Usually our yearly survey, conducted by Hart Research Associates, reveals compelling or surprising insights. But 2023 presents a difference in that many of these insights are remarkably consistent to previous years:

Trend: Parents Report Consistent Awareness and Use of ESRB Ratings

Parental awareness and use of the ESRB ratings steady with 2022’s. For many years parents and caregivers have reported high numbers on this topic, and it is encouraging to see such similar numbers year-over-year.

84% of parents with kids that play video games tell us that they are aware of the ESRB rating system. Meanwhile, 73% say they use the ESRB rating system regularly (“every time” or “most of the time”) when deciding which video games are appropriate for their kids. These numbers are identical to last year’s survey, illustrating a consistent trend for parents’ engagement with the ESRB rating system.

Similarly, a large majority of parents still tell us that each part of the rating system is “extremely” or “very” important in helping them decide which games are appropriate for their kids.

Trend: Finding Appropriate Content Continues to be Important to Parents

In 2023, parents reported an increased focus on finding appropriate video game content for their kids.

Parents have always told us that the content of their kids’ games is top-of-mind, and finding content appropriate video games remains one of their top challenges. 2023 shows a renewed interest in this challenge, and checking ESRB’s age and content ratings continues to be an important component of finding age-appropriate video games (second only to parents playing the game themselves).

That said, parents reiterated that managing the amount of time their kids spend playing continues to be their biggest challenge by a significant margin. Fortunately, (as you’ll see) many parents are using parental controls to manage these challenges!

Trend: Parents Consistently Leverage Other Tools to Manage Their Kids’ Video Games

Parents are continuing to leverage multiple resources to manage their kids’ video games. From checking the ratings, to activating parental controls, it’s clear that parents remain involved in managing their kids’ video game experiences.

Parents continue to set parental controls to manage their kids’ video game play. In fact, 86% (up from 80% in 2022) of parents say they use at least one parental control setting on a gaming device (e.g., PC, mobile device, game console), a third-party app, or an ISP. Use of parental controls has steadily increased over the years, and coupled with household rules (which, according to our 2020 survey, are established in an overwhelming majority of households) illustrates that parents take an active role in making sure their kids enjoy appropriate video game experiences.

ESRB provides step-by-step parental controls guides at ParentalTools.org. Visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide for more tips and tricks to help keep your kids’ video game play appropriate and maintain peace of mind.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

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Is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Appropriate for your Kids?

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is rated T for Teen, with Content Descriptors for Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, and Violence. There is also an Interactive Element assigned for In-Game Purchases.

According to the assigned Rating Summary, players will enter the spider-shoes of Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they “attempt to save New York City from a new threat.” You can also expect characters that “punch, kick, and throw each other during fights,” with main characters using special abilities to battle criminals, villains, and other bad guys. Keep in mind that there are instances of blood, as well as references to drugs, and some mild language.

Where Can You Play Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and How Much Does it Cost?

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is available on the PlayStation 5 and costs $69.99 for the Standard Edition and $79.99 for the Digital Deluxe Edition that includes the game, unique spider suits for both Peter and Miles, and two skill points.

There is also a Collector’s Edition available for $229 that includes the game, a statue, and other physical and in-game items. You can find all of those details here.

As previously mentioned, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also includes a label for In-Game Purchases. This means the game may offer the ability to purchase additional content directly within the game.

What is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 About?

Following the events of 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man and 2020’s Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales players can once again swing into the webbed shoes of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales. This iteration sees Peter and Miles join forces to protect Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn from various villains, including Kraven the Hunter, who sees the Spider-Men as his ultimate hunt. Also making appearances are classic Spider-Man villains like the Lizard, Venom, and more.

Like the previous Spider-Games, the spider-men’s secret identities play a big role in the sequel. When not webbing around the city, players will experience moments as Peter and Miles as they try to navigate their double-lives, while keeping their loved ones safe. Miles, for example, is now old enough to be considering his future education, along with all the pressure that comes along with that. Meanwhile, Peter’s best friend, Harry Osborne, is plagued by a serious illness, making Peter desperate to help.

How Does Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Play?

The first thing that comes to mind when someone thinks of Spider-Man is swinging around New York City. This is a huge part of Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2, which gives players all of the tools to gracefully swing, wall-run, and catapult around a massive city at breakneck speeds. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also introduces the “Web Wings”, which allow the player to glide through wind tunnels to speed up travel and create variety in how the player can get from point A to point B.

But what would Spider-Man be without being able to save some citizens and beat up some bad guys. Combat is another pillar of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Peter and Miles have the ability to punch, kick, and pummel, all while leveraging their Spidey-sense (which appears as a colored wave above the characters’ heads) to dodge and parry enemy attacks. These standard fisticuffs can be further augmented with the use of gadgets, like little web grenades that grab multiple enemies to one point, and abilities, like Miles’ electricity powers (which he calls Venom powers… not to be confused with the bad guy named Venom) for additional options.

If you and your family are more into a stealthy approach, both Peter and Miles also have many opportunities to deal with situations quietly. The Spider-Men can use many of their abilities quietly to web up or knock out bad guys without getting into an all-out brawl.

Lastly, there are also some light puzzles that you and your kids may help Peter and Miles solve. After all… they’re scientists as well as superheroes, and sometimes the best way to solve a problem is with your brain!

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a single-player, open-world, action-adventure game. While only one person can play at a time, the game is cinematic and visually varied, making it fun to take turns and share with the whole family.

Managing Your Kids’ Superhero Adventures

Even when your kids are itching to save New York City it’s important to manage how they do so. Fortunately, there are a bevy of tools and tips to help you set reasonable limits on your kids’ video game experiences.

It’s always great to start by checking the ESRB-assigned rating information to make sure it’s appropriate for your children. If possible, we also recommend that you try the game out before giving your kids permission to play.

That said, virtually every video game device has parental controls that allow you to manage what your kids play (based on the ESRB-assigned rating information), when and for how long, with whom, and whether they can spend money on new games or in-game purchases. You can find step-by-step parental control guides at ParentalTools.org.

If you’re looking for more tips about video games and online safety, visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

So, what’s new in this iteration of the long-running series? We’re here to tell you everything you need to know to decide if it’s appropriate for your family.

Is Super Mario Bros. Wonder Appropriate for Your Kids?

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is rated E for Everyone, with Content Descriptors for Mild Fantasy Violence and an Interactive Element for In-Game Purchases. This is a platforming game in which players control characters from the Mario universe as they try to stop the villain Bowser. Players traverse whimsical environments while jumping on enemies’ heads, throwing shells, and tossing small fireballs to knock them off-screen. Boss battles contain more involved combat against giant enemies that breathe fire and smash parts of the scenery.

As is the case with most Mario games, the content is cartoony and colorful, making it generally suitable for all ages.

Where Can You Play Super Mario Bros. Wonder and How Much Is It?

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is available for the Nintendo Switch and costs $59.99 both physically and digitally.

As mentioned, Super Mario Bros. Wonder also includes an Interactive Element for In-Game Purchases. This means that the game may include offers to purchase additional content.

What is Super Mario Bros. Wonder About?

Mario and his band of best friends are helping Prince Florian regain the pretty and magical Flower Kingdom from the Bowser’s nefarious influence. Players select a character to play from a roster of much-loved characters including Daisy, Luigi, Peach, and Toad. It’s the first traditional 2D Mario platforming game from Nintendo in more than a decade.

How Does Super Mario Bros. Wonder Play?

If you’ve ever played a classic 2D Mario side-scrolling adventure like Super Mario Bros. then you’ll know what to expect. Players steer Mario and his friends through several colorful, increasingly challenging worlds of platforms, obstacles, power-ups. As you jump, stop, and “wah-hoo” your way through levels, you and your family will battle cartoonish enemies, including familiar foes like Goombas and new baddies like Maw-Maws – funny, walking mouths that eat anything in their path.

