I think the chat system is pretty decent. I too am an adult and enjoy the game alot. I have kids that play as well. I do find it frustrating though at times when I can't type certain words. But you just have to deal with it really. I really can't complain because the game is awesome and it makes up for the frustration with the chatting.
I guess another option would be to have different servers with different levels of chat filtering, since there does seem to be a bigger older-people market for this game than might have been anticipated before. hehe. But I guess it's not a huge deal, though it would be nice if during patches they would continually expand the word database to include more obviously 'clean' words. Obviously no matter what people are going to try to do the wrong thing, but still there should be a way to slowly expand the freedoms of people who are just trying to have fun and at the same time crack down on people who are actively trying to hurt people.
Can someone explain to me why I can't type words like "Magazine" and numbers like 1, 2, 3, 4.. etc?
I keep getting people asking me about my staff and I tried to explain to them I got it from Beckett Massive online Magazine. But the word Magazine, Periodical, etc are all filtered out. So I had to type Periodic and al..
That still went over the person's head as the kept asking me over and over how to get it. I finally just redirected them to the main Wiz website. Btw "webpage" is also filtered out.
Is there some kind of setting I need to turn off? How are these words bad?
Can someone explain to me why I can't type words like "Magazine" and numbers like 1, 2, 3, 4.. etc?
I can answer the numbers question, it's been posted several times. It is to prevent young people (kids) from giving out personal information, i.e. phone numbers, home address, etc. to strangers.
There are some words, like you said - magazine, periodical, etc. - that also get caught by the strict filter, that should not be. I believe the type of filtering used by Wizard101 only allows certain words that are in a defined list, instead of filtering out just certain words. This more restrictive filter makes it a bit more difficult for people to bypass profanity than the other method of filtering. Which in my opinion as a parent, is a good thing. They do, however, need to expand the acceptable list just a bit. :)
After reading what everyone has to say about the chatting system, I have come to a few conclusions myself.
First of all, as a parent I am rather content with the filter system with the game. I'm glad that numbers can't be typed because children can accidently give out personal information that they shouldn't. It gives me, a parent, a peace of mind that my son can't accidently give out that information if I'm in the other room. Although most of the time either myself or his father are in the same room with him playing with him.
Secondly, I feel that people should be able to report others for non sportsman ship behavior, and/or being disrespectful to other players. For example, just today my husband and I ran into two individuals who were very disrespectful and began finding ways to curse without being able to actually type the words. (I will not repeat exactly what they said because there are children who read these forums, and I refuse to expose them to that kind of language). Since I am an adult, I did not get overly offended by there language, but my son leaded over to read my screen read what they said, which made it a larger issue. When I reported the two individuals, they just laughed it off and continuted to smart mouth.
Now, what I want to know is this: What is the exact process that goes on behind reporting a player? I only ask because the two players I reported continued to talk about how they have been reported numerous times on different occasions. This is a little unnerving for me because it makes me feel like nothing is being done, and the players can continue to behave and talk the way they do. If that is the case, then I would just like to know so that I can find my son a new game to play. Just because he can't read it on his screen doesn't mean that he can't lean over onto his father's screen or my screen and read what the other players are saying. Which is what happened earlier today.
Thanks for reading, A concerned parent - Maria SummerBreeze
After reading what everyone has to say about the chatting system, I have come to a few conclusions myself.
First of all, as a parent I am rather content with the filter system with the game. I'm glad that numbers can't be typed because children can accidently give out personal information that they shouldn't. It gives me, a parent, a peace of mind that my son can't accidently give out that information if I'm in the other room. Although most of the time either myself or his father are in the same room with him playing with him.
Secondly, I feel that people should be able to report others for non sportsman ship behavior, and/or being disrespectful to other players. For example, just today my husband and I ran into two individuals who were very disrespectful and began finding ways to curse without being able to actually type the words. (I will not repeat exactly what they said because there are children who read these forums, and I refuse to expose them to that kind of language). Since I am an adult, I did not get overly offended by there language, but my son leaded over to read my screen read what they said, which made it a larger issue. When I reported the two individuals, they just laughed it off and continuted to smart mouth.
