Family Tech Blog

Tag: violence

  • How Video Game Developers can Help Parents

    How Video Game Developers can Help Parents

    I think video games can be fun and good for my kids if kept in the right context. We have very strict rules about gaming in our home and do our best to limit our kid’s access, screen time, and exposure to some of the gaming content available. Unfortunately many developers build their games (even kids’ games) that make screen time and other restrictions hard for parents. If I could speak to a room full of game devs, here a few of the things I would say.

    1 Let me save the game whenever I want.

    My children have a strict 30 minutes per day rule on our xbox. They understand when they sit down to play they they have a limited amount of time. My kids know that they’ll be “kicked off” the xbox after a half hour so they save often. They save their Minecraft worlds because they can’t build the crazy epic structures they’ve planned in just 30 minutes. 

    The problem rises when we play games, like the Lego games, that don’t allow you to save your game whenever you want. You have to reach certain milestones or the end of levels to save. When the xbox kicks you out of the game, it resets the game causing you to lose your progress. This means mom or dad have to either continually add time to the limits for the day until they can save the game or we just have to deal with the kids’ frustration for wanting to see the next levels of this game but not being able to because of our time limits. We, as parents, don’t mind being the bad guy but a simple save mechanic built into the pause menu sure would make life easier.

    Parent Guide: Call of Duty Black Ops 4

    2 Password protect your content controls.

    The most popular comment on my review for last year’s Call of Duty game is “hey man, you can turn off the graphic violence.” I’ve replied to most of those comments with, “Cool, but it isn’t password protected so it may as well not be there.” Can we please put content restriction settings behind some sort of pin code? It isn’t that difficult to do. I don’t want my kids playing games that are meant for adults, but some families are ok with their fourteen year old playing a Rated M game if the gore is turned off. Unfortunately, most warm blooded 14 year old boys are into or at least interested in that sort of violent content in film and video games. That means they’ll often turn the restrictions off when mom and dad aren’t looking.

    Maybe that’s a bit too restrictive as your kids get older but isn’t that the parent’s decision to make? Game developers make their games with over the top graphic violence and pretend that their target audience is adults. The reality is that at least half of those who play your games are below the recommended age. This is why they add a content restriction in the game, however, that restriction isn’t helpful if it is only buried a couple of levels deep into your settings menu and doesn’t require any sort of passcode to change.

    3 Don’t force me to make an account to play your game.

    It is already frustrating to have to have an account for everything I do online. Then I have to create separate accounts for each of my kids to let them play games or use apps with parental control settings turned on. If I want each of my kids to have their own settings or their own way through the game I have to have an account for them on our gaming system. When I turn on a game and see that the developer of that title wants me to create yet another profile, on their site this time, it is infuriating. I don’t want to give you my email address. I paid to play your game, isn’t that enough? I get having an online account so I can play multiplayer but games that require me to have a profile with your company even to play the local offline campaign is simply data mining. I don’t need it. Especially with my kids information.

    Parents Guide: Apex Legends (Titanfall Battle Royale)

    What Can Parents Do?

    This post may be a bit ranty but I’m not the only parent I know who has complaints about these issues. It’s hard enough protecting our kids from cyberbullies, adult content, and predators. We have enough drama from our kids alone when we want to simply limit their screen time. The last thing we need is some setting or lack thereof in a video game to make it even harder. The truth, however, is that it’s unlikely a game developer will see this article or video. We have to take responsibility as parents. Either we have to take the role of gatekeeper and keep our kids from games that pose these problems or we have to just have the conflict when it arrives because it’s worth it. It’s worth it to have kids who know how to function when screens are turned off. It’s worth it to have kids that are safe from violent thoughts, nightmares, and attention problems. It’s worth it to protect our kids private information and data from collection by gaming companies and who knows who else.

    Talk to your kids about the limits you’ve set. Take a stand when they try to bypass your settings. Don’t let them play games that cause their behavior to change or keep them interested to the point of obsession. Protect their information by only creating accounts for them on sites that absolutely require it and when you do, use an alias. We live in a new world. A world where data is a form of currency and your kids gaming behavior can be used in so many ways so it is invaluable to the companies that create these games. We have to be responsible for our own family’s Internet safety and healthy tech habits. We can ask developers to make it easier and hope for the best but when it all comes down to it, it is up to you and me.

