You have a wonderful game and one many of us enjoy playing. You have installed many safeguards and made the game as well as our children a safe environment, one I to enjoy playing in. The problem still remains though that the commons are the new hunting grounds. Just read the logs sometime and you will see what I mean. The language is clearly visible even with your filters. The acts can easily be seen as to what the players are doing and a few of them I would not like my children around. I request a possibility of letting the players who love the game help patrol the commons or as an alternative, create an alternate server for free players after they have been on the account for one month. I understand that many of the ones causing the problems are the free players, as I have found them to be, because when they level as far as they can then what else is left for them to do? Creating a separate realm would stop a lot of the problems in the commons. If we as the parents and guardians of our children can't help you to patrol the grounds that our children play in then help us to make it an even better place for them to play by removing the things we adults see as inappropriate for them to be around. I in no way shape form or fashion wish to come across as prejudice and in no way wish to be but I am still a parent and as such I still have concerns about what I have seen going on in your game. I feel that allowing the free players full access for one month of play is more than enough time for someone to decide if they like the game or not and whether or not they will become members or not. After that time, they should be moved to a server that will only allow them the freedoms that a free account offers. I am not saying that it is all the free players doing it but this will remove a majority of the problems to an area that is more contained and easier to patrol with the staff and employees of KingsIsle when they are patrolled. It has been offered before by many parents who wish to help and I myself will also volunteer as a Patrol Wizard in order to help with the safeguard of our children as well. I am a retired military man with more than enough time on my hands lol. Whatever you decide KingsIsle, I hope that it is done soon. Something has got to be done about this and I know Mr Lincoln keeps telling us that you are working as hard as you can on the problems described. I am just offering to help with it in any way that would be needed. Again, thank you for the efforts and designs of a game we have all come to enjoy. Keep up your great work and thanks again.
James DeathHammer GrandMaster Level 50 No Retreat, No Surrender And No one gets left behind.
I am not following. I am a stay at home mom. It is true that kids find a way to get by the filters and those tower parties need to be monitored.
"I am looking for a MAN/Woman" is often the call for kids (i think) who want to talk crazy but i am not sure what can be done about it or if it is innocent or what since i often read it in a balloon in passing.
I find it easier to ignore these kids then to take them on. I suppose I could report it but i think that like myself PARENTS should monitor the ineraction on this game and any where else on line.
I honestly don't think more filters are the answer as i can barely talk now to friends i meet. But I have to admit I think that housing that is going to be added may be a problem.
I love the new housing on the test realm but it may be too much for those kids (or adults) who think of those places as private areas engage in less attractive activities.
I was on the test realm (before you had the monopoly money) and when others came to see my home, which i let them because we were all trying to see what we want before it went live. I went back to play the game a bit and a guy who i have let port to me had all his friends port to him and they were all there having a great talking about stuff i would not (if you get me) and there was no way to get them out. Yet they were private.
Kids will be kids, that is assumed and true but as adult i would like to know that players have more control. I believe your object it make things safe, and i agree with the earlier poster that you may need help. Maybe you can call for adult volunteers, I would love to help but as just another player it isn't my place. I honestly just want to play the game and talk to friends.
I also think adult members would be best because (if memory serves me right) hall monitors tend to be kids with power and easily swayed powers at that. Sorry if i am not helping I just don't know what to tell you I just tend to think that a police state game will take away from the game.
You can not be expected to do it all if children are the focus of this game parents my moniter their kids or nothing you do will work.
I think he was refering to the fact some will not only get around the text filters, but also move the avatars so that they are "kissing" or certain parts of anatomy overlap and they will jiggle back and forth. Though most try to hide in corners, some will do it out in the middle of the commons. And this stuff doesn't show up in the text logs. So Reporting them will show nothing.
The only things you really can do is note the player names, time and location the come here and report them through the KI contacts. I know its work, but diligent parents should take the time.
Usually I stand somewhere near by and in open text say something like, "You never know when game administrators are on the field." This usually sends them scattering, to do it somewhere else I'm sure.
So even though I am not a parent i do agree with the diffrent points each of the other posters have made. there are a lot of this talking going on, and though i would like to try and stop this as well I do not wish to see more filters. As already mentioned it is hard as it is to communicate with you True Friends as it is. Adding more filter would just aggrivate those of us who have text chat options. I would also volunteer to help thwart this plauge that has been filling the streets, though I love leveling. but how else to patrol a lot of areas. I can help keep that talking down and still level. so you will have a inside person to help :D. But when it comes to every thing else Keep up the good work KI!!!
