How old does one have to be to legally play the game?

CherryCake · July 2016

Ok so, last night I encountered a 13 year old in game... it went somehow like this:

I was questing around in Bruma, and was looking through my backpack, expecting nobody would be so immature to kill you while questing, in fact today I was doing a dungeon with a guy from another faction, but anyway I got taken by surprised and killed.

Normally after that I stay a bit around to see what the other user is doing if they teabag me etc xDDD... he did start to teabag me so I was like "Oh ok you do that bro xDDD" but then he proceeded to pretend to shoot arrows at my dead character`s body for a good long minute, after that spiting, make the threaten emote etc.

I was really finding it immature, more like a user that would belong in counter strike and COD rather than ESO, so I proceeded to send him a message (ps4) saying: "What are you, 12? xD"....to my surprise he answered "13"...I was...well happy that it isnt some sad 30 year old, but also felt a bit strange because I didnt know how to react to that so I wrote him something in the lines: "Oh good kill, but you know its not so nice to spit on people!"... basically trying to be an adult with kids even though I am not that old...well 10 years above him.
He proceeded to say: "Give me 13k and I will leave you alone" or something like that, obviously I didnt but then it dawned on me...isnt this game rated M? Should he even be here? What is the minimal age to be allowed to play ESO?

I of course, didnt report him because I wasnt even sure what I should do to be honest. I know its not games that make a person more violent or not, Ive been playing games and shooters since I was 10, and I didnt grow up to be an angry, dangerous woman or anything, however not everybody is the same...on the other hand, ESO is not as violent as other games, but it still has some violence. So is this game adequate for a 13 year old, if I am not mistaken, in the terms of service it says you have to be 18 at least. What should I do? I admit I would feel like a bad person to report a child, but if it is the best for him I would still do it...

EDIT: For those of you baiting...no I dont care about what he did etc, I was just explaining how I got to thinking whether him being in game was legal or not, not because I am "butthurt" by it, as I explained, I even had fun, but because IN CASE it wouldnt have been legal or good for a kid, I wouldnt want to support it, simple as that.

clayandaudrey_ESO · July 2016

Are you sure you want to take the word of someone unseen on an online game as the truth?

I would say it was more an immature idiot rather than a 13 yr old.

Lieblingsjunge · July 2016

I've met a lot of young people in this game. I'm 21 myself, so personally, I consider 13-14 to be "too young"(Probably cus I'm studying teaching and, uh, the kids I teach during internship are 13-16, lol). And it just feels... weird, to play games with people the same age that I teach, you know?

Some of the young players are nice, although I wouldn't trust them the same way I would trust an adult. Simply because in most cases a young person's ability to think consequenses ain't developed well enough.

Lightninvash · July 2016

EstelioVeleth wrote: »

clocksstoppe wrote: »

What about you OP? You also seem to be mentally 13 year old if you can't handle the online banter of a kid.

Did you even read what I wrote? xD I dont care about that, I actually had fun, I am just asking whether he is supposed to even be in game or not.

well according to the game rating is M for mature the game says 17+ but no one actually listens to those guidelines. People are all oh 17+ is it illegal? no ok then here you go son have fun wrecking nubcakes.

So to answer your question it is up to the parents haha

EDIT: because the ratings that are given are according to the esrb are suggested age ratings appropriate for that age group.

Myerscod · July 2016

Maybe change the thread title to, "how old does one have to be to legally play the game?" instead of what you put so the idiots reading and responding can understand what you're actually asking...

In response to your actual question, I don't know and I have no idea how ZOS would enforce if there was an actual age limit.

Rohamad_Ali · July 2016

There is no penal code for allowing a minor to play a game with a rated M label . Ratings are recommendations . So theoretically you could let your 2 year old online and apart from making some terrible judgement calls , in my opinion , never suffer any legal recourse .

We could get into the CPS stuff but that's just conjecture . A parent may only let a kid on to fish in a happy meadow in greenshade while they supervise .

DRXHarbinger · July 2016

By the way the age rating law applies to sale and purchase only. Same as movies. 12yr old can't be punished for watching a 18 cert but the store can for selling it, possibly parents for being shite parents.

Cazzy · July 2016

"Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older."

