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GameProFamily's potential identity crisis |
Listed in: Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, PC Gaming Tags: ESRB, GamePro Family
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The idea GamePro Family was built on is quite sound - on paper at least. In case you are not familiar, GamePro Family is an online multi-authored blog featuring a simulated family. Accordingly, this family discusses whether particular games are appropriate for children. So you have there a "Dad's Watch," a "Mom's Take" and of course, "The Kid's Pitch." Sounds like a happy family, if you ask us.But according to an article we read over at Gamesetwatch, there are certain aspects that are rather problematic. They enumerated the people behind the "virtual family" and their background to give us an idea of how they concoct their opinions. The Dad rating is provided by Wes Nihei, an industry veteran and long-time member of IDG Entertainment. The mom's voice, on the other hand, is coming from Ellen Mulholland, apparently the company's new recruit.
Then, you have the kid. Who do you think this kid is? How old is he? And now you see where the big problem lies. The kid, they say, is fictional, with a role to persuade us to let him play a game, no matter what its rating is. This, folks, is very important. We know they're not trying to copy or replace ESRB but if gamers can't be represented enough in this simulation, what good does this do then?
While we can't determine its worth, the disadvantages it could bring instantly popped into our heads. More than gamers and kids, the online blog is targeted at parents. It is rather unfair to kids in general, if their parents' decision would be based on a fictional character with an identity crisis. The fictional kid, for all its worth, could be represented as someone naive, ignorant and submissive.
Not that we are all for M-rated games and that stuff, what we're saying is that the best option is still open communication between children and parents. Rather than go online to research on specific games that might suit their children, we just hope that parents would find time to talk and get to know their kids - they're the ones that gonna use it anyway.
Via GameSetWatch
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