Now, what I want to know is this: What is the exact process that goes on behind reporting a player? I only ask because the two players I reported continued to talk about how they have been reported numerous times on different occasions. This is a little unnerving for me because it makes me feel like nothing is being done, and the players can continue to behave and talk the way they do. If that is the case, then I would just like to know so that I can find my son a new game to play. Just because he can't read it on his screen doesn't mean that he can't lean over onto his father's screen or my screen and read what the other players are saying. Which is what happened earlier today.
Thanks for reading, A concerned parent - Maria SummerBreeze
I think Club Penguin is the only game that has 24 hour monitors on site that handle the problems immediately.
After reading what everyone has to say about the chatting system, I have come to a few conclusions myself.
First of all, as a parent I am rather content with the filter system with the game. I'm glad that numbers can't be typed because children can accidently give out personal information that they shouldn't. It gives me, a parent, a peace of mind that my son can't accidently give out that information if I'm in the other room. Although most of the time either myself or his father are in the same room with him playing with him.
Secondly, I feel that people should be able to report others for non sportsman ship behavior, and/or being disrespectful to other players. For example, just today my husband and I ran into two individuals who were very disrespectful and began finding ways to curse without being able to actually type the words. (I will not repeat exactly what they said because there are children who read these forums, and I refuse to expose them to that kind of language). Since I am an adult, I did not get overly offended by there language, but my son leaded over to read my screen read what they said, which made it a larger issue. When I reported the two individuals, they just laughed it off and continuted to smart mouth.
Now, what I want to know is this: What is the exact process that goes on behind reporting a player? I only ask because the two players I reported continued to talk about how they have been reported numerous times on different occasions. This is a little unnerving for me because it makes me feel like nothing is being done, and the players can continue to behave and talk the way they do. If that is the case, then I would just like to know so that I can find my son a new game to play. Just because he can't read it on his screen doesn't mean that he can't lean over onto his father's screen or my screen and read what the other players are saying. Which is what happened earlier today.
Thanks for reading, A concerned parent - Maria SummerBreeze
the only problem i have with the reporting is that people run around reporting someone for just telling them to back off and leave you or your friend alone, and if they found a way to curse without actually using the real swears, then technically it isnt swearing, the report button says you should only report if someone is SWEARING not using words that may be interpreted. if someone is actually swearing then you have a reason to report them.
I have also had prblems with people that have also acted the same way towards me with the same kind of language and rudeness, all i had to do was tell them what they were doing was wrong, and i walked away, i didnt report them because they are most likely oblivious of their actions, and you should just let them learn their lesson from their parents, you dont need a game to tell them what to do, most likely they will be pursuaded to use the same kind of behavior because they arent getting disiplined by their parents.
Mr Lincoln, i have a question about this. when you report someone that is swearing and they said the swearing on the friends chat, how do you know he said it?
Mr Lincoln, i have a question about this. when you report someone that is swearing and they said the swearing on the friends chat, how do you know he said it?
The fact that this game's chat is not just another WoW chat, alone, makes the game worth playing.
Wizard101 has done a very good job.
I agree. My least favorite thing about WoW, besides the hours/days/weeks/months of endless grinding, was the chat system. If I ever get stuck in LFG again I think I'll shoot myself.
Wow this is certainly a subject that i am torn on.
As a mom, i like the idea of there being a filter. Still as an adult who likes to play the game some of what is filtered is often needless.
I simply can't imagine a need to filter the words beans or rice which is what i was cooking when a friend of mine, also an adult mom, asked me what i planed to cook.
I also can't help be be very grateful for the new closer look on reports. I was once reported while walking through krok and i have no idea how or why or by whom. Another time i moved away from a girl who keep jumping in my fights and then not fighting while i had had three cats/rats (not sure what) to fight. Had she asked me i may have helped her but she did this twice i moved away twice then confornted her. She then threatened to report me.
