The GR8s are currently playing Tom Clancy's® Rainbow Six Vegas™ (ESRB rating "M") ; Ghost Recon™ (ESRB rating "T"); Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter™ (ESRB rating "M") , EA Games® Battlefield II Modern Combat™ (ESRB rating "T"), and Microsoft Game Studios® Gears of War™ (ESRB rating "M"). Our role in the multiplayer gaming community is as guardians of children, ages 8 to 14, whose numbers are ever-increasing online. Parents personally endorse our presence online, and some, even game with us! All are encouraged to visit our website at www.gr8clan.com.

Before people start screaming about these kids playing games rated "M" for mature, they should know that, in response to my query concerning the legalities of children playing games rated "M", the ESRB wrote:

"The ESRB ratings were developed to serve as a guide to help consumers make informed decisions about which games might be appropriate for their children and family. The system has two equally important parts: Clearly displayed on the front of virtually every computer and video game box sold in the United States and Canada, you will find an ESRB rating symbol that suggests age appropriateness for the game. On the back of the box are content descriptors which are assigned in the context of the rating category, and which indicate elements in the game that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern."

Nowhere, in the above, does it indicate that it is illegal for children to play any games rated "M". It only states that elements found " in the game may be of interest or concern."

In some states, legislation has been in process that would make it illegal to sell the M-rated games to minors.

"I contend that allowing children to play mature games under responsible adult supervision is perfectly acceptable, and is analogous to accompanying and supervising a child to view a PG-13 or R rated film. But the abuse coming from other online gamers is illegal. Online abuse over the headsets directed toward children is the exact same criminal offense as a supervised child in a public theatre watching a PG-13 movie, and a predator in the row behind the child leans over and whispers, or shouts, sexually explicit expletives, or directives, into that child's ear. Fundamentally, there is no difference between the two.

Here is the story of how The GR8's began.

I, along with The GR8's co-founder GR8 Jen, purchased five (5) XBOX 360's along with five (5) XBOX Live Gold Memberships for online gaming, in order to move our core Great Clan members over to the new platform; one for myself, one for GR8 JEN, and three (3) others for GR8 Clan children whose families could not afford such a purchase, but allowed The GR8 Clan to gift it to them. The joy and gratitude expressed by these kids and their families was heartwarming, and I know that we would do it all over again just to hear their uncontained happiness and excitement. Sadly, we couldn't afford to move everyone over.

GR8 **** joined The GR8s just after turning fourteen, and is now sixteen years old. His personality makes anyone smile. With his exuberant optimistic attitude, he can find something positive to say about anyone.

On the day I put his copy of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas in the mail, I telephoned his mother, and we chatted a bit. During our conversation I asked her, "Are you sure you don't mind us sending him these games?"

She very quickly said, "No! No! No! Please! He is so blessed! This is a blessing what you're doing! It keeps him here at home instead of out getting into trouble. I don't mind at all!"

It turns out that GR8**** lives in an area with very heavy gang activity, but we never knew because, for the past two years, GR8**** has come home after school to do his homework so he can play online with The GR8s.

Articles on WomenGamers.Com solely reflect the experiences and perspectives of the author(s). Feel free to agree or disagree in the accompanying forum thread.