World of Warcraft

[Nayan]

WoW player here. I would not allow a 9 y/o to play but I've seen plenty who do and have to ask why they're playing without parental supervision. Trade chat can get quite rough, even with filters and I've been in guilds with young kids talking about things young kids shouldn't really be talking about. Even though the box may say Teen when you buy it, once online it can go from G to XXX quickly. I don't allow my 15 y/o to 'play' but I will allow him to farm, fish and mine for me but I am sitting right next to him as he does so and I turn off all chat when he does.

People are surprised that you have to pay a monthly fee to play ($15/month), but to my DH and I it's worth it. I've played other online games (DDO, LotRO, Conan, Warhammer) but out of all those I enjoy WoW the most.

For The Horde!!

 

[crisi]

I also play online games in moderation. I've played WoW - but my "game" is City of Heroes. (Which is a much cooler game )

My kids played them young. WoW has very little graphic violence - its fantasy violence - not nearly Call of Duty level of realism. However, they are a little difficult for most nine year olds to manage. Some servers have rougher chat channels than others - I played several hours a week for about nine months and never saw any chat I wouldn't want my kids to see though. But you can turn off the trade chat channel. Most people I know who play turn off trade chat.

You can go out to Blizzard and get 30 days free. Set up an account and see if you approve. You won't need the expansions starting out. Then do the same for him if it passes your household muster. Honestly, most nine year olds are going to get frustrated by it.

 

[pigletto]

DH & I both play, but I wouldn't recommend it for a 9yo in a non-gaming family. We let our older kids (13 & 9) play with supervision, but neither really has the maturity or desire to get far enough into the game for it to be really enjoyable and I certainly wouldn't pay the subscription fee just for the goofing around they do.

BTW, it is possible to play in moderation and the game has never been an issue between DH & I. As far as mutual hobbies for parents go it is pretty ideal - we log in after the kids go to bed and run around in game together, and we're both part of our guild's raid progression group. Most everything else we both enjoy would require a babysitter, and it is nice to have something we like and can do at home together while the kids sleep.

I'm going to second Colleen's opinion here. Just like everyone who ever has a drink will not become alcoholic, not everyone who plays an online game will become an addict. However I would not recommend it for a nine year old.

My husband played, and enjoyed it a lot. However, we have work/school/kids and all that comes with it. Initially he only ever played after the kids went to bed. But the higher in level he got, the more time he felt he needed to devote to the game to make it worthwhile so he made his own choice to quit playing.
It didn't work in our family because of time constraints. There's nothing terrible about the game itself.. it's really up to the person playing to set their own limits. And many people do just fine.
Again to answer the OP.. I would say no for a nine year old. Especially in a non gaming family.

 

[momto2inKC]

I also play online games in moderation. I've played WoW - but my "game" is City of Heroes. (Which is a much cooler game )

We are also a COH family Such a great game! My kids have both played WOW, but neither really got into it. My daughter mainly played to 'socialize' with her friends, making fun toons, etc... My son tried it but prefers COD, COH, and such.

 

[mandypandy818]

I'm going to second Colleen's opinion here. Just like everyone who ever has a drink will not become alcoholic, not everyone who plays an online game will become an addict. However I would not recommend it for a nine year old.

My husband played, and enjoyed it a lot. However, we have work/school/kids and all that comes with it. Initially he only ever played after the kids went to bed. But the higher in level he got, the more time he felt he needed to devote to the game to make it worthwhile so he made his own choice to quit playing.
It didn't work in our family because of time constraints. There's nothing terrible about the game itself.. it's really up to the person playing to set their own limits. And many people do just fine.
Again to answer the OP.. I would say no for a nine year old. Especially in a non gaming family.

I couldn't agree more. It's not the game itself that causes addiction, but the personality of the person who plays and the choices they make. My husband and I have played this since right after launch and it has been great and inexpensive entertainment. Much cheaper than cable, constantly going to movies, etc. We also met some really awesome people online who we meet/talk to on a regular basis. It's a great game and you can play by yourself or with others to the extent you choose to. There are so many different types of people who play and so many different playstyles. This is one of the things that make it great and one of the reasons it has lasted so long. Having said all of that, I wouldn't let a 9 yr old play by himself. When I say by himself, I mean with no parent around in game. I wouldn't hesitate to let my kids play if I was there playing with them at all times and use it as a quality/bonding time. However, if the parents are not into the game and it is a child left to play by himself or with friends, then no way would I allow it.

 

[Dax]

Another WoW player here...both DH and I play...I also would NOT allow a 9yo to play it without supervision.

Any other WoW players who are looking to talk game, we have an active thread going on at the Community Board...please feel free to join in anytime.

 

[MinnieForMe]

Tell your son, he isn't the only one not allowed Call of Duty and Halo! My 9 year old tells me on a daily basis that he's the only one so I'm showing him your post. LOL!

 

[JB2K]

Games like WoW, Call of Duty, and Halo are rated "M" for a reason...

If you're in doubt, always check the rating on the package, and you won't go wrong (as while asking for advice on a forum is nice, let's face it, your parenting techniques may be different from mine, or anyone else on this board).

 

[JamesMom]

My husband and I share an account and have played for about 5 years. I have no problem when my son (who is 8 now) playing it. He hasn't asked... yet.
The violence is cartoon - no blood and guts - and there is a filter for adult language in chat. It can be addicting, but so can any sort of recreation. So, if an when, my son shows an interest, I would limit play to 1-2 hours a day and NO RAIDING. That is where the real time is sucked up where groups of 10-50 or more players play long, drawn out battles that can last hours (if not days).
Questing (doing simple tasks like kill 10 of these enemies or find so-so somewhere) and leveling (as your character gains experience from questing, their level advances with more power to fight stronger enemies), and most dungeons (groups of 5-10 fighting in a closed area mostly for good equipement and last from 15 minutes to a couple of hours depending on players skill & the instance) isn't too consuming and is fun on its own. When you find yourself running the same raid for the 10th time to get this one rare epic drop - then you have a problem
And if his guild has a website - quit the guild. A guild is like a club a character can join for friendship, help and other benefits. Some guilds are hard core and expect a lot of their members in terms of time mostly because of raiding.
My hubby & I by the way are causal players. We have several maxed out characters with decent gear (I like battlegrounds (player versus player instead of just player versus environment like questing & dungeons) ), but we have yet to enter a raid because we have lives, lol.
WoW for our family is well worth the $15 investment as we share an account that can have up to 50 characters. That's a lot of playtime
BTW - our son will probably be in late middle school or high school before playing Halo or any "shooter" game. Why? Because the point is to kill people and the realistic gore. WoW doesn't impact the same way - nor is that intense, says my husband who has to decompress after a session with his co-workers on Battlefield or game like it.

 

[bdcp]

They can be played in moderation, but not by everyone. As I said previously my DS(24) plays. But he is also an IT tech and does 3D modeling work. He has a technical interest in the game as well as playing with real life friends. He doesn't live with us anymore, but I do know he only spends an hour or two a day playing (and not everyday) because he has a full-time job, commutes an hour plus each way and has other interests. He never did play more than that.

 

[crisi]

Games like WoW, Call of Duty, and Halo are rated "M" for a reason...

If you're in doubt, always check the rating on the package, and you won't go wrong (as while asking for advice on a forum is nice, let's face it, your parenting techniques may be different from mine, or anyone else on this board).

WoW is a Teen rated game. Not an Mature rated game. "Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence"

M games usually ramp it up to "intense violence."