Nintendo's 3DS

Welcome back to the ever changing and evolving world of videogames.  For those of you who are new to this series of blogs I recommend you start with the first blog by selecting it from the right column or clicking here.  Today’s blog will be about Nintendo’s latest handheld device: the 3DS.  If you have young (or older) children that play games you most likely heard about its upcoming release followed by a puppy-eyed “Can I have one, pleeeeeeease.”   

Update to the blog below:  according to Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter although the "sell-out" some people had predicted at launch didn't happen (far from it) Nintendo still sold 500,000 3DS units in March, besting the Xbox 360 and Wii, with 480,000 and 410,000 unit sales, respectively. There since have been rumors of children getting sick while playing games in 3D mode and of record returns but these are just that, "rumors" even though Nintendo did add a disclaimer for very young children to restrict their onscreen time and take breaks.  Encouring children to take breaks from their games is good advice 3D effect or not.  

Read moreThe system will launch for $249.99 on March 27.  Not cheap considering that it is a handheld device and about the same price as an 4G Xbox 360.  So what is all the buzz about and why were Nintendo fans willing to stand in line for over an hour at E3 (the videogame’s industry’s main trade show) to see the first demo?  The main feature players are excited about is the ability to view games and movies in 3D without glasses.  Having seen the demos I must admit that the effect is surprisingly good, at least as good as the 3D movies I’ve seen with glasses.  As with any 3D effect the angle at which you view the image will affect the quality of the experience but it’s definitively fun to watch. 

If your kid already has a DS or DSi you will be familiar with some of the features like the dual screen (a display screen on top and a touch screen on the bottom) the mic, inner and outer camera and Wifi access but some of the existing features will be enhanced.  The outer camera for example will consists of two cameras that can take 3D pictures and footage.  As mentioned in addition to playing games the 3DS will also launch with series of 3D movies including titles from Disney, Dreamworks and Warner Bros that can be downloaded through Nintendo’s eShop.

Motion and Gyro sensor similar to the ones included in most smart phones will allow games that support the feature to react to the way the device is tilted and moved.  A useful feature is the backward compatibility with most of the DS and DSi titles although these will of course only be displayed in 2D.

There will be two colors available at launch in North America (cosmo black and aqua blue) although I’m sure that more will follow as well as some special edition releases.

For more detailed information and demos of the features go to Nintendo’s site at http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/hardware.

The decision to buy or not to buy will of course depend on your budget and how loud and insistent your kid’s pleas are.  Be ready to open your purse a little wider for all the upcoming accessories and the actual games and movies.  Be aware though that some of the games that will be offered at launch or shortly afterwards are geared towards an older audience.  It being Nintendo you will of course find a variety of kid-friendly titles and characters including Mario, Zelda, cute Dragons and Dogs and Cats but you’ll also find some more grizzly selections like Resident Evil or Dead or Alive Dimensions,  the kind of horror survival game where zombies attack you with chainsaws and are blown to smithereens by your character unless they disembowel you first.

You’ll find a list of currently announced titles with some basic information about them as well as some footage on Nintendo’s site at http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/games/. So it’s worth doing your homework before you go to the store. The ESRB ratings are not included on Nintendo's site yet but for the more mature ones you’ll see the disclaimer stating that some of the content might not be appropriate for young children.  Keep in mind that some titles will have downloadable demos you can review before you buy them.

I’d be interested to know if any of you owned a N64 and played some of the resurrected oldies but goodies like Zelda: Ocarina of time.  Shoot me a line if you did and let me know if you are planning on playing the upcoming 3D version (although I belive that the release date for the Zelda game has not been announced yet)

Will the 3D effect get fans running to the stores at the end of march?  All will depend on the quality of the games that will be available and how effectively they will utilize the 3D effect.  If done well it can truly enhance the gameplay but if done badly it can hinder it.  To address these concerns Nintendo is including a depth slider that will allow players to adjust the intensity of the 3D effect and even completely turn it off.  Wise choice indeed. 

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

One feature I am exited about is the ability to play Augmented Reality Games (see glossary).  Although the current lineup is small there is some great potential for future titles to let us experience our environment in a whole new way. 

For my upcoming blogs I will be interviewing videogame producers, artists, writers and executives who are parents themselves and let them share their tips with you.  As always feel free to contact me with your comments or questions in the meantime and let me know if the 3DS is on your shopping list.

The World of WoW

Welcome back everyone. As you could see in my previous blog the world of online gaming can be daunting but I hope that the information I shared gave you a starting point and you can always email me with further questions at dorianrichard@gmail.com.

Now if you thought that the multiplayer online games I mentioned were complex then welcome to the most complex online galaxy and the largest MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game – can you say that fast) of all, World of Warcraft affectionately referred to as WoW. Created by Blizzard, a developer with previous hit titles like Warcraft: Orcs and Humans and the Diablo series, it became an instant success when released in 2004. With over 12 million subscribers it currently has the largest subscription base of any game and even holds the Guiness World Record for it.

