Is This Video Game Harmful? (Starsiege: Tribes)

[SuperPrayer]

Hello, in light of the other thread regarding demonic video games, I have a concern of my own.

My son is 11 years old. He is a devout Christian and I love him very much, but he is at the age where I have seen other parent's children start to stray and I'm beginning to get paranoid over the little things. I bought him a laptop last year for his birthday and he's plays many video games that I approve of, such as Minecraft (although the violence does frighten me).

Lately, he has been playing a shooter video game called Starsiege: Tribes. Having done some research about the game, it is an old game that looks like Minecraft, but may have some ungodly undertones.

Here is a video on Youtube to show you what I mean:

What concerns me about this video game is the self-harm the characters inflict upon themselves and others, and the suiciding. You see, players shoot themselves with an object called a disc to propel them to fast speeds. You can see the screen turns red when this occurs and the player's health lowers. Also there is a button the game that is called "suicide" and you can see the characters killing themselves over and over again in the video.

Now, I'm usually fine with a little bit of violence in video games, like in Minecraft it's all aimed at skeletons and zombies, but in this game this is players doing it to each other and it's made me very concerned.

What are your thoughts on this? God bless.

 

[Travis]

All video games can present a problem, whether they are violent or not.

There are definently better things to do with one's time. : )

 

[SuperPrayer]

All video games can present a problem, whether they are violent or not.

There are definently better things to do with one's time. : )

Yes, most of my son's time is dedicated to school and bible studies groups. Unfortunately, he can't play sports due to medical reasons, so he spends the rest of his spare time playing video games at home. I've never had a problem with it because he enjoys his time doing this and he generally plays educational or creative games, but this one is out of the norm for him. I never let him play multiplayer games on the television because of what I've heard other players say to each other through microphones, but in this game players do not talk to each other through those means so I allowed it.

What are your thoughts on the game? Is it something I should let my son play? This is now his favorite game, he talks about it all the time, and I would hate to take it away from him.

God bless.

 

[Brad Huber]

Probably not a good game to play. When we were kids, we would play cowboys and indians, shooting each other, etc. Yet at least that game was a social game with real live people in front of you. Even that simple game promoted the thought that indians are bad, which isnt good. If he wants some violence in his game, make sure the player plays a good guy and that the bad guy npc's are obviously bad guys, and no graphic violence (blood spurting, screaming, cursing, etc).

 

[SuperPrayer]

Probably not a good game to play. When we were kids, we would play cowboys and indians, shooting each other, etc. Yet at least that game was a social game with real live people in front of you. Even that simple game promoted the thought that indians are bad, which isnt good. If he wants some violence in his game, make sure the player plays a good guy and that the bad guy npc's are obviously bad guys, and no graphic violence (blood spurting, screaming, cursing, etc).

Looking at this other video here:

you can definitely hear some chilling screams. I don't know what all the other sounds are. I have never heard them when my son was playing. Some of them are alarming.

I originally allowed my son to play this multiplayer game, I really don't want to take back my word and crush him. He says it's his favorite game. As a child, I knew I couldn't get enough of some of the board games I played. And I can't say that there wasn't violence involved in them and I didn't think there was anything wrong with them. Would I be a hypocrite to take this game away from my son?

 

[Brad Huber]

Are people hypocrites when politicians they vote for do things more wrong than they would have expected? The truth always wins out, even when it seems otherwise. Let the truth of your feelings about the game be made known to him.

 

[Christ4Ever]

First Welcome to Talk Jesus!
It is awesome that you are seeking help with your son who is your God given treasure!

Now to some questions.

Difficult as this maybe to look at. Have you had a sit down with your son on this?
Have you asked him what attracts him to playing this game?
Is it the game or the camaraderie he get's by being with other players seeking to accomplish a goal?

Too often we as parents have let the games be the babysitter, allowing us time to do other things besides engaging them and growing them. This even happens to believing parents. This is not meant to be accusatory or directed to you.

You as parents will receive the same answers as you gave your own parents when you were young.

Why can't I play it? John's parents let him play! I'm bored and there is nothing else to do. All my friends are playing and if I don't play I'll be left out!

Sound familiar?

Our generations are different in the technological sense, but the character of the children has not changed except on how much they've been exposes to issues moral etc. that we weren't until adults or at least older. What interested us when we were children will interest them now. I'm not talking specifics as in the games played, but the interaction between each other as children. The medium might be different (face to face, now monitor to monitor), but except now the children do not really know how it affects someone else. Non-verbals are lost in this world now a days.

Gaming sadly, is the way the youth find a way from being a part of something, escaping something, being entertained etc. Remember just taking it away does not solve the problem if there is a problem. Sometimes just spending the time with him, watching how he plays, behaves, etc. Giving of your time to attempt to see what he sees after talking with him.

Which means if you determine that it's not harmful, then oversee it by how much time does he spend playing it verses, doing actual physical activity, or school work, or reading, chores, etc. He might not even be aware of it! As the saying goes "Time flies when you're having fun". Time it and after a while have another sit down with him to kind of review what you've observed and made not of. If he's stopped doing other things, like interacting with the family when he did before. This too would be observable and can be mentioned. Always, always, in a loving way.

This is not done as a way to bash him, but to see if he's even aware of how it may be affecting him. Probably won't be and that is the greatest danger of anything. Oblivious to our surrounding, and stunting our growth as believers.

As Romans 12: 2 says "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

I hope this helps a little. I will pray for you all and that you are guided to do what is best for your son within God's will for him.

Once again be welcome!
YBIC
C4E
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