Non-Disney Online Games Virtual Family Kingdom Thread

[disvaclub92]

In my role as a parent, I control my kids usage of the internet and we do activities together on the net. But in some instance, we know that not every child has a parent watching over them on the net.

As far as VMK is concerned, "Beta" and probably a good year and a half or so into the reporting system worked as it should. The system worked as a result of having the original baseline of Community Leaders were there (the ones that actually served the role not abuse the title just to become popular) they were in contact with Staff to mitigate these problems. So don't say the 3 years were bad, they were not. As scamming grew, the false alarm reports grew, some individuals abusing the role of Community Leaders that is what lead the reporting to not work as originally intended.

This should have never been opened to such a high volume of traffic until this was under control. Very scary, I feel for so many kids who don't have the parental guidance while surfing the net. A host stating they are working on it, does not hold any weight, imo. Should have been the first thing created as well as a secure logon.

 

[SharkMeal]

Aloha is here, but that's not Hula. Hula is not on VFK.

Is it verified it is them indeed?

We were questioning that earlier and Aengus said that it was indeed them,
he had no proof but we'd have to take his word for it.

 

[Goofy05]

I agree. Instead of closing altogether, they could just take out the chat option until they properly filter it and create a dictionary of allowed words, just like vmk.

Yes, even that is better than allowing this to continue. Please message them.

I completely agree and will be writing to them today.

Awesome! I already have.

In my role as a parent, I control my kids usage of the internet and we do activities together on the net. But in some instance, we know that not every child has a parent watching over them on the net.

As far as VMK is concerned, "Beta" and probably a good year and a half or so into the reporting system worked as it should. The system worked as a result of having the original baseline of Community Leaders were there (the ones that actually served the role not abuse the title just to become popular) they were in contact with Staff to mitigate these problems. So don't say the 3 years were bad, they were not. As scamming grew, the false alarm reports grew, some individuals abusing the role of Community Leaders that is what lead the reporting to not work as originally intended.

This should have never been opened to such a high volume of traffic until this was under control. Very scary, I feel for so many kids who don't have the parental guidance while surfing the net. A host stating they are working on it, does not hold any weight, imo. Should have been the first thing created as well as a secure logon.

Glad you brought that up, Dis. The unsecured registration/logon is a concern, as well.

 

[cyre]

Anyone i've been talking to today from here, I'm sorry if i just leave you, i either get stuck or can't talk. And my friend list keeps getting dumped every time i restart

 

[poohluv2u]

I would like to clear up 2 misconceptions i noticed, both a positive and a negative

1. the hosts/vmks that are there claiming to be ex vmk employees are indeed them. Sorry I can't offer proof, I can only give you my word ...

How do we know this is the real Aengus ... maybe it's just some guy pretending to be a Dis Moderator ...

 

[Dashzap]

Perhaps they have already disabled chat. It was working for me this morning, but now I'm alone again. My friends list is also wiped.

 

[sm4987]

Anyone i've been talking to today from here, I'm sorry if i just leave you, i either get stuck or can't talk. And my friend list keeps getting dumped every time i restart

Cyre, you're still showing up on my list, however everyone that I met and added yesterday are gone. I'm holding onto my list so far today

 

[IliketheTitanic]

Well heres a positive thing about VFK. I was in a room with VFK_Harmony and she was actually taking down our ideas for lands, items and guest rooms, she actually started asking us what we wanted to see and she took down notes on what everyones ideas where. I aprreciate this alot, thanks VFK

 

[redshoe]

Redshoe? As a parent, you are keeping ONE child safe. Do you know how many children are trusting COMPLETE strangers on VFK? Guest# blah, blah, blah means nothing. Anyone can be anyone they wish. The filtering is mediocre, at best. No way to report anyone in-game or without, it seems. Yet you are their biggest advocate for giving them a chance.

That's true. I am keeping one child safe. The vast majority of other children have parents whose responsibility it is to keep them safe, and yes, I do know how many children are trusting complete strangers. It's sad, but I can't realistically do every other parents' job for them. I can only do my own. And while I'm advocating giving them a chance, I'm also advocating the vigilance of individual parents. If every parent WAS that vigilant, it's very possible that a moderation system would be far less necessary. Dateline stories about internet predators aside, most of the problem immediately at hand (the dictionary-dance cursing, etc.) is actually being caused by kids whose parents aren't watching them.

The 'ignore' reply was to let you know that your report was received and a suggestion of what you could do to avoid the offending person while it was being taken care of. We didn't see it happen, but things were handled correctly behind the scenes.

So we're supposed to give VMK the benefit of the doubt that things were going on behind the scenes even though we didn't see any outward sign of it, but not VFK? I'm sorry, but I think that's a double standard. We don't fully know what either of them has done or is doing right now. I know that I didn't like what I saw in VMK, and I know that VFK is far from being a place where I want my son to be at the moment. I am willing to give them a chance to make it work, and in the meantime, the only way my son will be on is if I am looking RIGHT over his shoulder at the monitor.

Everyone is talking about VFK claiming to be a "family site," like that abdicates the responsibility of parents for the safety of children and places it entirely on VFK. It doesn't. On the contrary, it encourages parents to participate WITH children, as a family. I'm not going to let my son run loose somewhere just because some place claims to be "family-oriented." Parks are family sites, but do I let my son play in them unsupervised? Nope. Public pools are family sites with "moderators," a.k.a. lifeguards. Do I let my child go to a public pool unattended, expecting that the lifeguards will take on the sole responsibility of keeping him safe? Absolutely not. But do I scream about the fact that the city I live in, who owns the parks and the pools, are failing in their duty because I can't turn my son entirely over to them expecting his complete safety and well-being? I do not. His safety is my job, and rather than throwing the baby out with the bathwater, I make sure that *I* keep him safe when participating in these venues, limiting what he is allowed to do if necessary.

