Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[MMO Family: A parent's look at Club Penguin]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/mmo-family-a-parents-look-at-club-penguin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/mmo-family-a-parents-look-at-club-penguin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/mmo-family-a-parents-look-at-club-penguin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

MMO Family is your resource for leveling a gaming-specced family, from tips on balancing gaming with family life to finding age-appropriate online games for everyone in the family.

Perhaps the leading name in virtual worlds aimed at the younger set, Club Penguin has taken its place as the starter game of choice for many a young online gamer. Ask around any elementary school, and you're bound to find kids who're playing this Flash-based browser game.

We'd heard of the game too, of course -- but we'd never played. So let's take a look at how this virtual world of waddling friendlies stacks up against the rest of the kids' games we've reviewed in our Parent's Guide to Kids & Family Gaming.

Continue reading MMO Family: A parent's look at Club Penguin

MassivelyMMO Family: A parent's look at Club Penguin originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO Family is your resource for leveling a gaming-specced family, from tips on balancing gaming with family life to finding age-appropriate online games for everyone in the family.

Neopets is one of those uber-cute browser-based games that seems to have been around forever but is still going strong. It's a game that's aimed at younger kids, but it somehow manages to attract older kids as well -- and is often a guilty pleasure for their parents too.

My kids are fans of Neopets from way back, and I confess to keeping a few of the adorable little pets for my very own. So what's the attraction here? Let's take a look!

Continue reading MMO Family: A parent's look at Neopets

MassivelyMMO Family: A parent's look at Neopets originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedf2pfamilyfeaturedfree-to-playftpkidsmmo-familyneopetsparents-guideparents-guide-to-kids-and-family-gamingTue, 07 Dec 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Family: A parent's look at LEGO Universe]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/mmo-family-a-parents-look-at-lego-universe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/mmo-family-a-parents-look-at-lego-universe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/mmo-family-a-parents-look-at-lego-universe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

MMO Family is your resource for leveling a gaming-specced family, from tips on balancing gaming with family life to finding age-appropriate online games for everyone in the family.

Most kids who play video games have at least seen one from the LEGO franchise. There are a ton of them -- enough, in fact, for a whole page listing them. They're fun games; I'll bet you've played at least one of them, at least in bits and pieces in a demo somewhere. After all, who doesn't love LEGOs?

Still, there was a decided "ho-hum" reaction among my team of young playtesters when I announced we were going to test the ropes of the brand new LEGO Universe MMO. Oh sure, they were willing enough, but it seemed there was always something shinier and more appealing to play on any given day than the game about good ol' LEGOs.

Until they played LEGO Universe -- and had a (brick-)smashing good time.

Gallery: First Impressions: LEGO Universe

Continue reading MMO Family: A parent's look at LEGO Universe

MassivelyMMO Family: A parent's look at LEGO Universe originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO Family is your resource for leveling a gaming-specced family, from tips on balancing gaming with family life to finding age-appropriate online games for everyone in the family.

Lord of the Rings Online went free-to-play last month, opening its doors to a much wider audience. This new business model makes it a fun new option for gaming families who passed it over previously due to the cost of subscription fees for multiple family members.

LotRO has the advantage of a backstory loved by parents and kids alike, not to mention a crafting system that rewards interdependence, a beautiful world, and accessible system requirements -- but is it a good fit for families with younger children?

Continue reading MMO Family: A parent's look at Lord of the Rings Online

MassivelyMMO Family: A parent's look at Lord of the Rings Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>f2pfamilyfree-to-playftpjrr-tolkienlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrommo-familyparents-guideparents-guide-to-kids-and-family-gamingturbineTue, 26 Oct 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A parental guide to Warhammer Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/25/a-parental-guide-to-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/25/a-parental-guide-to-warhammer-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/25/a-parental-guide-to-warhammer-online/#commentsFiled under: , ,


John Davison is a veteran of writing about 'the games'. He's a much-respected games journalist, and until a time not too long in the past he was a fixture at Ziff Davis/1up. Now he's putting his efforts in a somehow more noble direction: informing parents about videogame content by heading up the site What They Play. What They Play is a site where gamers talk to gamers and non-gamers alike about the actual content in videogames. Touching on everything from Carnival Games to Grand Theft Auto IV, it allows folks playing the ultimate mini-game (child-rearing) to make informed gameplay decisions.

It should come as no surprise that this year's MMO darling Warhammer Online got a bit of attention from the site's writers. Indeed, they have up a lengthy guide on the title, walking parents through the game. Starting with the basics like 'what is it?', the guide walks interested parties through account registration, character creation, and deals with the realities of online realtime MMO communication. It's a great resource from a generally great site, and well worth passing on to anyone that might be considering letting their kid pick up the game. Check it out.

MassivelyA parental guide to Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Oct 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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