Topic: Online gaming - any risk for kids

Hi all

Thanks to some recent help from these forums I am getting my new Wii U set up and running the way I want it. It's awesome. Thanks.

I have set parental controls to restrict my 7 yr old from doing pretty much anything other than play appropriately rated games. I did set up a Nintendo ID for him though. He loves Mario Kart 8 but can easily win against the computer (in the lower races). I am thinking to let him race against others online. I checked it out myself and it seemed fine - even chat appeared restricted. Before I allow it though, is there anything I should be aware of. Can others try and chat more fully? If it is safe I view it just like playing against the computer still really......

You should be fine as the chat in Mario Kart is very limited. So unless your kid adds a stranger from a race to their friendlist and uses Miiverse's private messaging (which no one really uses), there isn't any chat outside of the pre-made messages for a lobby. (which is also limited since you can't change them)

Unless you're offended by dank memes, you have nothing to worry about from any of Nintendo's online games, as even Splatoon rather famously has no voice chat. Miiverse is a dodgy place even at the best of times, but it is well moderated and so nothing truly outrageous gets through.

Hi

Literally registered to reply to this.

There is very little risk but you should be aware of some risk with online features depending what you wish to protect your child from.

I am new to the Wii U and on my second play of 3d World had a user drawing scroll along the screen at the end of a level with the word motherf***ers (without the stars) scrawled on it. This is not ideal of course and I'm sure it was taken down quickly (I didn't report it myself precisely because I did not wish to draw my child's attention to it).

Nintendo has created a great place but be aware that there are always risks of inappropriate content being delivered to you and your child.

If a game is rated ESRB E or PEGI 3, this includes the online functionalities of the game. Since you can only choose from a selection of phrases in Mario Kart 8, nothing hurtful or inappropriate can be said. It is very much like playing against the computer, but I find it more entertaining because as you race and get better you get a higher VR rating, which is simply just a number, but it shows how skilled you are at racing.

For Mario Kart 8 specifically, no worries there unless your child would actually add somebody to the friends list. The game itself only allows for certain phrases in the game lobby.

But as @Wavingnotdrow mentioned, some other games with Miiverse functionality CAN possibly display things people have drawn/written before Nintendo finds them and takes them down as inappropriate. I've seen my fair share of cursing and lewd drawings in NSMBU, 3D World, Mario Maker, etc. Nintendo DOES take these things down, but it's not instantaneous, and there's always a small chance your kid could see them.

The irony is, that it was probably done by another seven year old.

I think you got your question answered. The little flaws that allow others to show inappropiate content can be easily avoided, almost every Nintendo game have you set your miiverse preferences so I'd say your kid will be pretty safe even outside Mario Kart 8, wich is tons of fun when you play online

@NintyMan: Strange. All I've ever seen on that stage are either scribbles or really good drawings.

@TeeJay: I once saw a d**k drawn with numbers and letters. So yup, it's not very kid friendly.

Thanks for all the great advice. After reading it all I allowed him MK8 online play..... and he's loving it. No issues as you all stated (with that game at least).

I'm going to take this chance to tout Splatoon as a family game. My whole family crowds around the TV to root each other on and it's been an incredible gaming experience. My wife adores it. My six year-old son cannot get enough. My four year-old daughter has a box of "Splatoon gear" so she can dress up like a squid girl and stay fresh.

The game itself is like the epic squirt gun war all kids dream about. It's nearly impossible to ignore the appeal. And that makes it an ideal foray into online gaming, even if occasionally you run into someone like me who'll ruin your day with a Blaster.

Trust me, it will make an excellent companion to MK8 for your son and those two games alone will hone him into a razor-sharp gamer. (For Max effect have him use the Wii Wheel with MK8, he will eventually evolve superhuman gaming skills.)