As a heads-up, the rumors that Blizzard is working on a new MMO have been confirmed (working title “Titan”) and a lot of players are going to be excited when more details are available although it’s likely to be a year or two before the game comes out.

At its base World of Warcraft is a vast onlineworld where players create characters, combat monsters, complete quests and interact with NPC’s (non-player characters) and other players. Although the goal is to level up your character to gain new abilities WoW has a very social component that makes the game so popular. Players can complete quests and defeat opponents together, trade items, chat and banter and even fight each other to gain recognition. And here lies the rub. These interactions can vary very widely depending on the players involved. WoW is officially rated T for Teen but as with any game that offers an online component the rating only applies to the content created by the developer ie the graphics, in-game character dialogue etc. It can not rate the kind of interaction provided by real life players through chat and other features. The game comes with parental controls to filter out some of the more offensive or explicit language but as you’ll see shortly these filters are far from perfect due to the very creative language used by some of the players. There are some additional useful filters though like limiting the length of the sessions (some gamers can be pretty obsessive and play all night/day long).

If you sit in on a chat session with your kid chances are you won’t have a clue what he or she is talking about unless you are familiar with MMORPG’s. Let me give you an example from a WoW message board as to how technical some of the lingo can get.

Question posted on message board:
I currently have the 4 piece ilvl 232 set for my resto druid - Malfurion's Conquest gear. My legs were from the Lasherweave set from VOA. The other day I got the Lashweave gloves from VOA. So now I have a question, do i replace my Malfurion's ilvl 232 gloves with the ilvl 251 Lasherweave gloves?

I lose the T9 set bonus of crits on rejuv, but gain the improved wild growth from the Lasherweave set. Other than the set bonus, the stats are much better on the Lasherweave gloves, so I'm leaning towards taking those. But the crit on rejuv is pretty nice.

Answer:
1) How much of your healing does the 4pT9 bonus make up? If it's less then 5% or so you can probably make that up in the stat increase and the bonus to WG (that's assuming you're using it on or near CD each time it's up as a good tree should).

2) How close are you to the haste cap? Trading out the crit for haste on the new gloves is a nice big chunk which should move you closer if you aren't there already.

Checking at your armory it looks you've already decided to go with the 2pT9/10 bonuses. Probably a good move overall. Haste is still a bit low but that will come with upgrades from frost gear.I would suggest going for the the Vestments of Spruce and Fir as your next upgrade if you're looking for more haste. It will be the biggest haste boost out of any other pieces you can buy along with the increase in other stats. The crafted boots are also an excellent upgrade if you have the resources as are the ones that drop from Deathwhisper 10m.

Confused? Don’t worry, not all the chat is that technical but it shows you that some of the players are very savvy. WoW players use a lot of acronyms and abbreviations influenced by texting. Here’s an example of a more generic in-game player exchange. I added some explanations in brackets and left the typos:

Bimle [ Longberry] says: Straight from the lush forests of Elwynn, get your fresh fruit right here. (Players can trade and sell items. This is a large part of the WoW economy)
[Trade] [Shadowpains]: u don’t
[Trade] [Shadowpains]: that’s fkin classic (don’t know if this instance would be caught by the filters)
[Trade] [Catastrophe]: hit/camp and that will do it (player giving advice to another player. Most players will be friendly when newbies need help.)
[Trade] [Shadowpains]: -_-* (emoticon usually depicting boredom or some kind of flat expression but used in a variety of ways)

Not only players can use some rather crude humor at times. GM’s (Game Masters) who are available for chat when a player is stuck or has a question but also patrol the lands to detect players who cheat or harass others are known for their racier jokes. Here’s an excerpt from a chat between a GM and a player. Warning: If you are offended by crude humor please skip this paragraph.

BLIZZ [Nympheren] whispers (BLIZZ referring to the developer’s name Blizzard and identifying the GM): question: How do Tauren (a bull-like race) hide in the forests?
To BLIZZ [Nympheren]: Not a clue
BLIZZ [Nympheren] whispers: they paint their balls red and hide in apple trees. Question: How did the gnome die?
To BLIZZ [Nympheren]: Hmm…Not sure
BLIZZ [Nympheren] whispers: A:Picking Apples ;P (silly face sticking tongue out)
To BLIZZ [Nympheren]: LOL

Some chats have strong sexual undertones. Again, please skip the next paragraph if you find this kind of language offensive. I am posting it here so you have an idea as to the kind of banter children could encounter.

[Squall]: I slowly remove your t9 chestpiece. (t9 refers to Tier 9 armor which has unique set bonuses for each class – don’t worry if you don’t understand but it means that this is a high level player talking) I breathe softly upon your Buccaneer Shirt, eagerly awaiting whats underneath.
[Squall]: then ..all of a sudden, you morph into a BEAR
[Squall]: I frantically work at the buttons of my [Fleshwerk Leggins], eager to take advantage of the lusciously soft ursan derrier presented to me.
[Squall]: My pantaloons removed, I step into stealth, so you can only feel my body warmth as I work my way around
[Squall]: for a rear AMBUSH
[Squall]: I CRIT(meaning the player did a critical attack that deals additional damage).
[Squall]: I hear you roar loudly, I put that +5% crit to use as I ravage you relentlessly from behind.
[Squall]: I stop and apply poison to my “dagger”
and on it goes… This chat took place on the [lookingforplayers] channel so an open channel accessible to anyone.