     

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  • Parent Guide: Call of Duty Black Ops 4

    Parent Guide: Call of Duty Black Ops 4

    Violence/Gore - 1 out of 5
    Language - 1 out of 5
    Sexual Content - 4 out of 5
    Positive Message - 2 out of 5

    The Game

    It’s that time of year again. Time for another Call of Duty game. This one is a bit different, (more on that later) but it is a CoD game none the less. The last game in the series was set in WW2. This on is set in the not too distant future, the 2040s. There isn’t much of a storyline in Black Ops 4 but there is no shortage of gameplay depth and replay-ability. Your kids are sure to ask for this game for the Holidays but what should you say? Hopefully this brief guide will give you an idea of the content in Call of Duty Black Ops 4 so you can make a quality decision for your family. 

    Black Ops 4 has several game modes available. You can play missions related to each character. They are more multiplayer tutorials with narration than actual campaign type missions. There is a zombies mode with a few levels and different stories included as well. The most anticipated mode, however, is the Blackout mode which is a battle royale game setting similar to Fortnite or PubG. I wrote about Blackout a while back, before its release. Below, I will unpack the content in Call of Duty Black Ops 4 for you. 

    Violence/Gore (1)

    It likely goes without saying that Call of Duty Black Ops 4 is loaded with violence and gore. Gunfights are realistic, (albeit a bit science fiction based) blood is abundant, and body parts (more like chunks of meat) fly when hit by grenade or bomb blasts. Honestly the violence in CoD Black Ops feels a bit like an over the top 80s action film. Or a modern Quinten Tarantino movie. The game celebrates killing your enemies in the most gruesome and creative ways possible. Weapons are a bit futuristic and feature ways to bounce explosives, cluster bomb, and drive remote detonators and turrets against your enemy. 

    The zombies mode is extra bloody with creatures ripping people apart who are chained to posts and body parts being flayed off with swords and blown off with firearms and other weapons. As you’d imagine, the zombies themselves are pretty gory looking with yellow glowing eyes and shriveled up skin. While multiplayer plays down the gore a bit, the blood spray and rag-doll effect is still more realistic than other popular shooter games.

    There is a way to turn off the extra graphic content including language and user generated content but that setting isn’t protected by a password. In my book, if parental controls aren’t password protected they aren’t there at all. 

    Michael Prince – BecauseFamily.org 
    Content filters with no password protection.

    Language (1)

    This game is has plenty of adult language. Every word you would imagine being said during a firefight with bullets flying overhead and explosions surrounding you is yelled, muttered, said over the radio, and written out in subtitles throughout the small story sections of the game. Your drill sergeant type instructor barrages you with explicit insults as you progress through training in the story mode. Much of the dialog also discusses substance use and the celebration of violence and combat.

    Sexual Content (4) 

    There currently isn’t any sexual content in Call of Duty Black Ops 4. The dialog contains a bit of sexual reference but much would go over kids’ heads if they noticed it at all. Multiplayer will contain user generated content and therefore you can expect more sexual innuendo and possible conversation in online game modes.

    Positive Message (2)

    I honestly struggle to find much positive message in this Call of Duty game. Extreme violence is celebrated and encouraged. You are driven to kill in creative and gruesome ways. There is a bit of comradery between the characters but you have so little story in the game that this message is not likely to come across well, if at all. Most of the gameplay is centered around multiplayer so this game isn’t designed to portray any kind of message.

    Do Violent Video Games Create Killers?

    What Parents Should Know

    Black Ops 4 is rated M for mature for “blood and gore, intense violence, strong language, and drug references.

    Parents should be aware of the intense level of graphic violence that is in Call of Duty. It is not like the cartoon style of Fortnite or the lower graphic quality of PubG. The graphics are very good in this game, thus the level of intensity is increased, as is the level of realism. While there is no sexual content, there is also very little redeeming quality to the game since there isn’t even much of a storyline to explore a deeper meaning or message. 

    Multiplayer gaming opens up kids to communicate with people from all over the world. There is an element of anonymity that is felt when you play online but that is quickly lost as you build a friendship with people through experiencing this intense gameplay together. There are known cases of adult predators using these multiplayer environments to identify and groom their targets to later expand their relationship to social media messaging apps. This is one reason multiplayer gaming can’t be rated. The level of safety depends on those playing the game. 

