Hey everyone,

I am pretty new to this MB (although I am not new to the MB format) and wasn't sure if this was the right place to create this thread or if it has already been offered. I am a 35 year old gamer. I have been playing games since I was 8 and have been since. The technology of gaming has BLOWN my mind literally but I have always kept my joystick hand strong and STILL shame many folks out there. But I do have a concern as a Father relative to online gaming...

I notice that anyone can play with and along with anyone on XBOX Live. This concerns me. As a 35 year old male, I shouldn't be teamed up on Left 4 Dead (for example) with a 13 year old. I think about all of the "online" predators there are out there and again as a Father, this really does concern me. I am not necessarily trying to make a comparison but in sites such as Facebook for example, you are not allowed the opportunity to send or accept friend requests from anyone under the age of 18 I think and thank God!! Plus, the language that is used by adults (in some cases) is something that the youth should not be hearing coming from some of us. Yes I know, some of them have worse language than we do but that is still no excuse to team up an adult with a child. I just think about all of the "*** predators" out there and wondered why XBOX Live doesn't somehow require the ages of a user and use that information to make sure that anyone under the age of 18 is teamed up with others under the age of 18 and the same with all those over the age of 18. I have two daughters and I would FREAK if they were talking with an adult male. Of course I realize most of the responsibility should and does rest with the parents but I wasn't sure if this was something that the XBOX Live team was considering.

Thanks for any feed back that you can offer!!

Microsoft Staff don't read the forums here too much, but other members can offer their opinions on this.

Here's mine:

It's not really the idea that children are playing with adults, it's more likely the idea the children are playing with anonymous adults. As long as the child has some connection to the adult, be it through a friend's mom or dad, or an online respectable community they are a part of, I think it's okay.

Xbox Live does not really allow anyone under 13 to register..

I'm on Xbox Live and I get pretty perverted messages every now and then, but with Parental Controls, parents can make it that their child's account won't get these, along with many other options.

If anyone is concerned with a child's activity on Xbox Live, it's best to monitor them during set time periods. When my nephews and nieces come over I just play offline with them as it's not neccesary to venture online when we have a full house at home

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 Silvercube wrote:

Microsoft Staff don't read the forums here too much, but other members can offer their opinions on this.

Here's mine:

It's not really the idea that children are playing with adults, it's more likely the idea the children are playing with anonymous adults. As long as the child has some connection to the adult, be it through a friend's mom or dad, or an online respectable community they are a part of, I think it's okay.

Xbox Live does not really allow anyone under 13 to register..

I'm on Xbox Live and I get pretty perverted messages every now and then, but with Parental Controls, parents can make it that their child's account won't get these, along with many other options.

If anyone is concerned with a child's activity on Xbox Live, it's best to monitor them during set time periods. When my nephews and nieces come over I just play offline with them as it's not neccesary to venture online when we have a full house at home

Well said silver.
On the point of you playing with people underage, simple start compiling a friends list of older gamers. If you're looking for gamers more your age go in this thread; Xbox forums gamerparents 5.0 click the following link, http://forums.xbox.com/26008503/ShowPost.aspx. Plenty of mature parent, ambassadors and moderators.

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Unofficial Gamerparents Play Date/Meet & Greet Thread

Here's a big juicy tip for ya If your kids start playing X-box block video messages trust me...

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Playing CoD instantly makes you a gun expert.

Thanks for all of the comments guys!! This has just been a concern for me. But I guess it really rests with the parents to monitor their children when doing online gaming. My children don't play online games and that is how I feel until they are mature enough to handle it. So for now, it's just me kicking massive butt!! LEFT 4 DEAD!!!

this also would not work as a lot of kids lie about there age and say there 18 to play the likes of fight night online...this would not happen if ea were not so strict about games aged 3+

Good idea but it is flawed. like considering that most older people like you and I get teamed up against a group of 10 year olds wouldn't be too fun.

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When the power of love overcomes the love of power, The world will know true peace.

 Silvercube wrote:

Xbox Live does not really allow anyone under 13 to register..

They don't? Then why are there twelve year olds on this forum?

 UKresistance wrote:

 Silvercube wrote:

Xbox Live does not really allow anyone under 13 to register..

They don't? Then why are there twelve year olds on this forum?

Have you heard of lying about your age when signing up for their live account?

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Barret .50 Cal with acog, M4A1 with heartbeat sensor.