Now to end on a humorous note. Not all players are as smart as the example given from the message board.

[Wushi]: don’t have internet? xD (emoticon that represents a big smile with eyes closed)
[Lindenbratt]: mom banned it couse I watched porn once
[Wushi]: haha
[Bjarkov]: WTF?! xD xD
[Lindenbratt]: so now I cant go on internet explorer
[Lindenbratt]: :(
[Wushi]: lol
[Bjarkov] whispers: this dude is screwed…

Some inadvertent humor:
[Tylmarande]: Looking for a female gnome, you must be 18+ (refers to the character level, not the age)
[Tylmarande]: And come to think of it, that sounded nasty. It’s for an achievement.

And another classic one:
[Trade] [Ballons]: WHERE ARE VENDOR FOR HEIRLOOM??
[Trade] [Zhiva]: In the ALLCAPS city!
[Ballons] whispers: WHERE is allcaps city??

The examples listed show that filters that catch key words can not always catch the kind of more creative exchanges going on. So be aware of it if your child plays WoW. Due to its huge popularity WoW has also attracted its share of predators. I have not specifically heard of sexual predators although I would like in any online interaction warn your child not to give out any personal information and would be very cautious if they “befriend” a player outside the game. There are two settings for players to be added to a friends list. One is for in-game friends only. This list does not share any kind of personal data about the players. Players can chat and “party” together (meaning they can fight together in a party/group where experience and loot are shared) but only know each other by their character’s name and whatever else they are willing to share through chat. There is another friend setting though which allows players to connect outside the game through what is referred to as Real ID. Players who share their “real ID” can chat in any Blizzard game (not just WoW) but it means that their real name and updates are shared across each other’s friends list. Make sure your children only select this option with players they know in real life. As in any “world” you will also find scammers who will try cheat players through options like the in-game mail system. They do this by sending an in-game mail with some kind of item attached (players can exchange items that way) but put a cash on delivery tag on the item meaning that the player will get charged for it if she retrieves it. Blizzard is working hard on ending these kind of scams but alas, crooks can be creative so as in a real-world scenario teach your children to be cautious opening mails from strangers and especially from giving any kind of personal information.

Other scams I've seen include requests for account information sent by email stating that your account might have been hacked.  As in any e-mails tell your kids not to follow any links but log in directly through the official WoW website if they need to check or update their accounts.

This said WoW is overall a safe and enjoyable experience. If you are interested in checking it out for yourself you can download a free 10 day trial at http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/trial/If you do, you can find me on Darrowmere (the server name). My name is Mytra and I am a Hunter. Please stop by and say hi!

PC games and online interaction

Welcome back. If you’re new to this series of blogs I would recommend you start with the first blog by selecting it from the archives on the right side and read them in chronological order.

Now that we’ve discussed the options to restrict online interaction for console games let’s move on to the world of PC gaming. A word of caution: you might be tempted to disable as many options as possible to feel safe but some of the options can really enhance the online experience. In certain team based games for example chat allows players to strategize to defeat the opponent. In my opinion it is better to educate children than blindly disable features. Review the features available for each game and decide accordingly. Some of the most explicit language can be read/heard in first person shooters due to their fast pace and extremely competitive nature. Just read some of the comments left about the last Medal of Honor iteration and you’ll quickly get a sense of how these kids talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=We-ejhDB1jE. These games are mostly rated M due to their graphic single player content (as one of the gamers states: “This game has honestly scary graphic, i mean it look's like it was recorded by a real US soldier. Except of the blood that appears on the screen when you are getting hit. =)”) but you will find even pre-teens playing them online. A rather crude comment from the post points to this fact: “this is f**** (explicitly spelled out on the comment) legit unlike xbox games that are invaded by ten year olds and fatass nerds with no lives”. I don’t know if this is because of parents not being aware of the rating or them not understanding the nature of these games either way I hope that you will be better able to evaluate them before you buy them by taking into consideration the rating, the descriptors and the more detailed content descriptions available on the ESRB site and on the Disney site I mentioned.

I would also be cautious with user created content which is particularly applicable for PC games but here too this can be a great addition as some fans are truly creative. It does take some research to determine the kind of user created content available and so far I have not found a site that reviews mods (modules i.e. levels or adventures created by fans) regarding their age appropriateness. Don’t panic though. Very few games ship with complex tools that allow players to create entire adventures like I mentioned for Neverwinter Nights. If they offer this ability this will definitively be called out since it is a big selling point. Most games that do have include tools allow players to simply create maps or modify their characters.

