Apple wants your mommy to control WoW

by Joystiq Staff { Aug 15th 2006 at 12:35AM }

Yeah, that's right, your mommy is gonna pwn your World of Warcraft account once Apple's Leopard comes out -- and of course, lets assume your mother would even know how to turn on the computer. Metroblogging Azeroth pointed out this little widget on the Apple page that says Leopard will let parents set a specific time and play duration for their little WoW griefers.

Why's Apple gotta pick on the big guy? Couldn't they have just said parents could set limits to video games? What's this unknown beef Apple has with the money-making MMO with the mostest?

[Via WoW Insider]

Tags: Apple, Leopard, World of Warcraft, WorldOfWarcraft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Matt @ Aug 15th 2006 12:49AM

Thats odd that they're explicitly talking about WoW. It's probably for most all games, but if not, then that is very shortsited on their part.

BTW, Vista had this feature discussed quite some time ago... whose copy machine is at work here, Cupertino?

Jason @ Aug 15th 2006 12:58AM

Cause WoW kills peoples' lives. Everyone knows that.

truthteller @ Aug 15th 2006 12:59AM

WoW = RIAA

Down with Vivendi!

Kincyr @ Aug 15th 2006 1:00AM

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Blizzard drops support for the Mac because they were specifically targeted by this.

Probot @ Aug 15th 2006 1:00AM

"...and of course, lets assume your mother would even know how to turn on the computer."

Because we all know only the 18-35 male knows anything about technology...

Apple is using WoW, the biggest PC game at the moment, to explain a new addition to their OS, something that should have existed a long time ago.

Bryan @ Aug 15th 2006 1:09AM

If one reads closely, I don't think it actually limits game time -- it limits internet time. That's something very different.

My mother would have killed to have access to this when I was in school. >:D

GSI @ Aug 15th 2006 1:17AM

"Apple is using WoW, the biggest PC game at the moment"

...and one of the only Mac games to played by Apple users. There aren't many choices ya know.

:-P

Kiba @ Aug 15th 2006 1:25AM

haha smart one apple. the kids that have intel macs can just install boot camp and a copy of windows XP and poof! no more restrictions.

epobirs @ Aug 15th 2006 1:28AM

More importantly to the example, WoW is realiant on a internet connection to be played. This OS feature restricts internet access on a set schedule. Doing per application scheduled restrictions is doable but a lot more complicated for the parent. Whether such is available under Leopard is beside the point of that particular function example.

If the kid is staying up too late you need to lock him out entirely after the specified time. If he's allowed to stay up for writing a paper for school, that is where the per application scheduling comes in. The example was just putting things in simple terms.

Dave @ Aug 15th 2006 1:29AM

This "feature" is available in pretty much every OS that supports some sort of internet browser. You can restrict your child's WoW playtime on Blizzard's website.

Babylonian @ Aug 15th 2006 1:30AM

"Why's Apple gotta pick on the big guy? Couldn't they have just said parents could set limits to video games? What's this unknown beef Apple has with the money-making MMO with the mostest?"

They did say parents could set limits to video games. Then they used WoW as an example. They weren't villainizing the market leader, they were using that game because, statistically speaking, it'd be the example that resonates best with parents.

greatslack @ Aug 15th 2006 1:31AM

Chances are, if the mom knows how to enable the restriction, then the kid knows how to look up a hack on the internet to disable it

Vercin @ Aug 15th 2006 2:08AM

I believe WoW actually already has a parental control in place, if you go to account management. Not that my wife has to restrict my playing or anything...

FetusMan @ Aug 15th 2006 2:09AM

They make WoW for Macintosh?

Ian @ Aug 15th 2006 2:47AM

Didn't Vista have this exact feature announced a while ago? Seems like the company who always slips in a jab at MS (apple) is copying them and they have nothing to say about that.

MAC USER @ Aug 15th 2006 3:04AM

"pwn"? Um........ is the person who wrote that story 5 years old or are you typing so fast you didn't realize your typo? I'm sorry some one that leaves a mistake like that shouldn't be writing. Either quit your job or buy a dictionary.

jorge @ Aug 15th 2006 3:07AM

MAC USER: get off your friggin high horse. pwn is a real word. recognize it. look it up if you have to.

