The obvious answer to the title of this article is that Toy 'R' Us probably makes a ton of money by selling mature rated games, but I can't help but ask the question.  I have kids and I think its fair to ask.  With all the bad press swirling around mature rated games and kids, why shouldn't we criticize a kids store for selling games that truly aren't meant for kids?

I'm a big fan of mature rated games and will continue to be, as long as the mature content matches the great gameplay of recent games.  Dead Space comes to mind.  What I'm not a big fan of is immature kids playing mature rated games.  More importantly, I'm not a fan of parents not understanding that mature rated games are not for kids.  There is a big misunderstanding when it comes to this.

I can't tell you the number of times I've been to a local game store and a parent has had in their hand a mature rated game and remarked to the cashiers how much they couldn't believe 'they made a game like this for kids.'  It never ceases to amaze me.  I want to grab these parents, look them in the eye, and tell them that the whole point is these games are not for kids.

I know most parents remember playing Super Mario Bros. and the Legend of Zelda when they were kids.  It's time to wake up.  Depending on which study you believe, the average age of a gamer is anywhere from 27-35.  Developers have evolved with the times and are making more mature games for a more mature audience.  This doesn't mean there isn't still a place for kid specific games.

This brings me back to Toys 'R' Us.  Knowing that mature rated games are not for kids, shouldn't a kid centric store like Toys 'R' Us refrain from selling 'M' rated games all together?  By doing so, they contribute to the idea that these games are for kids and reinforces this idea in parents minds, as misguided as this may be.

My proposal is simple.  Do us all a favor Toys 'R' Us, stop selling mature rated games.  Keep with your identity as a kid friendly store, a place where 'a kid can be a kid' and parents can rest easy in knowing any product they buy in your store will cater to their children.  Leave the mature stuff to a mature store.  Maybe then parents will get it, maybe not, but think of the good press this simple thing can bring you.