So riddle me this?

[HuskerNlincoln]

I have a freind who has an 11 year old son, great kid and when they come over he sits and watches while I play, sometimes I'll let him line up and take a shot......

Anyway, due to this, he now has asked mom for SH3 for his birthday. I think she bought the US DVD copy for $5 on ebay, and I'll load all the great mods.

Do you all think that this is to indepth, to graphic, too intense for an 11 year old boy. Would it be a mistake say to load the advanced mods showing men getting blown off the deck, personally a favorite of both of us.

Is there a way besides history teaching to turn this into a positive experience.

He normally plays cartoonish games on the PC, Mario things like that.

Any thoughts

[FIREWALL]

Cartoonish you say ?

He should have got SH-4. :p :rotfl:

[kylania]

He already watches you play and sometimes helps right? It should be just fine for him. When I was 11 I'd already been playing complex RPG games and boardgames on my own for a while. Don't underestimate him.

As for the value of it, surely history would be an important part. But also things like thinking spatially, math, timings, trigonometry, geometry, navigation skills, nautical knowledge, judgment, self preservation and lots of other skills. Not to mention computer skills if you let him install it and explain how save files and config files work and where and how mods are installed and affect the game. Also a better understanding of his computer stats and equipment and how it runs games. Something he'll totally miss out on should he only play xBox.

[FIREWALL]

Originally Posted by kylania

He already watches you play and sometimes helps right? It should be just fine for him. When I was 11 I'd already been playing complex RPG games and boardgames on my own for a while. Don't underestimate him.

As for the value of it, surely history would be an important part. But also things like thinking spatially, math, timings, trigonometry, geometry, navigation skills, nautical knowledge, judgment, self preservation and lots of other skills. Not to mention computer skills if you let him install it and explain how save files and config files work and where and how mods are installed and affect the game. Also a better understanding of his computer stats and equipment and how it runs games. Something he'll totally miss out on should he only play xBox.

All excellent points. I was just being the Clown,

All the above skills he learns now he'll thank and remember you in the future.

[GoldenRivet]

My 12 year old brother in law (my wifes little brother) plays games like call of duty 4

I would think that SH3 would not be too "graphic" or "disturbing" for an 11 year old

[Jimbuna]

I can't see any harm...even with the enhanced effects. He likes the game, his parents obviously have no objections and the box cover states 7+

[HuskerNlincoln]

Thanks for all your input.

I actually have sent this string to his mom, just so she is feeling comfortable with this decision.

He's a great kid, very smart, I just don't want to create a situation where she is concerned.

Worse yet, because of it being such an immersive game, I don't want her having to deal with the fact that it's all he wants to do with his time.

Thanks again.

Originally Posted by kylania

He already watches you play and sometimes helps right? It should be just fine for him. When I was 11 I'd already been playing complex RPG games and boardgames on my own for a while. Don't underestimate him.

As for the value of it, surely history would be an important part. But also things like thinking spatially, math, timings, trigonometry, geometry, navigation skills, nautical knowledge, judgment, self preservation and lots of other skills. Not to mention computer skills if you let him install it and explain how save files and config files work and where and how mods are installed and affect the game. Also a better understanding of his computer stats and equipment and how it runs games. Something he'll totally miss out on should he only play xBox.

I agree,Let him play,My son is 10yrs of age & Finds sh4 Easy Peasy,But GWX Is A no go for him at the moment,Let him play,its certainly better that xbox or Playstation for him.
http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/8...1633358lp3.png
http://www.ComSubsPac.spruz.com

[predavolk]

There's a mountain of reliable evidence showing that violent video games (or TV, books, etc.) increase violent behavior. People model their behavior based on others (especially children). However, you have to remember that:

1- This increase isn't necessarily very big, and can be countered by positive role-models. Watching or playing violent content doesn't radically turn people into violent creatures, it just makes them more violent than when they started watching. For a non-violent kid, playing SH3, I wouldn't expect any increase to worry about. Say, 0.01% from baseline. Statistically significant, but practically meaningless.

2- Because the violence in SH3 is very removed. Disable the external camera, and all you can see is bits of debris flying off the boat 1,000 meters/yards away! Not very graphic, and the kind of violence in the game is pretty hard for kids to emulate unless they have their own sub! In which case, they're spoiled and should give it to me!

3- Consider what the alternative to SH3 will be. Mario involves violence- jumping on heads, throwing fireballs, etc. Its cartoon-like nature is designed to lessen the impact of the modelling, but it's still there. So SH3, overall, might actually be a poorer model of violence (less applicable) and thus could reduce the child's overall aggression compared to the baseline of playing Mario!

So I certainly don't see any problem with an 11-year old playing the game. As others have mentioned, there's the added bonus about understanding a very important part of history's biggest and most important war. Win-win if you ask me!

[FIREWALL]

@ Jimbuna 7+ huh! No wonder some of us are haveing so much trouble with this game. :p :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by FIREWALL

@ Jimbuna 7+ huh! No wonder some of us are haveing so much trouble with this game. :p :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

[onelifecrisis]

Originally Posted by predavolk

There's a mountain of reliable evidence showing that violent video games (or TV, books, etc.) increase violent behavior.

[HuskerNlincoln]

Hey Hunters, I appreciate all the input, all great points, I too am 45 and yes the life boat mod messed with me a moment, I think I posted that somewhere.

I guess it all boils down to the fact that he is a smart mature kid, with the usual things to worry about, home work, school killing british merchant ships, sink everything in the western approaches. Its a game and as long as his mom, is aware of what the game is about and I know she manages his time well. If it's just treated as any other game, no big deal, maybe he can just go on and enjoy it as he would any other game.

And when its time to play, he'll enjoy it for what it is, and then like the rest of us when he steps away from it, he'll be just like every other little kid, except when riding his bike and a car goes by, he'll be trying to fiqure out the best angle to put a torp into it.

RIGHT?

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by onelifecrisis

Bugs Bunny made me a serial killer! Or at least a cereal killer.