Arma II and Day-Z. Advice on content please?

[shentodj]

My 11yr says it's ok. He says all his friends play it.
I've looked online a bit (including a couple of the threads on here) and youtube videos.
I haven't seen anything too bad, but I'm aware it's rated 18 and would appreciate objective advice please?
1) Would you let your 11yr old play ARMA II and Day-Z?
2) If not, why not? Can you give examples of inappropriate scenarios etc?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Shentodj

[menguin]

What else do you currently let him play?

I don't think there is anything in ARMA or DayZ that would be inappropriate for an 11 year old in today's climate - I'm sure I would've wanted to play it at 11! As a comparison, I was playing GTA (the first one - top down classic) at 11. Running people over, gunning them down, general abuse of all possible laws.... and I've never done anything illegal been caught doing anything illegal!

[shentodj]

He's currently got a Wii and his favourite game is James Bond. He's also played one called Metroid.
He has also played NOVA on android.
Do you know how ARMA compares and why it's been certificated as 18+?
Shentodj

[menguin]

As far as I'm aware the main reason games like ARMA are 18+ is because they depict killing real people - if it was aliens, then they'd get a lower rating.

what kind of films has he watched?

[shentodj]

Won't let him watch 18s.
He's watched the odd 15 (Arnie, Bruce Willis etc).
Shentodj

[jacobpalmer05]

There is actually very little in the game to worry about really, although you can kill "humans" the killing is nothing like hacking body parts off or anything sick like that, the worst you'll see is some blood squirting!

The only thing I feel you should know is that people can talk to each other ingame, by typing and chatting (Microphone) so swearing may be the only issue, but I very rarely experience it as most servers you need to be quite close to someone for them to contact you.

[Asterix]

Arma II (especially with the ACE addon) is a full blown military sim and as a standalone, I couldn't see a youngster having the patience to get into it - missions can last hours/days and sometimes you can sit there as support doing the square root of FA for ages.

DayZ is an interesting one because there are certain moralistic elements to how you can play however, he's 11 and the game is set (practically) in a 'real' world and you're shooting 'real' humans. The reason why the game is so successful is it resonates with those that want a simulation. There's no insta-respawn arcadey aspect to it. It can be abrubtly brutal and if he and his mates play in a trolling manner - there's a chance they'll get a fair bit of verbal abuse.

Personally I wouldn't let him. Why? He's 11.

He's got plenty of time when he's older.

[shentodj]

Thanks for the advice.
Shentodj