Ask Massively: No really, ask us!

Ladies and gentlemen, Trolls and Gnomes, griefers of all ages, it is time, once again, for Ask Massively. Your guide to the wonderful world of Massively Multiplayer Online Esoterica. There were so many good questions from last week that we decided that instead of one question to answer at length, we will present three queries for your edification and amusement.

If you would like to have your question answered for all the online world to see, feel free to post a comment at the end of this article, or stop by our tipline and let us know what's on your mind.

Our first query comes from Sasha and deals with the continued blurring of the line between virtual and physical reality.

Oh Great Wise One,

You can get married in Second Life, but also divorced. If you divorce someone in Second Life, are there any possible legal ramifications in the real world?

I am not a lawyer, but I am on a first name basis with most of the judges in my jurisdiction. Oddly enough, they seem to think that my first name is "The Defendant", but that is another story (or two... dozen) altogether.

The short answer to your question is 'No". What happens in Las Linden stays in Las Linden.

To illustrate the logic of my answer, let us look at this question in a different light. If you killed another player in a virtual world, could you be charged with murder in the real world? Of course not. The most fundamental property of a virtual world is that it is self-contained. Actions that occur in that world have no meaning in the physical world. Don't get me wrong, if you and your significant other are playing a game together and she catches you having hot chat or engaging in a virtual booty call, you will have some serious explaining to do back in "Realityland" That is an emotional issue and not a necessarily legal one. Of course if that activity leads to real world activity later, anything you say online can and will be used against you in front of a divorce lawyer. Which brings me to the exception to the "What happens in Las Linden..." rule.

If your actions, in game, result in real world harm or loss, then you are legally liable for that loss. It is one thing to have an in-game wedding, but quite another if you and your bride to be have a real marriage license and decide to hold the ceremony in a virtual world like Second Life. In that case, technically speaking, your marriage takes place where you filed for the marriage license, not in the game.

Next up is an inquiry from a concerned parent.

Dear Massively,

When is a good age to introduce a child to MMOs? Which ones are the most kid-friendly?

Since I'm in the process of becoming a parent myself, I found myself thinking about this question a great deal. The Internet can be a dangerous place for the unprepared, especially for children who may not have the "social defenses" of teenagers or adults. I would strongly advocate heavy parental involvement in any activity that children engage in on the Internet, including MMOs. If your child shows interest in an MMO, then I would suggest that you play the game with your child, not only to show them the ropes and help them with the more advanced aspects of gameplay, but to remain aware of the people that your child is interacting with while playing.

That said, there are certain games that introduce concepts that your child might not be comfortable dealing with. A small child does not understand the concept of death, so I would avoid games that feature a great deal of violence on a personal level. Unfortunately, that eliminates pretty much every popular MMORPG in the marketplace. Second Life doesn't have as much violence as most MMORPGs, but is not appropriate for children for a variety of other reasons, many of which could be discussed in columns of their own.

One of our bloggers, Michael Zenke adds,

"If you can't find time to accompany them every minute of their playtime (an understandable situation) there are a few games that are likely to meet most parental standards of safety. Probably the most fun of the kid-oriented MMOs is ToonTown Online. It's run by Disney, and uses a 'canned' chat system that prevents users from swearing or discussing inappropriate subjects. Gameplay features 'toon-ified' themes you're likely to see in other games, like fighting and questing. It's all done non-violently in ToonTown, allowing kids a chance to enjoy the gameplay style of the MMO without the blood or adult themes. Another (very popular) title is Webkinz, a game based around caring for cute fuzzy animals. Access to the game requires the purchase of a plush doll at a toy store. Despite what some kids might think, though, you only need one Webkinz to log into the game world. A third very safe option is Club Penguin, a social environment featuring mini-games and adorable avatars. Like ToonTown Online, the game only allows users to select from a limited number of chat options. Users regularly compete in games like basketball or hockey, and can join social clubs with their friends."

If your child is old enough to understand violence and put it in proper perspective, most MMORPGs present content in a way that most parents would not find objectionable. (Jack Thompson and his ilk excepted) In my experience, there are only two MMORPGs that I would not let my child play. I don't want to overemphasize this, but this is only my opinion and your mileage may vary.

The first of these is EVE Online. I was a big fan of EVE, but the interaction between players is rather intense, and not the kind of thing that a child will handle easily. In addition, the gameplay is very complex and the learning curve is steep. An older teenager might be able to handle the basics of gameplay, but the PvP element adds a social dynamic that can be a bit too much for a teenager to handle. You have to have a thick skin to survive in that game. If you'd like to see an example of what I'm talking about, watch this video, but be warned, here there be salty language.

The second is (or, more appropriately, will be) Age of Conan. From the demos that I've seen, AoC is selling more sex and violence than your average MMORPG. If you are a concerned parent and wondering which game you should allow your child to play, then this might very well be the most inappropriate game for your child. Don't get me wrong, I think AoC will be a fantastic game, but definitely not one for kids.

For more on this topic, check out Gamer Interrupted.

And now, I have in my hand, the last envelope...

Oh Mighty Prognosticator, give me the knowledge I seek!

Will the graphical update to Anarchy Online be enough to attract new people or will additional animation/sound updates be necessary?

New and improved eye candy might get some folks to give Anarchy Online a second look, but at the end of the day, it's all about the gameplay and the community. If the graphics update doesn't work, then I doubt new animations or sounds will either. The fact that the folks at Funcom are trying to breathe new life into the game is encouraging, but ultimately, it will be content that keeps the game going in the long term.

That's all we have for this week. Keep those questions coming in.