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World of Warcraft

(2004, Video Games - Role Playing Games, Rated T, Play it on: Mac/Windows, Windows)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 15.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Become a hero in an enormous online fantasy world.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–17

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Not an issue.
  • Messages:

    Teamwork is a necessity to be successful.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    A fair amount of fighting, although there may be long periods of time between battles. Some attacks can cause blood to gush from enemies.
  • Sex:

    Some slight sexual innuendoes and scantily clad female characters.
  • Language:

    You may find a very occasional "damn."
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Alcohol is relatively common in the world of Azeroth, with characters having the ability to purchase and consume it -- to the point of getting drunk.
 

What Parents Need to Know

This review of World of Warcraft was written by Jeremy Gieske

Parents need to know that this game is incredibly fun to play and spectacular in terms of its beauty and creativity, but it requires adult involvement to be a positive and safe experience for teens. There is violence, some of it bloody, references to alcohol, and occasionally subtle sexual innuendo. Most importantly, parents need to know that this game is conducted online and may involve chatting with unknown players. Also, parents should set time limits for gameplay: With endless exploration and no clearly defined levels, it is easy to get hooked.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about how this game can be addictive and that guidelines will probably be necessary. Parents should check in regularly with their kids by asking: Who are you playing with? What have others said to you? Is there anything that has made you uncomfortable? Parents might also want to ask what their kids like about this game.
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More on World of Warcraft

What’s the Story?

The plot of WORLD OF WARCRAFT (WoW) is more of a series of mini-stories than one overarching tale, but there is a common storyline that runs throughout the game. The world of Azeroth is divided into two factions: "The Alliance," consisting of humans, night-elves, dwarves and gnomes, and "The Horde," consisting of orcs, tauren, trolls and the undead. A very fragile peace exists between these two factions, and it is not uncommon for battles to break out. Much of the game involves a more micro-story approach, with players working on small individual quests, which may or may not be related to the overall plot; the player's primary concern is to develop his character's skills, abilities and fighting talent as quickly and as efficiently as possible. Close

Is It Any Good?

There may be times that players will practically forget about the gameplay and simply gawk at the spectacular world Blizzard has created. From natural beauty to unique and wondrous cities, WoW offers an amazing fictitious world. With all of the exploration available, players will begin to realize that the game is essentially "unconquerable." There is practically an endless amount of quests to conquer, magical items to find, and new enemies to defeat.

WoW is an incredible game: Well-written quests, beautiful scenery and a staggeringly large world to explore make it a ton of fun to play. Nevertheless, it requires adult involvement to be a good and safe experience for teen players. Violence, references to alcohol use, and the unpredictability of an online environment are all good reasons for parents to regularly check in as their older kids play. However, managed properly, the experience may prove to be a rewarding adventure for all involved.

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Publisher’s Details

Released on 11/22/2004, price $49.99, not online enabled
ESRB rating: T

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See all 93 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    lkl

    yrrt

  2. I rate this title off for age 15 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    16 and up only

    Ive played WoW for quite some time and quite frankly anyone under the age of 16 should not be allowed to play this game. The chat can be provocative, drug related, and just plain inappropriate at time and unless you are sitting over your kids shoulder watching their every move you cant keep track of them. and who they are talking to,. Be very careful

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title off for age 10 and give it 1.0

    Money sucking

    WOW is not that actully that good. It rip's money out of your pocket and it is a very limited amount of stuff you can do. I could list 10 better free games.

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title off for age 10 and give it 1.0

    Money sucking

    WOW is not that actully that good. It rip's money out of your pocket and it is a very limited amount of stuff you can do. I could list 10 better free games.

  5. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0

    I love the game and my kids enjoy it, they prefer creating characters and then playing a little and then deleting them and starting again, a little like big girls Barbie. They don't interact with other players at all and they /ignore anyone who talks to them. They do enjoy the low level questing and really have learned a huge amount about map reading and co-ordinates

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