Back to online gaming. I will start with premium PC games sold in stores or directly over the internet as a downloadable version. Free to play or “freemium games” that come as free downloadable versions with the option to later upgrade or buy special items (characters, skins, levels etc.) will be discussed in a later blog. I’m mentioning this here though so you’re aware that your child might have access to free games that are more adult oriented. Some require the user to input their date of birth but there is no verification as of the date entered.
Although the death of PC games has long been announced they are still popular, especially amongst hard core gamers. There are a couple of reasons for this:

1. The access to a keyboard and mouse allows much more complex interaction than a controller. This is especially true for complex games like RPG’s (Role Playing Games) or RTS’ (Real Time Strategy Games). Many gamers will also agree that playing shooters or FPS (First Person Shooters) with a mouse is much more accurate than with a joystick. Note that you can plug a keyboard into the PS3 for games that support it. The Xbox 360 needs an adaptor.

2. Tools for modders (players who create their own modules for a title) are mainly created for PC games.

At times the world of PC gaming seems to resemble the Wild West. Although PC games sold in retail stores go through the ESRB rating process there is no real quality control or standard similar to the ones used for console games. When a publisher creates a game to be released on the Xbox 360, Wii or PS3 he has to go through Microsoft’s, Nintendo’s or Sony’s certification process. This process requires the publisher to comply with specific standards, terminology and quality controls. But when it comes to PC’s anyone can release a game, no matter how bad or buggy. Not to imply that console games are never bad but the console manufacturers will have a say in the quality of the design (they can reject a concept if they don’t feel that the game is competitive), the developers have to be pre-approved and the game will at least be tested thoroughly for bugs.

In order to emulate some kind of “quality control and standards” Microsoft launched Games for Windows in 2006 to coincide with the release of Vista. The games that went through the Games for Windows certification can be identified by the Games for Windows logo. One of the required features is the support of the parental controls and family settings included in Vista and Windows 7. These settings allow parents to limit a child’s gametime, set the maximum ratings for games and disable features like chat. A word of caution: when windows does not recognize a game’s rating it does not block the game. You will have to do so manually. You can find the step by step instructions to set up the available controls at:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Set-up-Parental-Controls
Note that you will need to create a user account on the computer for each child to apply the settings.

For PC games with online components that are not part of the Games for Windows program some of the parental controls might not work but there are some ways to evaluate a game before buying it.

- Start with the ESRB rating for the single player experience.
- Look at the available online features. Since these are selling points they are usually called out. A note on chat: chat is most commonly used in first person shooters and MMO’s. Especially in shooters being able to talk to your teammates or “dissing” your opponents by speaking into a mike instead of getting fragged while you are typing makes a huge difference. Some games have build-in chat abilities but there is also software available like “teamchat” that allows gamers to chat in games that don’t come with it. Although I have not tested this, parental controls might not work with some of these programs.
- Demos: some PC games offer free demos which will include a sample level or limited game time.
- Some MMORPG’s (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) like WoW (World of Warcraft) offer free trials for a limited time. I will discuss WoW in more detail in my next blog since this is still the most popular MMO game. It will give you an idea of the kind of interaction available and the kind of language used by players.
- View footage of the game on youtube by searching by the title. As mentioned a lot of players will pots footage of their “best” or “favorite” moments.

The key points to take away from this blog are:

- Some of the most sexually explicit and offensive language is used in First Person Shooters and MMORPG’s. These games are usually already rated M.
- As in console games you have the ability to restrict certain features like voice chat but there is software that might not be blocked by this feature and some games allow players to chat by using the keyboard which also wouldn’t be disabled by the parental controls. Some games like WoW offer filters to catch some of the most offensive terms but as you’ll see in my next blog the language can be pretty creative and suggestive while using common game terminology that would not be filtered.
- If the game is highly competitive in nature chances are that chats will include a fair amount of “dissing” and explicit language.

Join me next week for a peek into the world of WoW (World of Warcraft), a world filled with ogres, mages and elves, where players can role play, combine forces to defeat common foes or fight each other. A world so popular that its economy has extended outside the game and in-game characters or items are being sold on e-bay. Until then I wish you and your families a very happy New Year.

Online Gameplay and potential risks

Welcome back. For those who are new to this series of blogs I recommend you start with the first one by selecting it on the right side.

I hope the information on the rating system was helpful and gave you a good starting point. I mentioned the ESRB website for more information about specific games (www.esrb.org – type in the title of a game for a description of the rating and the gameplay) as well as youtube to view some gameplay footage but ran across Disney’s family center this week which offers game reviews geared towards parents. I thought these might be reviews about their own games but the site actually includes reviews of the most popular games like Halo Reach and Mass Effect 2 adding pointers for parents as to what to look for. The link to their gamereview page is: http://family.go.com/entertainment/pkg-video-games/


In this week’s blog I will focus on online gameplay, potential risks and the use of parental controls. The goal is to give you an overview of the kind of online features available to your children when they play games online and the controls available to you to restrict online interactivity. It might seem like a lot of information to digest but as I review the various consoles and their options feel free to skip directly to the console applicable to your family.