    There is a way to turn off graphic content and language but it isn’t password protected. In my book, if parental controls aren’t password protected, they aren’t there at all. I would advise following the 17+ recommendations for Rated M games on this one. If you are thinking about allowing you younger kids to play Call of Duty Black Ops 4 you should be confident that they can handle such intense action and gore without it causing any lingering affects on them emotionally or psychologically. 

    Finally, first person shooter games with multiplayer modes are notorious for causing what is called “lost time,” in which players compete in level after level of the game without realizing how much time they’ve spent playing. When they are asked to stop or they have to move on for some reason they are often shocked at the amount of time that has passed, sometimes even getting angry at being asked to stop. I recommend setting screen time limits on your game systems like Playstation and Xbox as to create a built in system to help your kids keep better track of the amount of time they are spending playing video games. 

  • Do Violent Video Games Create Killers?

    Do Violent Video Games Create Killers?

    The news of another shooting yesterday (August 26, 2018)  has once again raised the question of the violence in video games and its supposed link to mass murders by young people. The shooting took place at a Madden NFL video game tournament and left two dead and nine injured. The beginnings of the shooting were aired on livestream on Twitch.tv. The stream was cut immediately after officials realized what was going on.

    Who’s to Blame?

    This is the question we all want to ask immediately after something like this happens. We blame guns, we blame media, we blame parenting, we blame the government, and of course we blame violence in tv, movies, and video games. Video games are especially likely to receive the blame because of the interactivity involved in playing these games. The idea is that since we spend hours a day shooting guns at people in a virtual world, we will feel fewer inhibitions about performing that same violence in real life. With the levels of realism and intensity available in games these days, the blame is ever increasing.

    Wanting to place blame in a tragedy is normal. It’s one of the stages of grief and it is entirely understandable that we would do this as individuals and corporately as a society. The problem nowadays is that we are placing blame so quickly and news media is aiding us in our decisions. This leads to more division and does nothing to solve our problems or ease the pain of the families of those involved in these acts of violence.

    When video games receive the blame, it is often by those who don’t play them and especially those who don’t understand their appeal. Religious leaders, political leaders, news channel talking heads, and many celebrities will speak out against the violence in video games and other media and make headlines doing so. The problem is that they are making claims not based on any facts that can be found in any research that has been done to date. 

    The Data

    There have been many studies  on video games and their link to behavior. The problem with much of this research is the popularity of the topic itself. Early studies all had mixed results due to the controversial nature of the topic leading to researcher bias during their work. An article from earlier this year highlights the inconsistencies in research on the topic of gaming and violence. The studies of this research discredits much of the conclusion about violence in gaming causing violence in the real world while also debunking claims that playing violent video games (as a substitute) will keep you from performing violent acts in real life. The truth is that much of this research was done to prove the point that was made in their findings and further investigation found that this caused researchers to alter findings, ignore unwanted findings, and change or ignore some of their beginning hypothesis. This was not good science and shouldn’t be used to inform opinion, though many news media and anti violent video games advocates still use these studies to support their stance.

    More recent studies have struggled to find links in the gaming experience and behavior. While some studies have seen an increase in aggression in kids due to gaming, there is not a correlation to that aggression turning to violence. The studies that show increased aggression tested subjects immediately after ending their gaming session and there was a significant decrease in their aggression after only a few minutes. A study done in March of this 2018 found that after two months of gaming there was no clear evidence that gamers who played violent games experienced more aggression than those who played a less violent game. 

    All of these studies are quick to highlight that there is still more research to be done. They maintain that kids may be more likely to experience negative effects from the violence in video games and that it is difficult to test the long term effects. While there is more learning to be done it is becoming more clear that the blame for violence in our society can’t be based solely on video games.

    There Can’t Be Just One

    Experts and researchers agree that there cannot be just one single cause of these egregious acts that are committed in our country lately. There are many factors that contribute to the likelihood that someone will commit a violent act, too many factors to focus too much on only one of them. There are likely those who shouldn’t play violent video games because they are more prone to act out but that doesn’t necessarily mean that gaming is the singular cause of that aggression. 

