NCSoft Wants you to PlaySafe... - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Omega X

Ninja Unveiler

Join Date: Jun 2005

Louisiana, USA

Boston Guild[BG]

W/Me

05 Sep 2006 at 22:24 - 1

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/new...hp?story=10754

Quote:

September 5, 2006

NCSoft Announces PlaySafe MMO Program

NCSoft Announces PlaySafe MMO Program Major MMO publisher NCSoft (Guild Wars, City Of Heroes) has announced the creation of PlaySmart, a public service program promoting personal safety and data security when playing online games.

According to the company, the scheme targets personal safety including tips for families who play online games, and data security covering issues such as data loss or online scams. The set of guidelines will be placed on a card in all of NCsoft’s retail game packs as well as being available on NCsoft’s game portal, PlayNC.com.

Some of the tips to be given out as part of PlaySmart include the following:

For personal safety:
Parents should review a game’s ratings to ensure they are age appropriate for children.
-Parents should monitor or even play computer games with their children.
-Parents should be aware of the social interaction their children have in games, including chat -features and email exchanges.

For data security:
-Never give out your credit card information to anyone.
-Never give out personal information such as name or address to anyone after you have signed up for an online game subscription.
-Do not give out passwords or account information to friends so they may play on your account.

NCsoft commented that it has "chosen to proactively develop a program, which if followed, may help to make playing online games a more positive experience for individuals and families by helping to reduce risk factors". It is unclear whether the program might be designed to be adapted by any rival MMO companies, however.

The guidelines are being developed by NCsoft in accordance with industry standards made available at such sources as the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). NCsoft will also organize a panel of experts, including security and behavioral authorities to create, review and update the PlaySmart guidelines each year.

Robert Garriott, CEO of NCsoft North America, commented of the announcement: “PlaySmart is an effort to educate our customers about these issues and offer simple guidelines to help mitigate problems inherent in interacting online."

You would think that this would have came sooner rather than later from a company that specializes in MMOs.

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

05 Sep 2006 at 22:38 - 2

So it's actually possible to run a program telling people to use common sense?

Where do I sign up?

KiyaKoreena

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

USA

Kirins of Holy Light

N/

05 Sep 2006 at 22:42 - 3

They are coming out with it now because people cant use common sense and need everything written down in front of them so they can remember.

Minus Sign

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2006

Mo/N

05 Sep 2006 at 22:45 - 4

the "Slippery When Wet"/"Caution HOT Coffee"! sign of the MMO gaming industry...had to come sometime...

TheMosesPHD

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2006

Oregon

Mo Mo Patty Blinks [MoMo]

R/

05 Sep 2006 at 23:39 - 5

I think this is one of the things the 2000's are gonna be remembered for: The decade without common sense. Wasn't around or after 2000 when most of all these silly warnings started popping up on everything?

generik

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

05 Sep 2006 at 23:48 - 6

NCSoft is full of corporate suits who knows nothing about their market other than how things "sound". Sorry, that's just my take. This has gotta be the dumbest press release ever.

Evilsod

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2006

England

Lievs Death Squad [LDS]

05 Sep 2006 at 23:49 - 7

Moses... i think you may be right. My friends 'This sign has sharp corners' picture is a classic.

TheMosesPHD

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2006

Oregon

Mo Mo Patty Blinks [MoMo]

R/

06 Sep 2006 at 00:05 - 8

Quote:

Originally Posted by generik

NCSoft is full of corporate suits who knows nothing about their market other than how things "sound". Sorry, that's just my take. This has gotta be the dumbest press release ever.

NCSoft deciding to release this information doesn't reflect positive or negative on NCSoft at all. It's merely a sign of the times.

bart

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

06 Sep 2006 at 00:37 - 9

"-Parents should monitor or even play computer games with their children."

hehe this sounds like an advertising bit.

Riken Chrono

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Dec 2005

around the corner and up the block

Hero

06 Sep 2006 at 00:43 - 10

yeh it does.

eternal pho

Banned

Join Date: Nov 2005

The Licious Fame Farmers {TLG}

W/E

06 Sep 2006 at 00:59 - 11

common sense ftw =D

Zinger314

Debbie Downer

Join Date: May 2006

N/Me

06 Sep 2006 at 01:38 - 12

I'm doing my part!

Lampshade

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

USA

Xen of Onslaught

06 Sep 2006 at 02:59 - 13

So it's like "The internet for dummies?"

draxynnic

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Nov 2005

[CRFH]

06 Sep 2006 at 03:13 - 14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evilsod

Moses... i think you may be right. My friends 'This sign has sharp corners' picture is a classic.

Or, my favourite: "Caution: Low Signpost"

And that dates back to the mid-to-late '90s. It may only be getting really obvious in this decade, but the signs were there (if you'll excuse the expression) in the last.