Xavier @ Aug 15th 2006 3:16AM

Mac User, have you been living under a rock? Not that anyone says it anymore (because it's not cool anymore), but it once was a silly term back in the day..

Quake 3 was good times.

I'm sure Apple wouldn't put a restriction JUST on WoW, it already has that feature built into the game. I agree with Dave.

The3rdNuisance @ Aug 15th 2006 3:33AM

MAC USER, its a blog, who cares, you know what it means, and if you don't, you shouldn't be reading this website.

Anywho, they specified World of Warcraft, because Mac only has 4 good games: World of Warcraft, Halo 1, Quake 4, and Quake 3 Arena.

Motoi @ Aug 15th 2006 3:36AM

Sounds like Robert Summa is a Mac hater, or hes extremely biased.

Scythe @ Aug 15th 2006 3:42AM

It's interesting that Blizzard already provides this functionality built into WoW's profile pages. A parent can set time limits on how much time their spawn can play WoW and lock this in place with a seperate password.

It's rather funny to hear the younger members of your guild say "Oh no! Parental lockout! Brb, getting mum" over ventrilo halfway though a BWL run.

GSI @ Aug 15th 2006 3:46AM

I wouldn't call Quake 4 a "good" game. That game (on PC and Mac) was mediocre at best.

boneyard @ Aug 15th 2006 3:48AM

yeah vista can do something similar i believe, kinda typical apple has a widget specially for this game, but who knows they will be around for other games also. or it's just an example.

ill trooper @ Aug 15th 2006 3:48AM

You know, that Apple paragraph might _also_ be talking about setting up an epic 12-hour WoW marathon for your kid, as nowhere does it talk about NOT liking WoW (yeah sure... but still.)

In fact, it acknowledges WoW's total dominance by mentioning it, as it's a 'graspable concept' for a parent, the golden blessing that something is as mainstream as it can get - "even your parents have heard of it."

It's cool how they mention WoW, but can I go on record and say that this is a fairly weak topic? A post drawing out the DellBoys with the old 'Mac Gaming LOLZERS" bait? I'll go out on a limb and remind each of you 'Vista' guys that Vista may not even ship before Apple's new OSX Leopard... The race is on... If you don't count how OSX came into it's own two years ago with features still not on the slate for Vista.

So mentioning how "it was announced for Vista" means very little if it ain't even on the market. 'WinFS' was announced too, but you'll be meta-searching for that for a long time, fellas. Try OS X's 'Spotlight' while you wait.

Miichael @ Aug 15th 2006 3:55AM

ummm wow. my router pretty much already does this.

Anonym @ Aug 15th 2006 4:21AM

"They make WoW for Macintosh?"

Yes they do, and they have always done. The cds for WoW has both versions on them and with one of the recent patches (I think it was 1.10) Intel macs became supported too.

epobirs @ Aug 15th 2006 5:31AM

The functionality in Vista is a simplified interface for stuff that has already been in Windows for generations in domains with a server imposing central rule enforcement on all users trying to access the network. Admins can impose all kind of schedule restrictions on users. Vista is taking that into standalone machines and making it more accessible to humans.

John @ Aug 15th 2006 7:08AM

For those of you saying that Apple is copying functionality from MS, it might be worth noting that Apple has had some form of parental control in previous versions of the Mac OS and that this is simply adding more granular control and some additional features to improve the functionality...it's called developing and evolving your product. Please know what you're talking about before you spread the FUD.

