Arcade games inappropriate for kids - advocacy required!

[ehfl]

It seems to me, that the sensible thing to do, is if you don't want your kids to play a certain game, then simply tell them (and the staff) that they are not allowed to play that game.

 

You can't possibly please every single parent, who has an issue over some aspect of a game.

 

Parents need to assume some level of responsibility for their own kids, and not rely on petitions or whining to keep their kids from doing things they don't want them to do.

[cruzincurt]

Whatever you say boss. You seem to know it all. Maybe you can help pass judgement on other cruisers on these boards you don't know anything about.

 

Appears you haven't found much support for your cause.

[chiguypaul]

Chiguypaul, I am not a parent, so I will not go down the road of lecturing on how to raise a kid. I wanted to say that so you don't think I'm passing any judgement here.

 

My question is this; I know there are a lot of shooting games where you shoot at foreign armies, zombies, ghosts, ducks, etc, but there are very few where you kill innocent people....and the ones that do, like Grand Theft Auto, come with a parental advisory. I could be wrong, but I don't think there are any games with parental advisories in the cruise ship arcades. Do you remember what games were in the arcade that you thought were inappropriate?

 

Paul, I've given up on this thread. All people want to do is accuse me of not being a good parent and passing judgement on me. What is interesting about this thread is how hostile people have become towards my comments. The tone from people has been extremely antagonistic. I'm done participating. It has gone from discussion to OP bashing.

[OrdieJ]

I was on the Enchantment for 5 days on the 8/22 sailing. On the cruise there's an arcade that's situated within the Fuel kids area and right across from Adventure Ocean where kids of all ages are. The arcade had a variety of games. Two of them consisted of point and shoot gun games where you're literally "killing" dozens to hundreds of people. The volume on these machines is cranked way up.

 

These games have absolutely no place in a kid oriented arcade on a floor and space that's geared towards kids. My son shouldn't have to hear and see these kinds of games on a ship that caters to kids. You have to pass through the arcade to get to the AO facilities. Could I ban my child from the space? Yes, but that's not the point, this is a family oriented cruise ship with an arcade that's focused on kids not adults.

 

I called Corp Guest Relations and was told RCL tries to "satisfy all types of people". I told the rep that there are literally dozens of video games that could have been selected. I can't imagine these games are consistent with the environment CEO Goldstein envisions. I doubt he even knows and turns the other way on because they make money. I'm all for gun rights by responsible individuals, but these games have no place in family oriented cruise ship in a kid oriented location.

 

Can I enlist you to help me advocate for the removal of these games from the arcade by emailing royalguestrelations@rccl.com with your comments?

 

Thanks

 

So its because of people like you that gets this stuff banned and recalled. I personally love those games, maybe thats why I joined the Marines.

[OrdieJ]

Paul, I've given up on this thread. All people want to do is accuse me of not being a good parent and passing judgement on me. What is interesting about this thread is how hostile people have become towards my comments. The tone from people has been extremely antagonistic. I'm done participating. It has gone from discussion to OP bashing.

 

Maybe you should just come to the fact that YOU are wrong! Ever think of that? If a video game offends you, then you should probly stay home. How do you feel when you watch the news and see worse things then a video game?

[OrdieJ]

Ban the casino, all alchohol, any loud music, any dancing, any salt, high fat foods, coffee,transfat, any non married couples sharing a room, etc. etc. Everyone has their predjudice and dislikes but can't we all just get along.;)

 

Sounds like the movie Demolition Man with Sly Stallone and Wesley Snipes, but I concur.

[Jaxsonbrownie]

 

Parents need to assume some level of responsibility for their own kids, and not rely on petitions or whining to keep their kids from doing things they don't want them to do.

 

 

That has got to be the most intelligent statement made during this whole discussion, thank you!

 

Don't like whats on TV? Change the channel...

Don't like the view, look the other way....

