So your kids want in on the virtual world fun, but Second Life and World of Warcraft are more than you want them to see? Sony Online Entertainment has a solution for you called Free Realms. With witches, wizards, and just about any mythical creature you can come up with, Free Realms offers your kids the fantasy aspect they crave without the *ahem* educational costumes.
Players can take on different jobs, from blacksmith to postman and just have fun exploring a virtual world alone or with friends. There are mini-games and a trading card game (with a real-world counterpart), as well as quests for the more adventurous wizards. There are also forums and chat. Users under the age of thirteen are protected by Quick Chat, a chat version that only allows the use of pre-populated phrases and words. That means players under thirteen can’t input or view any user-generated content, so there’s no opportunity for inappropriate chat.
Free Realms is free to play, but it does have a membership available for a nominal monthly fee that gives players more options and perks. There is also a game wallet that players (or parents) can put money into for purchasing items in the game. Neither feature is necessary to play the game, though.
Parents will find the makers of Free Realms to be open and helpful, with parental controls found easily and systems in place to keep the game safe. Parents are also welcome to play the game. With an ESRB rating of 10+ for crude humor and fantasy violence, Free Realms isn’t for everyone, but almost. As usual, use your best judgement about what’s best for your family when it comes to game time.