Rare Hare @ Aug 15th 2006 8:23AM

Ugh. It's like a virtual playdate.

noob @ Aug 15th 2006 8:39AM

all of my routers for the last 6 years have had this functionality...

phantom42 @ Aug 15th 2006 9:38AM

sure, a lot of kids (or adults, as the case may be) will be able to easily get around such restrictions. but at least apple is trying to help parents do a good job parenting their kids.

its interesting that so many people who go on about how parents need to do a better job protecting their kids from things like GTA or other M rated games suddenly find all sorts of faults and reasons why apple is foolish for trying something like this.

no, chances are that no one is going to go slaughtering people and saying that they did it because they were able to massacre a group of orcs in WoW, but playing too many video games of any sort has repercussions. id love to learn that this works on all games, and not just WoW - but lets be honest - WoW is one of the biggest time-killers out there today. i personally know at least half a dozen people who have at least temporarily changed their lifestyles based on WoW, everquest or ultima online.

sure, their product isnt foolproof, but its just one more aid for parents. kudos to apple.

dsub @ Aug 15th 2006 10:20AM

I thought Vista was supposed to have something just like this?

Check the link...

http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/03/01/541669.aspx

Nate @ Aug 15th 2006 11:34AM

Yes yes, let us decry all the BS legislation trying to limit video game access claiming it is the responsibility of parents to determine what their children are exposed and then simultaneously harangue Apple for helping parents with that exact responsibility.

Bravo guys, bravo.

All Your Lost Socks @ Aug 15th 2006 11:53AM

All the people who say their routers have always been able to do that: Yes, but has your mom always been able to set up your router to do that?
That's the thing about this. It's easy. Your mom might not know your login to go into the WoW site and set up the parental restrictions, let alone figure out how to navigate to that point. So good for Blizzard, including that feature. I'm sure it's well used. But this is built into the operating system in an easy-access manner so that ANY mom (probably even mine) could go in there and set it up.
As far as Apple having a particular beef with Blizzard? They don't. It's practically a sign of respect. WoW is a common household term. A parent sees that and go "Aha, that's the game that I can never get Alice to stop playing." That's why they used it in that blurb.
And to those touting Vista: Is this article about Vista? No? Okay, I didn't think so. Just making sure.
@MAC USER: That was embarassing. I don't know where you've been for the last few years, but erm... how do I say this... ah. PWNED. Yes, you.

Captin Shmit @ Aug 15th 2006 12:11PM

"all of my routers for the last 6 years have had this functionality..." -28

How often do you buy routers? I'm pretty sure I've only ever owned 2 in my lifetime (16 yrs).

Robespierre @ Aug 15th 2006 1:22PM

This may be one of the most childish posts I've seen on Joystiq, and goes a long way towards explaining the stigma discussed a few items above.

As a parent (and 36 year old avid game player), I'm grateful for any tool that helps me to monitor and, when necessesary, limit my kids' gaming time.

Complaining about Apple helping "mommy" to limit kids' gaming only reinforces the notion that game players are spoiled kids.

Oh, and the post's remarks about World of Warcraft are bizzarre--obviously, Apple wasn't "slamming" WoW, it was merely using one of the most popular games as an example of what the new software can do.

D-6 @ Aug 15th 2006 1:40PM

I tend to play as female avatar (I had two on WoW), it's just something just slightly more pleasing to look than a grunting bearded beast. Maybe I'm not like others, but I don't really get that immersed while playing games. When I play MMORPGs, I never "get into" my character and imagine myself as that powerful hero saving the world against all odds or that all-powerful wizard casting a powerful spell against my enemies.

D-6 @ Aug 15th 2006 1:53PM

Whoops, wrong news post.

Anon - I - mousse @ Aug 15th 2006 2:51PM

" (...)and of course, let's assume your mother would even know how to turn on the computer.(...)"

But this generation mommy's will know how to...
Which means the 'pwning' is still to come...

h0stile @ Aug 15th 2006 8:15PM

That's probably why I'll never buy a MAC for my kids :D if they don't listen to you, how the hell do you want to make them listen to a freakin computer...lol

sparrakwrl @ Aug 16th 2006 12:15AM

Actually, when I was hyper-depressed a few years back and playing EQ 20 hours per day, I would have wanted this feature for *myself*. These days, I don't play WOW enough to keep my guild membership active [Hey, Scythe]. so it is not nearly as important a feature as it used to be.