Post: Two Cents on New 50 Cent Video Game
Two Cents on New 50 Cent Video Game
Popular rapper 50 Cent told a reporter this week that parents should buy their kids his new video game 50 Cent: Bulletproof despite the fact that the game received an M rating, meaning it is not suitable for anyone under 17.
"Just because it is rated mature doesn't mean you shouldn't buy it for your kids," 50 Cent told Reuters. "Play the game and explain to them what they are playing."
What was this guy thinking? Is 50 Cent really that clueless? Or, is he just a shameless huckster?
Yes, parents very clearly should know what their kids are watching, reading and playing. At Common Sense Media, we constantly encourage parents to check out the media that their kids are using. And when parents encounter media content that might be too edgy for their kids, we suggest they use it as a "teachable moment" to help explain their own beliefs and values.
The problem is that 50 Cent: Bulletproof and similar games, like Grand Theft Auto, contain nothing that is worth teaching to kids. I have the feeling that any parents who actually sat down to play a game like Bulletproof with their children would be shocked very quickly by its ultraviolent content. Players in Bulletproof and similar games are rewarded for killing. The more people they kill, the "better" they have performed. The lessons of these video games are deeply destructive.
How can you explain such glorified, consequence-free violence in a way that will help kids understand their world better?
When media producers create content supersaturated with meaningless violence and then hype them, they leave parents little choice but to say, "No." Parents should vote with their pocketbooks on games like Bulletproof and spend their money elsewhere. And, 50 Cent should get a clue!
There are 7 replies to this post
Date: November 29, 2005
What is this man thinking? Do you know that they took down a bulletin board of him with a gun in his hand? And now with this video game -- which no one is going to play because it's not a good game -- he takes yet another opportunity to remind us how tough he is. We need to tell our kids that anyone who has to brag so loudly must really feel small inside.
Date: December 2, 2005
We are still wondering at what age to introduce a viedo game platform to our house? X-Box is #1,#2, and #3 on our eight-year old's holiday wish list. If we sets limits and keep 50 Cent out of the house, it is a more active good alternative to the TV. Any thoughts about setting limits? Like TV, less is better.
Date: December 3, 2005
I concur. It's more a dumb comment than anything else. As for it not being a good game, the Gamerankings.com average shows the average score of all reviews of that game being pegged at 52 percent: that's not very good.
Link: http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/926686
Date: December 4, 2005
San Francisco Dad- I think eight years old is okay. I'd recommend a plug-and-play game- let them experience the classics. I'd recommend the Jakks Pacific Ms. Pac-Man wireless stick and the Atari Flashback 2- they have many family-friendly retro classics. After that- it's your call as to whether or not your kids are mature enough... and only your call.
Date: December 27, 2005
well if you think the game will suck or not is only Your opinion and i will still try this one out and the man at least earned my respect when he said that yea let your kids play it but tell them first its only a video game and talk with them about it before you go and buy it...Sounds like some good parenting Tips from 50-cent
Date: January 1, 2006
Thanks ferrarimanf355, we ordered the games for the future. The Fly Pen from LeapFrog is a hit. Cardboard boxes and rubber bands have also been popular this season.
Date: January 11, 2006
personaly, i think his comments are, qute simply put, petty and iresonsable. folks, i have been anti-censorship all my life, but this sounds like a REALY bad marketing plow. to me it apears as though he's not concerned about children, but rather his pocketbook