My response was that she go right ahead I am and adult i can call the company (and i can - and if the spirit moved me i could show up on their door step) and tell them how you kids are using this feature to threaten others.
Then there was another time when i was talking to a friend at one of the so called School tower parties, and there was one guy there treatening everyone who crossed his sensibility with a report.
Okay I am get that there should be a way to report people but I am more confident that the company is now on to the false reports. After all these are kids and all here are subject to their sudden mood swings and lack of manners.
As and adult i usually make the point that i AM an adult (and often i wonder where there parents are) and i tell them to back off. This normally works and when it doesn't and sometimes it doesn't, i switch realms or leave the area.
Now back to your filters, I am simply not sure they work. I have been called the B word too often these kids are not slow if they want to use a replacement word they find one that is close enough for their intended victim to get.
Even the word NOOB which is not filtered has been used as a cuss word. Its insulting when used in the context meant to insult someone.
Filtering obvious words and cities are nice but i would like to say i am from NEW YORK to a friend without saying i am from the big apple, and that my dear Wizard folk is one of many ways to say that.
Unless you plan to take chat away completely - which i wouldn't suggest - you may want to rethink (another would you can not say and i don't know why) your filter and your goal for having it.
Chatting with a friend is almost as challenging as the quests themselves.
That said i have to repeat i am torn BECAUSE i totally get why you do it. I have a suggestion. You may want to set up a filter that effects some and not others.
If a person subscribes to Wizard you may want to give them the option to have words filtered. And let those people who chose not to have it AND ONLY THOSE PEOPLE see the words. others would see only the "..." that normally comes up when a word is misspelled or filtered.
If you do it from the point where the credit card is used you can be sure that an adult is making that decision. As you have to be an adult to have one.
This would meet your standards. It is just a suggestion one that you probably won't take but you know I thought my two cents are as good as any others.
After reading through this posting, I'm going to have to change my initial reaction to this chat system. Knowing that the limitations and restrictions are in place in an effort to protect others, be they children or adults, I can no longer fault it nor dismiss it out of hand as being a poorly designed system.
That said, it is still an unfinished work that hinders probably the largest single greatest trait MMOs have, social interaction via text. Since I do not mean to complain, but to critique, I must offer possible solutions to the problems.
1) As said before, the list of "safe" words should be reviewed periodically. Maybe by placing a suggestion area for common words currently banned, and then doing a poll for player accounts (Subscribed ones) and/or an Internal decision on which words can be used, and others to be placed on the poll if they are of indeterminate offense to the Wizards 101 staff.
2) Using chat commands and operations to call up basic numbers and stats. I find it difficult to believe that even a child could accidentally give away personal info by having to use such means. Note: If the child is determined they can still give that information away right now. 2a) Basic ideas: #hp, #maxhp, #mp, #maxmp for Current/Max values on HP and MP. #(a,d,r)[school] for the accuracy, damage, resists values. ETC. I'm sure there are many more values one could define that would be useful in the course of the game.
3) Again someone else already stated before, but a consolidated chat window. I dislike chat bubbles as I find they tend to clutter a screen. Also the need to reopen the chat window on entering/exiting combat does tend to grow old.
4) Also I do not know how severe a ban or punishment is used when one is found to be in willing violation of the chat restrictions. As has been pointed out before, those intent on getting around the filters can. However if the consequences of such actions were known, it could help to deter those who might toe the line or even commit those offenses.
One point I would make on the punishments, is that even though it is a business you are running, you should be willing to not only ban violators severely but also ban those accounts and card numbers. Granted those are options of last resort, and a card ban might even be too much since the violation is not completely game breaking.
Mr Lincoln, i have a question about this. when you report someone that is swearing and they said the swearing on the friends chat, how do you know he said it?