I don't agree with a separate realm/server for non-subscribing players. I also think the trial players should be able to play as long as they wish, not just 30 days. (Besides, if they want to be on Wizard101 to cause trouble, they will just keep creating new accounts every 30 days.) There are lots of things to do in WC for free, if they wish to do them. I have friends who are very casual gamers and there are some who would never have the time to complete the WC quests within a 30 day trial. One solution to the offensive chat issue is to report any behavior you find offensive, that's what I've done in the past. I do not use the in-game report. Take a screen shot of the text, you can maximize your chat window to include the offensive text. Send that screen shot to Kings Isle via the website. There is a "report a player" tab in the Help and Support section, I believe. Try to be as detailed as possible, noting names, dates and times and Mr. Lincoln will see that things are looked into. :-) Hope that helps some.
I am a parent, a grand parent and soon to be great grand parent. But the loose talk and actions I've witnessed in the game offend me as a person. These people are not playing the game because they enjoy it. The just want to cause a scene and the longer they are allowed to get by with it the harder it will be to stop. I totally agree with a 'free player' server. If the players who are acting up have reached the height of their game then why don't they either become a member or find another game to act up in? Quite frankly they have no business disrupting my game, as a paying member, with their foolishness. Rules are rules. If I don't have a problem living with the rules then why should they?
I am a mom and my kids also play this game. I have come across a few players who have a high level and are in areas that you need to pay with crowns or subscription so it is not just free players. I have limited my kids to menu chat only and have not told them about text chat. i also keep an eye on my kids when they are playing. There have been a few player who know how to get around the filters. I tell my kids to ignore those players who are making them uneasy, to tell me and I will deal with it. once i let that player know i am the mom they leave. I only have reported someone who I am sure they are praying on my kids, but this has only happened two times. some of the behavior is also from teenagers who think they are being funny and not realizing the times we live in. they also do not realized the cost of these actions. I believe that if our kids are playing this game with other people we do not know it is the responsibility of the the adult to keep an eye on what is happening during the game and having a conversation with the kids as to what is expected of them as players. safety is all our responsibility not just the makers of the game. I feel that kingsisle has done a great job of making this game a fun and safe place for our kids. you can't find a person real name, you can't give out phone number, your state, or any other personal information. The filter chat also limits a lot of what you can say, sometimes it is hard to use the chat. I am sure that there are people who do know how to get to that information . Again it is up to the the adults to monitor the kids and to make sure that our kids are in a safe place. We need to understand that there maybe a few people who come to this game for things other than to play the game. Talk to the kids about their own safety on the internet and in games.
I am a mom and my kids also play this game. I have come across a few players who have a high level and are in areas that you need to pay with crowns or subscription so it is not just free players. I have limited my kids to menu chat only and have not told them about text chat. i also keep an eye on my kids when they are playing. There have been a few player who know how to get around the filters. I tell my kids to ignore those players who are making them uneasy, to tell me and I will deal with it. once i let that player know i am the mom they leave. I only have reported someone who I am sure they are praying on my kids, but this has only happened two times. some of the behavior is also from teenagers who think they are being funny and not realizing the times we live in. they also do not realized the cost of these actions. I believe that if our kids are playing this game with other people we do not know it is the responsibility of the the adult to keep an eye on what is happening during the game and having a conversation with the kids as to what is expected of them as players. safety is all our responsibility not just the makers of the game. I feel that kingsisle has done a great job of making this game a fun and safe place for our kids. you can't find a person real name, you can't give out phone number, your state, or any other personal information. The filter chat also limits a lot of what you can say, sometimes it is hard to use the chat. I am sure that there are people who do know how to get to that information . Again it is up to the the adults to monitor the kids and to make sure that our kids are in a safe place. We need to understand that there maybe a few people who come to this game for things other than to play the game. Talk to the kids about their own safety on the internet and in games.
I agree completly with you. I have a younger brother who plays this game (age 9) and though i feel he is old enough for chat (I am his master account holder) I do now feel as though he is safe from all this chat. Much like your self when I hear someone is prying on him or is speaking in unfit terms I blink over warn them, then if it happens again i report them. I guess when it comes down to it wether or not we get to become these 'mods' or not still doesn't change the fact that we can make it a safe place for the kids to be on. Remember everyone has a right to play a nice safe game but with all good points of games, people have to make them bad. It's like a unwritten rule that i must have missed lol.