Online features are very popular and most games will now offer some form of online interaction. This can be a rewarding addition but can potentially alter the game experience as described by the ESRB rating and descriptors.
What are the risks when children play online?

• The most common risk is players engaging in behavior that might not be suitable for young people. This can include inappropriate language, bullying, cheating and tampering with the game.

• User generated content which could be unsuitable for young players and a mismatch with the rating of the game: some games include tools that allow players to create their own content and share them with other players. This can be a simple custom decal for a car or an entire level or even adventure. I’ll explain the potential discrepancy between the rated single player and the unrated online experience in more detail.

• Breaches of privacy: social games often encourage players to befriend each other which exposes children to the risk of sharing personal information.

• Links to websites with unsuitable content for young players. Any website mentioned in a game needs to be disclosed during the ESRB submission. The potential issue is that some of these websites can change/evolve and have added user generated contents and/or message boards that might not be appropriate.

So let me break down these potential risks and mention ways to mitigate them.

If online gameplay is available (ie the game can be played with or against other players online) the ESRB will include an online Rating notice warning players that the online experience could vary due to features like chat, text or shared user-generated content. An E-rated game for example with no pertinent dialogue might allow players to chat online and thus expose them to inappropriate language. Note that games that are specifically geared towards children will sometimes include a filter that will block a list of inappropriate terms. Publishers like Disney will often use these kinds of filters but you can’t take them for granted and they are not perfect.

Some games allow players to create their own content (levels, characters or other) and share them with others which could also alter the original experience. The original Neverwinter Nights game (a popular role playing game) and its sequel for example allowed users to create their own adventures and share them with the community. Fans posted over 500 modules (custom adventures) and although most were rather harmless a few included some racier encounters. So even though the game itself was rated T a player downloading one of these adventures could have been exposed to more mature content. Some games do allow players to create some custom content like a decal for their car or a new piece of clothing for their character but not to share it with others. In this case the special decal for the car for example would be visible to others during a race but they could not download it and apply it to their cars. If a potentially offensive decal is included in the game it has to be called out during the ESRB submission but if the game allows players to create their own decals and display them during a multiplayer session this is not taken into consideration during the rating evaluation since the publisher has no control over it. Hence the warning.

What can you do if you are worried about this kind of online interaction? The good news is that the leading consoles (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii) and handheld devices like the DSi, DSi XL (a slightly larger version of the DSi) and the PSP allow parents to limit their children’s online interaction through parental controls. These controls will either enable or disable certain functions like chat, the ability to browse the internet or exchange data. These controls are not perfect but will provide a decent level of protection.

What kind of controls are available and how do I set them?
The ESRB published a brochure with detailed instructions on how to set the parental controls for the Xbox 360, PS3, PSP and Wii. You can download the brochure in English at http://www.esrb.org/about/news/downloads/ESRB_PTA_Brochure-web_version.pdf and in Spanish at http://www.esrb.org/about/news/downloads/ESRB_PTA_Booklet_SPANISH-web_version.pdf


Nintendo posted detailed instructions on parental controls for the DSi, DSi XL and Wii on their website at http://www.nintendo.com/corp/parents.jsp as well as other useful information for parents. If you have a minute I recommend you check it out. www.Nintendo.com also lists information about most titles published on the Wii and DSi. Just type in a title in the search box and you’ll find the rating of the game, a detailed description of the content and goals and often some sample footage.

So let me start with the easiest and safest platforms, the DSi and DSi XL:

In addition of having published some of the most popular children’s games (who doesn’t know Donkey Kong, Super Mario or Zelda) Nintendo always had a reputation for being kid friendly and very concerned about security, privacy and content. I’d say their concerns seem to border paranoia at times. If you decide to follow a link from their website to a website hosted by another publisher you will receive a notice asking you to confirm that you want to leave Nintendo’s site and warning you that they are not responsible for any content posted on the site you are trying to access.
Nintendo also won’t publish titles rated mature and offers various features to allow parents to restrict potential wireless and online interactions. I won’t go into details as to how to set all these controls since you’ll find step by step instructions on their website but will discuss some of the interactions that can be limited. It is important to note that all controls are set to “off” by default which means that all features are enabled until you disable them.

The DSi and DSi XL offer wireless communication as well as Internet access. I'll explain the difference. The first one which is the pre-installed ability to connect wirelessly to up to 15 other players within approximately 65 feet allows children to chat and share pictures taken with the integrated camera and play wireless enabled games. Note that players also have the ability to post their photos on facebook. Now if players are within 65 feet of each other they will most likely know each other and already be “chatting” but nonetheless this feature as well as the ability to exchange photo data or post pictures to facebook can be disabled.

To access the internet an internet connection has to be set up first using a compatible wireless access point. This process is not as easy as Nintendo would like you to believe but once set up the integrated browser can be used to navigate the internet, download games and play games online. If the online capability has been set up the following features can be disabled:

• Wireless browser
• Access to user created content.
• Chat
• Data exchange

Nintendo also offers a filter that will prevent access to websites that might be inappropriate.

