Xeko Elf Island

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Reality-based quests let kids contribute real-world help.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) and virtual world. Kids enter the world as an elf and can interact with others within this world. Kids under the age of 13 must get parents permission (an email is sent to the parents) before they can play and chat. Chat is made safe because kids can only use predetermined words that are found in Elf Island's closed dictionary. Further safety features include live monitoring of chat. By playing in this virtual world, kids' in-game actions make a difference in the real world beause the game matches online quests to real-world solutions.

  • Promotes positive social values through activities like "Goodquests" that prompt non-profit partners to plant trees, build houses, or
    help animals in the real world.
  • Not applicable.
  • Not applicable.
  • While you can play for free, only members can participate in the "Good Quests."

What's it about?

In ELF ISLAND (www.ElfIsland.com), kids enter a lush virtual world as an elf. While they can design their own elf avatar, buy it a house and decorate it, play fun minigames, and safely chat with others within this world, what makes this online game stand out from the over 200 others is its overarching theme of being an elf means doing good in the world. The game ties the story of unlocking the secret of Elf Island to doing a series of "Good Quests" in this virtual world, which are then mirrored in real life.

The current "Tree Good Quest" has kids playing games to earn seeds to plant fruit trees in the desert of Niger. Working with non-profit Plant-It 2020 (www.plantit2020.org) and the Eden Foundation (www.eden-foundation.org), when the in-game goal of planting 20,000 trees is reached, 2000 actual fruit trees will be planted in Niger. In the game, kids are introduced to this challenge by watching a video of an actual child in Niger who asks for their help. Kids learn about how planting trees in Niger will help the people there to grow their food and change the ecosystem so that life is more sustainable in the desert. While playing, kids can also learn more about the partnering non-profits.


Is it any good?

 

This is a great concept to help promote digital, as well as actual, social responsibility. With more Goodquests being added all the time, Elf Island has the potential to guide kids toward philanthropic pursuits both on and offline. There is an occasional lag between "Good Quests," so kids might want to check back in after a few days if they hit that period of time where there isn't a "Good Quest" running.

While kids can enter this world for free, they don't get the benefit of Elf Island's "Gaming for Good" without becoming a paying member. Only paying members can go on "Good Quests." Membership starts at $5.95 for a month, $29.95 for 6 months, or $57.95 for a year. Since the game is actually contributing money to the non-profit partners to do good in the real world, this membership cost makes sense. Plus this way, Elf Island is a site that has no advertising.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about how it feels to help real people  by playing a game. Does helping people virtually make you want to get involved in issues that you care about -- in the real world?


This review was written by Jinny Gudmundsen
Adult
June 24, 2009
 
Elf Island Review
Elf Island is a wonderful online world. It has a perfect message to everyone: The Power to do Good. If you aren't a paying member, they now allow you to complete one GoodQuest. This is basically your "trial version". After that, you will need to get a membership to continue. However, just the other month they launched the "Scale of Good". This allows non-members & members to donate coins, when the goal it met, Elf Island will help CLIMB (a company for theater & arts in schools) and they will also build a virtual stage in the game. That's the power of Elf Island's Mirrored Gaming! It's an extremely easy game to play. All you need is the latest flash, and a good internet connection. Registration is fast and simple. Once you're done registering, just go to play.elfisland* and log in. You're name will be Elf458865634, something similar to that. Your name will change to the one you put up during registration once it's been approved by a moderator. Speaking about their moderators, they have an awesome staff team. They consist of HOST-'s which host different types of games in room for prizes. There is also MOD-'s which moderate the content, chat, and actions of the members. Just look for the Flying Egg with an "S" on it and they are staff! Easy, safe, good message, fun, lively, creative, and excellent choice for kids AND adults to play. Invite the whole family!

