Agreed!TheKasp said:Teach them to use money properly. Like on TF2 hats!
That's what I tell everybody, no one listens though...
Agreed!TheKasp said:Teach them to use money properly. Like on TF2 hats!
I don't think it is bizarre either, but i'm pretty jaded as to my views on the state of modern parenting. Ideally gaming would be used as a parenting tool rather then what i see it being used today: e.g. "we're busy, here, play with this". Leaving your kid unsupervised with anything that you as a parent are not familiar with is bad parenting. Not uncommon, mind you, but bad.Revolutionaryloser said:I'm surprised how many people show absolutely no sympathy for the parents. I don't think it's that bizarre that parents aren't watching their children while they play videogames. If anything, I think it's pretty stupid for parents to want to control their children all the time, especially when they are on the couch, out of harm's way.
Also, I don't know the specifics of each case, but last time I checked my phone doesn't ask for a password when it urges me to buy shit I don't want.
It's a tough one, no mistake.gigastar said:On the one hand, overreacting parents.
On the other hand, manipulative microtransactions.
Im not sure which side i loathe more...
I think the argument here is that Apple say they have made changes so that parents can prevent their children from buying content. (Passwords, turning off in-game purchasing, etc.) Assuming that is the case (and I'm not saying it's impossible Apple are lying) then the parents have all the tools they need to leave their children unsupervised playing games, as long as they are careful to set them up.Revolutionaryloser said:I'm surprised how many people show absolutely no sympathy for the parents. I don't think it's that bizarre that parents aren't watching their children while they play videogames. If anything, I think it's pretty stupid for parents to want to control their children all the time, especially when they are on the couch, out of harm's way.
Also, I don't know the specifics of each case, but last time I checked my phone doesn't ask for a password when it urges me to buy shit I don't want.
I wouldn't know (don't have an iphone) but I'm happy to take your word that Apple haven't exactly been thorough.Revolutionaryloser said:For the record, I'm pretty sure it's still easy as piss to buy anything in the app store. Also, am I the only one that finds the wording "leave their children unsupervised playing games" to be sort of jarring? I mean, if you can't leave your kids unsupervised while playing, when can you?MetalMagpie said:I think the argument here is that Apple say they have made changes so that parents can prevent their children from buying content. (Passwords, turning off in-game purchasing, etc.) Assuming that is the case (and I'm not saying it's impossible Apple are lying) then the parents have all the tools they need to leave their children unsupervised playing games, as long as they are careful to set them up.Revolutionaryloser said:I'm surprised how many people show absolutely no sympathy for the parents. I don't think it's that bizarre that parents aren't watching their children while they play videogames. If anything, I think it's pretty stupid for parents to want to control their children all the time, especially when they are on the couch, out of harm's way.
Also, I don't know the specifics of each case, but last time I checked my phone doesn't ask for a password when it urges me to buy shit I don't want.
I remember a similar fuss when a young child managed to buy a car on ebay because his dad left the computer on, with ebay open in a browser and logged in. The parents tried to blame ebay, but really it's no different to your child breaking a priceless Ming vase because you left it within their reach.
I think I can answer this one fairly concisely actually. You no longer need to supervise your child when your child has developed enough in a facet of maturity so that you may trust them to act responsibly when given the freedom to do so. Until then, it is your job as a parent to look after them and guide them down the path to eventual autonomy.Revolutionaryloser said:But where does this "good parenting" end? Can we let our kids play in the park without fearing they might be raped? Can we let them stay over at a friend's house? Can they climb up a tree? Can they use a swing unsupervised?
I understand there are negligent parents but I don't want to bring up kids that are incapable of doing anything without someone's certified approval. And seriously, I know my videogames, but some of the things you might find in the Apple app store nobody would see coming.
And maybe it is pointless to sue but I still think someone has to take action to put a stop to this. These games should come with disclaimers and point out that they are not appropiate for kids.
And I hope you know that we use them in an education setting and that they can be set up using multiple iTunes accounts very easily so that kids don't have direct access to their parents credit cards. Ignorance is no excuse.rapidoud said:You know some parents actually use tablet PCs as learning tools for their ASD children?newwiseman said:Apple needs to have an in-app purchase toggle in the general setting of the iOS not in the apps themselves.
As much as I hate the monetization at work in these games it is where the majority of those developers income comes from, for better or worse, and outlawing the practice all together is not the answer.
The real problem is that parents are so quick to hand off the virtual baby sitter, stay out of my hair, devices that they don't even bother to familiarize themselves with the actions they need to take to defend their wallets and their children from influences they feel are questionable. But when most parents now days are as equally immature as their entitled brood; what more can we expect. The whole culture is trained to blame someone else before excepting any responsibility. That was the whole point of the South Park movie.
To quote Bender, "Parents haven't you ever tried just sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
But, what do I know, I'm just a technology support specialist, in a predominantly Apple environment, who has worked eight hours a day in public middle schools for 4 years... Someone help me.
Don't just assume it's all snot-nosed brats, there are some legitametly good parents stung by this, and why i think microtransaction games are such awful ideas.
Groin spawn! Genius!DVS BSTrD said:So yes parents are apparently fine with their money being thrown away as long as their selfish little groin spawn aren't the ones doing it.
Subliminal messages are illegal to use. No game in existance is capable of creating an addiction in a perfectly normal human being. The person playing a game can however become addicted to the drugs that the brain itself releases.Antari said:Well if they can actually prove these games have actual addictive qualities they might have a lawsuit. I've been fairly concerned about alot of these social games having subliminal messaging in them. Because I have seen people addicted to them to the point of it being a chemical addiction. As for it being all the parents fault. I don't quite know. Large corporations exploit, its what they do.
And there, you've hit at the core of it.Hevva said:Apple has declined to comment on the case, having already asked that it be booted from the justice system in light of the changes made to its in-app purchasing systems. Do the parents have a point? Should games which feature potentially manipulative in-game purchase systems be targeted at children?