Battlefield: Bad Company 2

The Battlefield games all feature scenarios of modern warfare, some real and others imagined. In Battlefield: Bad Company 2 most of the game takes place in modern times as the protagonist and his squad fight battles across several continents, all the while attempting to thwart the main enemy, Russia.

Although the games do include campaign storylines, Battlefield's real strength is in its multiplayer. Vehicular combat, teamwork, strategic movement, and large-scale battle scenarios are the norm.

Parents should be warned that the primary draw of Battlefield is the multiplayer aspect of the games. Players chat via headsets while engaging in large-scale battle, and anything goes.

• Parents should use this opportunity to really address online play and make sure kids a) feel safe and respected, and b) are engaging in respectful repartee with others.
• Do you think these battles are realistic? Is this what real ground warfare would feel like?
• Do you think there is any danger of (in fictional battle settings) these powers actually engaging in war?
• How does this intense adrenaline rush make you feel? Do you ever get anxious after playing Battlefield, or are you more relaxed?