I still have to wonder if everyone who is so critical about VFK this thoroughly questions and checks out things like the doctor who is prescribing medications to their children, or the pharmacist who ispreparing said medications, or the teacher who is with their child all day long for nine months out of the year. I seriously doubt it, and I'm getting a little bit tired of all of the alarmism and suspicion, so having said my piece I don't think I'm going to be checking this particular thread anymore. It's starting to annoy me more than I should let it.

 

[TinkPinkPoem]

Everyone is talking about VFK claiming to be a "family site," like that abdicates the responsibility of parents for the safety of children and places it entirely on VFK. It doesn't. On the contrary, it encourages parents to participate WITH children, as a family. I'm not going to let my son run loose somewhere just because some place claims to be "family-oriented." Parks are family sites, but do I let my son play in them unsupervised? Nope. Public pools are family sites with "moderators," a.k.a. lifeguards. Do I let my child go to a public pool unattended, expecting that the lifeguards will take on the sole responsibility of keeping him safe? Absolutely not. But do I scream about the fact that the city I live in, who owns the parks and the pools, are failing in their duty because I can't turn my son entirely over to them expecting his complete safety and well-being? I do not. His safety is my job, and rather than throwing the baby out with the bathwater, I make sure that *I* keep him safe when participating in these venues, limiting what he is allowed to do if necessary.

That is absolutely true, but they ought to keep their word and make sure that the game is a safe place. A parent can't be ever-present in such situation as an online game, but the developers are obliged to have alert moderators around the clock in the game.

 

[Mamacita]

I have concerns and I'm voicing them. Not sure why differing opinions are annoying. Done posting here though, it seems I'm in the minority and I can live with that. Doesn't change how I feel.
Mamacita

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

Just popping in to say "Hi" and to reiterate my intention of waiting before I make a decision for DD and me about joining VFK.

The lack of moderation and apparently open dictionary are really disturbing. I hope this will be remedied soon -- for everyone's benefit.

I also know that I relied on VMK to provide a way for me to wind-down from my stressful job and real life. At this time, I don't think the problems of this alpha test period would be conducive to reducing my stress level!

I'm reading this thread each day, enjoying the tales of funny experiences in between the concerns.

Continued good luck to those of you who are in the trenches, fighting your way through the growing pains of this new game!

To other concerned parents and players -- please remember that you and your child will survive another month or two if you wait until this game has matured enough to be safe.

 

[Belle1997]

This "family" game shouldn't even be open without a proper way to moderate it. "We are working on it" isn't enough in my opinion.
I find it very disturbing that they are risking the safety of our children just to ride on the coattails of VMK closing.

I agree too. By now that should be their number one concern not friends list or titles making sure the site is safe. When you really could not talk it was not a great issue but now that chat is working better.

I am really behind this site but for safety reason shut it down for now. Until you have worked out this issue. We have seen they really want to to this site. The safety of the kids comes first to me.

 

[MPhins13]

I was reading the Terms of Use and Conditions because someone said we have to pay for this game. I was wondering if we will Because I thought it was going to be free

REGISTRATION AND SUBSCRIPTION: Registration as a Member of the Service for free. This service includes the chat and instant messaging features in the VitualFamilyKingdom.com environment. There are enhanced Services which are available which require confirmation of age and identity and this requires that you become a subscriber and pay any related fees. This price list is part of this Agreement And We reserve the right, at any time, to change any fees or charges for using the Service. To become a Member, You must register for the Service. When and if You register to become a Member, You agree to provide accurate, current and complete information about Yourself as prompted by Our registration form ("Registration Data"), and to maintain and update Your information to keep it accurate, current and complete. You agree that We may rely on Your Registration Data as accurate, current and complete. You acknowledge that if Your Registration Data is untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete in any respect, We reserve the right to terminate this Agreement and Your use of the Service and, in such event, You shall not be entitled to a refund of any unused subscription fees

 

[aengus]

I want to just make another host vmk statement, as I saw some confusion in goofywatercoaster's post.

Hula and Lily are not there, there was some confusion that Aloha was Hula, it is not.

Any VFK you have seen with the same title as in VMK is really them, Phinley being the exception, is indeed also Host Fin.

 

[wenyeva]

I was reading the Terms of Use and Conditions because someone said we have to pay for this game. I was wondering if we will Because I thought it was going to be free

My guess is that the basic game will be free but there will be higher levels of service that one can pay for. This is just a guess, though. I don't have any inside knowledge.

But, theoretically, they could have certain rooms be purchasable, or some spells or items. I am all for this as long as the game is still enjoyable and playable for those who do not pay. Any income stream is good to keep the thing running. If VMK had an income stream we might still be enjoying it today.

I would have gladly paid for a Quest Kiosk, after I lost my first character and all of my stuff, including the Kiosk... and I would have paid extra for after hours access to VMK.

Anyway, they do promise the game will be free, but I don't think that requires them to never charge for anything. And they say they have a solid business model, so...

 

[GoofyWaterCoaster]

I want to just make another host vmk statement, as I saw some confusion in goofywatercoaster's post.

Hula and Lily are not there, there was some confusion that Aloha was Hula, it is not.

Any VFK you have seen with the same title as in VMK is really them, Phinley being the exception, is indeed also Host Fin.

I am sorry, I will edit my picture

 

[GoofyWaterCoaster]

My whole friends list just went away!

 

[disfanalicia]

We have a help button!

 

[GoofyWaterCoaster]

We have a help button!

Woot!

I'm alone again...