    The most important thing is that we stay informed and continue to learn about the best way to help each other during these times. Speak up when you see dangerous or violent behavior and if your child is showing signs of over-aggression, depression, or other mental health issues get them the help they need. We should all be in this together, supporting each other, seeking out those we can help, not those we can blame. 

    It is natural to look for a single cause that can be removed in order to end these horrible events. Unfortunately, it just isn’t realistic. My prayers and thoughts are with the families of those affected by this horrible action and my heart is to inform and educate you as a parent so that we can all raise kids who want to contribute positively to the world and not negatively. To answer the question posed in the title of this article, no, violent video games alone do not create killers. 

  • Parent Guide: Farcry 5

    Parent Guide: Farcry 5

    Farcry 5 S.A.F.E. Rating

    Violence: 1 out of 5
    Language: 1 out of 5
    Sexual Content: 3 out of 5 (so far)
    Positive Message: 2 out of 5

    Total: 7 out of 20 = Adults Only!

    The Game

    The Farcry series is known to feature regular people type characters who are put in extraordinary situations and forced to fight their way out. Players try their hand at fighting crime lords, warlords, and drug cartels. In Farcry 5 you’re a sheriff deputy who is trying to overthrow a cult in the mountains of Montana. You team up with locals, wildlife, and even secret agents to eliminate the influence of “The Father,” a man who considers himself the spiritual leader of an entire group of religious followers.

    This game is set in an open world. There is a storyline but it isn’t linear, it unfolds as you explore different areas of the game. You can go around doing whatever you want, liberating outposts, saving citizens, hunting and fishing, all the while increasing your influence over the region through something called “resistance points.” These points allow you to unlock new areas and items and eventually lead you to your final showdown with the leader of the cult. The story of Farcry 5 is very interesting and well told. It is, however, a bit on the anti-religious side, albeit so extreme that it is hard to view it as a serious commentary on religion. The cult is very extreme and a caricature of anything it may be trying to actually represent. I wouldn’t take seriously any complaints about this game being anti-christian or anti-religion.

    Violence: (1)

    This game features extreme violence right from the start. You are attacking enemies with a large collection of different weapons. Melee, explosives, firearms, vehicles, and even animals can be used to take out your enemies. You can choose to use stealth to eliminate your enemies or you can go in guns and dynamite blazing and take ’em all out that way. The worst violence in the game takes place during the cinematic cut scenes. There are executions, eye gouging, and self harm/mutilation featured in the cinematic scenes that drive the story. The violence is used to show the extremity of the cult you are up against and it begins with the first cut scene at the beginning of the game.

    Farcry 5 scores a 1 for violence meaning it’s meant for Adults.

    Language: (1)

    Farcry 5 has multiple uses of every word imaginable right from the very beginning. It is rated M for Mature because of language and it is obvious early on in the game play.

    Farcry 5 scores a 1 for Language meaning it’s meant for Adults.

    Sexual:

    So far in my current, incomplete, walkthrough of Farcry 5 there isn’t any sexual content. The rating of the games mentions sexual themes but I haven’t seen it yet. I will update this post on this topic once my walkthrough has completed.

    Farcry 5 scores a 3 (so far) for sexual content meaning it depends on your child. 

    Message:

    Like most 1st person shooter games, Farcry 5 puts you in a position where your only option is to pick up a machine gun and start mowing people over. As mentioned before, this game is full of scripture and even some reimagining of some old church songs. They are used in a context that features the cult in a negative way. There is no positive message in this game, except maybe that you shouldn’t join a violent cult. The themes of this game are very grown up and explore what happens when people give themselves blindly to someone like “The Father.”

    Farcry 5 scores a 2 for message meaning it contains very mature themes. 

    Final Thoughts

    Farcry 5 isn’t meant for your 15 year old son. It’s a game made by adults for adults. It features very adult themes and content and doesn’t apologize for the gruesomeness of the violence or the complexity of the story. While there isn’t any sexual content that I’m aware of, it still ranks very low as far as its playability for even some older teens. I recommend keeping informed on the content of this game and know if your kids are playing it. Many kids will ask for it and some will get to buy it because their parents don’t know what the game consists of. My advice is that you share this review with other parents and let them know what content the game their kid is asking for contains. 