In this iteration, cute talking flowers help the player by giving tips, and cracking jokes. Special Wonder Flowers trigger strange changes to the world, like transforming static pipes into wriggly, worm-like forms that the player can ride, or temporarily suspending gravity, allowing Mario and the gang to jump higher. It all adds to the magical charm of the world, as well as the more unexpected puzzle-like aspects of the gameplay.

Collectible power-ups and badges also return, giving your character special abilities. In addition to mainstays like mushrooms and fire flowers, Mario and some other characters can turn themselves into elephants, making use of extra size and strength as well as a useful trunk that can swat away enemies and spray water.

Players can also turn themselves into bubble-blowing bosses, capturing enemies at a distance, or using the bubbles as temporary platforms to access hard-to-reach areas. There are sure to be other power-up surprises throughout the game, too.

Can I Play With Other People?

Super Mario Bros. Wonder can be enjoyed as a single-player game or together with up to four players on the same Nintendo Switch, making the game fun for the whole family to play together.

While Super Mario Bros. Wonder does include some online features, it is not traditional co-operative play. Instead, players will be able to see which levels their friends have beaten and enter races to see if they can complete the level faster. Players can also leave “standees” (which look like little wooden cutouts of characters) in levels. Should their friend be playing the same level on their own Nintendo Switch, they will see that standee from your family and receive a bonus from it!

Younger children can play as Yoshi or Nabbit, who don’t take damage, making it easier to complete levels and explore the world and overcome some of the more challenging platforming sections. If a player loses a life, another player can save them and bring them back into the game, adding another layer of accessibility for younger players or players that are still learning.

Managing Your Kids’ Games

Modern game consoles, including Nintendo Switch, feature a variety of parental controls that allow you to manage which games your kids can play, when and for how long, whether they can share content with other online, and whether they can spend money on new games or in-game purchases. You can find step-by-step guides on how to set parental controls at ParentalTools.org.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder can be enjoyed as a single-player game or together with up to four players

Additional Tips for Parents

While parental controls offer parents many great choices, there are always more steps you can take to ensure that your kids have appropriate video game experiences.

We always say that the best first step is to call a family meeting and establish some household rules around video game play. By discussing video game play in your home, while acknowledging the positives, you’re setting a precedent for an open-ended, judgment-free conversation about video games.

You’re also letting your kids know that, while you respect their love of playing games, there are parameters that the whole family needs to respect (including you!). Just remember to back up your household rules with parental controls if/when you need to!

It is always a good idea to check the ESRB ratings pages for the games your kids play, and to do your own research, by viewing game trailers and independent game reviews.

Visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide for more information on household rules, parental controls, online safety tips, and more.

Colin Campbell is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Economist, The Guardian, Polygon, IGN, Gamesindustry.biz and more.

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Tyler Jones, who began using Discord when he was 15, sums up the platform’s appeal to teens and young adults this way: “It’s fast, it’s reliable, it’s easy to use, and it offers so many features, like video calling, screen sharing and presenting, and customizations, that other sites don’t have for free.”

More than anything, Discord helps facilitate socialization among peers, especially in times when it’d be otherwise impossible to do so in-person.

“I’ve known a lot of young adults my age struggle socially, especially in a time like now, and have found Discord as a comforting place to make friends and keep up with them,” Jones said.

If you’re intrigued about Discord, the following will help you learn the basics about Discord, including how you can make sure your kids stay safe while navigating the platform.

What is Discord?

Discord is a free communications platform that lets users text, talk, video chat, and share screens with one another. It was initially used largely by gamers, but it’s since spread to other groups thanks to its ease-of-use and wide variety of useful functions, including to host book clubs, knitting groups, sewing circles, and all manner of gatherings, both personal and professional.

How is Discord Different from Other Social Media Platforms?

One of Discord’s biggest differentiators is that it has no ads. Discord also says it does not sell user data or share its data with third parties for advertising purposes, although it does offer a subscription that offers users various enhancements to the Discord experience.  And unlike many social media platforms, there’s no news feed.

Users can also engage with either public or private spaces. As implied by the name, the public servers (communities organized around a specific topic or group) are accessible to anyone, meaning whatever your kids post can be seen by anyone that happens across that space. Meanwhile, private servers are only accessible to approved users, giving your kids the opportunity to set up their own servers for people they know, or joining their friends’ servers.

This makes Discord a more personally curated platform.

Discord’s Vocabulary

Discord can be tricky for the uninitiated. Thankfully, there’s a glossary, as well as numerous beginner’s guides, including an official guide from Discord, an unofficial guide from PCWorld, and a manual put together by M.I.T. students on how to use Discord to collaborate with classmates on projects.

Some terms you may hear are:

• Server: Spaces where users can gather and communicate. Servers can be started by communities and friend groups and can be either public (meaning anyone can join) or invitation only. Any user can start a new server for free.
• Channel: Servers are organized into text and voice channels through which users can communicate. These are usually more limited in scope and dedicated to specific topics.
• DMs: Short for “direct message”. These are private messages (via text, voice, or video) sent directly from one user to another.
• GDMs: This is short for “group direct message”. While direct messages are between two people, users can invite others to a private conversation of up to 10 people. Users cannot join a conversation unless they are invited.

Users can also engage with either public or private spaces.

Can Children Use Discord?

Discord’s Terms of Service states that only users who are 13 years or older may use its service in the U.S. That said, there are children under 13 who use Discord. The company has said it is developing a “gate” that asks users to self-report their date of birth upon creating an account. If a user is reported as being under 13, Discord will lock the user out of their account until they can verify their age with an official ID.

Make sure your kids know to never lie about their age on Discord or any other platform!

Can Strangers Interact With My Children on Discord?

It depends on your child’s account settings. When your kids join a server, others in that server can send them direct messages. You can, however, disable this feature in the account settings under the Privacy & Safety tab (see more details below). You can also select who can send your child a friend request, for example, you can choose everyone, friends of friends, or only other server members.

Discord recommends that users accept friend invites only from people they know. Keep in mind that users do not have to use their real names on Discord, so it may take one extra step to confirm who’s sending an invite. There’s also an option to scan messages and delete those that have explicit content. Should your kids ever encounter someone behaving inappropriately, Discord allows you to block the person in question, which prevents them from sending your kids direct messages and hides their messages in any shared servers. You can also create an invite-only server and invite only people you or your children know personally.

How Can I Help Ensure My Kids Use Discord Safely?

Discord’s Family Center helps parents monitor how their kids use the platform. Using the Family Center will help you gain insight into your kids’ activity on the platform, but it will not provide a transcript of your kids’ conversations with others. Rather, the goal is to help you understand how your kids use Discord and to nurture an open-ended dialogue on appropriate/safe online behavior. As such, this is an opt-in tool, meaning both you and your kids must agree to be part of it.

You can also select who can send your child a friend request

To sign up for the Family Center your kids need to first share a QR code with you to begin the process. Once you scan that code, your child(ren) will be prompted to accept the connection and the Family Center will begin recording and reporting information. Discord notes that the Family Center will not include a “complete archive of activity” and will only populate activity occurring after your kids have opted into the program. To be clear, your child(ren) must invite you to use the tool. Without their invite there is no way to activate the Family Center.

Parents that are connected to the Family Center will be able to see when their kids add new friends, join and/or participate in new servers, and who they message or call in direct or group chats. All this information is accessible at any time via the Discord app. You can also receive weekly activity reports via email that highlight whom your kids have messaged and/or called, how many new friends they have (and who they are), the servers they’ve joined, and more.

