OTHER TOOLS: INTERNET-BASED TOOLS

LearningWorks for Kids Guide to Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGS)

Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) are online video games in which thousands of individuals can play together simultaneously. Other terms for these online games include MMORGs (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games) and MMPFPSs (Massive Multiplayer Online First Person Shooters). Most MMOGs are centered around a consistent “world” or “universe” in which players are able to interact, cooperate, and compete. Most of these games require one to have an avatar, or animated figure, that represents one’s on-screen persona. For younger children, this persona might be a penguin or a stuffed animal. For teenagers and adults, their avatars may reflect personal attitudes, clothing, age, and size, in sum, values and impressions that they would like to portray. 

Most MMOGs are played on personal computers through an Internet connection. Many individuals also use personal game systems to play massive multiplayer online games through “systems” such as X-Box Live, the Play Station Network, or Nintendo Online.

There are a number of elements common to most MMOGs. Chatting, which allows for communication amongst players, is typical. In many children’s games, a type of “safe chat” is used in which children are able to choose within pre-selected text to send to other participants. This ensures a greater degree of safety and the elimination of inappropriate language. “Free chat” is also used in children’s games, and while there are filters to prevent unacceptable language and communication, there may be comments that are inappropriate. Another characteristic of most MMOGs are the virtual economies, where players accumulate money, tokens, or other currencies. Accumulating currency within the game facilitates exploration of different levels, gives individuals greater abilities, and often results in a higher status within the games. 

The social interactive quality of MMOGs is extremely important to their success. Many individuals seek out their “friends” when going to their favorite MMOGs. They may pair up with their friends on adventures or battles, or in creating something new in the game.  For children, it is very appropriate for parents to be vigilant and attentive to their social interactions in an online game. 

There has been an enormous increase in the use of MMOGs by school-aged children since 2006. This is seen in the vast number of children who are involved in online games such as Webkins World, Club Penguin, Whyville, and Nicktropolis. While there are a number of opportunities for learning while playing these games, parents are also encouraged to be cautious, aware, and observant about their children’s involvement with MMOGs.  LearningWorksforKids encourages parents to ask questions about their children’s involvement with MMOGs, and we provide you with our perspectives on these in our section titled “MMORGs as Part of Your Child’s Play Diet.” 

Children’s successful involvement with MMOGs requires the use of numerous executive functions. Social thinking, an understanding of others’ interests and characteristics in the game, is imperative. Planning, goal setting, and sustained effort and attention are integral to enhancing one’s status and capacities in the virtual worlds of MMOGs.  MMOGs offer an opportunity for parents to work with their children to develop skills in perspective-taking, effective communication, and using one’s experience and memories.  Some general strategies for using MMOGs to enhance executive function skills in children include:

1. Join a MMOG with your child and play with him/her. You can discuss and influence pro-social, positive behaviors such as cooperation, understanding of others, getting started on tasks, and being organized.

2. Join a game and have the child give you instructions about how to play. Help him/her to understand that he/she is talking to an individual who has no idea about how to play the game, and that he/she needs to provide simple, clear instructions starting from the beginning and increasing in complexity. When necessary, ask for clarification.  Encourage your child to prioritize and organize what he/she tells you.

3. Ask your child to describe his/her goals in game play. Help him/her to articulate the steps he/she is taking to achieve these goals through his/her play. Ask questions about the importance of his/her selected goals relative to other possible goals.

4. Have your child instruct you in how to get started with your character/avatar for the MMOG. Use “getting started” as an opportunity for your child to practice communication skills, explaining the “what, why, and hows” of developing a persona.

5. Use the MMOG as an opportunity to develop planning skills. Most MMOGs reward “accumulation” of some type of currency with future rewards. Draw parallels to saving for a desired item in the future. 

6. Sustained attention and effort (persistence) often serve an important role in MMOGs.  Some children simply enjoy the ongoing cyber/social activities; others become increasingly drawn to the virtual community. Examine this carefully with your child, assessing the positive and negative components of his/her participation.

7. Many MMOGs become increasingly complex as a player navigates to higher levels.  This may require new problem-solving strategies and a willingness to shift flexibly from previously successful strategies to new approaches. Encourage children to verbalize their thought process about changing approaches in the game.

8. MMOGs often present new levels with many unknowns. Helping children to develop hypotheses about what might happen or appear can be useful. Point out how “thinking about thinking” can help in anticipating what may happen in the virtual world.