  • Parent Guide: StarWars Battlefront 2 (Story Mode)

    Parent Guide: StarWars Battlefront 2 (Story Mode)

    StarWars Battlefront 2 S.A.F.E. Rating

    Violence: 3 out of 5
    Language: 4 out of 5
    Sexual Content: 5 out of 5
    Positive Message: 4 out of 5

    Total: 16 out of 20 = Older Kid Friendly!

    **This review is for the story mode of StarWars Battlefront 2. Multiplayer content can vary due to downloadable, upgradable, and user-generated content. 

    The Game

    Battlefront 2 is the first in the series to have a story mode. The game contains story elements that are considered “canon” for the overall StarWars story. This makes it an even more appealing feature for this game and the good news is that the story is actually pretty interesting. You follow a couple of characters who were raised and trained in the Empire and have some second thoughts about their loyalty to the Emperor and his followers after events following the battle of Endor. The story takes you through playing as several characters including a Jedi and a Sith Lord. You also get to fly several ships and pilot a few vehicles. The game is still obviously designed for the massively multiplayer online battles and the campaign is designed to highlight all of the online features. If feels very much like a Battlefront game and seems to have a lot of replayability.

    Violence/Gore (3)

    This is ultimately a war game so you find yourself in constant combat. The violence is everpresent with shooting, lightsaber battling, electrocuting, and explosions. There is, however, very little to no gore in the game. Lazer bolts and lightsabers don’t cause you to bleed and if you use grenades, rockets, or vehicles to blow up your enemies they just fly around from the shock of the explosion. There is no loss of limbs or severe damage shown. You can’t go into a StarWars title and not expect to see some violence but this game contains combat of the PG to PG-13 variety, no more than any StarWars film.

    Language (4)

    There is no adult language in Battlefront 2. I will repeat here, however, that that fact changes greatly when you join multiplayer battles and those you’re playing with have microphones. Then, though, the language isn’t coming from the game, but from the people you are playing with.

    Sexual Content (5)

    The story mode of Battlefront 2 had no sexual innuendo or content at all. There is one kiss but it isn’t graphic or adult oriented in any way.

    Positive Message (4)

    As with any StarWars story, the message of Battlefront 2 one is hope and redemption. The rebellion is trying to bring freedom to the galaxy and the Empire is doing everything they can to keep their grip around the galaxy. The main characters are trying to be redeemed from a lifetime of fighting for an Empire they no longer believe in. The reason this game doesn’t get a 5 for Message is that, again, just as in many StarWars titles, the bad guys are super cool in BattleFront 2. It is fun to wield the red lightsabers and the dark side force powers. I obviously don’t believe playing StarWars Battlefront 2 will cause kids to want to turn to the “dark” side but I will say that there is a bit of glory given to those who are on the “bad” side of this story. Good vs Evil can get complicated, especially in real life, StarWars has always kept it pretty clear who is who. Battlefront 2 keeps that tradition alive.

    Final Thoughts

    I have played the Battlefront games for years. It is pretty cool to see them adding a story to the game since StarWars stories tend to be so interesting and inspiring. If your kid(s) has asked you for Battlefront 2 for Christmas it’s important to keep a couple things in mind. First of all, this game, while the violence isn’t brutal and gory, is still a first-person shooter. The risk of attention and anxiety problems in young men increases with more time spend playing FPS games. Secondly, this game has been marred by a bad reputation for getting players to spend money in order to excel in the game. EA, the publisher of Battlefront 2, has had to revamp a lot about how they do microtransactions and upgradable content and characters because players have been complaining and boycotting the game. No matter which side of the fence you or I sit on spending money to buy things in a game you already paid $60 to play in the first place, your children are being marketed to within this game. You, as a parent, need to be aware of that.

  • Parents Guide: Assassin’s Creed Origins

    Parents Guide: Assassin’s Creed Origins

    Assassin’s Creed Origins S.A.F.E. Rating

    Violence: 2 out of 5
    Language: 3 out of 5
    Sexual Content: 2 out of 5
    Positive Message: 2 out of 5

    Total: 9 out of 20 = Recommended for Adults Only!

