First of all, what are MMORPGs? MMORPGs are Massive Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games. They gained popularity some years ago in the Philippines with the introduction of Ragnarok Online. Since then, many more MMORPGs have sprung up. MMORPGs are one of the reasons why youngsters flock to internet cafes. Everyone who knows me know that I'm heavily into video gaming. At one point I was addicted to Ragnarok Online (RO). This addiction entailed "topping up" (similar to putting load in your cellphone) my account so that I can play for a month. One month of unlimited play cost about P350 back then if I remember correctly. I'd also play during very odd hours so that the server would not be slow -- usually in the wee hours of the morning. Soon I was also trying out other MMORPGs like Priston Tale and Tantra.
So what does one do in these games? First of all, the player gets to create a character. Then you choose a "job", "class", or "profession". You can be an assassin, a wizard, a knight... almost anything you want to be. Then you go out into the online world and kill monsters, make friends, get special items, go on quests, chat... that kind of thing. It was pretty fun, but in the end it got redundant so I dropped it altogether. Besides, it was very time-consuming and I just had more and more things to do as time passed.
Why am I asking this question now, if you would let your kids play MMORPGs? My eldest son is now 8 years old. He won a Granado Espada limited edition online game package from K-Zone Magazine. He's been eyeing it at home, but I've been there... done that. Perhaps I'm in the minority of mommies but I know FIRSTHAND what goes on inside these online games. So to answer the question, NO, I won't let my children play MMORPGs until they're like 18 years old and fully aware of what's right and wrong.
NO? But aren't I a video game fanatic? Don't I know how much fun it is? Yes to all. I say NO for now because:
MMORPGs are free-for-all online communities.Although there are GMs (Game Masters) sort of like moderators online to keep the peace, people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds can just pick a character and play. It's so easy for an innocent child to fall victim to scammers, sexual predators, and just plain old harassers. Sound extreme? Believe me, it's not. Anyone can initiate a chat or conversation with anyone inside these online games, and the moderators can't read these "private" conversations between characters. Plus, the proportion of mods to users is really phenomenal. Thousands of users online vs. what, 4-5 mods?
In RO (and I suspect other online games), there've been people scammed for money. Someone approaches you online, offers to sell you a valuable in-game item in exchange for money in the real world. You deposit money online, agree to meet the person in the real world, etc... it's potentially dangerous. I think I even heard of players stabbing each other in an internet cafe fighting over something related to RO. Then there are those who are looking for romantic relationships or textmates, and those who are just plain jerks. One time my female character was wandering around silently, a guy approached me and started talking to me. I said I wasn't interested and told him I just wanted to be left in peace so I could level up my character and hunt for items. He started messaging me things like "Bakla ka yata kaya ang suplada mo!" etc etc. Although not everyone is like that, and there are also decent people playing, I would not set my child under 18 loose in that kind of environment...
Perhaps when my kids are 18+ and can be fully responsible for their actions I would let them play MMORPGs, but not now and not any time in the near future. I think I'll be selling our Granado Espada Limited Edition game package...