On to Nintendo’s other platform, the Wii:

As for the DSi and DSi XL Nintendo offers various parental settings to limit your children’s interactions. These are:

• Highest Game Rating: this is based on the ESRB rating and will
determine what kind of games can be played on the console. If you
select T for Teen for example higher rated games will not launch.
• Online communication: sending and receiving messages through the
console and in online games where open communication is available.
• Online browser (note that the browser has to be downloaded first)
• Access to user created content
• News Channel
• Use of Wii Points to purchase items on the Nintendo online store.

Note that as for the DSi and DSi XL all these restrictions are set to “off” which means that all the features are enabled until you turn them off.

Now to the Xbox 360:

Microsoft prides itself that the Xbox was the first console to include parental controls. The Xbox 360 offers similar controls although things get a little trickier with the Kinect (a motion sensor and facial recognition device that allows you to control games and menus through body movements and verbal orders). I will get into potential security concerns with the Kinect in a future blog.

Microsoft’s website for parents called get game smart (www.getgamesmart.com) has all the instructions for the available controls. You will find step by step instructions as well as information about Xbox Live and the Kinect.
To set parental controls you will need to start with the creation of a master account. It should be set up by the parents if minors are going to be using the console. Here are the available options:

• Online gameplay: parents can control their childrens’ ability to
play online games, use text, voice or video communication. The
console has Intelligent Default Settings for Child, Teen and Adult
profiles that are applied dependent on the member’s age entered
during the creation of the account. Some online features are
automatically blocked for Child accounts (children under 13) due to
the Child online protection act which prevents the collection of
personal identifyable information and limits advertisement. Note
that the purchase of an Xbox LIVE membership is necessary to access
online features.
• Video Kinect and Kinect Sharing: Video Kinect allows video chat
with friends and family. Kinect Sharing allows players to upload
and share pictures.
• Family timer. This gives parents the option to restrict the time
family members can play either by day or week. The players will get
a warning if their time is about to expire so they can save their
progress.
• Family programming: this feature allows parents to disable mature
rated games, movies and content based on ESRB and Motion Picture
Association of America ratings. Note that the settings will apply
to anyone using the console but can temporarily be disabled by the
master account holder.

And last but not least, the PS3:

Sony’s support page for parents lists little more than the parental controls and how to access them: http://us.playstation.com/support/parents/index.htm.

As for the Xbox 360 you will need to start with the creation of the Master account that will control the settings of all the other accounts. The other accounts are called sub or child accounts.

The following options are available:

• Chat: block the ability to send or receive text or voice/video
chats. There are two kinds of chat options. The first one is
through the Playstation Network using the built in message box and
chat option. This kind of communication is done outside of a game.
The second type is in-game chat through text or voice where players
are able to communicate during a game. This ability has to be
included in the game to be accessible and not all games offer it.
Note that the default setting for chat is “block”.
• Content restriction: The default setting is “On” which means that
all content will be restricted based on the entered user age.
Games rated higher can not be purchased or played by the user unless
this restriction is set to “Off”.
• Spending limit: The default value is $0,00 which means that the sub
account can not purchase any items.
• Ability to report and block users


Parting words:

I know that this all seems like a lot of information but the sites I listed will give you step by step instructions and explain each feature being blocked. The three main points I would like you to take away from this blog are:

1. The online experience might differ from the rating of a game due to the ability to chat and exchange data. So look for that online notice.

2. Some games allow users to create custom content that can be shared with other players. This content can be a new item for THE SIMS or an entire level or adventure. Console games usually offer simpler tools to create or alter any kind of content. Some PC games come with very complex tools that allow players to design their own level or story. Such tools will be part of the selling point of a game since they are a major feature. You’ll usually see some kind of description like “create your own track, adventure, level etc.”

3. Consoles offer parental controls that can restrict certain online interactions to mitigate the risks. (like chatting, exchanging data and browsing the internet)

It gets trickier with PC games where parental controls are not as readily accessible. I will discuss available options and Microsoft’s attempt to introduce some regulations and standards for PC games with their Games for Windows platform in my next blog,

In the meantime try playing a game with your children and let me know how it went by emailing me at dorianrichard@gmail.com. Don’t fret if they kick your b…. After all, it’s just a game.

And don’t forget to log back on next week.

Welcome to all of you who might be lost in the maze of FPS, RTS, RPG’s and MMO’s and are confused by your children’s references to WOW, MoH, CoD or GTA.

This is the first in a series of blogs to introduce parents to the complex and sometimes confusing world of videogames and help them make informed decisions as they try to navigate through the daunting choices of titles. I will address concerns about the kind of content children could be exposed to and explain the resources and tools available to evaluate the age appropriateness of a given title and restrict certain online interactions.

But allow me to introduce myself. Besides being a gamer and writer, I am also a videogame producer. I worked on various PC and console titles ranging from simple puzzle games to licensed sports and role-playing games. Some of my shipped titles include Neverwinter Nights 2, Mission Impossible: Operation Surma, Tetris, Need For Speed: Nitro X, and Surviving High School (DSiWare). Each of these games had a specific audience we were targeting which meant that the gameplay, level of difficulty and art style had to be designed accordingly. Surviving High School for example was a casual adventure game set, you guessed it, in the High School environment and aimed at young adults. Players had to make dialogue choices as they navigated through their schoolday and complete various challenges.
 

