Its OK for your kids to play video games...really!

I have recently been involved with a project helping to test a new on-line game aimed at kids. The game is called Wizard 101 from KingsIsle Entertainment, and it was released to the general public on September 2.

The reason I am telling you about it here is because the game is aimed at school-age kids, and with all the bad things being said about bad stuff in video games, this company has gone the other direction - creating a kid-friendly environment, and also managed to put together a pretty cool game in the process.

From the official website: Wizard101 is a multi-player adventure game designed to be easy-to-learn and fun for kids and adults of all ages. And because the game is designed to encourage social activity and interaction among the players, it’s a great form of entertainment for families. If you have always wondered what types of video games your kids like to play, here’s your chance to find out…and enjoy it!

What's wrong with video games for kids and teens is the level of violence and sex and blood & gore that they are exposed to, and I think we worry more and more about the people they might be playing with - online predators and such. KingsIsle has taken steps to remove all of this.

The reason I was interested in this project in the first place was to see if they could actually take all the "bad" stuff out of a game for kids and still have it be fun. Well I think they did a fabulous job. If your kids like Harry Potter, Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokemon, Bejeweled, role-playing or hanging out with their friends, I bet they will enjoy this game.

If you look closely at the ratings on any video game that can be played on-line with other players, it will have a rating from the ESRB, and a disclaimer that says something like "Game experience may change during online play" This is because no matter how tame the game is, if another player decides to act like a jerk, it will affect the experience.

They have put in a ton of safety features into Wizard 101 so the creepy on-line pedophiles of the world can't turn something fun into something icky. For example, the names of characters must be chosen from approved lists, so you get player's names like "James Fireboots" or "Kim Frostworm" instead of "Ihateuall" and "Want2hookup" (or worse). It also prevents your kids from accidentally giving away personal information in their character name.

The have also setup the in-game communication system so that it is not free-form, type-anything-you-want. Instead your character can only say prepackaged canned phrases. Again, this protects your kids from seeing some idiot typing messages about his sex life or drug use (and other garbage your child does not need to be exposed to), and prevents them from accidentally giving out personal information in chat. If a player knows a friend in real life, outside of the game, they can exchange a code that will allow them to communicate with one another using more traditional free-form text chat (subscription only).

OK, enough about all the safety features, on to the game itself. You play the role of a young wizard recently enrolled at the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts. Something or someone is menacing Wizard City, and Headmaster Ambrose thinks you just might be the hero that can save Wizard City. As you progress through the game, you will fight against evil creatures in a sort of card-based system similar to Yu-Gi-Oh or Pokemon, but with very nice graphic animations (they really did make it pretty). There are also mini-games within W101 similar to Bejeweled or Tetris, that allow players to take a break from their adventures.

I found that the game is easy to learn (even for a 7-year-old, and an almost 40-year-old), and has kept the little ones' interest - there is always another quest or adventure waiting when you finish this one. It is full of interesting characters, and would be a fun way to help your younger child practice reading. And I think if your child had a group of friends to play with, this could be 10 times the fun.

And, while it is designed to be "for kids", as an adult player, you almost don't notice. The combat system is very well done, and the graphics are cool. The storyline is engaging enough to keep you interested - for the sake of the children of course (ahem). I find the game to be a fun experience I can share with the kids. It is also a good reward activity - if you do the dishes or get your homework done, you can play. I enjoyed playing it with them during the beta testing, and I feel safe letting them play on their own. You can get started with the Wizard 101 for no charge, but must purchase a subscription to access all of the available content. Get more details here.

It is free to check it out, and requires only a very basic PC (sorry no Macs) a browser and an Internet connection. Chances are if you can read this blog, you can play this game. It is refreshing to see a company get away from the blood-and-gore, violent and sleaze-filled virtual environments that have been so prevalent (and lucrative) for the past 10 years or so. I hope to see more games from KingsIsle, and hopefully other developers will follow suit with safe, family-friendly games in the future. I hope this is the start of a positive trend in the industry.

More Video Game Stories:
Are Video Games Actually Good For Kids? (CBS News)
Video Games Are Good For Kids, Experts Find (Information Week)
Survey: Nearly Every Kid a Video Gamer (AP)

Now, for the disclaimers: I do not work for or derive any income from KingsIsle Entertainment. These comments are unsolicited and the opinions here are my own. I do not receive any kind of payment if you decide to play Wizard 101 or not.