What are your opinions on video game content ratings and restrictions?

I think age has a lot to do with this topic, as well as age in reference to perspective. Being 23 years old I don't have the problem of not being able to purchase a video game - if its being sold in store then I'm legally allowed to buy it. But that's a rather selfish look at the picture, as an 11 year old wanting to purchase Grand Theft Auto could be discussing it completely the opposite way.

Either way I think the rating system is there for a reason and justly so. It is there to protect users who are too young to be participating in specific topics and themes. If not then a 7 year old would be able to get a hold of GTA and glorify killing - which by the way I've seen this exact scenario occur to a child who's parents were... spotty.

You could go on to compare this to book censorship which is another hot topic, however I think this is closer to movie ratings and restrictions. You don't want a sex scene with graphic nudity at the age of 7, so you probably shouldn't be murdering and slitting throats with prostitutes in a game at that age either.

Just my 2 cents.