Silver_Fang

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Aug 2006

Manchester UK

Rt/

06 Sep 2006 at 03:24 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by draxynnic

Or, my favourite: "Caution: Low Signpost"

And that dates back to the mid-to-late '90s. It may only be getting really obvious in this decade, but the signs were there (if you'll excuse the expression) in the last.

Whats worst is that, a bag of peanuts with a warning sign. 'Caution: This product contain nuts', of course it will contain nuts, you are buying a bag of PEANUTS"

madman420

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Feb 2006

06 Sep 2006 at 03:28 - 16

Hmm...I guess I should stop giving my credit card number out to people in game.

Y.T.

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Sep 2005

Mo/

06 Sep 2006 at 03:46 - 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evilsod

Moses... i think you may be right. My friends 'This sign has sharp corners' picture is a classic.

"-Parents should monitor or even play computer games with their children."

- mom u're such a noob, u sold my 15^50 jade sword to merch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Legendary Battousai

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Jul 2005

CA

[Ryuk]

W/A

06 Sep 2006 at 04:01 - 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMosesPHD

I think this is one of the things the 2000's are gonna be remembered for: The decade without common sense. Wasn't around or after 2000 when most of all these silly warnings started popping up on everything?

In short: Lawsuits. If someone gets hurt and claims to not have expected it, they get money for stupidity... not just money but YOUR money. Its worth the investment of lets say... 100 dollars? for millions of signs everywhere telling someone to use sence (apparently not so common if people have trouble with it) than to be sewed for not telling them and be out a couple thousand dollars.

Curse You

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

South Pole

The Magus Order

N/Mo

06 Sep 2006 at 04:47 - 19

Quote:

Originally Posted by draxynnic

Or, my favourite: "Caution: Low Signpost"

If I were to make one of those, and put it on a sidewalk in, say, New York, how many people do you think would walk straight into it?

QuixotesGhost

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

06 Sep 2006 at 05:46 - 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silver_Fang

Whats worst is that, a bag of peanuts with a warning sign. 'Caution: This product contain nuts', of course it will contain nuts, you are buying a bag of PEANUTS"

A Peanut isn't a nut, it's a legume.

dargon

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: May 2005

The Seraphim Knights [TSK]

R/

06 Sep 2006 at 05:57 - 21

Quote:

Originally Posted by bart

"-Parents should monitor or even play computer games with their children."

hehe this sounds like an advertising bit.

Advertising or not, it's a damn good idea. To many parents drop their kids in front of the computer or the tv and treat it like a universal babysitter these days. I parent should be aware, especially with their younger children, of just what they are watching, reading, etc. The internet is chock full of information that most parents probably don't want their children reading, let alone trying out, such as the anarchs cookbook. Fun to read when you're mature enough to realize that any of the recipies in that document is just 1 screw up away from a horrible accident, but do you really want your child trying to make napalm in the bathtub because it sounds fun? The same goes for games, how many parents would actually want their children playing things like GTA:whatever if they actually paid attention to the content.

Parents should parent their children and not rely on someone/something else to do it for them.

bart

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

06 Sep 2006 at 07:26 - 22

Oh yeah... one more thing... the title to this thread is kinda misleading. When i first i read it (NCSoft Wants you to PlaySafe... ) i thought Anet was giving away free condoms. -.^

Digital Bath

Academy Page

Join Date: Jul 2005

Lords of Blood

W/Mo

06 Sep 2006 at 09:10 - 23

I find this to be a rather interesting saftey move. Might work, who knows.

Rabid China Girl

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Aug 2006

California

Simply Tasteful Delicacies [STD]

06 Sep 2006 at 10:25 - 24

It's just a way for NCSoft to cover their own asses.. you know, a liability thing. Every corporation and/or bureaucracy needs one of these, however silly they may sound. -__- Now if someone gets pissy with them, they can say, "We told you so."

If people can sue fast food companies for their own weight issues or burning themselves on HOT coffee (thus the caution label on disposable coffee cups now). When you cater to Americans, NO ONE is safe from this shit.. no matter what kind of industry you're in.

Other countries laugh at us, you know.. 'cause we love throwing lawsuits at everyone for every reason imaginable. xD

teklys

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2006

Wizardry Players Guild

E/Me

06 Sep 2006 at 12:17 - 25

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheMosesPHD

I think this is one of the things the 2000's are gonna be remembered for: The decade without common sense. Wasn't around or after 2000 when most of all these silly warnings started popping up on everything?

Of course, because no one did anything silly before 2000....

Tufty

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2006

UK

CUTE

06 Sep 2006 at 12:23 - 26

I brought this up and got laughed at but the whole parental thing is sadly becoming a problem! Unfortunately the idiots who replied didnt understand the problem but heh what can you do. There's problems with people preying on kids in chat rooms and since they have been better monitored they have started using online games. Most people have good sense when it comes to shit like this but some people dont so youve got to look after them. There are some evil decieving shits out there ready to take advantage of someone so look out for yourself and others.

