CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

I was asked this question by someone; I know it rests upon personal convictions, but considering M rated games usually include what we, as Christians, oppose, why would we play them? Don't get me wrong, I have some M ones myself. Halo 2 is one of my favorite multiplayer titles ever.

Depends on personal conviction. It's really no different from watching TV or R-rated movies.

That's what I thought, as well. But then again, I don't trust myself very much.

Just don't let it get to you. As long as you recognize violence as bad, and don't play the game just for that. It also depends on the game. Something like GTA is definitely sinful. (You get points for running over pedestrians)

^ I've always thought that, myself. I wouldn't touch GTA. I've played it before, and it wasn't even that fun.

True, my opinion is that it all depends what is in the game. Some games have some opposing things in them while some don't. I myself have have a couple of M rated games but I checked out what was in the game and to find out the only reason it was rated M was for language and violence (which don't bother me at all). I'd try to stay away from any of the R rated things, if you know what i mean. but like I said, it all depends on the game and the content of it.

oh and you might want to check out the game on the internet before even thinking about buying it. I had to do that several times and what looked like a good game, was'nt a good, clean game . . at all. just some advice there.

i would agree, that each game needs to be considered seprately. Personally, i think killing guys in Halo is completely different then real life.
However, i would watch out for games with scantily or un clad characters, and excessive swearing, or even senseless violence (wre there is no objective or point in killing, or where the goal is slaughtering innocents) Also, some T rated games are to me worse then some M rated games in some of these aspects.

very, very, true. but ofcourse i try not play games that have really violent killing for no reason. I like fighting, swordplay, army games don't get me wrong but i try to stick with the good vs evil type theme. As for some games, they just take it way too far with the R rated things, even if they have the "best fighting action in history". but once again, it all depends on what the game is, what it's content is, and what the theme of the game is.

And as for the scimpy dressings and such. i try and stay away from that as well. But as for swearing, just as long as they don't take the Lord's name in vein or f-bomb, then just about everything else is fine with me. Just like in anime, such words such as (excuse my french) d***, a**, s*** just describe the character in his/hers bad mood. but still I probably would not be saying that out in public even if my arm fell off, if you get what I'm saying

Depends on the game. Halo was M rated but I didn't see why exactly. Yet again, I turned the wall-decals off, so I've never played the full game with blood on...

And if language is the big problem, then every online game should be rated M (and they are marked that the rating will go up in online play). I haven't played a single online game without hearing bad language. Still, I don't think I've heard the Chr*stmas word yet :x

(You get points for running over pedestrians)

Well, that makes me thing of Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (though I guess throwing pedestrians off roofs isn't the point of the game, sooo...).

Really though, it's more on your own preferences, though something like GTA should be an obvious no-no, me thinks...

You have to keep Philippians 4:8 in mind when you look at the game.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things."

If it passes that test, then go play it. If not, then you have to seriously consider if the game pleases the Lord and if you really should be playing it as a Christian who's supposed to be keeping his mind and heart clean.

It all depends on why the game is rated Mature. In Halo you kill the bad guys. They are the offenders and you gotta save the day. In a game where you gotta meet hookers for points, well- kind of a no brainer, ne?

Personally, I play a lot of M rated games. Things like Metal Gear Solid, Devil May Cry, Resident Evil, Counter-Strike and the like.

Do I play them because I enjoy killing things? No.

Do I play them for the blood and gore? No.

I play Metal Gear Solid because I love being required to thing about my actions thoroughly before I go about them. It's not just run in and gun everything down, it's thinking, "What will happen if I tranquilize that guard at this moment after the patrol passes?". I also play MGS games for their amazingly deep (Yet sometimes odd) storylines and great character development.

Then, with the others like DMC and RE, I play them because I completely understand that they are just games. If you don't allow yourself to think thats what could actually happen, I personally think they're harmless.

Then there's CS, which I play because just like in MGS, I love a game that requires you to think. Strategizing among teamates is a vital part of CS, communication and tactics must be used or else you and your team will fall. Also, I play on a family friendly server where vulgar language isn't allowed, so that's a definate plus for me.

So really what I'm trying to say is, if you understand the difference between a game and reality, and don't let it affect your mindset on Christianity, then play it. But if you can't do that, then I agree that you should stay away from M games.

Well, it's not just the "good versus evil" thing, it's the presentation. In Perfect Dark (The original) the blood is a side effect, unlike other games where it's almost glorified (Timesplitters: Future Perfect's Injector).