[TRadle]

I'll confess that I skipped a page or two....so if this comment was made I apologize in advance...:)

 

I do agree with one point the OP made and that was that these games are so loud you hear it over in the Adventure Ocean program on the ship she sailed on. I didn't read the OP as saying to ban the games...just move them. Did I miss something?

 

Why not put the loud games, and I'm taking about decibel levels only, away from the hall. Why not find a different way to deliver young children to AO. Do the tots really need to pass through the teens to get to where they are going?

 

On Explorer the Arcade was tucked away so well that we didn't see it until day 7 on a 9 day cruise. This problem does not appear to be fleet wide.

[Cruzaholic41]

Why not put the loud games, and I'm taking about decibel levels only, away from the hall. Why not find a different way to deliver young children to AO. Do the tots really need to pass through the teens to get to where they are going?

 

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but if memory serves me correctly, the arcade on Enchantment is very small....like the size of a large stateroom. Moving the games around in there really won't make a difference.

 

Also, I believe the younger tots do not have to go through the arcade. Their entrance is across the hall from the arcade. I think the arcade leads to the teens area.

[Rala]

But in the last 20 years the LOUD and WRONG vocal minority HAVE changed American policy in many ways just because the majority does nothing.

 

Tazdeb...You got that one right...for sure!

[ahornb]

You know, on the Oasis they will have two arcades. One in the 11yo and under area at the bow of the ship, and one in the pre-teen/teen area in the aft section of the ship.

 

I think this is a great solution to OP's problem. Actually, it goes both ways. A parent may prefer that their 7 year old not hang out around games where blood gushes out of people's eyeballs and I think that teens and young adults would appreciate an arcade geared towards them, without having to play House of the Dead next to some toddler playing Wack-A-Mole.

 

Now, those of us in the 40+ set? We grew up (as said previously) watching Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn, Elmer Fudd, and the Coyote get blown to bits every Saturday morning. Yet our first video games were things like Atari Table Tennis. Y'all remember the game where if you set both those little white lines up just right the square ball would just bounce between players effortlessly. You could go to the kitchen, get another bowl of Frosted Flakes and when you got back to the TV, the square ball would still be in play. Can I get an amen?:)

 

We still love to play Space Invaders, PacMan and Wack-A-Mole, and teaming up with our 12 year old sons and daughters to blow the heads off zombies is a bonding experience. We'll find something to play in any arcade.

 

I wish OP would not have gotten offended by those of us who disagreed with him/her. I think having two arcades is a good way of providing a fun atmosphere for all.

[TRadle]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but if memory serves me correctly, the arcade on Enchantment is very small....like the size of a large stateroom. Moving the games around in there really won't make a difference.

 

Also, I believe the younger tots do not have to go through the arcade. Their entrance is across the hall from the arcade. I think the arcade leads to the teens area.

 

So, this really is only a problem on this class ship for a small percentage of passengers. Sounds like a non-issue to me. Just sail on the larger ships where the arcade games are not so close to the AO program. :D

[RetireeWannabee]

You know, on the Oasis they will have two arcades. One in the 11yo and under area at the bow of the ship, and one in the pre-teen/teen area in the aft section of the ship.

 

I think this is a great solution to OP's problem. Actually, it goes both ways. A parent may prefer that their 7 year old not hang out around games where blood gushes out of people's eyeballs and I think that teens and young adults would appreciate an arcade geared towards them, without having to play House of the Dead next to some toddler playing Wack-A-Mole.

 

Now, those of us in the 40+ set? We grew up (as said previously) watching Daffy Duck, Foghorn Leghorn, Elmer Fudd, and the Coyote get blown to bits every Saturday morning. Yet our first video games were things like Atari Table Tennis. Y'all remember the game where if you set both those little white lines up just right the square ball would just bounce between players effortlessly. You could go to the kitchen, get another bowl of Frosted Flakes and when you got back to the TV, the square ball would still be in play. Can I get an amen?:)

 

We still love to play Space Invaders, PacMan and Wack-A-Mole, and teaming up with our 12 year old sons and daughters to blow the heads off zombies is a bonding experience. We'll find something to play in any arcade.

