Curse

Zapper901 · Feb 18, 2008, 08:54 PM // 20:54

My bro got me started on the game when I was just 12, and I admit I was an immature ass. Now that I'm 15, I'm a lot more mature. I never swear or yell at people, and I am always courteous. An officer in my current guild asked me my age to see if he could listen to my opinions, and that kind of annoyed me, as it doesn't really matter.

Rocky Raccoon · Feb 18, 2008, 09:06 PM // 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zapper901

My bro got me started on the game when I was just 12, and I admit I was an immature ass. Now that I'm 15, I'm a lot more mature. I never swear or yell at people, and I am always courteous. An officer in my current guild asked me my age to see if he could listen to my opinions, and that kind of annoyed me, as it doesn't really matter.

The officer just was showing his ignorance and should not be in that position with that attitude. Age should have no pertinence to whether your opinions have merit. I would bring that up with your guild leader and if you don't get a satisfactory reply, look for a guild that respects all of their members.

Molock · Feb 18, 2008, 09:08 PM // 21:08

I said 18+ earlier for a few reasons.

First of all, kids aren't usually very patient and want everything "now!". They also don't make any effort to spell and spam insults, profanity and refuse any advice. They think that are "the best" and that they can't learn anything from anyone else.

Simply put, they don't know how to behave. Male warriors /dancing in your face anyone? Perhaps you were called a "n00b" when you killed a sin in ab?

Anyway.. 18+ as a general rule. Of course there will always be the 26 year old with the maturity of a 12 year old and the 14 year old who is quite mature.

Personette · Feb 18, 2008, 09:11 PM // 21:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zapper901

My bro got me started on the game when I was just 12, and I admit I was an immature ass. Now that I'm 15, I'm a lot more mature. I never swear or yell at people, and I am always courteous. An officer in my current guild asked me my age to see if he could listen to my opinions, and that kind of annoyed me, as it doesn't really matter.

The difference between 12 and 15 is the same as the difference between 15 and 18, or 18 and 21. If you see now, at 15, that you were a brat at 12, why not make the next logical conclusion: probably, when you are 18, you will think the same thing about yourself now.

Honestly, the best thing about being young is not KNOWING what an ass you are. Spotting idiotic behavior before it happens does mean missing out on some fun. Idiotic, embarrassing fun, but still.

RiKio · Feb 18, 2008, 09:34 PM // 21:34

18 mental years.

Mohnzh · Feb 18, 2008, 09:43 PM // 21:43

I've been telling people I was 19 since the year 2000. People tell me that I'm not anymore. I do college student ministry, so I may still seem 19 at times and get away with it, but I'm conservative enough that most people put me in my late 30s to early 70s. My first role-playing video game was Dungeons and Dragons on the Intellivision. I think that was around 1986 or so. My NES is old enough that Mario and Duck Hunt are on separate cartridges. I have the orginal Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior AND their boxes, instruction manuals, and maps. I got them before FF2 or DW2 existed. So I've been gaming a while. I would agree that most "kids" could not compete with me because even though they have been emersed their whole life, I have followed gaming since it began.

I tend to have a more utopian/idealistic outlook on things. I think GW creates a great opportunity in spite of the hazards of predators. As long as the youngest players could be taught to not reveal ANY personal info, this game creates a community in which young and old can interract in ways not seen anywhere else in society. The immature do not become mature by getting older, but by observing and mimicking the mature. The loss of courrtesy, manners, and proper behavior in society can possibly be linked to this attitude: "They don't care about me, why should I care about them?" You do not see the old 1950's image where Mr. White is watering his lawn and waves to Jimmy on his bike on his way home from school to ask how it was that day. No, adults today are too busy to inquire into the lives of youngsters. So why respect them? BUT GW is different! Adults and kids trading, chatting, depending on each other during a mission, working together in a guild, learning from each other! What a golden opportunity to restore values and hopefully see a new generation that did a better job than we did in regards to communicating with the next generation! We can be as cynical and pessimistic as experience has taught us to be, but the likelihood of good things happen increases greatly when you believe they can and that you can help.

wanmoke · Feb 18, 2008, 09:45 PM // 21:45

Skipping over quite a few pages in this thread...

Guild Wars has a Teen rating due to the graphical and storyline CONTENT of the game. That's all it's rated on, because the ESRB knows the company has no control over what individuals say or do in the game. Therefore, I expect anyone playing this game to be 13 years old.

HawkofStorms · Feb 18, 2008, 09:46 PM // 21:46

Age doesn't matter. Maturity does.

However, legally speaking you have to be at least 18 years old to sign the EULA.

Bryant Again · Feb 18, 2008, 09:47 PM // 21:47

I wish this game had a maturity rating more of an age rating...Well, that and if maturity was measurable. Both would be amazingly useful.

Zinger314 · Feb 18, 2008, 09:49 PM // 21:49

13, to satisfy CAPTA.

If anyone disagrees with that, remember that you were once 13.