As mentioned above, Discord also has safety and privacy settings to help manage what is visible to other users and how they can engage. The chart below highlights many of these features, as well as how you can activate them:

It’s important to remember that anyone with access to a Discord account login can change the settings at any time, including your kids. However, Discord emphasizes in its safety FAQ that it will not share user login details with parents who request access to their kids’ accounts. So, you’ll have to get access from your kids directly.

For additional information on the Family Center, safety settings, privacy, and more you can visit Discord’s Parent Hub.

Is There Inappropriate Content on Discord?

As with any social media platform with user-generated and contributed content, Discord can contain content that’s inappropriate for kids. The platform’s community guidelines require that servers with adult content include an “age-restricted” label.

More recently, Discord has updated its community guidelines to also prohibit harmful misinformation and in some cases examine off-platform behavior when assessing if a user has violated the guidelines. According to Discord, this is part of an ongoing effort to make sure the platform stays safe for its users.

It’s great when companies and platforms take steps to ensure the safety of their users, but there’s no substitute for having a conversation with your kids about what to do when they spot inappropriate content. You can do this not only when they use Discord, but when they interact with other social media platforms as well.

Discord provides training materials for its users on how to moderate communities, while also spending resources to monitor and enforce compliance with its guidelines across the platform. In fact, every six months, it releases a Transparency Report highlighting how many users were reported for community guidelines violations, why the reports were submitted (harassment, spam, cybercrime, graphic content, etc.), the actions taken by the trust and safety team, and more.

Discord provides training materials for its users on how to moderate communities, while also spending resources to monitor and enforce compliance with its guidelines across the platform. In fact, every six months, it releases a Transparency Report highlighting how many users were reported for community guidelines violations, why the reports were submitted (harassment, spam, cybercrime, graphic content, etc.), the actions taken by the trust and safety team, and more.

What Else Can Parents Do to Monitor What Their Kids Are Doing on Discord?

As with all social media and online game platforms, parents should nurture an ongoing, open conversation with each of their kids about their use of those platforms. Showing interest by regularly checking in and asking them to share what they’re doing on Discord in a non-judgmental way is a not only a great way to understand how the platform works and how your kids are using it, but also ascertain any potential risks.

For more information and tips about how you can help protect your kids’ personal information visit our Family Gaming Guide.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

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The open-world sandbox game is filled with the kind of exploration, creation, and community that appeal to adults and children alike. Odds are you’ve been hearing about Minecraft for quite some time. Maybe you’ve learned a lot about it through your kids, or maybe you’re just getting acquainted with it now. Either way, if you’re wondering about what more you need to know about the risks and rewards of your child playing Minecraft, read on.

What is Minecraft?

At its core, Minecraft is a game where players place blocks and go on adventures. This includes anything from crafting simple items like containers or weapons, to building structures like houses, castles, and cities, or even making complex mechanical devices, all within the game’s world. Think of it like an endless world of complex, programmable LEGOs that allows players to imagine, design, and create anything they dream up.

Gameplay in Minecraft is split into two different modes: Survival mode and creative mode.

Survival mode is almost like a campaign, where players must forage for food and fend off incoming enemies with various weapons such as swords or pickaxes. Players have to be resourceful when exploring their environment, as they could be attacked by mobs of threatening creatures (such as the iconic Creeper).

The ultimate goal is to use materials to build equipment and structures like houses or gardens to stay safe from the elements. Unlike many similar games, the path to victory is entirely up to the player. The open-world structure invites many different playstyles and encourages experimentation and exploration when dealing with the crafting mechanic. For those that want a structured challenge, the Ender Dragon is the main threat within this mode, and players can try and vanquish it, though it’s not an easy task!

Creative mode offers a more open-ended experience, where players do not have to worry about hunger, health, or being attacked by enemies. In creative mode, players can fly and have access to an unlimited amount of in-game resources. With a full arsenal of materials to use, players create and explore to their heart’s content. Some players opt to create simple structures, while others create vast works of art and engineering. The possibilities are endless!

Is Minecraft Appropriate for Kids?

Minecraft is rated E10+ (Everyone 10+) with a Content Descriptor for Fantasy Violence. It also has Interactive Elements for Users Interact (meaning players can communicate online if they choose) and In-Game Purchases (meaning the game offers the ability to exchange real-world currency for in-game currency or items).

Minecraft does not have violent or gory content in the base game. Enemies and other creatures will simply vanish when defeated, and while players can kill non-threatening animals for food sources, these displays are not glorified. That said, the ability to create and share content means that some other users may publicly share content that your kids may not be ready to engage with. Fortunately, there are parental controls available to help manage (block, limit, etc.) access to user-created content.

Materials like pickaxes and dynamite are used to explode terrain and enemies, but these are blocky and cartoony in nature. In survival mode, players can perish from starvation, burning, drowning, falling, or being attacked by hostile creatures, among other fates; however, these aren’t shown, and players can simply respawn after succumbing to the elements.

Community Features

Players can also join private servers that are set up by independent members of the community and are not controlled or moderated by Mojang Studios. Servers may host some users with whom parents may not be familiar. Players can “block” or “mute” other players who bother them. Many servers are set up by default to censor profanity in text chat; however, some servers – which is an individual player’s “world” – are set up by their host to allow more explicit or objectionable content subject to the specific community guidelines they establish. Voice chat is not available in the PC version of the game, but players can use other platforms like Discord to chat while playing. Meanwhile, those playing on game console platforms, like Xbox and PlayStation, do have access to in-game voice chat. Of course, you can block or limit with whom your kids’ can communicate via parental controls.

Parents should monitor which Minecraft server(s) their children are participating in to determine if the user base is appropriate. You can also create a private server for your kids called a Minecraft Realm, which allows you to individually approve or deny who is permitted to enter. Microsoft parental controls also enable parents to set up a child account to manage online communications, not just in Minecraft but in other Windows PC and Xbox games.

You can find step-by-step parental controls guides at ParentalTools.org.

Differentiating Versions of Minecraft

You may notice that there are two different versions: Minecraft Java Edition and Minecraft Bedrock Edition. The major difference between these versions hinges on the platforms on which they are available. Java Edition is available on PC, Mac, and Linux computers, whereas Bedrock is available on Windows 10 and 11, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, Fire OS/TV, Android, iOS, Windows Mobile, and Samsung Gear VR. Players using the Java Edition cannot play with players using the Bedrock Edition, so if your child plays Minecraft on a PC and wants to play with their friends online, it would be important to find out which version their friends use.

Parents should monitor which Minecraft server(s) their children are participating in to determine if the user base is appropriate.

There are a number of other differences between the two versions, including how players access user-created “mods” or downloadable content like skins and maps for the game. In the Bedrock Edition, mods are curated and only accessible in the Minecraft Marketplace, which means the quality will likely be more limited but consistent. The Bedrock Edition enables cross-play across a much broader variety of platforms, whereas the Java Edition is limited to playing with other PC users. You can find more on the differences between Minecraft Java Edition and Minecraft Bedrock Edition here and here.

How Much Does Minecraft Cost?

Minecraft is available for almost every modern console, smartphone, tablet, and computer, but the price of the game differs depending upon the platforms your kids use.

Regardless of the version, “Minecoins” (Minecraft’s in-game currency) can be used to purchase add-ons and skins in the Minecraft Marketplace. Note that any add-ons are completely optional, and the game is playable without needing to make any additional purchases. Minecoins aren’t available for purchase on all platforms, so it may not even be applicable in your home.

Remember that all gaming devices have parental controls that allow you to restrict or limit the ability to make in-game purchases. Remember to visit ESRB’s step-by-step parental control guides at ParentalTools.org to help manage how much your kids can spend on new games and in-game purchases, which games your kids can play, with whom, and when/for how long they can play.

Using Minecraft in Schools

Minecraft also has a special version created specifically to facilitate learning in a fun and engaging way. Minecraft: Education Edition is built to help kids learn things like collaboration, creative problem-solving, STEM skills, and more! Education Edition has also been evolving into creating lessons to help kids better navigate online environments. This includes how they can stay safe online and to help teach them how to keep their personal information private.