Excellent Question! Every bit of chat in the game goes into our logs. When you report another player (even if they are private messaging you) we can see what was said and send out appropriate warnings. Hope this helps answer your question!
Mr Lincoln, i have a question about this. when you report someone that is swearing and they said the swearing on the friends chat, how do you know he said it?
Excellent Question! Every bit of chat in the game goes into our logs. When you report another player (even if they are private messaging you) we can see what was said and send out appropriate warnings. Hope this helps answer your question!
Is that only when someone reports or can you see what we say at any time?
There are three different types of chat. Depending on your account, and how it is setup, one or several of the chat types below may be available to you. The three types of chat available to Wizards are:
1. Menu Chat: This is also referred to as "bubble chat". It is completely safe and all players may use the Menu Chat.
To use Menu Chat, simply select the Chat icon from the upper left corner of your screen. A list of categories and words will appear that you can select from that looks like this:
2. Text Chat: This is a form of chat that allows you to communicate with other players by pressing the Enter key and typing words from our dictionary. This is a list of words that are relevant to the game and communication about the game. This is an INCLUSIVE list of words, not an EXCLUSIVE list of words.
When you press Enter on your keyboard, you can type words from our Wizard Dictionary, and then hit Enter to say your sentence.
Chat can be seen in two different ways:
a. “Say” – is a kind of chat that anyone in your area can see. These appear as bubbles above your character's head.
b. “Text” – is person to person chat regardless of where they are in the game (remember: you can only Text to your level of approved chat). You can use this chat with characters that are on your Friends List.
There are three different types of chat. Depending on your account, and how it is setup, one or several of the chat types below may be available to you. The three types of chat available to Wizards are:
1. Menu Chat: This is also referred to as "bubble chat". It is completely safe and all players may use the Menu Chat.
To use Menu Chat, simply select the Chat icon from the upper left corner of your screen. A list of categories and words will appear that you can select from that looks like this:
2. Text Chat: This is a form of chat that allows you to communicate with other players by pressing the Enter key and typing words from our dictionary. This is a list of words that are relevant to the game and communication about the game. This is an INCLUSIVE list of words, not an EXCLUSIVE list of words.
When you press Enter on your keyboard, you can type words from our Wizard Dictionary, and then hit Enter to say your sentence.
Chat can be seen in two different ways:
a. “Say” – is a kind of chat that anyone in your area can see. These appear as bubbles above your character's head.
b. “Text” – is person to person chat regardless of where they are in the game (remember: you can only Text to your level of approved chat). You can use this chat with characters that are on your Friends List.
3. True Friend Chat: This is the same as "Text Chat" except it is enabled through the use of a "True Friend" code. If a Wizard knows a friend in real life, outside of the game, they can exchange a code that will allow them to communicate with one another. It may be used by Wizards of all ages.
Different Wizards have different levels of chat. Players that have Menu Chat will appear with this icon over their head, beside their title.
To talk to these Wizards you will need to use the Menu Chat too. Players without this icon beside their title can see all Chat.
ProfessorGreyrose, I am In "true friend chat"... I WANT to get into just normal " Text Chat" How can i go about doing this?
If you are unable to use the chat function, it is possible that your account does not have Text Chat enabled. Accounts set up as over 13 players are able to use the Text Chat.
You may also simply have the Chat Bubbles turned off. You can turn the chat bubbles on and off by pressing the letter O on your keyboard.
If you have an account that is over 13 and can still not chat you might need to enable the feature. To enable you must login to Wizard101.com and select "My Accounts". Under the "Account Management" section login to your parental controls and click on the 'enable' button located next to the 'filttered text' option.
Text Chat for players with under 13 accounts can only be turned on by a parent/guardian over age 18. The parent/guardian must validate his/her age by buying a subscription or crowns with a valid credit card.