 

Neverwinter Nights 2 on the other hand was a complex role-playing game aimed at a more mature, hardcore audience.

As a producer one of my many tasks was to ensure that the style and gameplay would appeal to our target audience but also that the content would fit the requirements for the appropriate ESRB rating. The ESRB and its rating system will be the topic of my first blog.

Upcoming topics will include:

- Online gameplay and social gaming
- Parental controls
- Mobile games
- Privacy concerns
- Foreign rating systems
- Videogame addiction
- Can games actually be good for your kids?
- New trends
- Answers to the most common questions

I will also talk about current and upcoming consoles, handheld devices and accessories, provide a glossary of the most common gaming terms and discuss some of the hot new releases your children might be excited about. So how bad are videogames and what should parents be aware of?

We’ve all heard horror stories about games filled with blood, sex and violence where players get rewarded for killing cops, running over pedestrians, stealing cars and blowing up buildings. Game ads and trailers seem plastered with “sexy” female characters and guys showing off their big guns. Titles like Doom, Grand Theft Auto, Gods of War, Dante’s Inferno, Dead Space, Assassin's Creed and many others only reinforce the image of videogames as tools of violence and destruction.

Understandably parents often worry about the kind of content their children might be exposed to when playing games. The reality though is that games vary widely in genre and content and that many of them are perfectly suitable for children. The question is how do you distinguish the ones that are, versus the ones that aren’t and where to start.

For console and PC titles released in North America the answer is: start with the ESRB rating.

So what is the ESRB and what does its rating mean?

The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization founded in 1994 to assign age and content ratings for games. Their rating system is similar to the Motion Picture Association (MPAA) rating system as it calls out potentially offensive, sexual or violent content inappropriate for younger audiences.

With the growing popularity of titles like Mortal Kombat (players could finish opponents by ripping off their heads) or Doom (a dark first person shooter with plenty of blood and gore), came an onslaught of negative press against the videogame industry and a call for some sort of industry regulation. The ESRB(formerly Interactive Digital Software Association) was created to introduce a rating system that would allow parents to evaluate the age appropriateness of a given title. Although voluntary most games are submitted for this rating since chains like Walmart won’t carry them without it.

The ESRB rating includes two parts:

1. The rating symbol. Currently there are six rating symbols ranging from early childhood (ages 3 and up) to Adults only (18 and over). Here’s the list along with their description.

EARLY CHILDHOOD
Titles rated EC (Early Childhood) have content that may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.

EVERYONE
Titles rated E (Everyone) have content that may be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.

EVERYONE 10+
Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes.

TEEN
Titles rated T (Teen) have content that may be suitable for ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.

MATURE
Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.

ADULTS ONLY
Titles rated AO (Adults Only) have content that should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.

RATING PENDING
Titles listed as RP (Rating Pending) have been submitted to the ESRB and are awaiting final rating. (This symbol appears only in advertising prior to a game's release.)

2. The content descriptor found on the back of the box. The descriptor gives more specific information about a game’s content. The ESRB evaluates six areas:

- Sexual content or references
- Violence
- Gambling
- Dialogue and lyrics
- Humor

Depending on the severity and the context of these instances the ratings board might assign one of the following descriptors:

Alcohol Reference - Reference to and/or images of alcoholic beverages
Animated Blood - Discolored and/or unrealistic depictions of blood
Blood - Depictions of blood
Blood and Gore - Depictions of blood or the mutilation of body parts
Cartoon Violence - Violent actions involving cartoon-like situations and characters. May include violence where a character is unharmed after the action has been inflicted
Comic Mischief - Depictions or dialogue involving slapstick or suggestive humor
Crude Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving vulgar antics, including “bathroom” humor
Drug Reference - Reference to and/or images of illegal drugs
Fantasy Violence - Violent actions of a fantasy nature, involving human or non-human characters in situations easily distinguishable from real life
Intense Violence - Graphic and realistic-looking depictions of physical conflict. May involve extreme and/or realistic blood, gore, weapons and depictions of human injury and death
Language - Mild to moderate use of profanity
Lyrics - Mild references to profanity, sexuality, violence, alcohol or drug use in music
Mature Humor - Depictions or dialogue involving "adult" humor, including sexual references
Nudity - Graphic or prolonged depictions of nudity
Partial Nudity - Brief and/or mild depictions of nudity
Real Gambling - Player can gamble, including betting or wagering real cash or currency
Sexual Content - Non-explicit depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including partial nudity
Sexual Themes - References to sex or sexuality
Sexual Violence - Depictions of rape or other violent sexual acts
Simulated Gambling - Player can gamble without betting or wagering real cash or currency
Strong Language - Explicit and/or frequent use of profanity
Strong Lyrics - Explicit and/or frequent references to profanity, sex, violence, alcohol or drug use in music
Strong Sexual Content - Explicit and/or frequent depictions of sexual behavior, possibly including nudity
Suggestive Themes - Mild provocative references or materials
Tobacco Reference - Reference to and/or images of tobacco products
Use of Drugs - The consumption or use of illegal drugs
Use of Alcohol - The consumption of alcoholic beverages
Use of Tobacco - The consumption of tobacco products
Violence - Scenes involving aggressive conflict. May contain bloodless dismemberment
Violent References - References to violent acts

