Author  Message [bottom]
ReaverKing
 member, 1 post
Thu 8 Mar 2012
at 00:38
 msg #1
Normal vs Mature content
Hi Folks,

I am looking to run a game here and I have a question about normal verses mature content in games.  I have players in my current game on Yahoo who sometimes post suggestive comments, such as;

"Captain Darlin is certainly going to have to give those massages to Jewele after all this running around!"

Similar statements allude to mature content but I am unsure if this site classes this as mature content.  Should I be safe and just mark my game as mature in the settings anyway?

Cheers,

Brett.
Shannara
 moderator, 2956 posts
Thu 8 Mar 2012
at 00:43
moderator post | [quote] | [reply] | msg #2
Re: Normal vs Mature content
Anything that can be posted in a Mature game can be posted in general rated games.

So long as the level of detail is no more than you could read in a mainstream newspaper, you would be fine either way.
facemaker329
 member, 4638 posts
 Gaming for most of
 30 years, and counting!
Thu 8 Mar 2012
at 05:21
 msg #3
Re: Normal vs Mature content
My general impression is, the 'mature' flag is more for player reference, and lets them know that there will be violence, risque content, mild language, etc...those who are uncomfortable with such things know, therefore, and can avoid the game before they join and find something offensive to their sensibilities.  In actual practice, I haven't noticed any significant difference between the overall themes included in 'normal' versus 'mature' games, aside from the willingness to have a slightly more 'raw' take on things that I'd already listed.

It's akin to (but not exactly like) a G or PG rating and a PG-13 rating.  Odds are good that anything you'd see in a PG-13 could also be in a PG, it's just not treated as...delicately, or diplomatically, or however you'd like to phrase it.
deleteman900
 member, 1 post
Thu 5 Apr 2012
at 17:01
 msg #4
Re: Normal vs Mature content
Literally just made my account so im not sure if this is correct but if you read a fantasy novel there are some of these things in there which are generally teen rated but there are only a few things worthy of mature rating. I would still go with what face said as he probably knows what he is talking about better than
i do.
cruinne
 moderator, 6035 posts
 Nothing can console me
 but my jolly sailor bold.
Thu 5 Apr 2012
at 18:32
moderator post | [quote] | [reply] | msg #5
Re: Normal vs Mature content
The bottom line: if there are some people who probably should not see it (people under 18, people under 12, &c.), then it needs to go under the Adult banner.

If it's not suitable to a General rating, then it's not suitable to Mature either.  The Mature label is an indication of the game's tone, not that there is an age below which it should not be viewed.
aerion111
 member, 272 posts
Fri 6 Apr 2012
at 00:13
 msg #6
Re: Normal vs Mature content
Re: The under 12 thing:

I thought that the 'Adult' flag was mandatory only for things that essentially risk getting the site in trouble...
Could you really get in trouble for showing something with a rating of "13 and up" in a Mature game?
Generally speaking, anything below 18 is merely to provide convenient systems for parents - that's why there are things like 'foul language' and such on the back of the box, and there is no problem with buying one for a kid if you're an adult - there WOULD be a problem with overtly buying an Adults-Only game (which, at least in Norway, is pretty much reserved for porn - but I think at least one 'gore-fest' got one such rating) for a minor.

So, I'm a bit confused here.
I tend to stay WAY away from the line to '18+', just in case some parent thinks what I wrote is worse than I did, but it's not like I limit myself to 'Children's Hour'-level purity  (for those confused: Just imagine any kind of 'ages 4-8' children's programming)
Do I really have to limit myself to what would be accepted on a 'PG' show, even in a Mature game?
EDIT: Just as a reminder, some of the roleplaying games involve people killing each other with swords. Sometimes without swords. Kinda hard to avoid ANY mention of violence.

This message was last edited by the user at 00:14, Fri 06 Apr 2012.

bigbadron
 moderator, 12731 posts
 He's big, he's bad,
 but mostly he's Ron.
Fri 6 Apr 2012
at 04:57
moderator post | [quote] | [reply] | msg #7
Re: Normal vs Mature content
Here's what the Mature Games Policy says:

quote:
Mature games are games which have (as some minor portion of them) mature themes, strong language, drug use, and/or extensive violence.  Mature games use the Mature Content flag to warn potential readers that some of the game material may be considered offensive.  Despite this flag, Mature Games must remain suitable to all ages.

Adult games are games which have as part of their content graphic sex or graphic and gratuitous violence.  Though their story and plot may be very strong and elaborate, they detail sex and/or gore in a way to which children and teens should not be exposed.


Note, for example, that it does not say "any violence", it says, "extensive violence"

As has been mentioned by one of the other Moderators, the Mature rating has less to do with the game's content, and more to do with tone - how that content is presented.

And, no, nobody has said you are restricted to "'Children's Hour'-level purity".  It is possible to present violence, crime, drug use, and even sex, in a way which fits within the above guidelines - mainstream national newspapers do it every day.

As another Moderator has already said in this thread:
quote:
So long as the level of detail is no more than you could read in a mainstream newspaper, you would be fine either way.

aerion111
 member, 276 posts
Fri 6 Apr 2012
at 13:50
 [deleted] | msg #8
Re: Normal vs Mature content

This message was deleted by the user at 14:39, Fri 06 Apr 2012.

ReaverKing
 member, 2 posts
Fri 13 Apr 2012
at 11:06
 msg #9
Re: Normal vs Mature content
In reply to bigbadron (msg #7):

Thanks everyone for the advice, I'm sure I will have other questions.
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