(Note - I have an update to this post after a conversation I had with Roblox's CEO David Baszucki on Friday October 2, 2009. He was very professional, but Roblox is still blocked for my 9 and 7 year old kids)
We were over a good friend's house the other day and their kids were really into this online game called Roblox. So while at their house I let my two kids start accounts because it looked to me like it was owned by Lego (I found out later on it is not). The kids played around with Lego like characters in sparse environments and generally looked like they were having a good time. Both kids provided my email and I received one back fairly quickly. Things seemed simple enough until today....
- My security system on my son's laptop kept flashing a warning about it not being Parental Safe. So once I figured out what my password was, I realized that it was not the site itself but the URLs from the advertising that was being served. (ROBLOX FAIL)
- I've been buying online advertising since 1998 so I started to get worried. The ads were being served by your typical ad networks and the ads themselves didn't seem kid friendly. In fact a lot of ads were from Verizon and AT&T. Then I thought to myself - cookies.....
- As this screen shot shows the top 728x90 banner ad has the name Chicken7578 which my son kept saying that's his friend's name so that it must be his friend's ad. Once I saw that, I clicked on the ad but it was blocked by Bit Defender (my security system). (ROBLOX FAIL). Seems a little bit of a stretch that was his friend's account, but I've seen worse in online advertising and I know that can be done in Facebook so why not Roblox....speaking of social networking
- I reviewed what Roblox is and it is a moderated game/forum where user's can generate games. Sure it claims it meets Government restrictions for being kid privacy safe (1998 COPPA) but as opposed to liberal minded folks that think bureaucrats in Washington can determine what works for the masses, I don't; especially when you view that game right in the middle of the homepage (ROBLOX FAIL)
- User generated game content means that well you are never sure what will pop up. Like this game entitled "Can You Blow Up The Eiffel Tower? - Nuke". That's not something I want my little kids playing or even seeing - especially surrounded by a suspicious looking banner ad that looks like it is using a friend's account in the ad. (ROBLOX FAIL)
- When I examined the sign up process again I realized there are no real confirmation checks to get parental permission. Your kid can open up a moderated account without your permission. BTW - that Blow up Eiffel Tower game still appeared on the home page for an account not confirmed.
- Finally, this isn't a game built by a company you know has a track record for being kid friendly. It uses Lego looking avatars but has nothing to do with Lego. Their About Us link has very minimal information which again worries me. Google only turned up info that they are funded by a venture capital firm and angel investors - again not a big return on searches. (ROBLOX FAIL)
Is Roblox safe for your under 13 year old kid? Well I uninstalled the game and left it on the block list. That user generated game about blowing up the Eiffel Tower surrounded by suspicious looking banner ads was enough for me. Throw in that they try to look like Lego, I can't find out much about them online (other than Googling Roblox Sucks), and they stand behind a Government Act as why they are child privacy safe was too much for me.
If you want my opinion, I wouldn't let an under 13 year old kid play this game.
PardonMyFrench,
Eric
*****A NOVEMBER 15, 2011 UPDATE*********
Dear Roblox Wiki clicks,
Thanks for the traffic. It's been over 2 years since I made this post. I've moved on and so has my son when it comes to gaming.
Feel free to make your comments to defend Roblox. Please refrain from parental advice and cursing. It devalues whatever positive commentary you might have. I think the folks at Roblox would be very impressed with your love and defense of the site, but now my son chooses other games to play and has never asked me again about Roblox.
I had considered disabling comments from this point on, but I decided against it because of your passion. However, as I wrote above we moved on, so while your appropriate, tasteful comments might sway some other parents, it means nothing to me unless he chooses to play again.
PardonMyFrench,
Eric
Free Games. Check out what I have been building lately!
Posted by: Chris | August 03, 2009 at 10:50 AM
I understand your position and I know you're just being protective to your kids but if you'll ask me, I think there's nothing wrong with that site for it offers decent kids games but the only annoyance is the ads that popping. Anyway, if that's your problem, you can use a third party software that can block the ads. As a parent, I still want to suggest for you to let your kids play MMORPG, you know they can learn a lot of things that can't be learn with the one they're playing right now. To start, you can try the Aion beta version, it's free by the way.
Posted by: aion kinah | August 17, 2009 at 03:47 PM
Thanks for your comment. That questionable ad at the top had me concerned but of course it could be a coincident. The content that bothered me the most was the "Can You Blow Up The Eiffel Tower" game as well as other questionable content games for little kids.
Believe me, my kids are not kept from online games. Pirates Online, Club Penguin, and Webkinz are fine. Oh and I let my older one play World of Warcraft with the chat function off. Roblox just seems too intrusive and too shady for me - the ads, the CGC, the on purpose likeness to Lego, the minimal about us page, the enrollment process, etc. I just don't trust the site.
Eric
Posted by: PardonMyFrench | August 17, 2009 at 03:55 PM
Well hi, im Will and i was like 11 or 12 when i started playing roblox and I thinks its cool for kids to play, I think the worst thing you'r going to find on roblox are people typeing cus words. I play it every day and its relly cool, and im a programmer, so i'll cheack the source and see if I can find a fire wall, I also will message them and talk to them to get the cus words blanked out, but till then i think its a good game for kids, well like me, and it is good for kids to build, drive around, play with friends, oh and another thing is that you can make a parent account to moniter your kids. Like i said i'll get back to you all and tell you, and i havn't gotten any virises and i have a old computer. But any questions just E-MAIL me at [email protected]. And Eric caan i get your e-mail cuz its hard to type all this.
