I’ve temporarily lost my cool dad status. Despite my son’s well-planned and executed request (in which he invoked his “mental, physical and emotional health”) to be able to purchase Red Dead: Online, I refused to let him have anything to do with it. Red Dead: Online is the networked version of the Red Dead Redemption franchise. From everything I’ve read, its Mature rating is well deserved. Per Claude:
read more…The M-rating reflects several concerns for a 13-year-old: graphic violence including shootouts and brutal melee combat, strong language throughout, sexual themes and partial nudity, alcohol and drug use, and gambling mechanics. The game is set in a gritty, morally complex Wild West where players often engage in criminal activities.
The online component adds another layer of concern – your son would be interacting with strangers online, and despite content filters, exposure to inappropriate chat or behavior from other players is common in online gaming environments.