Granted, segregation isn't the answer and more chat filtered words will not work then what will? KingsIsle? You say you have employees patrolling the commons and other areas yet the conduct and actions seem to be growing instead of dying out. What will work to curb these activities that none of us want our family members around or to see? Your potential customers and members who partake in actions and language unwanted to be seen seem to care less what happens. Yet the growing numbers of members who wish to see these acts gone seem to be left defenseless in being able to do anything about it. The reports send with the report button takes far too long to be effective and little is seen, at least by me, of any employees patrolling the areas where the main problems stem. What can be done to make this wonderful game even better for all to enjoy and curb these actions? Can you allow your members to help with immediate actions? Will your employees be more predominate in their patrols? Let your members help KingsIsle. We are a source of great potential if allowed to be and are willing to help in curtailing these actions. Tap into your greatest resource KingsIsle and this game will benefit from it ten fold. Your players are willing and ready to assist. Its up to you to decide if you are willing to undertake what would be necessary in order to create an even better game universe. One where our children would truly be safer than you have so far created. Thank you in advance for the wonderful things you have done so far, however, it has the potential to be even better. Do you want it is the question?
James DeathHammer GrandMaster level 50 No Retreat, No Surrender And no one gets left behind
Okay not to sound like a kid cause its been a long time since i have been one. But i have been really fighting my feelings about people standing behind my avatar and when i ran into too other who seemed to look like (well you know) i mentioned to them what it looked like the first time only to find them a minute later further down the road in mooshu doing the same. That is when it dawned on my that that is what they might be TRYING to do.
Still i am more inclined to think that this is an act of a young teen or kids. I would like to believe adults are not that corny. I would also like to believe that any adult LOOKING for a mate would not do so in a place so child-like as this one.
That said and after reading the other posts i would like to SEE a sign of anyone from KI patroling. Hey maybe you can hire someone to actually answer calls of distpute. It sounds like a lot of work but it might be worth it. I am just not sure that anyone with enough time on thier hands while playing this game is a good prospect.
I just keep imagining online Hall monitors that force people to move along to their quests. Hey I love to play but a great deal of my time is talking to freinds too. I don't want to PAY to be told what to do. Knowing what i can't do is enough for me and most others i am sure.
Again I know you have a problem but i am clueless as to how you can fix it without a lot of work and after a little time of thinking about the volunteers i am less imagining a concerned member and more thinking a bossy member that would make life hard on anyone depending on their day.
There is a 'report' button, use it...that's what it's there for.
This game is about as well protected as a MMO can possibly get and still maintain some form of chatting, your ideas may work fine and well for your children that are already signed up but falls apart when you apply it to other areas.
Unlike the majority of MMO's on the market Wizard101 is a restricted free game..there is no time limit, if they imploy your form of wrangling all the malcontents into one server they must also send the people who cause no problems into the exact same server because they've been a free player for over a month. That's unacceptable.
There is no magical fix, even if KI dropped chat totally people would still find a way to be rude just like Sojourna talked about...they only thing you can do is what everybody else does, take a screenshot of the chat and report them.
There is a 'report' button, use it...that's what it's there for.
Well, we all seem to be using it yet the problems still remain.
if they imploy your form of wrangling all the malcontents into one server they must also send the people who cause no problems into the exact same server because they've been a free player for over a month. That's unacceptable.
Granted that is unacceptable. Why should one who pays to play be separated from the doings of those who do not pay to play yet do nothing but cause problems that seems to be out of controllable environments.
There is no magical fix
Your right. There is no magic fix to these problems. Thats why they are constantly being reported and seen by not only the adults but the children we all wish to protect and allow to play in a safe environment. Granted, its not only the free players but it also is caused by some of the pay to play players. What will work? Who knows, but one thing is certain. These activities are always at the forethoughts of the parents and reporting seems to do little to curtail the situation. What can we do to further protect our children? What can be done about the players who insist on being disruptive and why can't this be stopped?
As for me and my house, we play as a family and protect those around us the same. Repeated reporting still falls short of correcting these problems and does little to cause the players who disrupt the game for others to fear loosing their accounts. Why should they when all they need do is create another account and continue to disrupt again.
What can we do?
James DeathHammer GrandMaster lvl 50 No Retreat No Surrender and No one gets left behind
I have just two cents on the "free account",I don't think it's just the "free account" users that are the one's making the problems and need to be cast out into another realm or deleted after 30 days because "they had enough time to make up their minds if they want to buy it or not."My mother has just pasted and has an account that I am not sure I will renew and I sure don't want to tell my 5 year old that she can no longer play that account because it will be free and will be deleted after 30 days,or a child who's parents couldn't pay for that month or two because money was tight. That to me would just be horrible.
As far as the rest of the wizards that have found ways around the chat filters.I have reported and did give a notice if it didn't stop I would report,so far I only had to do that once. I also don't see it ALL the time because I don't stick around to watch the chats to see who is saying what and why and how come they said and to who they said it to.
IMO if you see it, say you will report it. And remind you children to do the same.Or if you really don't like what you are seeing just take you chat off and you don't have to see it or your children
Thanks The owner of many wizards And a mother and step-mother