Minecraft: Education Edition is available for free for anyone with an Office 365 Education account. If you (or your kids’ school) aren’t eligible, you can still try Education Edition with a free Hour of Code.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Minecraft appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

What is Roblox?

Roblox has an ESRB-assigned rating of T for Teen, with a Content Descriptor for Diverse Content: Discretion Advised, and Interactive Elements including Users Interact and In-App Purchases. This may be the first time you notice the Content Descriptor for “Diverse Content: Discretion Advised,” which means that the app or platform in question “offers access to a variety of content. Some content may not be appropriate for all ages.” While Roblox’s millions of users are free to create and play a wide range of games, some may be inappropriate for kids. For example, a streaming platform like Disney+ (T for Teen) offers both Bluey and Logan. This is not a one-to-one comparison since video games are inherently different experiences compared to TV and movies, but most parents may be hesitant to let their younger kids watch Logan, which is rated R by the MPAA, while being perfectly fine with their kids watching Bluey, an animated series produced for kids and rated TV-Y.

What Is Roblox Studio?

Although likely to be too challenging for younger kids to master, Roblox Studio tools are easy for novices to learn. Most importantly, Roblox provides a digital playground for kids who are interested in developing their own games. Roblox Studio’s controlled environment provides a non-threatening space in which kids can experiment, create, fail, try again, and ultimately succeed in developing a real game!

The main purpose of Roblox is for kids to have fun, but there are other benefits, including teaching kids the basics of coding, game design, and (for kids that want to try their hand at selling their creations) entrepreneurism. Who knows, it may even inspire a career in STEAM when they grow up!

While Roblox’s millions of users are free to create and play a wide range of games, some may be inappropriate for kids.

It’s also sometimes possible to make Robux – Roblox‘s in-game currency – and even real money by creating and selling content on the platform (more on Robux later). While this may be a fun goal, it’s dependent upon creating an experience or item that is purchased (with Robux) by a significant number of people. You can imagine that, with so many active users and established creators, this can be a challenge! That said, it doesn’t change the fact that practical skills can be learned from creating and developing unique experiences on the Roblox platform.

How to Mitigate Risks in Roblox

Roblox proactively monitors the content created on its platform, but with hundreds of millions of active users a month it’s essential that you stay involved with your kids’ Roblox experiences to ensure that they remain appropriate. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to maintain peace of mind while helping to make sure your kids are having fun on Roblox.

First and foremost, make sure that your child’s registration in Roblox includes an accurate birthdate! This will enable automatic content filtering and other protections specifically designed to protect children under the age of 13. Because Roblox primarily consists of user-created content, the development team has integrated a variety of parental controls directly into its Account Settings, a topic further explored in the Roblox parents guide and in the Roblox FAQ.

The main purpose of Roblox is for kids to have fun, but there are other benefits, including teaching kids the basics of coding, game design, and (for kids that want to try their hand at selling their creations) entrepreneurism.

Roblox also groups games into four age-based categories to indicate appropriateness: All Ages, 9+, 13+, and 17+. The platform’s parental settings give you the ability to curate the content your kids may have access to when playing based on these age groups with Allowed Experiences controls. These also allow you to restrict voice chat to approved friends or disable voice chat entirely. You can learn how to enable those settings here.

Roblox also allows your child to block and report annoying or disruptive players that they may encounter when playing online. Make sure they (and you) know how to do so. This is also a good opportunity to remind your kids that they can come to you if they encounter another individual that is rude or making them feel uncomfortable – no matter what! While you can also create a curated and approved friends list for your kids, remember that you can also disable communication entirely if you’re kids aren’t ready to engage with others online yet.

Another basic internet safety rule is to never share personal information or passwords online. This means no sharing your real name with strangers, where you live, where you go to school… nothing! If someone says they need this information to have a good time, then the best course of action is to simply block and report them. Again… no matter what.

Many parents also tell us that screen time is often top-of-mind. Fortunately, whichever device your child uses to play Roblox includes parental controls settings you can activate to manage when your kids can play and for how long. Even better, many devices provide a solution to manage parental controls from your mobile device, either via a dedicated app or an online portal. For example, Apple’s Screen Time feature is built into Apple devices, while Google’s Family Link also helps parents keep an eye on things from a distance. Microsoft also offers the Xbox Family Settings app, which can control both Windows PC and Xbox devices.

Roblox’s parental controls are great, but you can also set parental controls directly on your kids’ devices. These controls can help manage what your kids play based on the ESRB-assigned rating information, when and for how long they can play. with whom they can communicate, and whether they can spend money on in-game purchases or new games. Visit ParentalTools.org for step-by-step parental controls guides to help.

Where Can You Play Roblox?

Roblox is free to download and play on smartphones, tablets, Amazon Fire devices, computers (both PC and Mac), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. There is also a VR version of Roblox available for the Meta Quest 2/3, Meta Quest Pro, HTC Vive, and Valve Index.

Roblox on the Microsoft Store for Windows and Xbox

How Much Does Roblox Cost?

The cost of purchasing Robux in Roblox

While being free to download, the game offers optional in-game currency called “Robux.” Purchasing Robux is not at all a requirement to play, and many players enjoy the game without spending a dime. That said, players can use Robux to obtain new clothes, accessories, gear, and more (depending upon the experience) for their avatar. You can also purchase special abilities, bonus in-game content and access to certain user-created games. There are a number of ways to obtain Robux, but the most straightforward way is to simply purchase it. The smallest amount you can purchase is 400 Robux for $4.99. The “exchange rate” is slightly more favorable if you decide to purchase more. Alternatively, a paid monthly subscription to Roblox Premium includes a monthly deposit of Robux along with a variety of bonus features. Roblox Premium ranges in cost from $4.99 per month to $19.99 per month.

As mentioned, don’t forget to set parental controls to manage how much your kids are allowed to spend (or block spending entirely).

Additional Tips for Parents

While Allowed Experiences and parental controls offer parents many great choices, there are always more steps you can take to ensure that your kids have appropriate video game experiences.

We always say that the best first step is to call a family meeting and establish some household rules around video game play. By discussing video game play in your home, while acknowledging the positives, you’re setting a precedent for an open-ended, judgment-free conversation about video games. You’re also letting your kids know that, while you respect their love of playing games, there are parameters that the whole family needs to respect (including you!). Just remember to back up your household rules with parental controls if/when you need to!

Visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide for more information on household rules, parental controls, online safety tips, and more.

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How Do I Know If a Game Has In-Game Purchases?

First step, check the ESRB-assigned rating information. Games rated by the ESRB have three parts:

• Rating Categories suggest age appropriateness.
• Content Descriptors indicate content that may have triggered a particular rating.
•  Interactive Elements highlight interactive or online features of a product, including if purchases of digital goods or services are offered in-game or users can interact with each other.

When it comes to making purchases with real world money, we have two Interactive Elements to look out for:

• In-Game Purchases lets you know when a game contains in-game offers to purchase digital goods or premiums
• In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items) lets you know when a game contains in-game offers to purchase digital goods or premiums with an element of randomization (meaning the player may not know exactly what they’re getting)

When checking a game’s rating, you can find the In-Game Purchases or In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items) Interactive Elements when searching by game title on ESRB.org’s rating search or the ESRB rating search app, and displayed on the back of video game boxes or, for digitally delivered games, on a game’s product detail page:

Note that we started assigning the In-Game Purchases Interactive Element in 2018, and In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items) was introduced in February 2020. Games rated prior to these dates will likely not display these notices, even if they do offer in-game purchases. If you’re not sure, we recommend that you do a quick search online to find out if the game in question offers in-game purchases of any kind, especially if it is a mobile or online game.  Most app and online stores provide upfront notice when there are in-game or in-app purchases.

