Where Politics And Video Games Collide

@Jabrwock:

I've done that. Sort of. It was one of those confused parental groups that you see staring at the shelves like they're trying to read hieroglyphics while working out which ones little Timmy (not present) already had. I overheard a certain game title beginning with "Grand" and they couldn't decide whether it was too violent. So I butted in and told them straight without overhyping or overstating the content.

To my surprise, they listened and thanked me. I left before they did so I don't know whether they bought the game or not, but I learned a few things that day.

1) The clueless parental types might need help but are afraid to ask. Gamers can be pretty scary to talk to, and even if not they tend to speak in jargon.

2) It sounds obvious, but the screenshots on the back of the box? They don't necessarily know what a "screenshot" really is. We can look at an image and deduce whether it's in-game playable, a cutscene, or some prerendered art. We can work out what a game looks and plays like from the shots on the back. They only know that the image will probably appear at some point while playing.

3) The shoppers don't expect a totally unbiased review from the people who work there. Even though in my experience staff are willing to say that a game is potentially unsuitable.

I think that more needs to be done to educate at point of sale. The clueless and just plain confused parents need help and advice but don't want to ask. I've noticed that shop staff have become more friendly and approachable, but it is sadly the way of the world that people don't want to talk to people they don't know. If they could be encouraged to actually ask the staff about Blood-Soaked Chainsaw Succubi from Hell, things would start improving.