    The Game

    Assassin’s Creed Origins is the 11th game in the Assassin’s creed series. The game is set in ancient Egypt around the time of Cleopatra and Julius Caesar. Like other Assassin’s Creed games, Origins is set in a historical alternate timeline in which your character is changing the course of history by completing your missions. The story is complicated because it is also set in modern/near future timeline. In this timeline, you are a researcher who is using the DNA of a historical figure to move into the past and become an assassin. The multiple timelines and characters make for an interesting, while at times confusing, story. In Origin’s you’re working to take out a secret society who is behind the dark times your country is experiencing. Eventually, you make your way to Rome and take part in one of the largest Assassinations in history. If you’re a fan of history, Assassin’s Creed games are interesting even though they’re obviously based in fiction. The setting and politics of the story are well crafted and keep your attention well. Origins is an open world game which means you have multiple missions all over the game world that you can complete outside of the main story. This lends itself to replayability beyond “beating” the game.

    Assassin’s Creed isn’t the best game I’ve seen, the controls seem heavy and the combat is a bit “clunky” but it is interesting and seems to be what Assassin’s Creed fans want out of a game in the series.

     

    Violence/Gore (2)

    You take the role of an assassin in this game so obviously, violence is a major part of the gameplay. You kill people in multiple ways including bows, swords, axes, blunt force weapons, and even ships. There is a stealth element to the game that is meant to reward the player by giving them multiple ways to kill their foe quietly. There is a lot of blood involved in every assassination and some beheadings and slit throats as well during cinematics. Your violence is celebrated and is, in fact, considered the goal of every mission of the game. Killing is, after all, the job of an assassin.

    Language (3)

    The language is interesting in this game. Words that would be considered “adult” are used in some of the dialog but they are often (not always) spoken in Egyptian or Latin. The translation is shown in the subtitles, however. In the modern day/near future timeline there is adult language throughout including F—, Sh–, D—, and H—.

    Sexual Content (2)

    While the main characters’ sexual encounters are treated as PG or PG-13 there are multiple instances of nudity and even sexual situations. Many of the village women are topless and bare breasts are shown while you’re just riding your horse around the game map. One mission takes you to a brothel in which you see many topless women and even a couple in a sexual situation. They are in the background and not the focus of the mission but what they are doing is very obvious. Cleopatra has women dancing for her, some are topless, and she speaks to men about spending the night with her and being killed the next day telling them that it would be “well worth it.”

    Positive Message (2)

    Assassination is literally the name of the game here. The goal is to kill and do it creatively and effectively. Murdering person after person in a video game has a way of getting satisfying. I believe this is a cause for concern. Especially for younger audiences.

    The only reason this doesn’t receive a 1 out of 5 for the positive message is that there isn’t much question that those you’re killing are the worst of the worst and those who work for them. Also, there is a focus on a couple of female characters in this game that I am glad to see. They are portrayed as powerful and passionate and even their costumes are tasteful and make sense. They aren’t just in the game to be eye candy. They play major roles in the story and they are fun to play as.

    Final Thoughts

    I recommend that this game is reserved for those over the age of 17, just like the rating says. Blood and gore, drugs/alcohol, violence, nudity, language, and sexual content all make the highlights list and for good reason. The playthrough I watched exhibited multiple examples of each of these themes and they are presented in ways that are very much geared towards an adult audience. When your 13-year-old asks for an Assassin’s Creed game for Christmas, this is what he is wanting. Maybe redirect him to something a bit more age appropriate.

  • Parent Guide: Call of Duty World War 2

    Parent Guide: Call of Duty World War 2

     

    
Call of Duty World War 2 S.A.F.E. Rating

Violence: 1 out of 5
Language: 2 out of 5
Sexual Content: 4 out of 5
Positive Message: 5 out of 5

    The Game

    Call of Duty has been the “Belle” of the FPS (first person shooter) ball since day Halo. COD games are created with extremely high budgets and make intense amounts of money for the developers. These games are released on nearly every gaming platforms and each version seems to outsell the previous. Needless to say, many parents are being asked by their young teen or even pre-teen kids if they can go out and get the game for Christmas. Be sure to read this post before you decide to stuff their stocking with this Rated-M game. Here’s my breakdown.