Slycandestin · Feb 18, 2008, 09:55 PM // 21:55

It depends, it's nice to play with a genious kid that's 11 years old and it's good to watch out for them. I see some annoying conversations in the towns sometimes, I don't know if people think they are being funny or they are just drunk, but age doesn't really matter. I was in a guild before with a leader that was 10 years old or something, although it was somewhat inactive I didn't have a problem with it. It's hard and takes too much time to manage a guild at that age though, it's a responsibility that shouldn't burnden a kid who should be spending time with friends and school stuff. Maybe around 15 years old it's ok, but seriously managing people is a lot for such a young age, I was impressed.

jimmyboveto · Feb 18, 2008, 10:04 PM // 22:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by AceeBlueEagle

Age, probably 14+

BUT, that being said, parents should monitor how much time Junior spends on the pc. The game is highly addictive to some and it goes without saying that mom/dad must be involved in the kids daily lives.

School is #1 priority. If junior can't respect obey that edict, buh-bye interweb.

I hope people don't view it as a virtual baby-sitter for their kids but I am sure that the lazy, uninvolved parents do just that. Same goes for the latch-key kids.

I agree that school is #1. I am a student myself, and it pisses me off when people don't understand that sometimes I have to leave to do work and stuff. Also, I have been in a couple guilds that kicked me because I wasn't active enough during the work weak.

BTW, I would say that at age ten you might not be mentally able to manage a guild, but in terms of time available, I know for a fact that I really had nothing to do that age. I couldn't imagine a 15 year old managing a guild though, high school is usually too demanding.

Mohnzh · Feb 18, 2008, 10:06 PM // 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zinger314

If anyone disagrees with that, remember that you were once 13.

Not sure that logic holds. I was also once 10, and 5, and 2 - but that doesn't mean that those ages should be allowed to play

.

jcrayon · Feb 19, 2008, 01:29 AM // 01:29

I choose to define the OP question as "How old do you think someone should be to play this game WITHOUT ADULT GUIDANCE." - which is a question about the CONTENT of the game.

Some have chosen to read the OP question as "How old do you think someone should be to play this game and be part of a team or guild, and be neither an egomaniac or a total ass" - which is a question about maturity.

FWIW regarding the first view, I am a 39yo father in a corporate management position. My wife who also plays is similar age in a corporate graphics design department. We play in a guild of 40+ players ranging 13yo to 50yo and we always choose attitude over aptitude.

When we play, my 5 year old daughter usually sits between us and observes and helps. She follows the storyline, presses skill keys with guidance, and actually helps in the heat of battle - she'll watch the party bars and calls out who needs healing, or utters the classic "Stefan's dead again", or reminds us to collect drops. She has been exposed to real death in her short life and understands the concept of game death versus real death.

We mostly play in Tyria as it is easier to define "good vs bad" concepts of humans versus monsters there, than "human vs human" in Factions. She loves the cut scenes because they are like little movies, but there are some cut scenes we won't let her watch, especially the ones around Bloodstone Fen for instance.

Having a 5yo as guild mascot has actually been helpful to the guild. If someone's guild chat rant starts getting out of hand, a quick note (usually from others) that a 5yo might be reading their tirade usual calms people down and helps put their issues into perspective. It's also saved some of the 13/14yo from having to say anything and demonstrate their discomfort because someone has decided it's appropriate to give a detailed description of their sexual or alcoholic exploits.

The key is guidance. Guild Wars has some great, basic, moral messages in its storylines and has the capability of bringing good people together.

quickmonty · Feb 19, 2008, 02:08 AM // 02:08

jcrayon ....

That was really nice. I thank you for sharing that with us.

Bluefeather · Feb 19, 2008, 02:59 AM // 02:59

There is a liar in this thread. They guy who claims that he has a 3 year old who can start up a pc, start the game (gw) and do mission. i wonder how he got the password.

why lie to prove a point?

that kind of post(s) prove(s) that maturity isn't really a matter of age. a three year old kid can lie just like his 30 year old father.

anyway, back to topic, everyone can lie about their age here. but you are not accepted / rejected based on your age as you claim. it is in your behavior in game. if you say your are 38 (im 38) and you act like a kid who never respect other people, no one will believe you and no guild (if you are already a member of a guild) will keep you. or if you are the guild leader who doesn't act properly, your "mature" guild members will abandon you.

everybody has the right to act they way they want. this is rpg. you chose a role (a good, well behaved player or a nasty "will dance naked for 10g") but don't expect everybody to accept you in their party or in their guild.

Zeff Nut · Feb 19, 2008, 03:00 AM // 03:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xx_Sorin_xX

kids will almost always be better than adults at video games. kids grew up with them, they understand basic gaming better and the fundamental points of all games better than an adult because kids have been more immersed in gaming. and when i say adults im talking 30+ (which would be the older crowd that you speak of imo).

That is really quite funny, saying kids grew up with them... if you base it soley on that, then the 30+ year crew have aproximately 10+years of experience on ALL of 15 and under crowd as we have been playing games since they were horrid 1 dimensional things on green phosferous screens, and as far as understanding the game, who do you think makes all these games? Sure isn't the kiddies.

credit · Feb 19, 2008, 03:02 AM // 03:02

A basic maturity test would suffice.

Amazing Avery · Feb 19, 2008, 03:33 AM // 03:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by HawkofStorms

Age doesn't matter. Maturity does.

However, legally speaking you have to be at least 18 years old to sign the EULA.

Shame you lack the mature factor...

Chik N Nuggets · Feb 19, 2008, 04:30 AM // 04:30

18+ mature? lul.