My local got closed down

[Frizz.Meister]

My local game shop litterally called GAME got closed down a couple of weeks ago, and well i thought nothing of it as there are 2 within 500m of each other. However it recently was put up on a window of the shop that it was closed down for selling games to children to young. Gathering that it was litterally cover in Call of Duty posters i imagine that was the offending game.

Is this right? Does it really matter if kids play an 18?

[Curlypaul]

Yes I think it does matter. I dont generally agree with censorship, but I do think that kids needs to be protected from certain things.

We all know that kids can get hold of 18 games anyway, and many parents will buy them and give them to their kids, but thats a decision for the parents to make not GAME employees

[alienjesus]

I think it matters too. I saw a magazine in a shop once which was quite obviously aimed at quite young kids, maybe 10-13 sort of range, and on it's cover it had Left 4 Dead 2, Modern Warfare 2 and Assassins Creed. I was honestly kind of shocked that it was allowed. I wouldn't expect to see a kids magazine with reviews of 15-18 certificate films.


A lot of the controversy around games seems to be around children playing them. It seems everyone ignores the fact they have age ratings and kids shouldn't be playing the violent ones anyway.

[Hatta]

Closed by the government? No, that's clearly oppression. Saying "think of the children!" does not give them the right to do whatever they want. Children will grow to be adults some day, so if you want to do what is best for them make sure they inherit a world an adult will want to live in. If parents have a problem with kids playing certain games they should do their jobs and supervise their kids. It's not the job of a store clerk to raise your kids.

[eskil]

If they sold games to minors, it's appropriate that disciplinary action is taken. But having to close the store is a bit harsh, I agree.

[BurningDoom]

They shouldn't sell M-Rated games to kids. It's no different than selling R-rated movies to kids. What's the difference? However shutting them down seems a bit harsh. A think a fine would have sufficed, unless they're repeat offenders then they got what was coming to them.

[GSZX1337]

Hm, I'm confused. Isn't Europe's rating system Private like the ESRB? If so, how can the Government shut it down for selling youngins adult rated games?

As for should children be playing violent games; I'm not sure what the right age is to let kids play Call of Duty is. Even if you don't think they're going to go gun crazy, you have to think about their online experience. Just search on YouTube for "(insert game here) kid" and you'll see older players harassing the kid or (for lack of a better word) corrupting them. That can't be good for their self-esteem.

[AppleQueso]

Hm, I'm confused. Isn't Europe's rating system Private like the ESRB? If so, how can the Government shut it down for selling youngins adult rated games?

As for should children be playing violent games; I'm not sure what the right age is to let kids play Call of Duty is. Even if you don't think they're going to go gun crazy, you have to think about their online experience. Just search on YouTube for "(insert game here) kid" and you'll see older players harassing the kid or (for lack of a better word) corrupting them. That can't be good for their self-esteem.

I don't think kids should be doing much of anything online period (including gaming) without some very strict supervision.

[Hatta]

They shouldn't sell M-Rated games to kids. It's no different than selling R-rated movies to kids. What's the difference?

Selling R rated movies to kids isn't illegal, at least in the US. Selling M rated games isn't either. Thankfully we have at least a modicum of protection against government censorship. It ain't much, but I'll take it.

Come on guys, you're smarter than this. Someone who is bigoted against violent video games shouldn't be able to use the government to enforce their bigotry on other people.

[Niode]

They broke the law, they got shut down. Cause and effect.

If it's got a BBFC 15 or 18 logo on it, it's illegal to sell it to anyone under that age, just like the same applies for films.

To be honest, the more Game stores that shut down the better in my opinion. I can't remember the last time I bought anything from Game and their second hand sales are worse than piracy for harming the gaming industry. Their latest stunt of putting USED games up for pre-order is absolutely disgusting. Good riddance I say.