Clash of the Clans?

8 replies

shudShudnt · 28/03/2014 20:32

My DS (9) has asked me to download Clash of the Clans for the Ipad, because all of his friends are playing it. A quick google suggests there's a risk of innapropriate chat and in-app purchases (which I realise I can block). I don't like the sound of it, but told him I would find out more. Any insights to offer to help me decide whether to say yes or no?

OP posts:

icancount · 28/03/2014 21:06

ds and his friends all had it, and we had no bad things happen! I think it was last year when they were 10yrs. dd played it too and she was 7. They got bored of it eventually, like everything.

I suppose you know your ds best - is he likely to buy in app extras? What would he do if there was 'bad chat'?
Ds used to make there own clans and just invite each other (as far as I know….).
I say yes, let him have it. But look at it every so often.

nobutreally · 28/03/2014 21:09

Meh, it's fine. Level of language depends on the clan they join -ds is only allowed to join clans with explicit 'no bad language' promises - of which there are loads. Ds tended to clan up with mates & went off it reasonably fast (2/3 month maybe?)

nobutreally · 28/03/2014 21:10

Oh, and my two know darn well never, ever to buy in app stuff, but I think clash f clans is actually pretty un-pressured vs lots of other stuff they play...

Fridayschild · 28/03/2014 21:20

the chat which is open to everyone is really dull. Your Ds should be allowed to join a clan with his friends only.

DS2 spent his pocket money on the in app purchases but it is perfectly possible to play without them and the game is a lot less pushy than others

angelcake20 · 28/03/2014 22:14

DCs (11 & 9) are in a closed group with school friends. Their previous open group had some language that was inappropriate (there is a profanity filter but there are ways around it), nothing too strong or nasty but more than they are used to.

Original poster

shudShudnt · 29/03/2014 06:32

Thanks all. Tell me the positives too. It's promoted as a strategy game. Does it have some educational benefit?

OP posts:

Willdoitinaminute · 29/03/2014 16:36

There have been some bullying issues at my DS's school, since there is a closed chat room for each clan as well as global chat. I have warned my DS that I check the posts regularly since I can download his clan onto my iPhone and he is only allowed to join the clan his friends are in.

Any inappropriate language or chat and I shut him down. I have had a long chat with him about grooming and general internet safety, a little earlier than I would have liked but he needs to understand that not everyone is who they say they are in the virtual world.

Belonging to a clan means they can help each other out by donating resources.
I think it is worth finding out if all his friends parents are aware their children are using this game. After a recent communication from school it was obvious that a number of parents had no idea that it had global chat.

SoldeInvierno · 30/03/2014 09:41

My DS plays in a closed clan with the other boys in his class. So far, no problems

Flip