Posted October 16, 2023 Linus mentioned in (I think) the most recent WAN show that WordScapes is an exmaple of a game his kids can play any time because it's educational (at least for his younger kids). I didn't think about it at the time, but as I was sitting on the crapper playing WordScapes, as one does, I remembered it and put it together that I've become increasingly annoyed with all the crap that they keep adding around the game play with a ridiculously complicated set of rewards and bonuses. But in particular, they've recently added Mt. Fortune (not sure when, I hadn't touched it in months until I recently went back to it). I know Linus hates gambling games for kids, and the Mt. Fortune mini game in WordScapes looks exactly like a gambling for kids game. You select one of four cards, and either lose (1 in 4) or win a bonus. And then you repeat this as you go up "Mt. Fortune". When you inevitably pick a loser, you either lose everything, or you can pay out of your in-game money to keep the prizes and keep playing. And of course, you can buy game money with real money if you run out. It might even be rigged because I've always started out with winning prizes. I've never lost on the first or second round as far as I can recall. Am I crazy for considering this a kids' gambling thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted October 16, 2023 Many games oriented towards children include some form of gambling or games of chance, being able to buy the currency for the game is a secondary thing and I think it’s up to parents to decide and educate their children on how exactly those types of games work and determine if it’s additive or malicious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted October 16, 2023 Does the gambling let you progress faster, or involve real money at any point? These mechanics can teach risk/reward, but if it's aimed at kids the stakes shouldn't be any higher than "you need to play more". I think it's less insidious if it can only be played occasionally, not something where putting virtual coins in a virtual slot machine replaces gameplay. Mario 3 had games of chance and slot machines, but they only awarded you 1-ups and random items. I sold my soul for ProSupport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted October 16, 2023 4 minutes ago, 8tg said: Many games oriented towards children include some form of gambling or games of chance, being able to buy the currency for the game is a secondary thing and I think it’s up to parents to decide and educate their children on how exactly those types of games work and determine if it’s additive or malicious. most parents have no clue because they are not interested in even trying those games Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted October 16, 2023 Author 3 minutes ago, Needfuldoer said: I think it's less insidious if it can only be played occasionally, not something where putting virtual coins in a virtual slot machine replaces gameplay. It has a cooldown period after you play it once. But... you can pay your way out of the cooldown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted October 17, 2023 4 hours ago, Needfuldoer said: Does the gambling let you progress faster, or involve real money at any point? These mechanics can teach risk/reward, but if it's aimed at kids the stakes shouldn't be any higher than "you need to play more". I think it's less insidious if it can only be played occasionally, not something where putting virtual coins in a virtual slot machine replaces gameplay. Mario 3 had games of chance and slot machines, but they only awarded you 1-ups and random items. pokeymon has a casino as well... weather you like it or not pay to win was a thing long ago like with arcades. some impossible to beat. and some insanely hard... I have dyslexia plz be kind to me. dont like my post dont read it or respond thx also i edit post alot because you no why... Thrasher_565 hub links build logs Corsair Lian Li Bykski Barrow thermaltake nzxt aquacomputer 5v argb pin out guide + argb info 5v device to 12v mb header Odds and Sods Argb Rgb Links Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted October 17, 2023 Author 39 minutes ago, thrasher_565 said: weather you like it or not pay to win was a thing long ago like with arcades. some impossible to beat. and some insanely hard... Those are mostly skill based, not random luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted October 17, 2023 50 minutes ago, Thomas A. Fine said: Those are mostly skill based, not random luck. well no some are not. there are games unbeatable. some games ya you get skill but hoe much did it cost to get it... I have dyslexia plz be kind to me. dont like my post dont read it or respond thx also i edit post alot because you no why... Thrasher_565 hub links build logs Corsair Lian Li Bykski Barrow thermaltake nzxt aquacomputer 5v argb pin out guide + argb info 5v device to 12v mb header Odds and Sods Argb Rgb Links Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted October 17, 2023 Author 1 hour ago, thrasher_565 said: well no some are not. there are games unbeatable. Yeah I suppose at carnivals and boardwalk arcades there's plenty of games that are basically just gambling too. But this just convinces me further that this minigame inside of WordScapes is just gambling. I don't subscribe to the view that it's fine because it can be used to teach about decision-making. My exact point was that Linus thought this game was "safe" for unlimited use, without the need for discussions. And I don't even subscribe to the idea that any game I'd give to a kid should do that, even if I knew about it. If you think they're old enough to learn about gambling and it's role in every-day decision making, just teach them to play poker or something. Or maybe not as now there's an Internet where they could play with strangers. Back when I was a kid that wasn't a risk... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted October 17, 2023 6 hours ago, Thomas A. Fine said: Yeah I suppose at carnivals and boardwalk arcades there's plenty of games that are basically just gambling too. But this just convinces me further that this minigame inside of WordScapes is just gambling. I don't subscribe to the view that it's fine because it can be used to teach about decision-making. My exact point was that Linus thought this game was "safe" for unlimited use, without the need for discussions. And I don't even subscribe to the idea that any game I'd give to a kid should do that, even if I knew about it. If you think they're old enough to learn about gambling and it's role in every-day decision making, just teach them to play poker or something. Or maybe not as now there's an Internet where they could play with strangers. Back when I was a kid that wasn't a risk... you probly learn the value of moeny. you can spend what you have in cash. later on i think its 16 you can get a bank card. but now adays no one pays with cash other then the used market. everything is a subscription i dont pay for any but there a shift in what kids like or what is "cool" and most of that is online. skins are something teens like. look at mindcraft and how people no each other just by the skin. ya its up to the parent to parent but most probly have no idea what good or bad in a game. the rating is just bs. I have dyslexia plz be kind to me. dont like my post dont read it or respond thx also i edit post alot because you no why... Thrasher_565 hub links build logs Corsair Lian Li Bykski Barrow thermaltake nzxt aquacomputer 5v argb pin out guide + argb info 5v device to 12v mb header Odds and Sods Argb Rgb Links Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted October 24, 2023 On 10/16/2023 at 11:06 PM, thrasher_565 said: pokeymon has a casino as well... weather you like it or not pay to win was a thing long ago like with arcades. some impossible to beat. and some insanely hard... Actually Pokemon games haven't had the Game Corner (casino) since Heart Gold and Soul Silver in 2010 for this exact reason. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted October 24, 2023 There is gambling in neopets and always has. That said, you HAVE to be over 13 to access those games (or lie, or have parent sign coppa forms) Light gambling mechanics can be fine, dependent on how its implemented. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted November 6, 2023 Author So this week Linus again on WAN show cited WordScapes as an app that's good for kids. I feel so unheard. NOTICE ME, SENPAI!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted November 6, 2023 43 minutes ago, Thomas A. Fine said: So this week Linus again on WAN show cited WordScapes as an app that's good for kids. I feel so unheard. NOTICE ME, SENPAI!!! It's easier if you directly mention his account @LinusTech to tell him about this issue. Occasionally he stumbles across threads with his name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted November 6, 2023 1 hour ago, Thomas A. Fine said: So this week Linus again on WAN show cited WordScapes as an app that's good for kids. I feel so unheard. NOTICE ME, SENPAI!!! Is neopets not safe for kids? https://www.neopets.com/newnt/index.phtml?section=17106&week=139 https://www.neopets.com/ntimes/index.phtml?section=576580&week=820 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted November 7, 2023 Will keep an eye on it and make sure to reinforce to the kiddie-boos that they don't spend real money on free games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted November 7, 2023 Author (kind of anticlimactic when senpai notices you) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Posted November 8, 2023 On 10/16/2023 at 6:39 PM, Thomas A. Fine said: Linus mentioned in (I think) the most recent WAN show that WordScapes is an exmaple of a game his kids can play any time because it's educational (at least for his younger kids). I didn't think about it at the time, but as I was sitting on the crapper playing WordScapes, as one does, I remembered it and put it together that I've become increasingly annoyed with all the crap that they keep adding around the game play with a ridiculously complicated set of rewards and bonuses. But in particular, they've recently added Mt. Fortune (not sure when, I hadn't touched it in months until I recently went back to it). I know Linus hates gambling games for kids, and the Mt. Fortune mini game in WordScapes looks exactly like a gambling for kids game. You select one of four cards, and either lose (1 in 4) or win a bonus. And then you repeat this as you go up "Mt. Fortune". When you inevitably pick a loser, you either lose everything, or you can pay out of your in-game money to keep the prizes and keep playing. And of course, you can buy game money with real money if you run out. It might even be rigged because I've always started out with winning prizes. I've never lost on the first or second round as far as I can recall. Am I crazy for considering this a kids' gambling thing? Hey! This was actually in response to my question on last weeks WAN, which was about cell phones & kids. But would 100% agree that is gambling and keep it away from my kids with a 10 foot pole. He was using this game as an example of “educational” screen time . My kids only 3.5 and not born yet so I have a bit of time but this is great info. Thank you -- When you have more than what you need, build a bigger table, not a bigger fence -- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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