Thallandor

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Singapore

Seers of Serpents [SoS]

R/

06 Sep 2006 at 12:35 - 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lampshade

So it's like "The internet for dummies?"

No, internet is for p0rN.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_EykUAMdAk

Sekkira

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2005

Canberra, AU

06 Sep 2006 at 13:42 - 28

Is it really so surprising though? Obviously parenting is just too damn hard and it's up to corperations to step in and do the parenting themselves. Each generation is harder than the next, natural evolution. DUH.

lg5000

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

Australia

06 Sep 2006 at 13:52 - 29

There is a problem with parents monitoring their children's computer use.

We all know that the older we get, the harder it is to learn new things. Now, someone who grew up without computers and doesn't need to use them at work (there are still places where you don't have to) isn't inclined to know too much about computers. Their children however, who are still very very good at learning at the age of 5, get introduced to those damn things during class.

Schools try to combat that problem by having introductory classes for parents, but, I'd say in most cases, that fails.

Anyone younger than myself who's a parent probably doesn't have this problem, but those born in the '70's and earlier are struggeling with ways of keeping their kids safe on the internet, and rather than teaching the kids common sense, things like netnanny are employed.

ubermancer

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

******************* Refuge From Exile [RFE]

06 Sep 2006 at 17:08 - 30

Quote:

Originally Posted by lg5000

There is a problem with parents monitoring their children's computer use.

We all know that the older we get, the harder it is to learn new things. Now, someone who grew up without computers and doesn't need to use them at work (there are still places where you don't have to) isn't inclined to know too much about computers. Their children however, who are still very very good at learning at the age of 5, get introduced to those damn things during class.

Schools try to combat that problem by having introductory classes for parents, but, I'd say in most cases, that fails.

Anyone younger than myself who's a parent probably doesn't have this problem, but those born in the '70's and earlier are struggeling with ways of keeping their kids safe on the internet, and rather than teaching the kids common sense, things like netnanny are employed.

And, on the flipside, my nearly hundred year old great grand mother sends me weekly emails.

dargon

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: May 2005

The Seraphim Knights [TSK]

R/

06 Sep 2006 at 17:14 - 31

Quote:

Originally Posted by lg5000

There is a problem with parents monitoring their children's computer use.

We all know that the older we get, the harder it is to learn new things.

Monitoring does not mean doing. It means sitting there, trying to answer questions the child may have about things they discover.

tommarrow

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Dec 2005

Shyft Machine [MYTH]

E/

06 Sep 2006 at 17:59 - 32

Hmmm a program that teaches common sense. I hope I don't get a err7 while using it.

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

06 Sep 2006 at 19:10 - 33

the street warning sign (i DO have a screenshot ) i love the best is the standard black on yellow with a warning to pedestrians

*CAUTION PEDESTRIANS SLIPPERY WHEN WET*

TheMosesPHD

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2006

Oregon

Mo Mo Patty Blinks [MoMo]

R/

06 Sep 2006 at 19:14 - 34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Y.T.

"-Parents should monitor or even play computer games with their children."

- mom u're such a noob, u sold my 15^50 jade sword to merch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think it'd be great for parents to play with their kids, but a lot parents are so out of it as far as technology goes that I don't know if they could figure it out. In the past I've tried to teach my parents some stuff, but they're just not catching on. I hear my mother tell me about classes she has to take for her teaching job on how to use Microsoft Word. I don't know why you need to take a class to use Microsoft Word...
My father also is out of it. He can't play any video game more complex than THE original Mario Bros. for Nintendo. :/

Magnus_1

Academy Page

Join Date: Feb 2006

Mo/Me

06 Sep 2006 at 19:16 - 35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Legendary Battousai

In short: Lawsuits. If someone gets hurt and claims to not have expected it, they get money for stupidity... not just money but YOUR money. Its worth the investment of lets say... 100 dollars? for millions of signs everywhere telling someone to use sence (apparently not so common if people have trouble with it) than to be sewed for not telling them and be out a couple thousand dollars.

Proper spelling and correct word usage is almost as fun as common sense.

Cjlr

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

SMS

E/Me

06 Sep 2006 at 20:08 - 36

!WARNING!

Product will be hot after heating.

lg5000

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

Australia

06 Sep 2006 at 23:31 - 37

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubermancer

And, on the flipside, my nearly hundred year old great grand mother sends me weekly emails.

Some people click with computers, others dont. Parents generally dont.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dargon

Monitoring does not mean doing. It means sitting there, trying to answer questions the child may have about things they discover.

Yup, not the easiest when you have a kid who wants a scientific explanation of how gravity works at 7am! And yes, it means atm, I NEED to know more about computers/programs/games than my son does, or at least, know someone who does, so that when my son does ask, I can either answer myself or refer him to someone who can answer him.

Incidentally, the reason I play gw is because my partner started and my then 9yr old son wanted to play.. so.. I ended up checking out what it was he wanted to do and now all three of us play with the youngest joining us soon.