What Can Be Purchased In-Game?

In-game purchases typically augment or personalize the content of a game. Regardless of the type of in-game purchases, it’s important to remember that they are never mandatory. Here are the key types of in-game purchases that are often offered to players:

In-Game Currency
Some games offer the ability to purchase in-game currencies that can be exchanged for content. For instance, your children may ask to purchase 1,000 “Crystals” for $10, which can then be used to buy other virtual in-game items. In many cases, you can purchase a quantity of these currencies through an online store connected to the game. However, in other cases you can also earn in-game currency just by playing.

Pay-to-Continue
Some free-to-play or free-to-start games – typically available on mobile devices – offer the ability to purchase “lives” with in-game or real currency. Most of the time lives will recharge over a period of time, but by purchasing lives players can keep playing without having to wait.

Pay-to-Win
Some games offer the ability to purchase specific items or power ups to make progress easier. Games can even offer the ability to pay to skip levels for those struggling. Of course, the player can still progress through the game without making a purchase, but it could require significantly more time.

Cosmetic Items
Lots of games allow players to create their own unique character and customize them with in-game items that reflect the player’s personality. While many games include these options, some offer the ability to purchase specific items with in-game or real-world currency. These items – which generally do not influence gameplay and are simply a visual alteration – are often referred to as “cosmetics.”

Expansions
“Expansions” vary in size and cost, but tend to be bigger chunks of new gameplay, mechanics, and/or items that extend the lifespan of a game. These usually cost less than the initial price of the game and can add just a few hours of additional gameplay, or dozens of hours of content depending upon the game.

Season Passes
When you buy a season pass for your favorite football team (in real life) you’re getting seats for every home game of the season. Buying a “season pass” for a game is similar, only instead of a seat, you’re paying for a “season” (which depending upon the game can last for weeks or months) of additional content that will gradually be released over time.

Playable Characters
Some games offer the ability to purchase new playable characters to download after the game’s initial release. Sometimes you can purchase a season pass (see above) to get all of them, while other times you can buy them individually or in “character packs.”

Loot Boxes
“Loot boxes” are like locked treasure chests that contain an array of random virtual items that can be used in the game once unlocked. “Loot box” is a catch-all term that can refer to a number of similar randomized purchases, such as item packs, card packs, prize wheels, treasure chests, etc. Many games may have different branded or in-game names for these concepts, but the core premise is the same. In some games, loot boxes can be earned through gameplay and/or can be purchased using either real money or in-game currency. In most cases, you can’t see the items, characters, weapons, etc. before you make the purchase.

Gacha
“Gacha” mechanics are designed around Japanese “Gachapon”, which are vending machine capsules. Think of it like the machines you may have found in a local arcade or at a movie theater where you put in a quarter, spin a knob, and out pops a little toy. In games it is similar, though the player will “insert” digital currency for items of varying rarity. This could take the form of new playable/usable characters, more in-game currency, power ups, in-game items, etc. These are very similar in design to loot boxes, and the terminology is somewhat interchangeable. In most gacha games players can gain in-game currency through both regular play and/or additional purchases with real money.

How Can I Tell If a Loot Box Will Have an Item that I May Want?

No two loot boxes are the same, and games often implement loot boxes differently depending upon the overall gameplay loop. Some games list which loot boxes guarantee better (rarer) items. Meanwhile, other games may identify the relative rarity of individual items using standard terms (such as Common, Epic, Rare, Legendary), a color code and/or symbols like stars.

Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony along with Apple and Google, all require that game publishers on their respective platforms publicly disclose “drop rates” for loot boxes. Drop rates outline the probability that a player will receive items of an in-game rarity.

Understanding “drop rates,” is simpler than it appears at first blush. The higher the “drop rate” or percentage displayed, the higher the probability that you will get a rare item from a loot box. For example, a drop rate of 25% for an “Epic” item means that the player has a 25% chance of getting an “Epic” item (or better). A drop rate of 100% for a “Rare” item means that you will always get a “Rare” item (or better).

It’s worth remembering that more often than not drop rates do not detail every possible item. They will list the chances for different tiers.

How Can I Manage How Much My Child Can Spend?

If you’re looking for peace of mind, you can take advantage of the parental controls available on virtually every game device to manage in-game spending.

Many devices, including the Xbox Series X|S, and the PlayStation 5, smartphones, and PCs have the ability to set spending limits, which I like to think of as an allowance. Other devices, like the Nintendo Switch, enable you to block purchases entirely, or require parental approval for every purchase. Some popular games, like Fortnite offer special child accounts and/or parental controls in-game to restrict or block spending in only that game.

Make sure you visit ParentalTools.org to find instructions for setting up parental controls.

What Else Do I Need to Know About In-Game Purchases?

Remember that parental controls can help you manage more than just spending. You can also manage which games your kids can play based on the assigned ESRB rating, set play time limits, manage communication with other players, and more.

Before you activate parental controls, we highly recommend that you meet as a whole family to establish some house rules that everyone can follow (that means you too, parents). 92% of parents have some kind of rules around in-game purchases for the young gamers in their household.

Tips on setting household rules, managing online play, protecting your kids’ privacy, and more visit the ESRB Family Gaming Guide.

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Is Final Fantasy XVI Appropriate for Your Kids?

Final Fantasy XVI is rated M for Mature, with Content Descriptors including Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, and Violence. There are no Interactive Elements assigned.

As mentioned, Final Fantasy XVI is the first numbered entry (i.e., mainline game) in the series with an M rating assignment. It’s important to note that there is a wide spectrum within each age rating category, especially as you go up in rating categories. Some kids may be ready for an M-rated game, while others may need more time. As such, it’s a good idea to read the ESRB-assigned Rating Summary, which provides more context around why Final Fantasy XVI received an M rating. For example, the Rating Summary for the game notes that: “Blood-splatter effects frequently occur when characters are slashed and killed. Cutscenes depict additional acts of violence and blood…” as well as; “… some sexual material: a character caressing and straddling a man in bed; references to prostitution—sexual moaning sounds in a brothel,” and more.

It is not unheard of (though it is relatively uncommon) for a game in a long-running series to receive a different Rating Category assignment than previous entries. This is almost always a clear choice made by the developer or publisher from early on in development. Still, it’s another reason to always check the rating and understand what’s in a game before you decide to purchase it for your kids. This even goes for when it’s a new entry in a series your kids are wild about.

If you search for Final Fantasy on ESRB’s Rating Search you will find literally decades of ratings precedent. You’ll notice that there have been two previous Final Fantasy games with M ratings – Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin and Final Fantasy Type-0 HD – both of which are spinoffs and only tangentially related to core entries in the series.

Beyond the above, there are several themes and complex plot-beats that may also pose some difficulty for children of younger ages. This includes themes of inequity, the evils of slavery, weapons of mass destruction, and more. Continue reading for more information about these story-related themes.

Where Can You Play Final Fantasy XVI?

Final Fantasy XVI is available on PlayStation 5.

It is not unheard of (though it is relatively uncommon) for a game in a long-running series to receive a different Rating Category assignment than previous entries

How Much Does Final Fantasy XVI Cost?

Final Fantasy XVI costs $69.99 for the standard version.

There is also a Deluxe Edition for $99.99, which includes a different case and a physical map of the in-game continent, Velisthea. If you and your family are superfans, there is a Collector’s Edition for $349.99 which includes additional physical items, such as a statue, a pin collection, bonus in-game weapons, and more.

 What is Final Fantasy XVI About?

Final Fantasy XVI is a third person (meaning the camera is behind the main character) action role-playing-game (RPG) from publisher Square Enix. Players will step into the boots of Clive Rosfield, an enslaved prince, as he departs on a journey  to solve a mystery core to his character. Throughout the game, your family will join Clive as he traverses the continent of Valisthea.

