LadySiara
I think it's a personal choice of what you can handle. If you feel you can play those games or watch movies and other forms of media without it being a hindrance to your spiritual walk then I'd say it's fine. But Paul does talk about being careful not to cause your brothers and sisters to stumble. If you're on your own and it isn't a problem then I'd say feel free but if someone else is in the room or it's affect someone someone somehow you need to make sure it's not a hindrance to them. I know for me personally I can handle alot when it comes to mature themes however I try to avoid slasher flicks and horror games because I don't get any pleasure out of watching them...they make me a little ill actually. God gave you a conscience for discernment. If you feel uncomfortable with it then it might be a good idea to refrain.
Yeah, I've felt ok playing those kinds of game because it's a great way for me to relieve stress, granted God's been getting to do that lately (Praise Jesus! I'm finally letting Him again and do His work) but I saw it as, "This is a way I can blow off steam by killing aliens or terrorists, by doing it in a virtual world where the humans are not real, they're a mix of 3D polygons and shapes, and I won't get in trouble for it because it is strictly a game." And that's how I've looked at it, they are simply games. Now my cousin, I'm slightly terrified of him because he plays more M-Rated games than I do, it seems, and he's under the age of 17 to be playing those and he's even said he's wanted to become a hitman someday because of a game he played. Now, I will admit, at times I'd of liked to become an assassin but then I remembered 1) it's wrong and 2) that's what my games are for. It just really irks me because his mom lets him play these games, and I'm not one to diss on the games but I think that his attitude definitely stems from these games.
But thanks a lot, your advice did help ^_^