How accurate and reliable are the ratings and descriptors? Due to the very strict submission process the ratings give a strong indication as to the kind of content included in a game. Publishers who do not report all pertinent content run the risk of getting fined and having to recall all products and reprint all boxes and marketing materials with the updated rating. A very costly process that they will not willingly undergo. Has this ever happened? The answer is yes. The most famous case is the “hot coffee” incident surrounding Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. The title included a minigame (a short game within the main game) that portrayed a sexual encounter between the main character and his girlfriend. Although this minigame had been deactivated for the original version the later released hot coffee PC mod (a modified addition to the main game) allowed players to access the hidden minigame. The name of the mod was derived from the girlfriend’s invitation to come up and have some coffee, a euphemism for having sex. Console players then found ways to “hack” their consoles to access the hidden minigame. The ensuing controversy caused the game to be pulled from the shelves and re-rated as Mature. The developer later re-released the game with all the assets from the minigame removed and the original rating restored.

The good news is that such incidents are extremely rare. To put things into perspective, even Disney had inappropriate content snuck into their movies. Think of The Rescuers where during a scene depicting the two mice flying through the city in a sardine box a topless woman could be seen in one of the passing windows. Since the image was only embedded in two frames it could not be viewed without stopping the tape but Disney recalled the title shortly after the incident was made public.

As strict as the ESRB submission process is not everything falls into clear black and white categories and ratings and descriptors, although extremely helpful can still leave you wondering how bad a certain shooter, role-playing or adventure game really is. There are a few options to get more information about a specific title. The first one is to check the ESRB site at http://www.esrb.org/index-js.jspfor a more detailed description. Here’s an example for Mass Effect 2, a popular game rated Mature.

BioWare's "Mass Effect 2"

Platform: Windows PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Rating: Mature
Content descriptors: Blood, Drug Reference, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
Rating Summary:
In this action role-playing game, players' objective is to defeat an alien enemy that is silently abducting entire human colonies. Players must assemble a team of henchmen, command a space ship, and travel to distant planets across a futuristic galaxy. At its core, the game involves a combination of conversation/interaction with characters, and ground-based (i.e., "run-and-gun") space battle: Players use assault rifles, submachine guns, shotguns, and pistols to kill humans, robots, and aliens in the frenetic third-person firefights. Some enemies emit large splashes of blood when shot (particularly with "head shots"); several enemies lie stagnant in pools of blood—factors for the Mature rating. Henchmen are able to freeze and shatter enemies, engage in melee attacks, set robots on fire, and use telekinesis to disable aliens. A handful of cutscenes depict dramatic interrogations in which human characters are threatened, punched, kicked, and shot (in the leg) by alien creatures. The game contains themes of illicit drug use, addiction, and trafficking—often focal points to the branching storylines; for example, "Morinth likes dancing while on a drug called Hallex," "Narcotics flooded my veins when I attacked," and "The asari injecting so many drugs into me was terrifying." During the course of the game, players may enter a bar where alien pole dancing exists (choreography highlighted on big-screen monitors) or hear suggestive comments such as "krogan sexual deviants enjoy salarian flexibility" and "if this is just about sex, maybe you should just f**king say so." [Italics added] Players can also choose to have "romantic encounters" with the alien/human henchmen characters; this involves watching a guided cutscene in which two characters flirt, kiss, and/or embrace: clothed alien/human characters may prop a partner on top of a space console, clear away the clutter from a bed-slab, unzip a future-blouse, or just talk it out. Though an alien/human may gyrate her hips while on top (fleeting—one-to-two seconds), actual sex is never depicted—the camera cuts away to space furniture and ceilings.

Here’s the description for Tetris PSP, an E-rated game I worked on:

Platform: PSP
Rating: Everyone
Content descriptors: No Descriptors
Rating summary:
This is a puzzle game in which players arrange falling block shapes to pack them into contiguous horizontal rows. Players compete against themselves or others to earn points based on how many perfect rows of shapes they are able to clear.


If you would like to get additional information about a game youtube is a good source to view actual gameplay. Fans will often post footage of their favorite games to either brag about their performance, share strategies or give a review. Just type in Mass Effect 2 for example and you’ll get a variety of hits with game excerpts and examples of the brief sexual encounters mentioned in the ESRB description.

As helpful as the ratings and other resources are be aware though that the ratings do not apply to potential online experiences.

More about online gameplay in my blog next week. In the meantime, feel free to contact me with your questions at dorianrichard@gmail.com.