Apple Wants to Keep Kids Away From WoW
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 14th 2006 at 8:04PM
Metroblogging Azeroth points out something interesting over on Apple's page touting its new Leopard version of the OS X operating system. Apparently it's profitable now to sell software that keeps your kids away from WoW. After all, 40% of us are addicted, right?Of course, Apple's used to bashing other software makers (uh oh, now I'm going to have the Apple fanboys on my case). But I say-- why stop there? There must be a huge market in keeping people from playing WoW. How about an anti-WoW mouse that shakes uncontrollably whenever the client is loaded, causing you to be unable to even place an auction? Or an anti-WoW monitor that's made to go off right when you're able to grab the flag in WSG? Anything is possible!
Then again, maybe I shouldn't be so harsh with Apple. After all, this feature is "Because You Said So," so, there must be lots of parents out there who want their kids off of the game. And heck, if parental controls can rid us of those twelve and thirteen-year-olds begging for "epix" in the main cities, I'm all for it.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Add-Ons
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Motoi Aug 14th 2006 9:01PM
lol is this an Anti- Apple protest or what? Just because some parent wants a kid to have a specific game time does not been its a WoW bashing feature.... better yet, Apple has shown at least some consideration into adding this OPTIONAL features. WoW is one of the most popular games, so why not use it as an example?
cheezedog420 Aug 14th 2006 9:32PM
Sorry to anyone that owns one, (And to parrents that let small children read this forum,) but Fuck Apple Computers. I don't care for trendy Alpha buyer products, and thats all Apple is. Its just a anouther computer with a trendy logo on it, and the terribly annoying need for a compleatly diffrent software package because they need to set themself appart from the rest of the known world that uses Microsoft for all there important computer related needs.
And that one mouse button shit they been pulling for year, When was the last time you ran a program that only needed one mouse click to do anything? Tactile control is good, trendy clean looks that prove to be fuctionless, BAD! Fuck Apple!
mike Aug 14th 2006 9:36PM
I think we need to put parental controls on cheeze's comment...
GameFreak42 Aug 14th 2006 9:44PM
I wouldn't be surprised if Blizzard supported this. After all, once you get someone paying $15/month for the game, you ideally want them to play just enough to keep paying, but not so much that you have to pay for more servers :)
Motoi Aug 14th 2006 9:45PM
lol Okay buddy... you're stuck in 1990 or something, cause the Mighty Mouse (two button mouse) came out quite a while ago. Also, PCs suck up viruses and spyware and can't run half of the professional programs that are out there. I bet you've never owned a Mac in your life, both of you, so try it out before you say anything without a base.
Justin Aug 14th 2006 10:04PM
Motoi, I'm sorry but the mighty mouse hardly counts as two buttons. It has got to be the worst mouse I have ever used. Infact, I would rather just have a one button mouse than a mighty mouse.
I also own a Macbook, and it is very nice. Apple makes some good products, but the mighty mouse is not one of them.
v Aug 14th 2006 10:09PM
If you're going to diss Apple you may want to diss Blizzard as well then, as they also allow parental control of WoW itself. Just go to their website into your account and you can set the time of day each week it will allow you to log into and play the game. It's actually very well done.
But of course, we wouldn't want to diss Blizzard for doing the same thing Apple is, now would we.
Daniel Jackson Aug 14th 2006 10:13PM
Your just being ridiculous and making a bigger deal of this then it is. The current generation of parents are bad parents. They need these technologies to be able to teach their kids they can't play the game all the time. It takes no effort on the parents either. They can set it up, and while their kid plays the game that will shut off by it's self they can go ignore their kid while watching TV.
Daniel Jackson Aug 14th 2006 10:15PM
I forgot to mention that I am a teenager, 15.
Zigbee Aug 14th 2006 11:08PM
Forget the Apple-bashing, the real problem here is they're advertising a feature that already exists in WoW accounts. Account owners can set up schedules that won't allow you to log in except during specific times. It can be customized hour by hour all week. Go find another game to pick on, Apple, Blizzard already has this one taken care of.
cheezedog420 Aug 15th 2006 12:30AM
@ Motoi & v... Im not dissing apple over parental controls, Its one of the few features I have no problem with, (Provided I can shut it off of course.) Nore Am I disapproving of the software Available for the Mac, but I do get along just fine with with the PC vertions of the software I do use, (Solidworks, Autocadd, 3D studio max, and Photoshop... and going to be learning Zbrush and Maya, in the next year or so...
What I am dissing Apple for is making computers that put case design priority over capability, and streamline design is more important over compatibility with the rest of the world, and the long term needs of its customers.
In Apple's world a computer is piece of artwork that function fallows form. One of the Apple computer's selling point is adds zen value to your desk space, because Its pretty, small, whiter then white, and has space age functional look to it. Because Apple computers put form over function, you end up with a piece of artwork for all your desktop needs. And Your not suppose to have to improve on this piece of artwork, (as its supposedly perfect by design...) Even the average Apple Mouse fallowed this principle of Form over Function. During most of the late 90s Apple mouse's only had one button. (Yea, I looked at the Mighty Mouse, it does put more function back into Apple mouse, But Im not impressed because it costs $109.00, or 2180 gold pieces.)
But the true is, this subverts the reason for the computer to be there. The actual purpose of the computer is to use software to animation, automation, invention, calculation, and entertain for you. Its not what the case looks like, but what happening on the screen that matters. And in this day and age where the next great video game/computer modeling program/whatever you use for a computer could require 3 GHz processor, and all the ram you can stuff into the motherboard, Upgradeability is paramount!