Posted by: Will | August 19, 2009 at 09:31 PM
Hay, another thing, like what Eric said about blow up the Eiffel tower, i think is right but iv played the game and met the makers of this game and other games, and its only about bring it down, blowing up bricks, and ill tell you some one that makes a good nice safe games, his name is jored7 and he makes good safe games, its called make a pirot ship and sail down the river. I think its the best game. Trust me, iv plaed over 22 hours game time (not stright). And for parents that do let there kids play it, ill give you a form/list of how to make a parent account. Oh if you deside to look me up on roblox my name is drageneye6, my person is wearing a shirt that says marines, i made a groupe (you can make a groupe/clan/team) called the MARINES that watch out on there for moders,hackers,bullies,cheaters,etc. So if you need any help for people to watch out for any thing just find me and tell me. And hay Eric, nice job making this site (NOT SARCASTIC) My email again is [email protected] I tri to cheack it daily.
Posted by: Will | August 19, 2009 at 09:46 PM
Ok, i made a website that has more info on for parent's.
It is www.parentsonroblox.weebly.com
Hope it helps
Posted by: Will | August 20, 2009 at 12:12 AM
Hay Eric you are the maker of this right?
Posted by: Will | August 20, 2009 at 12:14 AM
Ok so first of all I know that concerns you about the nuke and the ad but just remember its just a game that plastic but then again kids shoudnt know about nukes
Ok the problems you should worry about!
1:Nukes
2:War
3.Other flags from other countries (Such a Comunnist and Nazi sighn)
4.Innaprobrite names
well thats alot of things plus they added twitter to roblox!
Posted by: kkmm | August 20, 2009 at 02:16 AM
Oh and PS I prefer roblox it concerns you ik but im very popular on roblox and its fun for kids
Posted by: kkmm | August 20, 2009 at 02:17 AM
Hi Will and KKMM,
Yes this is my site and I'm happy that you left comments. Clearly based on your comments, you are older than my kids. I appreciate that you pointed out the good parts and the bad parts of roblox. I still think it isn't right for my little kids, but perhaps for older, tech savvy kids as yourselves you can tell good from bad and can enjoy the game.
Enjoy the game,
Eric
Posted by: PardonMyFrench | August 20, 2009 at 02:08 PM
How did you know it was me I play roblox and my name is kkmm and I poste about the one with the war signs
Posted by: kkmm | August 20, 2009 at 03:50 PM
Typepad provides the name you used to make a post.
Eric
Posted by: PardonMyFrench | August 20, 2009 at 04:02 PM
My son LOVES creating new worlds on Roblox. I like that he is learning basic programming skills and gaining an understanding of how online interaction can occur… in a relatively “safe” environment. Thanks for sharing your experience too!
Posted by: Travel Resorts | August 21, 2009 at 02:40 AM
My son LOVES creating new worlds on Roblox. I like that he is learning basic programming skills and gaining an understanding of how online interaction can occur… in a relatively “safe” environment. Thanks for sharing your experience too!
Posted by: Travel Resorts | August 21, 2009 at 02:52 AM
Hello,
I am a ROBLOX player over 13.You should not worry the nuke part it is nothing!Well it is just like a little boom sound and a explosion nothing realistic! Ask your children to show you what it is. When you die a lego falls that is it! It is a safe online game ask someone who has played this before! The only thing's you need to worry about is people on the website.Don't let you'r children accept a friends request before asking you. Also watch out for bad people names!That is almost it but the last thing I am concerd about is online daters. You can stop this by letting you'r child not speak on games!Go to his/her's settings and hit filtered aand also Super Safe on! To make this easier make a parent account for you'r child.
Posted by: ROBLOX Player | August 25, 2009 at 03:29 PM
One last thing I forgot in my other post is it is 99.9% Safe! I am over 13 again. I started roblox a year or two ago.It is problally one of the TOP most safe game's for kids.Just one more thing if you need anymore help please contact ROBLOX hq at [email protected]
You can also contact me
Posted by: ROBLOX Player | August 25, 2009 at 03:32 PM
Hi Roblox Player,
Thanks for your comments. You offered good advice. As you wrote, you are above 13 and my kids are much younger than that; I still don't believe Roblox is a safe environment for little kids especially with the tips that you and others have made in the comment section.
Eric
Posted by: PardonMyFrench | August 25, 2009 at 03:41 PM
First of all. Ive been playing ROBLOX for over 6 months. My virus system DOES NOT detect anything. I use avast. Not a dumb firewall system. I know the Nuke stuff is bad and what not. But its with blocks. Since when are they EVER going to see it in real life? And WHEN will they see someone die in real life? They usually are Over 16 When they see that. There is also a Report button if you didnt notice. Where you can report the name and Description. ROBLOX ROX FOO!
Posted by: Dalton | September 05, 2009 at 11:35 AM
Oh, by the way. If you buy This thing called "Builder's Club" Or "Turbo Builder's club" There will not be ANY off site links/ads. I am An advertiser on roblox. I make those type of ads but better. All you will see is User Created Ads. Theres also a "[Report]" Button on ALL ADS TOO!!! It's safe unless, you have Builder's Club (BC) Or Turbo Builder's Club (TBC)
Posted by: Dalton | September 05, 2009 at 11:39 AM
Dalton, thanks for your comments. You are obviously older than my kids so enjoy.
Eric
Posted by: PardonMyFrench | September 05, 2009 at 12:58 PM