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Adult
June 25, 2009
 
Great game. Helps people around the world with a mirrored gaming aspect.
Elf Island is a great game that challenges kids to do Good. Kids accomplish this by going on different GoodQuests. Once the goal of a GoodQuest is reached, people know they have done something to help someone in the real world. The most recent GoodQuest was about Nutrition. Kids were challenged to feed 360,000 virtual gnomes. If kids fed 360,000 gnomes, 100 real families would be fed fruits and vegetables in the real world. These GoodQuests are supported by real organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Plant-It 2020. Besides GoodQuests, there are also mini-games kids can play on the island for coins. These coins can help kids in buying items in the in-game marketplace. Elf Island has a dictionary in the game so members cannot use the chat system to post phone numbers, addresses, inappropriate language, etc.. Moderators are also available if people have any questions or if there is a problem. Moderators can be accessed by clicking on the 'M' button in-game. All of the chat is logged. This is why I love Elf Island because parents can know their kids are protected. There are also HOSTs in the game. HOSTs are moderators/staff members who run fun games for everyone in the game to play. HOSTs give out exclusive prizes that cannot be obtained anywhere else on the island. There is a membership fee to play the GoodQuests. However, if you are a new member to the game and haven't played a GoodQuest yet, you can try one of the GoodQuests for free. This can help determine if you want to pay for a membership. Membership prices are $5.95 for 1 month, $29.95 for 6 months, or $57.95 for 1 year (12 months). The membership cost helps contribute money to the non-profit organizations so the membership is worth it! There is also a great Elf Island message board out there called the Elf Island Fansite. This message board is for people who play Elf Island to join and talk about what is going on in the game. The Elf Island Fansite also has a wiki with information on items in game, host prizes, and info on GoodQuests. You can find more information on this fansite at *elfislandfansite*. Overall, Elf Island is a great game for youngsters to play. The link to play Elf Island is *elfisland*. I highly recommend this game as the game helps people in the world live better lives. It is also a fun game to play.

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Parent of 4, 5, 11, and 14 year old
October 13, 2009
 
Something for everyone
I have two children that have played from the beginning. My daughter really loves animals, so she has been very excited about helping animals. Some of the GoodQuest have focused on areas that my children had not thought about, so it gave us a chance to discuss new topics and open their eyes to the world outside of their community. EI also makes them think about how to get involved. My son is very competitive so he works hard to win the weekly awards. Elf Island has something for everyone, and it's safe the moderators are visible which is an added bonus for me. Being someone that enjoyed going on mission trips, I hope Elf Island is their window to one day going to some of these locations to help. Keep up the Good work Elf Island!

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Teen, 18 years old
July 7, 2009
 
Elf Island Gameing for good for all ages
Elf Island is a great game. It is aimed towards kids ages 8 to 14 , but don't be fooled many teenagers and adults play it as well. It is a great game for the whole family. In Elf Island you are an Elf which you can personalize with many different clothing items and styles. Elf Island is not your average online game. Elf Island is gaming for good. Elf Island is a safe place for kids to have fun and make a difference in the real world. It has a chat filter and much more to keep its members happy and safe. The community of Elf Island all participate in Goodquests to help make a difference in the real world. Goodquests are quests that everyone can do to reach a goal to do good. Some recent Goodquests the Elf Island community has completed were for, Polar Bears, Sharks, Building houses in Honduras and many more. Currently, elves are helping Pandas! When playing Goodquests you don't only help the world but you can win prizes and coins. Elf Islanders can make a difference in the world thanks to non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Plant 2020, Polar Bear International, Pandas international, Fresh Producers, Wild Aid and more. There are also many fun things to do on the Island other then Goodquests. You can also find many games throughout the island. These games are lot's of fun and you can earn coins playing them. Later you can spend those coins in the market place for cool items at stores such as Holiday Curio, the Wing Dome, the General Store and more! You can use the items you buy to decorate your own room, which you choose when you join. You can always buy a new room and add rooms. Also in Elf Island you can always find staff members around. Mods are very helpful in answering questions and keeping everyone safe. Hosts do the same as Mods but they also hold games in which you can win prizes. In game you can always send a question, or report a player to the M button(message to the staff) and I find they get back to you fairly quickly. Elf Island also holds many contests and Giveaways. Though one of the best things is the great friends you can make and add to your buddies list. There are also many awesome places to visit on the island, some are the Volcano, beach, woods, meadow, Marsh, Mountain Cave, Ice cavern,Savanna, and many more! The rooms are very cool and beautiful! Elf Islanders can also win awards when they go above and beyond when trading,gifting items, and just playing and many more. With they award you can redeem prizes as well. You can do all this for free, but you can also pay to be a member and get special member only goods, get an allowance, more clothing options and much more! Elf Island is always coming up with new fun ways to do good and is growing fast and making some awesome updates frequently. Most everyone I find is so friendly and helpful and I look forward to continue to play Elf Island as it continues to grow. You can also visit the Elf Island Fansite of the year here: *://*elfislandfansite*/ There you can find lot's of helpful information, including the wiki which is a full directory of every item, room, quests, events, and more that has ever been or is on Elf Island! You can find the latest news and see what other Elves are doing around the island! You can also find some helpful threads and make your own threads if you have questions, opinions, ect.