If you have previously been able to use Filtered Chat and no longer can access it, it is possible that you have been reported for harrasment or other misconduct. Please contact Customer Support using the "Ask a Question" buttonon the Help & Support page.
first, you wont change my opinion, because it is just that. mine. second, i am a parent also, and unlike parents who rely on others to monitor their children, i check up on my own :)
I also check up on my kids however, i can not check up on other peoples kids.
Every now and then I read up on forums and posts here just to get updated on all the info and "talk" that goes about Wizard101.
Something I want to say is, parent or not, we all ultimately fall into the same group of people. Simply because we adults seem to like to curse and talk the "smack kind of talk," does not mean that we should be grouped into an entirely different category.
We are all kids. The only difference is that we are independent and allowing ourselves to do things no child would 'yet' allow themselves to do, or simply because they have not even come up with the idea as of yet.
Why bother changing the chatting system to allow free chatting amongst "older" players while keeping the filtered chat for younger players, when the chatting system is pretty much fine as it is? Leave well enough alone.
I'd say it is a good thing to make "adults" talk properly in filtered chat without use of "adult" language. Teaches some kind of formality and restraint, if you get my idea.
What I am trying to say is, we are all kids. We are the same people with 2 arms, 2 legs, 1 head, and a mouth. As an "adult," I dont group myself into another entirely different category of people simply because I am an "adult." I say chatting system is fine as it is, and congratulate Wizard101 for a job well done.
To clarify my previous post, it of course applies to the subject of a seperate 'adult' chat.
Something I want to add about the report system.
The reporting system is almost universal amongst monitored mmo's, and the way administrators and GM's handle these issues is almost universal as well.
A player that reports someone does not get a "confirmation" message when a GM launches an investigation, and will most likely never even know if something was done about the issue or not. Rest assured, something is being done, and it is almost always investigated, resulting in action or not.
That is to keep all matters private and to protect both parties regarding the issue at hand.
or you make it impossible for other people to insult or you make it so that insulted people can defend verbal attacks.
Some 13 year old kid saying I HATE YOU NOOB because I heal up in a PvP Match (which I am supposed to do as a Life Wizard) makes me wanna leave the game.
First, and just because it bugs me, I think a few of you need to look up the definition of explicit. There is NO possible way that any explicit sexual discussion is being done in this game. What might be occurring--and what I've seen only briefly--is referred to as innuendo, allusion, or euphemisms.
I think the chat filters are GREAT! I'm an adult who saw the commercial two days ago while watching cartoons with my four year-old. Within less than a half an hour, we were playing together. After watching me for about two hours, he started playing on his own. While he doesn't have the fine motor skills yet for great character control or navigation, he does all right, and I'm happy to know that he's safe in this game.
Am I a little annoyed or inconvenienced by not being able to use number words or numerals? Yeah, it makes things a bit difficult, but--as you've already shown--people can get around that if they have to, and it's not preventing anyone playing the game. The boy and I have each made a few characters this weekend, testing how we like playing, and they're so much fun. This game--filters and all--is just great!
And while some older kids (teens and adults) may be using innuendo, allusions, or euphemisms, they would likely have to be soooo tame that only those with truly perverted minds themselves would be able to interpret them, so if you're offended by some sex chat you hear, maybe you're in need of a trip to the mirror.
First, and just because it bugs me, I think a few of you need to look up the definition of explicit. There is NO possible way that any explicit sexual discussion is being done in this game. What might be occurring--and what I've seen only briefly--is referred to as innuendo, allusion, or euphemisms.
I agree i found it a bit head scratching that the word explicit came up. i can barely use common words i cant imagine anyone doing more.
But today I DID hear this boy asking if there were any "girls who wanted to have XXX rated truth or dare". What is that?
Come people watch your kids! If this is a child (and i reported them and this was the first report i made) shame on parents! If this is an adult, and i am inclined to think it is, BAN this person and anyone like him.
This is not that type of site. There are those type of sights and this isn't one of them. Even if KI did not jump over hordles to keep it clean (way too much screening) the environment itselfs can tell you THIS is not that type of site.
