If you’re a parent looking to give your child some time away from the TV, then online games can be a great choice. The internet provides a wide variety of games for children of all ages and interests. Many online games even allow players to interact with each other. Parents should pay close attention to how much information their children are sharing and how long they’re playing. But whether your child’s gaming experience is safe is up to them.
Many popular online games are governed by an End User License Agreement (EULA), a legal contract between the game developer and the player. Breaching this agreement can have varying consequences, from warnings to suspension and even termination. However, enforcing these contracts is a difficult and expensive process. Only large scale games are profitable enough to warrant enforcing an EULA. In any case, if you want to play responsibly, make sure that you understand the terms and conditions.
Some online games are free to download and some require a monthly fee to access their video game software. World of Warcraft is a great example of this. Some require a fee to access a gaming network that allows players to interact with each other remotely. Despite the technology behind the most popular online games, the roots of this game are in the early days of computing. ARPANET, the precursor to the Internet, allowed many universities to be linked via the ARPANET network. The ARPANET enabled the players to connect to a central mainframe computer and communicate in real time. By 1980, this network had been linked to the University of Essex in Colchester. Two undergraduate students at the university had written a text-based fantasy adventure game that they called MUD.
Online gaming has many benefits. Online games are a great way to relax and escape the pressures of real life. However, the anonymity of online games can also be a negative side. Some players abuse this anonymity to cheat and ruin the fun for others. This includes “kill stealing” in games, in which players capture their quest targets before others can. Similarly, “chaining” is a common technique where high level players block low-level players’ progress.
Parents should talk to their children about appropriate game play. Talk to your child about appropriate use of games, safety settings, and time limits. It is also a good idea to talk with your child about the dangers of cheating and grooming in online games. Although many online gaming sites are designed for children, they have content moderators who regularly monitor conversations. Even so, parents should check in regularly to see how their children are using the internet.
The Internet can be a very powerful tool to protect your children from cyberbullying. There are numerous sites that offer free games for children. They are an ideal option for parents who are looking to give their children a fun activity. Online games offer the opportunity to interact with other children while learning new skills, while at the same time increasing communication skills. And, with a little bit of research, you can find a great selection of free games to play.
