Nanovor (Windows)
common sense media says
Online battle game is free to play but costs to upgrade.
parents & educators say
- 75% say violence is an issue
- 50% say safety or privacy is an issue
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this turn-based combat game is free-to-play online but will later release expansion packs that will cost $1.75 each. Also driving traffic to this game is a regular Friday web-cartoon, a comic book, and a handheld toy which will be available in Fall 2009. The game alludes to evolutionary theory where Nanovor are nanoscopic creatures hundreds of times smaller than dust-mites. They are silicon-based creatures that live in high temperatures, electricity is their life force, and they live to fight, so there is some violence in the game. However, kids direct the battles between the Nanover, but don't actually inflict the damage. Defeated Nanover dissolve into dust.
Educational value:
Players have to use logic to solve parts of the game and strategize to win. It is not the main point of the game, but the game, website, & web-videos impart Science information through the adventures of the main protagonists who all belong to the Science Club.
Positive role models:
Excellent role models in the "good guys" who are inquisitive students and their supportive Science teacher. Even the "bad guys" -- their rivals -- excel in their science classes as well as extra-curricular activities.
Ease of play:
The game is easy to get into with online tutorials and voice-over help.
Violence:
Fantasy creatures made out of silicon battle each other, "die" into a pile of silicon dust but are ressurected when electricity runs through them.
Sex:
Not applicable.
Language:
Some use of name-calling language like "knuckle-head" ; "stupid" and "jerk."
Consumerism:
A "velvet rope"-type game. The base game is free to download and play. Expansion packs offering new creatures will be released 3 times a year and cost $1.75. Items required to make your characters stronger will have to be bought as well. Gift cards will be available in major department stores. A hand-held toy for offline play will be available in October 2009 for $49.99. There is also comic book tie-ins.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Not applicable.
More on Nanovor
Screenshots
Review It
Based on 4 parent & educator reviews:
- 75% say violence is an issue
- 50% say safety or privacy is an issue
Most useful reviews by all members
fuzzy999999
parent of 10 year old
parent of 10 year old
give it to mature 6 year olds or older!!!
good game nanovors can slice each other where blood and gore come out . blood is green goop so its not to bad except you can slice peoples heads off(again there head disenegrates and goo comes out)very amusing.
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jacob0929
parent of 16 year old
parent of 16 year old
bloody and gory
very violent for kids game its bloody too
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GeekMum
parent of 12 year old
parent of 12 year old
Squicky goo, but otherwise fine
Only just loaded this, but pleased to see you can limit the chat functions and also parents can join as friends of the children, so we can see it for ourselves and help out with trading, etc to boost their scores.
The "good guys" seem to set a good example.
Only drawback so far - the graphics when the bugs are defeated are rather squicky (but green goo, not blood-style). Wouldn't recommend for littlies, but 9 or 10 upwards will love it.
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nothappyintexas
adult
adult
No controls over who signs up
Nanovor lets kids sign up to play this game without parents' permission. Some kid -- I have no idea who -- hijacked my e-mail account months ago and is giving it out as his parents' e-mail. I keep canceling the account, but Nanovor lets his reopen the account with my e-mail over and over and over, even after I repeatedly explained the situation to them. Not only do they not require that the parents verify the e-mail, Nanovor doesn't even require that the e-mail be active; if messages to it bounce back, Nanovor doesn't cancel the child's account. It's a good thing the content on this site is mild, because there are absolutely no controls on it.
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