Rinksters

Review

Common Sense Media says

NHL-sponsored virtual world can be tough to travel around.
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

Not yet rated

Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that basic registration is free on Rinksters, an NHL virtual world for kids, but requires kids to enter a username, e-mail address, password, and their age and gender. To enter the site as a registered user, you must click on a confirmation e-mail link. A paid subscription is also available.

  • Positive messages4
    When kids register, membership rules remind them to be respectful to their teachers and behave when using the site.
  • Violence0
    Not applicable.
  • Sex0
    Not applicable.
  • Language4
    The highly sensitive language filter won't let posts with words like "butt" and "s--t" go live (but also blocks posts like "How do you friend someone?").
  • Consumerism3
    Users are encouraged to sign up for a pro membership, which costs $5.95 for one month, $29.95 for six, or $45.95 for a year and gives them access to a special lounge, prizes, special gear, and moves. Pro members also get first crack at new games on the site.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    Not applicable.
  • Privacy & safety4
    Kids can't identify themselves by first name when sending a friend request to another user, and you can't view another user's profile unless that person has already accepted your friend request. Although the site says parents can create their own account, the link it provides to create the parental account just leads to the general registration/sign-in page.
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Is it any good?

 

The NHL's RINKSTERS virtual world lets kids skate around as a customized avatar, play games, chat, and buy avatar merchandise like special shirts using gold coins, the site currency. Gold coins are awarded for being active on the site. (You can also buy them; 50,000 cost $5.) The site has taken some measures to ensure kids stay safe. You can't view random users' profiles unless you've friended each other, and the chat filter screens out bad words.

However, the site isn't easy to navigate. It's not very clear where the various games and other activities are located; and going from one section of the site to another may frustrate some users -- some pages take several minutes to load. The safety policy and general theme are positives. However, users may want to put Rinksters in the penalty box until the site adds some more activities and the virtual world becomes easier to get around.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the site's safe chat functions -- and why it's a good idea to not use your real name or chat with total strangers.

  • What things have you seen on other sites that let you chat that maybe aren't so safe, like being able to friend people you don't know or view other users' profiles?

  • Hockey sometimes involves some pretty violent moves. How can you play sports and be competitive -- while still having fun and not hurting any of the other players?

This review was written by Erin Brereton
Teen, 15 years old
July 5, 2011
AGE
11
 
Love Rinksters!
I love it! My kids play on it all the time, I even tried it and had a blast!
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (11) | Had useful details (8) | Read my mind (8)
Flag as inappropriate 
Kid, 13 years old
November 16, 2011
AGE
8
 
BEst Online Hockey Game For KIds!
My kids love Rinksters! Best hockey game online, safe, fun and they can interact with other positive kids. The fact that the NHL is involved gives it even more credibility
Was this review useful?
Helped me decide (6) | Had useful details (7) | Read my mind (9)
Flag as inappropriate 
See all user reviews
This review was written by Erin Brereton
Topics:sports and martial arts
Genre:Virtual Worlds
This review was written by Erin Brereton

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About our rating system
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.
Our child development rating guidelines

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