this post was submitted on 10 Apr 2024
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parenting

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My foster kiddo's birthday is coming up soon, and we got a REALLY good deal on a PS4 for his birthday. I'm buying him used games to go with the console. I asked him to describe what kind of games he wanted and things he liked in games. He wants a split screen co-op FPS where he's able to hunt for rare loot. He wants a looter shooter that he can play with me. Also odd criteria, but he wants games that I'm good at because it's like "watching a ninja". He explained this, and Borderlands is the only game I can think of that has all of it. He didn't mention Borderlands by name, so it's not like I'd be saying no to anything on his list specifically. I'd settle for a co-op split screen FPS we could play, but there aren't very many of those on PS4.

Here is the issue I'm running into though. On one hand, this child is turning 9. He is just too young for Borderlands. However, this child has also witnessed multiple people die of drug overdoses, watched a million rated R movies with his mom, so censoring things feels weird. Like who am I to censor some middle school grade jokes when he's into morbid things as a result of seeing death his entire life? I'm thinking maybe we just make it a game where I have to play it with him if he wants to play? Any split screen game recommendations for us that may be more age appropriate?

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 8 months ago (1 children)

it's hyperviolent but it's cartoon violence, and you can turn off the blood effects to tone it down a bit, right? if he's already seen a lot of that in realistic live action movies, i'm not sure it's something to worry about too much, especially if it's something the two of you are playing together so it's supervised and you can maintain a read on his reactions to it all and talk through anything as needed. maybe don't let him play it on his own for a few more years, but how many kids his age in the 90s played doom, quake, or counterstrike?

for more age-appropriate content it looks like people are recommending it takes two, minecraft: dungeons, any of the lego games, and splatoon but i've never played any of those.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 months ago

Yeah, cartoon violence is fine in the house. Like I said, he's seen some really fucked up shit for a kid his age so he likes more morbid, horror based stuff already. So I feel pretty weird doing a full censor on anything, just because I know he's already seen so much worse in real life. I really hope just doing a supervised play through with him to see how raunchy it gets does well. He doesn't like sexual stuff at all, and wants us to censor that.

Definitely checking out It Takes Two, it sounds like a super fun game and I know he'd love a game that has to be done multiplayer so that he can force me to play more. cri He's a really sweet kid

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

I'm not a parent so I won't give my advice, but thank you for helping him. Poor guy sounds like he needs it. I've always admired foster parents.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago

Similar to borderlands you have tiny Tina's wonderland. It's pretty fun