The headline above probably isn’t one you’ve seen on a banner at your local video game store. And yet this headline is for the 3rd installment of a major video game series called Saints Row. This game has sold over 6 million copies. For the latest version, coming out this November, gaming company THQ hired a group of Penthouse Pets to amp up the promotion surrounding the game. In addition THQ also hired adult porn star Sasha Grey to play one of the characters in the game. If you take a look at the website for the game you’ll find a promotion called “F***ed Up Fridays”, you’ll have a chance to win Penthouse Pet posters with the tag line “Strap It On” across the top and you’ll discover that one of the weapons is the game is a large purple dildo bat.
Whatever happened to games like Donkey Kong, Asteroids and Pac Man? Ok, I don’t think video games shouldn’t evolve. There are some great games out there. My kids have a lot of the Star Wars and Lord of the Rings games – but purple dildo bats and Penthouse Pets? Why in the heck do we have to go there? Granted the game will probably be rated “M” for “Mature” or “M+” but that doesn’t seem to discourage parents from letting their kids play “M” rated games. The third game in the Halo series, arguable one of the most popular video games series of all time, was rate “M”. But there were no sexual toys as weapons and no porn pin ups as part of the game. So an “M” rating can be confusing for parents who don’t do their homework. Many parents just think, “It’s just a video game”, so they automatically figure it’s ok for their kids. That is a mistake.
Games like “Saints Row” can open up the door to a world of porn that parents never intended to bring into their home. Their kids will face adult situations in the game and commit senseless acts of violence that they just can’t process. So parents before you buy your kids a video game do your homework. Most games have demo’s your can download for free. So if your child wants a game download the demo and play it. You’ll quickly find out if it is something appropriate for them or not. If a demo isn’t available check out the games website (like I did for Saints Row). Even games that have innocent looking covers can have a dark side. I’ve found that out playing a demo for a game my son wanted. So parents do your homework. You don’t want your kids ending up on Saints Row.
Editor’s Note: We highly reccomend that you consider using parental controls (like Safe Eyes) and a filter (like X3watch) on all Internet-enabled devices you allow your kids to use to protect them from sexual, violent and other inappropriate content. Common Sense Media also has some helpful reviews of games and other media that cna help parents understand what type of content is in the games they consider purchasing for their kids.