Valisthea is dotted by mountains of crystal (called Mothercrystals) that allow denizens to take advantage of magick (which is just a fancy way of spelling “magic”). The story uses these crystals to explore themes of inequity. Some denizens of Valisthea have open access to crystals, and therefore magick. This offers the ability for these individuals to create wealth and comfort for themselves by leveraging the power of the crystals. Meanwhile others are left without, which naturally puts them at a stark disadvantage in some respects.

To complicate matters more, some gifted individuals – including Clive – can use magick at will without the need of Mothercrystals. These Valistheans are called “Bearers”. While one may assume that these individuals would be high status, they are often branded with a face tattoo and forced into slavery or indentured servitude to – for lack of a better phrase – save costs for the wealthy. Bearers are often seen as inhuman, but they are in fact, just like everyone else.

In addition to themes of inequity and slavery, Final Fantasy XVI contains allusions to weapons of mass destruction and the concept of mutually assured destruction. Valisthea is home to the Eikons (pronounced “Icons”): The most powerful and potentially destructive creatures in the world. Eikons are under the control of individuals called “Dominants”, who can use the Eikons’ power however they see fit. Each of the six Realms (which are kingdoms or countries) has access to a Dominant, and by extension the power of an Eikon. As the game begins, it’s clear that this balance of power has contributed to a tenuous peace across the six Realms. But this precarious peace is tested as decades of bad blood festers and a mysterious Blight begins appearing across the land.

How Does Final Fantasy XVI Play?

Final Fantasy has typically been known for complex stories and strategic combat. These staples remain in Final Fantasy XVI.

Players are ushered through the story with fast-paced, combo-driven action. Clive has access to a growing repertoire of sword techniques, magicks, Eikon abilities, and more to battle enemies. These various abilities can be combined and chained together for flashy and destructive combos.

Despite the frenetic pace, strategy still plays a core role in combat. Players can decide which abilities to use in any given combat scenario, depending upon the strengths and weaknesses of an enemy. Furthermore, players will have the opportunity to upgrade abilities throughout the story to take on greater challenges and better align Clive with a more personal play style.

Final Fantasy XVI does not have a party system like many previous games in the series. That said, Clive’s journey is not a solitary one. He is joined by his loyal dog, Torgal, who can attack, heal, and combo with Clive. Torgal is a good dog.

Clive is also occasionally accompanied by other non-dog characters. Unlike Torgal, players do not have any direct control over these allies.

Between the fast-paced action of battling, players should expect a good deal of story told via cutscenes (in-game clips that progress a game’s story). Speaking of story, players will also be able to consult the Active Time Lore feature in this new iteration of Final Fantasy. Active Time Lore allows you to pause the game during any cutscene and consult a context-sensitive story glossary.

In addition to lots of story content and flashy combat, players will be free to explore some areas of Valisthea, complete quests, discover rewards, and create a more powerful Clive.

Managing Your Kids’ Video Game Play

You have a lot of options to help you manage your kids’ video game experiences. This often starts with making sure your kids do not play a game that they’re not quite ready for (yet).

Start by checking the ESRB age and content ratings when your children ask for a game. Even if it’s a game with a long history of age-appropriate content you may find that one installment is making a change. If possible, it’s also a great help to grab a controller and preview a game yourself! In the case of Final Fantasy XVI, there’s a demo available now on the PlayStation Store, which will give you an impression of the content of the game and the context in which it’s presented to the player. Of course, this isn’t always an option, so remember that you can always find trailers online that may give you an idea of what the game may offer.

One of the most important steps to managing your kids’ video game experiences is to establish household rules for the whole family. Engage in an open conversation with your kids about what they can play, when and for how long, with whom, whether they can spend money on new games/in-game purchases. Don’t forget to discuss why these rules are important. From there you can nurture an ongoing dialogue with your kids about the video games they’re looking forward to and adjust the rules as they grow. You can visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide for helpful tips highlighting what you may want to discuss.

It’s also helpful to activate parental controls on your kids’ game devices to back up your household rules and gain some additional peace of mind. Parental controls are available for virtually every device on which your kids can play games. Visit ParentalTools.org for step-by-step parental controls guides to help walk you through the process.

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So, how much fun is SUPER NINTENDO WORLD  ? What is the price of admission? And is it appropriate for your Nintendo-loving family? Let’s look at the attractions and find out what SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is all about.

Hang Out with Your Favorite Nintendo Friends

The first thing you’ll notice about SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is that it looks and feels like walking around inside a giant Mario game. Bright colors abound, as well as famous Mario imagery like giant green pipes, moving platforms, and funny animatronics.

Lovable characters like Princess Peach, Luigi and, of course, Mario himself wander around the park, and make special timed appearances. You can take your photo with your favorite characters and talk to them as they share signature moves and catch-phrases (“let’s-a-go!”).

Power-Up Bands, Games, and Activities

No Nintendo experience is complete without the element of play, and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is designed to keep adults and children busy with plenty of games and challenges. In fact, you could say that the park itself is like one big Super Mario level.

Universal Studios Hollywood

One extra that you’ll want to consider for every member of your group is a Power-Up Band. They come in various themes and colors based on Nintendo characters and fit onto your wrist. Each comes with its own QR code which connects to the Universal Studios mobile app, and allows you to play a meta-game, collecting virtual coins from around the park.

When wearing the Power-Up Band, you can tap your wrist against Question Blocks to rack up coins, just like in the Mario video games while hearing the familiar ping-ping noises. Other fun activities in the app include tapping secret buttons that project Mario images and exploring a castle area featuring classic Mario enemies like Piranha Plants and Goombas as well as power-ups like Koopa (Turtle) Shells. You can use your Power-Up Band to interact with mini-games, timing your ‘jumps’ to move characters from one level to the next. Other “challenges” – like the ones featured below – also reward stars to your app.

The Power-Up Band adds up to a fun way to compete with family and friends to see who can gather the most coins. Each Power-Up Band costs $40, on top of the entrance fee, and you can take them home as cool collectibles.

Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge

A giant statue of Bowser greets anyone willing to line-up to play Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge, which is the main ride at SUPER NINTENDO WORLD .

Universal Studios Hollywood

Following a quick tutorial, each player enters their four-person car and puts on a Mario headband with an augmented reality face screen. The ride then drives and skids players through a variety of levels, loosely based on Mario Kart 8 (Everyone), including Rainbow Road and Piranha Plant Slide. Players move their heads to complete steering prompts and to control virtual Koopa Shells that they fire at the opposing team.

Lines can be long for Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge (2 hours is not unusual at peak times) but there’s plenty to look at along the way. Think of it as a journey through Bowser’s factory, with a fun, physical and fast-action game/ride at the end.

Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown

Every theme park has a haunted house, and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is no different. Bowser Jr. Shadow Showdown is a slightly spooky – certainly not scary – indoor area featuring fun games and activities.

It’s worth noting that access to this part of the park requires that you complete three Key Challenges throughout the park. This takes the form of a scavenger hunt of sorts, where you and your family will collect three keys with your Power-Up Bands for the opportunity to recover the stolen golden mushroom and deliver it to princess Peach.

Lines can be long for Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge (2 hours is not unusual at peak times) but there’s plenty to look at along the way.

That adventure will unlock a climactic boss battle with Bowser Jr.: A physical activity game, in which ten players each stand next to one another, inside their own mini-booth. Their shadows are projected onto huge screens.

You have to jump, wave your arms, fake-throw and crouch down to collect on-screen items or avoid enemy attacks. The lines can be daunting (sometimes an hour or more at busy times) but it’s a fun game that all the family can play together.

