game is suitable for a 12 year old, with everything that comes with it, not what you and handholding your kids while playing.

FYI, I watched Aliens when I was 5 or 6 with my mum next to me with Chinese Subtitles, seen plenty of "not supposed to" media before I was of age. The argument also isn't whether you and I turned out okay because we done similar things when we were young. The argument is whether GTA is suitable for a 12 year old.

GTA makes bank robbery fun, GTA makes sleeping with hookers and bash them over the head afterwards to fun, GTA makes robbing corner shops interesting, GTA makes hit and run addictive. It got an 18 classification for good reasons.
 
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Raymond Lin said:
GTA makes bank robbery fun, GTA makes sleeping with hookers and bash them over the head afterwards to fun, GTA makes robbing corner shops interesting, GTA makes hit and run addictive. It got an 18 classification for good reasons.
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These forms of media are only an issue if they warp the child's belief into believing these type of activities are to be encouraged and and acceptable like they are in the game.

Its a very real risk. But providing it doesn't warp the child's values, and they don't believe that robbing shops and running people over is fun, where is the difference from you and I playing ?

The difference is that the child is more likely to be unacceptable to it than adults are. But not every child is the same ...
 
My son is 13 and plays GTA with all his friends. He has only been up in court three times, all due activities seen in GTA ;)

Seriously, my sons behaviour, demeanour, language etc have not changed at all since he started playing GTA.

I have sat and listened to him playing GTA with his mates and all they are interested in is having fun...big car crashes, chases, heists etc. They arent bothered with the sex\drugs\violence etc.
 
jamesy505 said:
My son is 13 and plays GTA with all his friends. He has only been up in court three times, all due activities seen in GTA ;)

Seriously, my sons behaviour, demeanour, language etc have not changed at all since he started playing GTA.

I have sat and listened to him playing GTA with his mates and all they are interested in is having fun...big car crashes, chases, heists etc. They arent bothered with the sex\drugs\violence etc.
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So he was a little toe rag before he started on GTA ? ;):D
 
I started playing violent games when I was about 10. Especially Carmageddon. Don't think I'ver ever run anyone over, though I do bring up the subject of cunning stunts quite often.
 
I think i was smashing people up with a crowbar in half life when that came out and that's what, 1998 so I would have been around 12. Didn't do me any damage but I do understand the argument with age rated games now i'm a bit older and wiser. With gfx getting better as well its a bit more realistic then the square head days of half life
 
GTA online is as vulgar and profound as you imaging GTA online would be. IMHO it comes down to how influential the child is.

My 5 year old niece loves playing GTA with me. We drive to the shops and buy peanuts (seriously) she loves it.
 
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