# Splinter Cell: appropriate for a 13 year old? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 7, 2005, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/splinter-cell-appropriate-for-a-13-year-old/334462 "2005-12-07T04:16:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/splinter-cell-appropriate-for-a-13-year-old/334462/21 "2005-12-09T13:20:25Z")
> [@Sleel](#): > > Personally, I find it a lot less disturbing to have a few enemies whose deaths really matter than to be massacring hoards of gun fodder, but some people interpret this as being too realistic and therefore more threatening. I think it’s ironic that entertainment that shows the reality and aftermath of violence seems more disturbing to most people than entertainment that ignores the repercussions of a violent act or seeks to glorify or trivialize it. False dichotomy - there are more than those two types of games out there. I agree with you, and he isn’t allowed to play “gun fodder” games either. He’s of the Harry Potter/Lord of the Rings type games at the moment. > [@Pochacco](#): > > Actually, no. I was the lead designer on Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six, the precursor to Splinter Cell and I actually spent some time with the SC team early in the development process, so I’m in a position to speak authoritatively on the origins of this technology. I’m sorry, I think I was unclear in my statement. What I was taught in college was that the early “push a button on a controller and “shoot” something on-screen” technology that later became the foundation of many video games was developed or substantially subsidized by the US Military who saw it as a way to train soldiers to fire at the human form without hesitating. > [@Omniscient](#): > > ``` > I feel pretty confident in saying that you have nothing to be concerned about. There's 3 reasons for this. > > ``` > > 1. At 13, he’s way beyond the point where you have to be really concerned. The maturity level of the typical 13 year old boy is pretty advanced when it comes to this type of thing. His literature in school is almost certainly rife with military themes and the reality of war. And even moreso, he’s going to see much much worse on TV on any given weeknight. I’m not advocating gratuitous sex and violence painting the walls red, but he’s certainly old enough to cope with realistic death and violence. I think this is one of those areas where my judgement for what’s best for him has to include more than just “what can he take?” I’m aware that most of what I’m struggling with is my own discomfort with violence and having him in control of doing violent deeds. I’m not a pacifist, but I’m pretty close - so the idea of endorsing or condoning this type of game really bothers me. > [@](#): > > 1. Splinter Cell simply isn’t that graphic. Characters are shot and exploded, but there’s very little in the way of blood and dismemberment which is common to the more extreme games. The violence is all within the scope of reality and is not more horrifying than you’d expect in a police drama on TV. Thanks. That was what I was asking in my OP. For what it’s worth, he’s not allowed to watch police dramas, either, for the same reason. Scifi, we’re all in favor of - it’s so fantastic that I’m comfortable with it. > [@](#): > > 1. He’s already played it and it’s predecessors and he’s almost certainly going to be playing games as bad or worse with friends. If I were a parent, I’d be of the philosophy that it’s better to have it happen in the home where you’re able to supervise and put into perspective than elsewhere. Ah man, do I struggle with this. Yes, I totally get what you’re saying, and before I actually had a kid, I was with you all the way. I was certain I’d be the “cool mom” who would be calm and rational and let him have the beer bashes at home, so at least I’d know he and all his friends were safe…now, I’m not so sure. Being a parent is about more than ensuring your kids’ physical safety. It’s also about transmitting your values, even if they ultimately choose their own. I can only maintain control of my own household, but he knows that what happens at Nick’s house is not a reflection of my moral character. Frankly, I don’t care much if he plays the game at Nick’s, because that says nothing about my moral consistency. This thread has helped me immensely. If nothing else, I’ve better identified who it’s really about: it’s about me, not him. _I’m_ not ready for a game like this in my home, even if he is. Maintaining my moral integrety is more important than his getting one particular game, when there’s dozens of others out there that he’ll like. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/splinter-cell-appropriate-for-a-13-year-old/334462/22 "2005-12-09T14:16:43Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > This thread has helped me immensely. If nothing else, I’ve better identified who it’s really about: it’s about me, not him. _I’m_ not ready for a game like this in my home, even if he is. Maintaining my moral integrety is more important than his getting one particular game, when there’s dozens of others out there that he’ll like. Well, it’s good that you realize this reality and can think about it in that context. I don’t personally agree with the logic, it feels like your more concerned with making a quasi-political statement than judging whats healthy for your child. However, if you’re honest about why you’re making that decision I find no reason to push back on that point. Of course a very reasonable tactic which is outside the scope that discussion, is for you to simply visit Best Buy, Curcuit City or pretty much any of the popular game stores a view the game being played. They tend to have a large number of consoles set up where you could view the game being played before buying it. The best way for you to judge what you deem “acceptable” is to actually experience it instead of going on anecdotal impressions. One final opinion, if you’re not going to get him the game because you don’t approve of the violence, I think it’s only fair that you explain that to him. It seems to defeat the purpose if you simply have “Santa” buy him something else from his list and letting it go unaddressed. If it’s about you imparting your values into him, it’s somewhat hypocritical for it to go unspoken. Just my $.02. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/splinter-cell-appropriate-for-a-13-year-old/334462/23 "2005-12-09T15:17:11Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > One final opinion, if you’re not going to get him the game because you don’t approve of the violence, I think it’s only fair that you explain that to him. It seems to defeat the purpose if you simply have “Santa” buy him something else from his list and letting it go unaddressed. If it’s about you imparting your values into him, it’s somewhat hypocritical for it to go unspoken. Just my $.02. Good point. I’d never not get him something he’s been asking for without explaining why. I did talk to him about it this morning just before he left for school. I told him I’d checked the website of the game and checked with the Dopers, and come to the conclusion that it has an appropriate “M” rating and contained the type of realistic violence I’m not comfortable with having around the house. He shrugged and said, “OK. The Chronicles of Narnia game looks cool, too.” Much ado about nothing, I suppose. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/splinter-cell-appropriate-for-a-13-year-old/334462/24 "2005-12-09T15:30:17Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > WhyKid wants the game Splinter Cell for his Gameboy SomethingorOther for Yule. I checked [www.splintercell.com](http://www.splintercell.com) and my first reaction is No. Way. > > Am I overreacting? Is it realistic violence and abusive language, or cartoonish violence and a few swears? How bad are we talking here? My kids have played the series on Xbox. My daughter is 13 now, she was probably 11 when she played the first one. Hasn’t seemd to affect them. Sure, I make sure all the lights are on and alway, always, always sleep with one eye open, but which parent doesn’t? It is not as violent as some games, but is still relatively realistic in its violence. ---
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/splinter-cell-appropriate-for-a-13-year-old/334462/25 "2005-12-09T15:31:40Z")
And next time I will read the entire thread before jumping in… ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/splinter-cell-appropriate-for-a-13-year-old/334462/26 "2005-12-09T15:39:19Z")
Well, I’m not sure what game in the series he’s wanting. But one of the versions I have, sometimes you will grab a guy from behind, and brutally slit their throats to kill them. It’s fairly graphic and the sound is quite realistic. I’m middle aged, though, and I can handle it. I wouldn’t let my son have the game. Maybe at 15+ or something, eventually I think most boys will get into the beat-em up or violent type games, but I think there’s an age when they shouldn’t be playing them. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/splinter-cell-appropriate-for-a-13-year-old/334462/27 "2005-12-09T16:52:17Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I’m sorry, I think I was unclear in my statement. What I was taught in college was that the early “push a button on a controller and “shoot” something on-screen” technology that later became the foundation of many video games was developed or substantially subsidized by the US Military who saw it as a way to train soldiers to fire at the human form without hesitating. As has been pointed out twice, this is just false. So **Pochacco** , what are you working on now? ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/splinter-cell-appropriate-for-a-13-year-old/334462/28 "2005-12-10T01:32:40Z")
The military did have some early video-game ish training similators, but the tech was primarily developed by the consumer market. There’s a famous tank simulation game that the military used for awhile in the 1980s. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2005, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/splinter-cell-appropriate-for-a-13-year-old/334462/29 "2005-12-10T09:16:08Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > And America’s Army isn’t really a recruiting tool. I mean it is, but getting the game is literally no strings attached. I signed up for a copy a few years ago and have never, in all that time, been contacted by an Army recruiter. You should have played The Last Starfighter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/splinter-cell-appropriate-for-a-13-year-old/334462.md?page=1)