Mario Merchandise

SUPER NINTENDO WORLD’s merchandise shop is called The 1-UP Factory, and it’s a goldmine of exclusive goodies, including t-shirts, and toys; hoodies, hats, headbands; pins, plushies and pajamas. Prices are in-line with what you would expect from theme park merchandise, with t-shirts in the $25-$35 range, and hoodies around $60.

Dine at The Toadstool Cafe

Universal Studios Hollywood

The Toadstool Cafe is a family friendly restaurant where Chef Toad has concocted colorful dishes and treats like Bowser’s Fireball Challenge – a one pound meatball “topped with mozzarella cheese served with mushroom marinara sauce, Bowser puff pastry, parsley, and hot sauce on the side” ($29.99).

Other items on the menu include Piranha Plant Caprese ($12.99), Mario Burger ($16.99) and a bright pink and very sparkly Princess Peach Cupcake ($9.99).

The food is designed to entertain and amuse – diners love to share photos of their crazy themed meals. Décor is very Nintendo, with lots of screens showing Mushroom Kingdom scenes to keep the kids (and probably you!) happy.

Is SUPER NINTENDO WORLD a Good Fit for You and Your Family?

If your family loves theme parks and Nintendo, and is visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, then you’re likely to get a good day’s worth of fun and happy memories out of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. There are tons of things to do, and the place is heaving with Nintendo charm. It’s worth noting that some of the games and attractions require some physical effort – so that’s something to keep in mind as you plan your day.

The ticket price is included in the price of entrance to Universal Studios Hollywood, which starts at around $109 per person online for a 1-day general admission ticket. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is a relatively small area, so you might need to virtually book a timed entry (via the app) once you’re in the main park. If you’d prefer, there’s also an option to get a ticket upgrade for $20 per head for an early access pass to SUPER NINTENDO WORLD . Note that ticket prices do occasionally change depending on the time of year, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on it. The $40 cost of each Power-Up Band  is optional, but they do add a layer of gamification to the experience that many kids may find delightful. And remember – you can use the same Power-Up Band for your next visit!

All-in-all, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD is like stepping into World 1-1 with your family and enjoying some classic Nintendo play.

Colin Campbell is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Economist, The Guardian, Polygon, IGN, Gamesindustry.biz and more.

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If you’re at all familiar with video games you’ve almost definitely heard about Fortnite, especially if you have kids. From game consoles and computers to smartphones and tablets, Fortnite’s fun gameplay and accessibility quickly cemented its popularity among gamers of all ages. Over the years Fortnite has continued to evolve, becoming a fully cultural phenomenon incorporating popular brands, celebrities, film screenings, concerts, fashion shows and more. As a parent, you may be wondering what you need to know about Fortnite, particularly if it’s suitable for your children.  The following should help answer that question.

What is Fortnite?

Fortnite is rated T for Teen with a Content Descriptor for Violence and Interactive Elements including Users Interact and In-Game Purchases.  The depictions of guns and violence in Fortnite are cartoon-like and there’s no blood or gore. The game comes across as whimsical and even absurd at times.

Although Fortnite can be enjoyed alone or just with friends in its Save the World mode, the real draw for most Fortnite players is its online multiplayer Battle Royale modes. In each match, 100 players are dropped into a map with the sole mission of being the last player standing. Most competitions last approximately 20 minutes, but because it’s a free-for-all, player experiences can be as short as a few seconds. Gamers take out other players by gathering items, including guns and other weapons. Some modes allow players to defend themselves by building complex structures on the fly, but there is also a “Zero Build” mode which has gained popularity since its introduction in March 2022. The last player standing wins the coveted “Victory Royale.”

Creative mode lets players design their own Fortnite games and experiences that they can share with friends and others online. Recently, Epic revealed the Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN). These tools allow players to design, develop, and publish more professional looking games and experiences directly into Fortnite. In short, UEFN enables players to use some of the same tools Epic uses to develop Fortnite to create and share their own Islands (empty maps on which players and creators can make their own personalized experiences), stories, and more.

Partnerships and collaborations – like an in-game battle with Marvel villain Galactus – bring in players from different “fandoms,” after which they often stick around to see what the game offers next. Fortnite’s strategy, depth, and story-like flow to each “season” make it compelling. Meanwhile, its exuberant schoolyard simplicity makes it easy for players of all ages to pick up and enjoy, regardless of a player’s skill.

How to Mitigate Risks in Fortnite

It’s important to note that if your kids go to Islands built with Fortnite Creative or UEFN, they will have access to other people’s creations in Fortnite. The good news is, through a combination of automated tools and human review, Epic currently examines all player-created content prior to its release to ensure that it is appropriate for Fortnite’s audience and abides by their content rules.

With so many playing the game, your child could encounter players who may not set the greatest examples in terms of sportsmanship. This presents a good opportunity to talk with your child about online safety, what kind of behavior is appropriate, and what’s over the line. And remember, if another player ever makes your kids feel uncomfortable you can always mute, block, or report the offender.  Moreover, Fortnite has its own robust parental controls and even default settings to ensure that your child has a positive experience.

What Are Cabined Accounts?

Epic launched Cabined Accounts in late 2022, a new type of Epic account that provides a tailored experience designed to help ensure that experiences are appropriate for younger players.

Should your kids be under 13 their account will automatically be classified as a Cabined Account and require you to approve your child’s access to certain in-game features. (This is a reminder about why it’s so vitally important that your kids always enter their accurate age when signing up for a product or service!) Once your child receives parental consent, they will no longer have a Cabined Account and their experience will respect your preferred Parental Control settings.

When your kids register for Fortnite, they will be asked for a parent’s email address. Epic will then send an email to you letting you know about your child’s Epic account and provide you with the opportunity to provide permission to access certain features and set up parental controls that:

• Manage the games your kids can get in the Epic Games Store based on ESRB ratings;
• Limit online chat (voice and/or text) to Everybody, Friends and Teammates, Friends Only, or Nobody;
• Block or limit spending on in-game purchases using Epic Games payment; and
• Set up parental controls that allow you to manage who your child is able to send or accept Epic friend requests from;
• Track the amount of time your kids spend playing Fortnite every week.

Where Can You Play Fortnite?

The game is available for download on multiple gaming platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and the Epic Games Store. For Android users, it’s also available in the Samsung Galaxy Store on Samsung Galaxy devices, or from the Epic Games App on all other Android devices. As of this writing, the mobile version of the game is no longer available for download in either the Apple App Store or Google Play but can be played if the game was previously installed on an iOS or Android device. Fortnite is also playable via cloud streaming on Amazon Luna, GeForce Now, and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Notably, Fortnite allows players on one device to play with friends and other players using a different one. This is referred to as “cross-platform” playability, a feature that not every game has but greatly expands the pool of online players.

How Much Does Fortnite Cost?

Anyone can access and play Fortnite for free. However, the game offers purchases with its own in-game currency called V-Bucks (1000 V-Bucks costs $7.99). Players can use V-Bucks to buy in-game items like cosmetics to customize their experience. They can also buy a Battle Pass using 950 V-Bucks, adding an extra layer of unlockable gadgets and bonuses for each gameplay “season,” which typically lasts for about 10 weeks. A Fortnite Crew subscription of $11.99 a month will get players a monthly bonus of 1,000 V-Bucks, the most recent Battle Pass and exclusive outfits.

For the record, buying V-Bucks is not required to enjoy Fortnite, as they don’t provide any competitive advantage. Players are not penalized for sticking with the free option. On top of that, players can also earn V-Bucks by completing in-game tasks, making additional purchases entirely optional.

While Battle Royale and Creative modes are free-to-play, Save the World needs to be purchased for access. The price has fluctuated over time between $15.99 and $39.99 depending on the platform.

For the record, buying V-Bucks is not required to enjoy Fortnite.

Keep in mind that some of these costs are subject to change, so it’s helpful to double check before making a purchase.