M rated games are sometimes not as bad as some T rated games aka Halo 1 and 2 they are rated M but they are not as bad as some T rated games like .......well i can't really think right now but i no there are some games that only got a T rating that worse than halo but then again the flood are pretty nasty but then there are games like GTA which are completly wrong most of the time and also the game punisher whicvh glorifies violence by all means . So i guess i depends on what games you play and whether or not you are bothered by the content

I have some M rated games. for me it comes down to personal conviction and if the content will cause me to stumble in my walk with Christ.

There is this rated M game called DRAKAN the game is about a dragonrider named rynn and her dragon Arokh it does have some gorey parts and blood but it it is not as bad as GTA which tends to glorify sin I believe that if you think it will be a stumbling block to your christian walk and you also think the devil will bring it back to your mind later to torment you then it is usually best not to do it and I agree with Grubb in the fact that some Rated M games are better in their content than some Rated T games

My stepdad said if you know that it's right as in black and white with no gray then it is usually right if you start justifying in your mind that it is right then it is usually wrong

I am a big gaming fan so it is no dis to games but I do think we should be responsible gamers and be sure of what we are playing and it does come down to personal conviction but that's between the player and God

I think Australia's MA15+ rating is the equivalent to your M.
We now have G, PG, M, MA15+

Our 'G' and some 'PG' are your 'E', some 'PG' and 'M' are your 'T' and 'MA15+' is you 'M'.

So 'M' rated games aren't so bad here in terms of content. Although the occasional one slips through. But I own a number of games that are rated 'M' here, some 'PG' and some 'G.' I aslo own an 'MA15+' game called No One Lives Forever 2 but that rating is far too strict (those who have played it would know).

I think discernment is the key here and if you get promptings by the Holy Spirit don't do it.

I think discernment is the key here and if you get promptings by the Holy Spirit don't do it.

well said warrior i agree and that is by far the best way to tel wether or not to play that if God gives u sigh (like a gut feelingnot to play it) then listen to him and don't play it cuz it could make u waver in ur walk with God

I agree with warrior and grubb I believe the bottom line is
God is the one who knows what's best for us and if he tells us not to do something that He knows wouldn't be good for us then we shouldn't do it

Okay, I can see we are having problems...
1.Most M games shouldn't be rated M (DRIV3R, and others that I foget teh names of)
2. I try to stay away from and dont even like stuff like GTA<--(cept GTA 1 and 2) and Castlevainya or owever you say it, Devil May Cry, amd stuff like Resident evil...Cuase Thats just gross!
3. I think that alot of M games are or ok (Halo, DOA, and others that I forget)
4.It does all come down to the Bible, and how you feel with it.

But my parents are all Like - It makes you want to shoot people and kill them and if you play wit blood you wont care... but I say you make your own descions, because its your choice and personally I think that we can't help you... well I pray that you will find out whats right... - GunGrave

^ I agree. Maybe the weak minded, impressionable people would be tempted to kill someone for it, but anyone with common sense would not. It seems everyone is of the same mind as far as it goes about personal convictions, though if there were to be a Playboy game (there already is, thuogh...) it's obvious we wouldn't want to play it.

Just think about this for Video games, music, and other media stuff:

Would you go up to God and say: "Hey, play this new game I got as well as "Listen to this music."

Being an RPG fan, I would probably be at fault and I`m sure you can agree. This applies to music much more though since the main point of music is to glorify God (Ever band in the world tends to to that these days XP) but I can`t think of many games that are meant to glorify God.

Hmm... i think it's perfectly fine to play M rated games. My favorite games (the Metal Gear Series and Silent Hill 2) are M rated, and how. It's not the violent content that makes games objectionable... That is just a device to tell a story.

Now, like many have said, I won't touch GTA... The entire point of the game is to do things that are wrong. Metal Gear, on the other hand, is telling a story with a point, as is Silent Hill 2... Horrible stuff happens in them, but there is a valid point to be made and the content drives that. So, yeah, I have no problem with an M rated game... I don't look at ratings to judge a game, I play them and figure out waht they're about...

That being said, I found myself struggling more about Final Fantasy X than Silent Hill 2...

Yes, FFX`s relgious content can get annoying.

I think that M rated games are okay to play under a couple points:
1. You can stand against the wrong themes
2. no games that glorify sin
3. Most importantly a defintite line between good amd evil.

I personally could never by an M game every fiber of my body would stop me.

Whenever I play a game, I can easily identify the wrong themes. Games the glorify sin, such as GTA, I don't touch. As for the line between good and evil, in most cases it is easy to identify. Sometimes it seems to blur, but not many games I have played before have that element...but it is fun to try to figure out the storyline when it's like that. X)

In agreement with the rest of the thread, there's nothing inherently wrong with an M-rated game. The real issue is why you're playing it. If you think God would be all right with your reasons, go right ahead, but look to him first, and make sure your reasoning is sound.