    Violence/Gore (1)

    Call of Duty is a war game. You’d expect a fair amount of pew pew pew gun action and bloody gore and that’s exactly what you will get. In the first few minutes you see someones face blown off, arms and legs missing, and a explosions blowing people and pieces of people into the air. When you have a chance to fire back you see the brute force of your weapon as people’s faces and bodies become covered in blood when you shoot them. The level of gore is dependent on the weapon you are using but it never truly lets up. There is continuous shooting, explosions, stabbing (bayonets and knives), and hand to hand combat. Some of the violence isn’t just to soldiers, there’s discussion about how prisoners are handled, as well as civilians being killed.

    Zombies

    The gore does pick up, however, when you play the Zombie portions of the game. So does the language. Imagine half decomposed, limbless bodies coming after you over and over again in increasing numbers. Then imagine you have nothing but a shovel to defend yourself. The gore STARTS there and just gets more brutal as the game continues. In the Zombie levels you have to get past puzzle like obstacles while fighting off these waves of the undead. You get stronger weapons and unlock traps and boosts to kill the onslaught in more affective, yet, gruesome ways. The Zombie section isn’t a separate purchase or something you can lock or unlock, it’s a part of the game.

    Language (2)

    The language is rated R from the very beginning. You’ll hear F—, Sh–, D—, H—, G–D—, and D— throughout the game. It’s your basic FPS, war game vocabulary. While I can’t guarantee I’d be saying gosh and golly gee during hardcore WWII combat, that doesn’t change the fact that we have to look out for our younger kids and young teens and decide if the language in games like Call of Duty World War 2 is something we want them to take in.

    Sexual Content (4)

    No sexual content besides a bit of “locker room” talk between a few of the soldiers. There is discussion of girlfriends and fiancé as well as some chatter about meeting women when they get to Paris. Any sexual content or conversation pretty much ends at jokes and innuendo.

    Positive Message (5)

    This was the most surprising part of Call of Duty World War 2 for me. I wasn’t expecting such positive vibes from the game. The focus on the heroism, the discussion on PTSD, commitment, sacrifice, and what you must withstand to face combat. It was all very very interesting and quite emotional at times. If you play the story mode you will get a sense of belonging to the unit you fight with during the game. You play as a soldier named Red Daniels, and live a bit of his history, future, and present day life in combat. This story takes you from D-Day until you secure the bridge across the Reign, the river that you must cross to get into Germany and eventually Berlin. The epilogue takes you a bit beyond that even. (Don’t want to spoil it.)

    The generation of men and women who fought in WW2 are looked upon with honor in this game. There are speeches given by some characters in the game that really emphasize the sacrifice the young (and old) people of that day had to face as they fought the evil that was the Nazi regime. I was impressed by the attention given to the human sacrifice during the time of WWII and feel like, if a teenager or adult is old enough to handle the content, the message will be a good one for many of us to hear.

    MULTIPLAYER

    I didn’t test multiplayer in this game but I will say simply that there are no ratings listed for multiplayer on any video game. The reason for that is that the conversations had while you play online with other people can and will turn ADULT very and very quickly. My recommendation is that online, multiplayer, gaming be something is only approved for your older teenage kids that you trust can handle the onslaught of adult language and innuendo.

    Final Thoughts

    This game is rated M for Mature. That means it was CREATED for people aged 17 and older. No doubt, your younger teen will be asking permission to play this game. Hopefully you will take all the information in this article into account before blindly allowing them to play a game with content that’s intended for users up to five years older than they are. There’s a big difference in the mental maturity of at 12 year old and an 18 year old.

    I absolutely wouldn’t recommend games like this for kids with any kind of attention problems or anxiety. The game is very stressful and barely lets up for cut scenes and story elements. Shortly after any kind of break in the action, though, you’re right back into it and the fighting is very intense. This action includes explosives going on all around you, being shot at, meeting objectives before you lose members of your squad. It’s all very high impact and the “fight or flight” response would be very very extreme during this game. The drama during some of the cut scenes could even be a bit much for some kids and teens because it deals with heavy and dark topics like PTSD, losing friends in combat, and the mistreatment of civilians and prisoners.

    Be wise with games that have an M rating. Know what your kids are getting into and don’t buy them the game just because they wear you down and you give in. Be smart enough to protect them from content they may not be ready to see. It will definitely be worth it.