Topic

This is kind of random, but... (lost connection icon)

I play Glitch with my toddler, because of how much she loves to water trees and pet piggies, etc. -- a nicely paced, low-conflict game for the two of us.  During last night's outage, the image used to announce my inability to connect was some kind of black rock with empty eyes, and apparently she found that image scary enough that she kept bringing it up, asking whether it was gone, etc., and it showed up in night-time fears as well.  Any chance of tweaking that guy to be a little less creepy, a little more something else? (apologetic? wry? sleepy? whatever...)

Posted 14 months ago by confowsled Subscriber! | Permalink

Replies

  • +1

    Maybe we could switch it to the guidebot.
    Posted 14 months ago by TK-855 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • It not a child's game. I would hate to see Glitch's slightly edgy style be compromised. What next - getting rid of rook attack's? - those ARE scary.
    Posted 14 months ago by Kookaburra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Aww, sorry she got scared of it, I can see why!
    But really since this isn't a childs game, I can't support it being made more toddler friendly. 
    Posted 14 months ago by Ebil Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Just tell her Juju's are made of candy. Then she'll have dreams of candy..
    Posted 14 months ago by Muncey Mango Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Altering the 'connection lost' screen does not affect gameplay directly. A parent/child playing together could easily stay close to 'friendly' areas like Groddle Meadow/Forest Junction/Heights and the world is mostly happy trees and cute animals.
    Posted 14 months ago by TK-855 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Mmm ...Candy Jujus *drools* 

    TK-855 ,  True, but then if there was a rook attack in Groddle? ...
    Posted 14 months ago by Ebil Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Sorry for the kid, but I have to agree with Ebil!
    Posted 14 months ago by Electric Wizard Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I'm with Ebil.
    Posted 14 months ago by Moonspoon Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I have to agree with the others, this isn't a child's game.  Sorry she got scared.  Hope she is all better now.  :-)
    Posted 14 months ago by Poppy of Detwoit Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I am also sorry that she was scared but I am glad she didn't see the Rook.  The Rube might also scare her because of his strange appearance and weird music.  Try to let her know that there is nothing that will hurt her or do any permanent damage, that this is just a game.  She is probably much too young to understand.

    When I see a Juju, I always think of gummy candies.  The black one looks like a licorice  bite to me, I love those.  Buy her some candy and let her eat a Juju.
    Posted 14 months ago by Brib Annie Subscriber! | Permalink
  • According to the TOS, if you are under 14, you can't play here even if you have your parents' permission. 

    Allowing an under-14 to play seems risky for your account.  Asking for the game to be changed so that breaking the rules is less scary for someone who isn't supposed to be here anyway may mean that you need to re-read the TOS and become more familiar with it. 
    Posted 14 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Ebil: I tend to doubt there would be a Rook attack in Groddle Meadow, as it's the first area new players emerge into. Newcomers lack any meditative skills or even knowledge of how to fight the Rook.

    The OP gets points for sharing something with her child, and that she lauded Glitch's pacing and low-conflict nature. Play centering around watering trees and feeding piggies certainly isn't going to hurt the little one.
    Posted 14 months ago by TK-855 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Actually the idea of getting some real life jujus and showing that they are the same as the bandits is quite a good one. The daughter could eat up the juju and it would not be able to haunt her anymore.
    Posted 14 months ago by Kookaburra Subscriber! | Permalink
  • TK-855, new players emerge in about 5 different regions, including Groddle.  There have been rook attacks in Groddle.  Being new does not protect you against anything.
    Posted 14 months ago by WindBorn Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @Windborn: Thanks for the correction.

    At the same time, the 'lost connection' image isn't entirely within the game, and there's a difference between toddler-on-the-lap and an under-14 playing entirely unsupervised.

    But what the hey. I know the ratings on videogames are treated by some parents as wishful thinking, and others who take it seriously.
    Posted 14 months ago by TK-855 Subscriber! | Permalink
  • @TK-855: There are elements in this game that are not child-friendly, and the TS developers recognize this. They have clearly stated that it is not a game for children.

    I agree with you that it is a parent's perogative to ignore that and include a child in the gameplay experience. At the same time, if someone makes the choice to include a child, after being warned that the environment is not intended for or suitable for children, there is no way that an appeal to "make the game friendlier for children" is either appropriate or reasonable.

    ETA: @confowsled: I am sorry that your child was frightened. I have a very vivid imagination and, as a child, was often frightened even by things that were considered "child safe" so I have an idea of what that would be like.
    Posted 14 months ago by EnnuiStreet Subscriber! | Permalink
  • As this is a request for a change in the game, I'm moving it to the Ideas forum. But, to repeat what others have said here, this is really not a child's game, and we focus most of our development efforts in expanding and illustrating the game world for the intended age group (namely, 17 and over). 
    Posted 14 months ago by Blanky Subscriber! | Permalink
  • Wow -- I'll admit that after a couple of weeks, I still haven't figured out plenty about this game, but it's the closest thing to a child's game that I've ever found in an MMO -- quiet, cheerful, repetitive friendliness.  Sure, she misses out on the strategy aspects (and a few of the more, ahem, mature jokes), but so far, that's about it.

    Of course, this is the first I've heard of a rook, so perhaps I should reconsider.  Or perhaps it's worth considering whether anybody wants to limit the audience for the game, at least in its current incarnation.  *Nobody* loves dressing an avatar, decorating a house, and petting piggies as much as a 4-year-old . . .
    Posted 14 months ago by confowsled Subscriber! | Permalink
  • I assume you've yet to encounter the few items that reference/mimic drug use then, @confowsled ;) Not to mention that accidentally dying does send you to hell (though to be fair, hell isn't very scary). You can see rook attacks on youtube if you want, or in the game trailer. They ARE a bit scary.
    Posted 14 months ago by Rev. Desdemona Subscriber! | Permalink