Additional Tips for Parents

While Cabined Accounts and parental controls offer parents many great choices, there are more steps you can take to ensure that your kids have appropriate video game experiences.

We always say that the best first step is to call a family meeting and establish some household rules around video game play. By first discussing the situation you’re setting a precedent for an open-ended, judgment-free conversation about video games. You’re also letting them know that, while you respect their love of playing games, there are parameters that the whole family (even you!) need to respect.

To back this up, you can also set platform-level parental controls. All video game platforms (including consoles, smartphones, and computers) also include parental controls, which you can activate to manage what games your kids play, with whom, when/for how long, and whether they can spend money on in-game purchases and/or new games. Some devices even let you set spending limits or allot time parameters for every day of the week. Both iOS and Android mobile devices also offer effective tools for parents, like Apple’s Screen Time and Google’s Family Link. ESRB offers step-by-step parental controls guides at ParentalTools.org.

Visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide for more information on household rules, parental controls, online safety tips, and more.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

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Find out everything you need to know to decide if Tears of the Kingdom is appropriate for your family.

Is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Appropriate for Kids?

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is rated E10+ (Everyone 10+), with Content Descriptors for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes. Tears of the Kingdom does not have any Interactive Elements assigned, meaning players do not have the ability to interact online or make in-game purchases.

According to the ESRB Rating Summary, “Players use swords, hammers, bows, and explosives to attack enemies that generally disappear amid smoke puffs and/or collectible items. Stylized battles are sometimes frenetic, accompanied by impact sounds, cries of pain, and brief explosions.”

The Rating Summary also cites that some characters “wear revealing outfits.”

Where Can I Play The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is available on the Nintendo Switch.

How Much Does The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Cost?

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom costs $69.99 for the standard edition. If you’re interested (and can find one) there is also a Collector’s Edition, which includes some additional goodies for $129.99.

What is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the newest installment in the long-running series from Nintendo. The first game – The Legend of Zelda (Everyone) – was released in 1986 and created a template for action-adventure games that continues to influence game design to this day. With approximately 20 mainline Zelda games (not including spinoffs), the overarching story of the Zelda series is complicated. Between alternate dimensions, reincarnation, resurrection, time travel, and at least three separate timelines, it’s hard to keep the chronological events of Hyrule straight. Not to mention the fact that Nintendo is notoriously tight-lipped about the official timeline! That said, most of the mainline games in the series follow some thematically consistent underpinnings:

• There’s always at least one Link, and there’s (almost) always a Zelda. Most of the time these are various reincarnations of Link and Zelda, but there are a few direct sequels.
• There’s always an insurmountable evil. This often takes the form of the Demon King Ganon and/or his human form Ganondorf. He’s mean and scary and powerful; we don’t like him. Sometimes there are other evil big bad guys that want to resurrect Ganon. Other times there are big bad guys that are independent evil contractors and have nothing to do with Ganon.
• Link needs to traverse the world to collect powerful weapons and/or artifacts to defeat Ganon/Ganondorf/big bad guy to save the world!
• I’ve always thought of Zelda games as puzzle boxes. Be it in one of the series’ dungeons (which are large, themed environments often designed around a specific ability or item) or out in the open world – players can gradually unfold more and more of the environment by solving spatial puzzles of increasing difficulty.

Tears of the Kingdom is one of the few direct sequels in the series and picks up with the same Link and Zelda we saw in 2017’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (E10+). Breath of the Wild featured the first open-world environment in the Zelda series, allowing players to explore a seamless, open-ended Hyrule. Tears of the Kingdom looks to up the ante by changing up Hyrule’s environment, adding mysterious floating islands to explore, and introducing new abilities.

How Does The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Play?

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a single-player, open-world, action/adventure game. Players will join Link in a combination of puzzle solving, monster fighting, and exploration, as he looks for Zelda and tries to defeat the resurrected Ganondorf. Tears of the Kingdom adds to the vast landscape of Hyrule with the addition of floating islands – aptly named Sky Islands – and new abilities to interact with the world.

One such ability is called Recall, which allows Link to essentially reverse the flow of time on a specific piece of the environment. For example, if a boulder falls from one of the world’s Sky Islands, Link can climb onto said boulder and use Recall on it to fly into the sky to more easily reach one of the mysterious floating masses. Link can also use this ability to gain the upper hand in combat. An enemy may launch a boulder at Link, but with Recall he can target said boulder and reverse its movement to instead bonk the enemy.

Tears of the Kingdom will allow the player to solve puzzles creatively using the Fuse ability. The player can fuse items found in the environment to create new and enhanced gear. Say you’re stuck fighting enemies with a frail branch… the thing is going to break after a couple of hits, leaving you high-and-dry. Using the fuse ability Link can combine that branch with a boulder to create a durable hammer to bonk enemies. This can be done with all manner of items and weapons, from swords and shields, to plants and monster parts.

Similarly, players can use the Ultrahand ability to create complex machines – like chariots, boats, flying machines, and more – that allow Link to traverse Hyrule with speed and pizzaz. Much of the traversal in the game is dependent upon a stamina meter. If Link is climbing a mountain and runs out of stamina he’ll fall to his doom. But using the Ultrahand ability Link can combine some logs, fans, and a balloon to reach the top of the mountain in safety.

Players will also battle various baddies using swords, axes, shields, fragile twigs, and more.

Link can also use the Ascend ability to… ascend! The catch is that Link can only Ascend through ceilings. Players can quickly navigate caves, buildings, and traps using this ability.

The extent of these mechanics is still unknown, but it’s clear that experimentation and imaginative problem solving will play a huge role in Tears of the Kingdom.

Players will also battle various baddies using swords, axes, shields, fragile twigs, and more. Players will help Link assess enemies, strategize, dodge, block, and attack to overcome a variety of classic (and new) Zelda enemies. Look forward to battling Bokoblins, to Moblins, to the fierce Lynel, and more! Seriously… watch out for those Lynels… save your game.

While much of the game is still a mystery, it’s clear that Link will need to find Zelda and join forces to save Hyrule again!

Be the Hero of Your Kids’ Video Game Play!

The best way to know what your kids are playing is to stay involved, whether they’re exploring Hyrule alone or jumping into another game with friends. As we all know, parents are the heroes of their homes, so it’s time to travel the Kingdom of Your Domicile on a quest to make sure your kids are having appropriate video game experiences.

A great first step is to visit ESRB Land to check the assigned rating information for a game before you decide to buy or download for your kids. There, you’ll find everything you need to know about the content in a game and (thanks to Rating Summaries) the context in which it’s presented to the player.

ESRB’s annual parent surveys reveal that many parents and caregivers also playing the game, watching gameplay online, and talking to other parents are very helpful in the decision making process. You may even want to pick up a controller yourself! Once you engage with video games, it will be that much easier to nurture an ongoing, judgement-free conversation with your kids about why they love them.

Tears of the Kingdom adds to the vast landscape of Hyrule with the addition of floating islands – aptly named Sky Islands – and new abilities to interact with the world.

Next on your quest is a trek along Household Rules Road. And by this, I mean it’s really helpful to set household rules for the whole family. Establishing rules around what your kids can play, when and for how long, with whom, and whether they can spend money on new games or in-game purchases can help everyone stay on the task and avoid speed bumps on your journey. Remember, some of these rules may even apply to you, like appreciating the rhythm and timing of a quest or match!

But everyone makes mistakes, so it’s helpful to equip your family with the Legendary Parental Controls. Virtually all video game devices – including consoles, PCs, smartphones, and some games themselves – offer parental controls to back up your household rules. We even have step-by-step guides to help you navigate activating these settings at ParentalTools.org.

While you’re there, you can visit the Family Gaming Guide for ancient wisdom on topics from managing screen time to keeping multiplayer experiences appropriate.

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