But with the Imac, and Mac Mini Apple computers, you can't do that. In fact, if you look at the IMac, or Mac Mini, you notice, there seems to be no way to open up the box...
http://www.apple.com/au/imac/gallery/index5.html
http://www.apple.com/au/macmini/design.html
Go ahead and look for how to get at the hard drive, and ram... I don't think you can without breaking the case.
So because hardware, and software quickly is outdated by better technology, most Apple computers deny there buyers the chance to upgrade with new requirements as they need too, and force them to buy new core units, (Mac Mini) or additional external units, (which will cost more then installable internal units, and do add clutter to ones desk top, self defeating the point of putting everything in a single box.
And even more sinful of all design flaws present in the IMac's, is once the hardware gets outdated on the IMac, you don't just throw away the hard drive, power cell, processor, motherboard, video card, and RAM. You throw away the Monitor away with that! The average color Monitor when treated right, will provide up to 20 years of use. (unlike the average computer that can be outdated in 5 years, and start malfunction in 6 hours of opening the package.) On top of that, the average monitor will cost (depending on size,) from 500 dollars 3000 dollars, or 10,000 to 60,000 gold pieces, (If you buy gold.) So you don't want to bother have to re-buy something as expensive as a monitor if it still has allot of useful life still left in it.
Now I know all computers are in the end throw away, And because I deal with Animation/Design software that puts me into the need the latest and greatest software/hardware crowd. But I think Macs in general are horrible because they are sold off to be cool, hip, products, that you buy because you should not worry about what the computer costs, and what it can do, because this year, its in, and has the best equipment available. Well that great for a year or two me, and maybe 3 to you, but eventually, it has to get upgraded, or replaced. And you just can do that.
And the hypocrisy of that bothers me most about Apples, is the people that buys these damned things are typically and supposedly environmentally friendly hipsters. Most of the people I met under this label will buy hemp clothing, and recycled paper, and It just gives me a head ack seeing yet another supposedly environmentally friendly asshole with a IMac on there desk. Expecally when I know that Imac is going right to the city dump it's 6th birthday.
boneyard Aug 15th 2006 3:58AM
i find the apple bashing for this kinda typical, not long ago a similar feature was published for windows vista. sure it didn't say it could be used for wow, but of course it can be.
Los Aug 15th 2006 7:33AM
Cheeze, Look at the recent Powermac. You can customize it any way you like. The case in imacs is fairly easy to open. Apple has screws, I beleive, that let you open the case without damaging it. That lets people to add RAM, and change the HD without any fuss.
The average consumers buys a computer that will work with little maintenace. I think thats what Apple offers. they dont want the ability to change the graphics card, they dont know what to do with 2 terabytes of HD space. So some people, who need all the above, will buy a Powermac.
I did a price comparison between two equally configured computers, a Powermac and a Dell. The Dell was more expensive by $500+.
Even my Macbook is extremely easy to get into. I could change the HD and RAM in 2 seconds.
BP Aug 15th 2006 8:23AM
"(Yea, I looked at the Mighty Mouse, it does put more function back into Apple mouse, But Im not impressed because it costs $109.00, or 2180 gold pieces.)"
Thats a ridiculous price for a mouse...and I need to find out what server you are on for 2k gold to be 109 bucks :)
illovich Aug 15th 2006 9:39AM
First, I'm not going to get into an Apple argument, because arguing about what OS is "better" or which computer megacorporation is "better" is retarded. You might as well spout off on teh internets about how everyone who like Mallomars is mentally ill.
Second, I work in computers so I get asked a lot of questions by the various people where I work. By far, the #1 question I get asked by parents is what's the best way to control their kids internet use.
Apple didn't add this feature because of WoW, or because they hate kids. They added this feature because parents (who buy the computers) want this feature. End of story.
I bet 5 internet points of honor that a similar feature is in Vista, if it ever comes out (snicker!). Heh. Vista. Can't wait, can't wait. (snicker!)
Brasti Aug 15th 2006 9:53AM
Nice going Mike. Maybe next time you'll post something on religeon or politics and see what comments you get.
Tyler Aug 15th 2006 10:02AM
Again... WoW players are making a bigger deal out of this than it really is. If they had said Quake 4 or something like that you'd pass over it without even a second thought.
Apple mentioned World of Warcraft because it is a popular game that parents (you know, those *old* people) would recognize. The fallacy in the argument that "Apple is 'picking' on World of Warcraft" is that this feature will work on any application.
Hell, Parental Controls have been on OS X for some time now. In 10.4, you can go in to the preferences pane right now and just outright ban World of Warcraft and any other application from even executing.
mike Aug 15th 2006 11:26AM
Brasti, you got me :) I don't really think Apple is out to get Blizzard, and I do enjoy it when I see a good Apple/PC fight. But I do think it's interesting that they picked our game as something that should be parentally controlled-- why didn't they pick something gorier or scarier? I think WoW hardly qualifies as "adult entertainment."
Then again, maybe there's just no other popular games that run native on OS X... (whoops, there I go again :) )
Mat Aug 15th 2006 11:55AM
Anyone that feels the need to draw a line between Apple and "PCs" just so they can stand on either side really limits themselves.
I suppose you could say it's the same way with our country being so often polarized on Democrat v. Republican.
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO MEETING IN THE MIDDLE?! -_-;;;
P.S. What's with the shit grammar people? I mean, seriously...
Jolygreen Aug 15th 2006 12:16PM
I find it funny that whenever someone says somthing bad about apple computers all the Mac fanboys get militant. I don't see this happening when someone bashes PC and all of it's flaws. Maybe that says something about the insecurity of the mac user. Don't get me wrong I see a lot of nice things comming from Apple, but c'mon people learn to take a little criticism.
About the parental controls I say good for them. If they can make it easier for parents to keep their 12-13 year old from bothering me in-game with requests for money and items: FABULOUS! Besides,c'mon, they ARE using macs...