 IAM M0RPHEUS wrote:

Hey everyone,
I have two daughters and I would FREAK if they were talking with an adult male.

Xbox Live should be the least of your worries then. It's a vast online world, and most times you're gonna find yourself in a match with people who will cuss and insult all day long. And here's the thing: They are teens, and sometimes even kids.

This is no perfect world, with perfect kids who play on Xbox with only their peers, and perfect adults who constantly monitor them to make sure they stay safe in their perfect world. No, it's just not happening.

So for you to not want to be teamed up with a 13 year old is really just too bad. Chances are it will happen. You aren't a child predator i'm sure, and you can't protect everyone's kids from them.

All you can do is watch your kids, and make sure they are safe.

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The way some people find fault, you'd think there was some kind of reward.

 Bloody Diplomat wrote:

Here's a big juicy tip for ya If your kids start playing X-box block video messages trust me...

I don't think this can be stressed enough to parents and am glad bloody diplomat brought it up. I've come accross some pretty graphic VM's. Mostly sent by perverted wierdos with nothing else to do.
And your kids will get by just fine if they never use the VM system.

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Kid wispers: "I see dead people"
Obi shouts: "Me too, SHOOT IT!!!!"

 ObiWan Xy wrote:

 Bloody Diplomat wrote:

Here's a big juicy tip for ya If your kids start playing X-box block video messages trust me...

I don't think this can be stressed enough to parents and am glad bloody diplomat brought it up. I've come accross some pretty graphic VM's. Mostly sent by perverted wierdos with nothing else to do.
And your kids will get by just fine if they never use the VM system.

Yes this should be the first thing yo ushould do. Heck i got some disturbing pictures from other guys that they took of them selves. Some of them were even with other people around them. So yes i am 15 and i even did this myself because some of the stuff that happens is just sick and wrong. Voice messaging is not a problem for me, but yes for your kids you should disable that so only their friends can send them VMs. Agian some crepy stuff.

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Your destiny is in my hands.

my little one loves marble blast.  I let her play on my account.. most recently she got into a room and adult was present.  He was very polite and respectable... I was actually feeling sorry for him because my little one was "mommy this, mommy that" .. and she was being a normal talkative 8 year old... I had to mute her mic...lol..

The point is, all children should be supervised.. I don't agree that young kids should be playing mature games, however I respect the parents choice on how they want to parent.  Just supervise your kids..

My 15 year old had a friend over a few nights ago and they were trash talking the other players..  I gave them a warning and told them that their behavior is not acceptable.  She and her friend needed to behave or they have to log off..Well, few minutes later, I still heard her friend making insults.. I walked over and  turned off the 360... Nuff said..

It's my house, my rules.. and my 360.... I will be damned if I let my kids rule the roost....

 ambrolia wrote:

my little one loves marble blast.  I let her play on my account.. most recently she got into a room and adult was present.  He was very polite and respectable... I was actually feeling sorry for him because my little one was "mommy this, mommy that" .. and she was being a normal talkative 8 year old... I had to mute her mic...lol..

The point is, all children should be supervised.. I don't agree that young kids should be playing mature games, however I respect the parents choice on how they want to parent.  Just supervise your kids..

My 15 year old had a friend over a few nights ago and they were trash talking the other players..  I gave them a warning and told them that their behavior is not acceptable.  She and her friend needed to behave or they have to log off..Well, few minutes later, I still heard her friend making insults.. I walked over and  turned off the 360... Nuff said..

It's my house, my rules.. and my 360.... I will be damned if I let my kids rule the roost....

Amen to that. I feel the same.

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Kid wispers: "I see dead people"
Obi shouts: "Me too, SHOOT IT!!!!"

 IAM M0RPHEUS wrote:

I have two daughters and I would FREAK if they were talking with an adult male.  Thanks for any feed back that you can offer!!

Silvercube is an adult male and my kids have played with him... it's about trust.  Parents just need to get involved and know the people they play with.  I've got live friends I've known since 2004... I've played with them, gotten to know them and trust them with my kids... Don't let your guard down ever with your children.  Now facebook.. or youtube....that's another story.. I am more worried about that than I am about xbox live....

My 8 year old plays Halo 3 (I don't play fps on consoles), and he will thrash you! Lol.  But seriously, I monitor him whenever he plays online and he doesn't use the headset every time.  This is what you need to do folks.  It's simple.  Take an active role in what your kids are doing.