Hal Halpin on Video Games and Kids

Mercury News a+e interactive has published a letter from the gaming industry’s Hal Halpin, ECA’s president, on regulating what video games his own kids do and don’t play.

As a husband of a “gamer girl” and father of four, I really appreciated this article. My wife and I are very particular about what our miniature clone army plays. Like Halpin we feel every parent needs to actively participate in their child’s lives including what video games they chose to play and how often. Also the point is made, and I believe it bears repeating, that every family and child is different. What will work for one kid is not going to necessarily be good for another even among siblings. Parents have an awesome responsibility to their children to use the ESRB as a guideline but ultimately be the final word on what their children as individuals should be exposed to.