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Adult
June 24, 2009
 
Elf Island- A world of good for children and adults!
Elf Island is a unique gaming environment where adults and children can do good together. I am an adult that not only has a child that plays but I also play. It is a wonderful safe community. The staff are wonderful and always present. The rules are strictly enforced. There is no personal information allowed. I enjoy many aspects of the game. The community is a base of great players that I have formed online friendships with. It is nice to have a place to go to talk to friends. No matter what time of day I log on there is always a familiar face around to chat with. Speaking of chat there is a dictionary in the game that filters out words that are not allowed. Works great. The GoodQuests are amazing and such a phenomenal idea! I love doing them knowing I am helping out in the real world. It is a great lesson to be teaching kids but also a great reminder as an adult that it is never too late for you to make a difference. I am always filled with great anticipation of the start of the next GoodQuest. When one ends we have a break of about a week to week and a half before the next quest starts. During breaks from quests or just for fun there are many mini games on the Island. With these games you earn Elf Island coins which you can use to buy items in the stores for building your virtual homes. You can even donate your virtual coins to the scale of good and once we reach a goal another organization is helped. Elf Island is filled with wonderful virtual items that can be used to build amazing homes. I personally have had a lot of fun building in the game and enjoy seeing the creativity of the members. The game is free to join but in any online world today there is a paid version to help support the game. I chose to pay knowing my money was going to good use. It also helps keep advertising off the site which I love. I think it is crazy to think a game can survive without some kind of support. The low price per month is less then the cost of a movie ticket and gives you a complete month of gaming fun will full access to all features. You won’t be disappointed in Elf Island. I bright colorful engaging world full of cute elves, many games and a goal of continuing to do good in the world! For more information on Elf Island please be sure to check out Elf Island Fansite, a wonderful, safe, G-Rated site full of up to the minute latest news of the island. Hope to see you in Elf Island.

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Teen, 14 years old
April 27, 2009
 
i laughed

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Parent of 14 year old
October 8, 2009
 
Elf Island is the perfect place - kids help others through fun game play.
My daughter just played the latest GoodQuest game and helped build a real camp for HIV kids in Uganda!! WOW. It's all she and her friends can talk about. Not only is Elf Island fun for her but it gives her a chance to help others. She's happy. I'm happy - it's the perfect combo!

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Adult
June 24, 2009
 
Elf Island: A community working together for Good
I love this game, it is full of activities for adults and children. I am an adult that has played since day one, and I have had no problem finding something to keep me busy. Weather I am doing the current GoodQuest, chatting with friends, playing HOST games or decorating a room for the next contest. GoodQuest help an organization in need of financial support, thus letting the community of elves work together to reach a goal. We are given thirty days to complete the goal set by the staff/organization. Once the goal is met we are rewared with a GoodQuest Party. So if you are new to Elf Island be sure you check out the next GoodQuest by clicking on the heart at the top of the screen. Chatting with friends is fun and safe with the dictionary set up to allow only safe words. HOST games are a fun way to win great prizes. The HOST in the game have years and years of experience, so you will always find a game that will be your favorite to play. While your checking out Elf Island, be sure to check out Elf Island Fansite at elfislandfansite* On the Elf Island Fansite you can find up to the minute information about what's happening on Elf Island. Play Games! Do Good!

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Teen, 15 years old
May 13, 2009
 
It was good, until I had to pay to play.
I've played this game when it was in Beta, and here's what I have to say. Pros: Beautiful detail, a good dictionary, and friendly staff. Cons: After the Polar Bear quest, they made it so you had to subscribe in order to participate in Goodquests, the game can gets kinda slow, and you have to clear your cache in order to play, otherwise everyone's invisible. Overall, 4/5.

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Parent of 4 year old
October 15, 2009
 
A Pretty Promising Game
Obviously, Roman is too young to play it (though he does like the colorful pictures and music), but I definitely like the positive message that the game has. The game has a lot of events that seems to keep kids interested, and I see moderators around all the time.

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This review was written by Jinny Gudmundsen
Platforms:Windows, Mac
Available online?Available online
Genre:Massively Multi-player Online Game (MMOG)
Developer:Good Egg Studios, Inc
Release date:April 7, 2009
Price:$5.95/month
ESRB rating:NR

This review was written by Jinny Gudmundsen

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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