Personally, I'd say 15.

Rohamad_Ali · July 2016

Call CPS ?

lol Maybe just put them on ignore .

CherryCake · July 2016

Roehamad_Ali wrote: »

Call CPS ?

lol Maybe just put them on ignore .

Lol xDDD no, he didnt bother me, in fact I was actually laughing and having a good time while reading his messages especially the "Give me gold and I will leave you alone" but then I realized that he shouldnt even be here in the first place, however I dont want to be the child reporter at an otherwise "innocent" game xD

Runs · July 2016

To be fair if I was asked if I was 12, I would probably also reply 13. Granted I wouldn't have done all that other stuff but still. Can't trust everything someone says.

imnotanother · July 2016

He is probably old enough to handle the level of the content

but not mature enough to behave socially.

CherryCake · July 2016

Runs wrote: »

To be fair if I was asked if I was 12, I would probably also reply 13. Granted I wouldn't have done all that other stuff but still. Can't trust everything someone says.

clayandaudrey_ESO wrote: »

Are you sure you want to take the word of someone unseen on an online game as the truth?

I would say it was more an immature idiot rather than a 13 yr old.

True, however he even had "2002" in his username so I dont know xD... it might just have been an immature person but...THAT immature?

Rohamad_Ali · July 2016

EstelioVeleth wrote: »

Roehamad_Ali wrote: »

Call CPS ?

lol Maybe just put them on ignore .

Lol xDDD no, he didnt bother me, in fact I was actually laughing and having a good time while reading his messages especially the "Give me gold and I will leave you alone" but then I realized that he shouldnt even be here in the first place, however I dont want to be the child reporter at an otherwise "innocent" game xD

lol ikr . I have a general rule . No kids in guild or group . I didn't give my kids an account here , they bought their own when they had jobs . The youngest 17 ans they've been playing for a year and the other 2 years . I honestly wouldn't let any kid of mine play until they could be responsible enough to get good grades and a side job . So 16-17 ? Then again I'm one of those weird parents that didn't cave in to my kids demands . I was pretty strict .

clocksstoppe · July 2016

What about you OP? You also seem to be mentally 13 year old if you can't handle the online banter of a kid.

GreenhaloX · July 2016

Ha ha.. you would think for mature only rating would be at least 18-21 and older, but somehow those M rating keeps attracting them younging. Particularly, in GTA and Assassin's Creed.

CherryCake · July 2016

clocksstoppe wrote: »

What about you OP? You also seem to be mentally 13 year old if you can't handle the online banter of a kid.

Did you even read what I wrote? xD I dont care about that, I actually had fun, I am just asking whether he is supposed to even be in game or not.

Luigi_Vampa · July 2016

EstelioVeleth wrote: »

I was questing around in Bruma, and was looking through my backpack, expecting nobody would be so immature to kill you while questing

It is a PvP zone. That doesn't change just because you are questing. It is not immature to kill another player in a PvP zone.

clocksstoppe · July 2016

EstelioVeleth wrote: »

clocksstoppe wrote: »

What about you OP? You also seem to be mentally 13 year old if you can't handle the online banter of a kid.

Did you even read what I wrote? xD I dont care about that, I actually had fun, I am just asking whether he is supposed to even be in game or not.

If you don't care then why did you make this thread? Also can you prove he wasn't lying? If you asked me how old I were in game after I killed you in a pvp area I would definitely troll you like he did too.

khele23eb17_ESO · July 2016

Phew... I was worried this thread would be about something else entirely :P

CherryCake · July 2016

khele23eb17_ESO wrote: »

Phew... I was worried this thread would be about something else entirely :P

Omg I didnt look at it that way ;__________;!!!
Changed it now, thank you @Myerscod !

CherryCake · July 2016

Roehamad_Ali wrote: »

There is no penal code for allowing a minor to play a game with a rated M label . Ratings are recommendations . So theoretically you could let your 2 year old online and apart from making some terrible judgement calls , in my opinion , never suffer any legal recourse .

We could get into the CPS stuff but that's just conjecture . A parent may only let a kid on to fish in a happy meadow in greenshade while they supervise .

Thank you and all the rest that actually stayed on topic, that is all I wanted to know!

