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Modern Warfare 2, Guitar Hero 5 Among 'Tweens' Most-Wanted For Holidays
by Kris Graft [PC, Console/PC]
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October 27, 2009
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A survey published by U.S. video game specialty retailer Game Crazy this week found that 86 percent of teens and "tweens" will ask for a video game this year, with Guitar Hero 5 and the M-rated Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 among the most wanted.
The action and music genres were the most popular genres for this year, according to retailer Game Crazy's survey, conducted by Weekly Reader Research. The four most-wanted games among the 1,000 respondents ages 8-17 were Activision's Guitar Hero 5 (48 percent), Nintendo's Wii Sports Resort (44 percent) and New Super Mario Bros. Wii (41 percent), and Sega's Mario and Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games (33 percent).
Game Crazy also broke the survey down by age and gender, finding that 50 percent of boys often play games that have an Entertainment Software Rating Board rating that's above their age bracket.
At 48 percent, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games was the most-wanted game among 8-10 year old boys. But in the 11-13 year old boys bracket, 41 percent want the upcoming Mature-rated military shooter Modern Warfare 2 from Activision and Infinity Ward, making it the second-most wanted game in that gender/age group after Guitar Hero 5.
In the 11-17 year old boys bracket, Modern Warfare 2 was the most-wanted game with 46 percent. ESRB's Mature rating indicates a game that is deemed appropriate for people ages 17 and up.
The survey also showed that 66 percent of kids plan on asking for a new video game system this holiday. The most desired system is the Nintendo DSi (24 percent), followed by PlayStation 3 and Wii (21 percent each), according to the survey.
Game Crazy's complete breakdown by age and gender can be seen below:
Girls
-- 8-10 Years-Old
-- Wii Sports Resort (Rated E) - 56 percent
-- New Super Mario Brothers (Rated E) - 49 percent
-- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Rated E) - 44 percent
-- 11-13 Years-Old
-- Guitar Hero 5 (Rated T) - 53 percent
-- Wii Sports Resort (Rated E) - 52 percent
-- New Super Mario Brothers (Rated E) - 42 percent
-- 14-17 Years-Old
-- Guitar Hero 5 (Rated T) - 57 percent
-- Wii Sports Resort (Rated E) - 48 percent
-- New Super Mario Brothers (Rated E) - 48 percent
Boys
-- 8-10 Years-Old
-- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Rated E) - 48 percent
-- New Super Mario Brothers (Rated E) - 47 percent
-- Guitar Hero 5 (Rated T) - 47 percent
-- 11-13 Years-Old
-- Guitar Hero 5 (Rated T) - 42 percent
-- Call of Duty (Rated M) - 41 percent
-- Wii Sports Resort (Rated E) - 41 percent
-- 14-17 Years-Old
-- Call of Duty (Rated M) - 46 percent
-- Guitar Hero 5 (Rated T) - 45 percent
-- Halo 3 ODST (Rated M) - 39 percent
"As Game Crazy's survey indicates, it's not unusual for younger kids to want to play what the older kids are playing," said ESRB president Patricia Vance. "Parents need to understand that not all video games are intended for younger players. The ESRB ratings provide guidance about content and age-appropriateness so parents can make sure the games their kids play are suitable for their age."
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I talk all about this game development stuff in my blog...
http://aboutmakinggames.blogspot.com/
Mac
I wonder whether we can also extrapolate that older gamers tend to prefer the Xbox (since sales for X360 and PS3 are overall comparable and younger players seem to be keener on the PS3 according to this survey), which in turn makes me wonder if those more story-based games for a mature audience like Heavy Rain and The Last Guardian are on the right platform (and they are actually the main reason why I'm considering buy a PS3 once they are out...)
Rambo videogame was a cartoon, the videogames today look, feel and act real. I don't think it's appropriate for young children. If you want to let your children play them fine, but the ratings should be enforced. My opinion, of course.
Regardless, it should be a parent's decision whether or not their children can access mature games.
I think it relies heavily on the parents, though it might be because the rating system is confusing. It says 'M' but does it mean 'R'? Parents understand the movie ratings, why can't they figure out the game ratings? How do we fix such a system when it is blatant ignorance of the parents in the first place?
I think the ESRB has done well with the system, the problem is the gaming industry just doesn't stick up for itself. The quote given by Activision helped a bit:
"Modern Warfare 2 is a fantasy action game designed for intense, realistic gameplay that mirrors real life conflicts, much like epic, action movies. It is appropriately rated 18 for violent scenes, which means it is intended for those who are 18 and older."
but then they went and gimped the system anyhow, putting up warning boxes and such before the scene.
When content like this gets put in, who goes to the media and tells parents they need to actually realize what 'M' means? Who tells them that the gaming industry is similar to the movie industry... there is content that is only for adults?
I think both parents and developers are at fault. Developers want to make strong 'M' games, but they are just too afraid to bluntly make parents aware (seeming their game sales will suffer). And parents are the problem for thinking gaming is for children, and ignore the labels.
However, despite developers hidden 'money grab' from kids, parents could still solve the problem all by themselves. That is why the parents should be the main point of blame. 'M' means NO KIDS... it's really not that hard to understand.
At the end of the day, I'm pretty such that obscure, erudite little black and white icons hidden away on a game box aren't really going to inform anyone, especially the parents that do not and have not got a desire to understand games beyond the fact that purchasing Violent Shooter X will make their kids happy and keep them quiet for a little while. There's a bit of give and take on both sides, methinks.