 

I wish OP would not have gotten offended by those of us who disagreed with him/her. I think having two arcades is a good way of providing a fun atmosphere for all.

 

AMEN!

 

Pong started it. Space Invaders showed up. Then, yes, we got an Atari computer and could play Breakout for days, had a flight simulator so you could blow up the ship you were in charge of, and many other things. Given that it was a computer, that's where I learned Basic and while it was not my goal, I became a software developer eons later.

 

Do not forget that gaming can lead to good careers!!

 

OP, I am sorry that some on this thread decided that you are a bad parent, irresponsible, etc., as I do not read it that way at all. You started a thread that has contained a lot of good discussion, with a sprinkling of nastiness (but, this is Cruise Critic - there will always be some nastiness).

[ChriStephanie]

How about you can only play the gun games if you are old

enough for, and wearing, a bikini or thong. Speedos should

be banned either way.

 

Ha! Brilliant! Mental picture: my furry husband wearing a yellow bikini playing shooter game. He won't be pleased if this is the new rule... tee hee :D

[Doug R.]

Paul, I've given up on this thread. All people want to do is accuse me of not being a good parent and passing judgement on me. What is interesting about this thread is how hostile people have become towards my comments. The tone from people has been extremely antagonistic. I'm done participating. It has gone from discussion to OP bashing.

 

The main problem I see here is that comments intended to be general, like parents need to take more responsibility for their kids and keep them away from games they find objectionable, is being taken as a personal slam. I think this misconception is more common these days as some people go out of their way to feel offended. I especially hate when I am termed a "hater" (a term which I nominate to be banished from the English langauge) becuase I simply disagree with someone. The other problem is some people who launch a crusade simply are unable to see how anyone could possibly disagree with their cherished position.

[RetireeWannabee]

Ha! Brilliant! Mental picture: my furry husband wearing a yellow bikini playing shooter game. He won't be pleased if this is the new rule... tee hee :D

Imagine the uproar from the parents taking their tiny tots thru there to get to the kids club!

 

A "teaching moment", indeed...

[ahornb]

AMEN!

 

Pong started it. Space Invaders showed up. Then, yes, we got an Atari computer and could play Breakout for days, had a flight simulator so you could blow up the ship you were in charge of, and many other things. Given that it was a computer, that's where I learned Basic and while it was not my goal, I became a software developer eons later.

 

Do not forget that gaming can lead to good careers!!

 

OP, I am sorry that some on this thread decided that you are a bad parent, irresponsible, etc., as I do not read it that way at all. You started a thread that has contained a lot of good discussion, with a sprinkling of nastiness (but, this is Cruise Critic - there will always be some nastiness).

 

No school like the old school! :)

[bplazo]

I saw a news article today where there is an uproar about a doll that dances on a pole. Simple solution, if you do not want your child to play with doll do not buy it.

[RetireeWannabee]

I saw a news article today where there is an uproar about a doll that dances on a pole. Simple solution, if you do not want your child to play with doll do not buy it.

 

Child? I'm worried that my husband will buy one!!

[JanineM]

Sorry OP - can't agree with you.

 

It's important to teach children that they can make choices. Just because something is offered to them they don't need to take advantage of it.

 

I grew up in a rather restrictive religion where we didn't do a lot of things that the majority of people did. Did my parents shield us from those activities? Nope - they just used that as an opportunity to teach us lessons about making choices and understanding that not everyone was like us. This wasn't at 13 --- this started at about age 3. Did it hurt me? Nope. Did it make me a super strong individual who makes her own decisions, but doesn't tell everyone else how to live? Yup.

 

Who would YOU rather have as a neighbour --- me, or the guy who jumps up and down and tries to stop YOU from doing something because HE doesn't approve? ;)

 

That's the lesson you should be teaching your children ...

[ahornb]

child? I'm worried that my husband will buy one!!

 

lol! :D:D

[bplazo]

Child? I'm worried that my husband will buy one!!

 

Too funny, I never thought of my husband wanting one!