Molag_Crow · July 2016

Myerscod wrote: »

Maybe change the thread title to, "how old does one have to be to legally play the game?" instead of what you put so the idiots reading and responding can understand what you're actually asking...

In response to your actual question, I don't know and I have no idea how ZOS would enforce if there was an actual age limit.

Yeah the title is kinda like one of those "uh oh... here we go" titles.

CherryCake · July 2016

Molag_Crow wrote: »

Myerscod wrote: »

Maybe change the thread title to, "how old does one have to be to legally play the game?" instead of what you put so the idiots reading and responding can understand what you're actually asking...

In response to your actual question, I don't know and I have no idea how ZOS would enforce if there was an actual age limit.

Yeah the title is kinda like one of those "uh oh... here we go" titles.

I know right? xDDD I cant even believe I didnt see how that title (for those of you who dont see it anymore, it was "How young is TOO young?" )could turn into something very very far from "ok" xDDD

Rohamad_Ali · July 2016

EstelioVeleth wrote: »

Molag_Crow wrote: »

Myerscod wrote: »

Maybe change the thread title to, "how old does one have to be to legally play the game?" instead of what you put so the idiots reading and responding can understand what you're actually asking...

In response to your actual question, I don't know and I have no idea how ZOS would enforce if there was an actual age limit.

Yeah the title is kinda like one of those "uh oh... here we go" titles.

I know right? xDDD I cant even believe I didnt see how that title (for those of you who dont see it anymore, it was "How young is TOO young?" )could turn into something very very far from "ok" xDDD

Too old to play is when you start wearing your grey ribbon .

CherryCake · July 2016

DRXHarbinger wrote: »

By the way the age rating law applies to sale and purchase only. Same as movies. 12yr old can't be punished for watching a 18 cert but the store can for selling it, possibly parents for being shite parents.

Thank you, that was my confusion from the beginning, I thought that since its a rated M game, you have to be 17+ to even play, not knowing that it is just a recommendation, so thank you to those that cleared it out =D.

Abeille · July 2016

As per the TOS:

By using any ZeniMax Services, You affirm that (i) You are at least 18 years of age (or have reached the age of majority if that is not 18 years of age where You live) OR You have reviewed these Terms of Service with Your parent or guardian and he or she assents to these Terms of Service on Your behalf and takes full responsibility for Your compliance with them (You or Your parent or guardian assenting: "You" or "Your")

As for the law, it depends on the law on each country. For example, in my country age restrictions for media are not actually restrictions, but recommendations, and the law can't stop a kid from accessing any kind of media or punishing them or their legal guardians for allowing it.

Lysette · July 2016

Roehamad_Ali wrote: »

EstelioVeleth wrote: »

Molag_Crow wrote: »

Myerscod wrote: »

Maybe change the thread title to, "how old does one have to be to legally play the game?" instead of what you put so the idiots reading and responding can understand what you're actually asking...

In response to your actual question, I don't know and I have no idea how ZOS would enforce if there was an actual age limit.

Yeah the title is kinda like one of those "uh oh... here we go" titles.

I know right? xDDD I cant even believe I didnt see how that title (for those of you who dont see it anymore, it was "How young is TOO young?" )could turn into something very very far from "ok" xDDD

Too old to play is when you start wearing your grey ribbon .

I think the percentage of retired players is not even low - they have time to play and if they are not too old, they basically grew up with this technology and have played the first video games ever to be created, when those launched. And their percentage will increase, because now more and more become seniors, who had this technology on hand, when they were teenagers. In contrast to those, who are 80 or older today - those lived most of their lives without this technology and might never have adapted to actually make use of it - but demographics suggest, that MMO playing seniors will get more and more in the near future.

Lysette · July 2016

I personally have experienced some really nice teenagers in the range of 13-15, and even they played in games, which were not for their age, they were easy to play with, they took advice and what amazed me the most is, that those I got to know more, had even a very good understanding of that gaming is entertainment only and that school and education is more important. They managed their gaming behavior quite well, but they had parents, which taught them values and a realistic view on the world and did not make the machine to their guardians - parents are to blame, when kids get out of order.

The Elder Scrolls Online

How old does one have to be to legally play the game?

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