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LEGO Universe (game)

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LEGO Universe (game) 07/12/2010 at 23:18 #2091
Peter Bennet
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5402 posts
My son's just bought this game thing which is a DVD you load on the computer but to actually use it you need to be connected to the LEGO Universe web site where everything happens (you build virtual LEGO models and interact with others on-line kind of LEGO SimSig). LEGO seem to pride themselves in providing a child friendly system with various levels of protection of the little dears. Anyway set it up last night and it took the best part of 3 hours of faffing about trying to get it to work. Now the problem was eventually traced to my O/S "parental controls".

The only way it will actually work is to switch off the controls which has to be the ultimate irony- a children's game that fails the parental control system. I even had to specifically enable the web-site to pass the filter- the only web-site I've ever needed to do that for.

Oddly there does not seem to be any mention of this fact on the web-site or forum so maybe I'm one of the few parents that actually try and use parental controls. Even turning the various levels to minimum protection is not good enough it seems.

Am waiting for some response from LEGO's complaint department.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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LEGO Universe (game) 07/12/2010 at 23:18 #12813
Peter Bennet
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5402 posts
My son's just bought this game thing which is a DVD you load on the computer but to actually use it you need to be connected to the LEGO Universe web site where everything happens (you build virtual LEGO models and interact with others on-line kind of LEGO SimSig). LEGO seem to pride themselves in providing a child friendly system with various levels of protection of the little dears. Anyway set it up last night and it took the best part of 3 hours of faffing about trying to get it to work. Now the problem was eventually traced to my O/S "parental controls".

The only way it will actually work is to switch off the controls which has to be the ultimate irony- a children's game that fails the parental control system. I even had to specifically enable the web-site to pass the filter- the only web-site I've ever needed to do that for.

Oddly there does not seem to be any mention of this fact on the web-site or forum so maybe I'm one of the few parents that actually try and use parental controls. Even turning the various levels to minimum protection is not good enough it seems.

Am waiting for some response from LEGO's complaint department.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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LEGO Universe (game) 08/12/2010 at 04:59 #12814
UKTrainMan
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1803 posts
It could be the case of an overzealous parental control program. Alternatively, if this is a new game "thing" then whoever is behind the parental controls program/application may not have updated it in-time to recognise the DVD/game, etc, as safe. Finally, another possibility is that it sees it as an online game and may err on the side of caution due to this.
Any views and / or opinions expressed by myself are from me personally and do not represent those of any company I either work for or am a consultant for.
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LEGO Universe (game) 08/12/2010 at 08:28 #12816
northroad
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872 posts
Peter,
You should be guiding him to more useful pastimes and games. I can think of one straight away that is educational, as long or short as you want each session to be, needs no parental controls, challenging and what's more is free.........need I say more apart from they also have a very good forum which I am writing on right now.

Geoff.

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LEGO Universe (game) 08/12/2010 at 10:30 #12819
kbarber
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1742 posts
Quite right Geoff! I was started before I could walk (I'm told I learned to walk on the frame at Spalding No. 1). In those pre-computer days we didn't have sims so I just had to learn on the real thing :lol:
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LEGO Universe (game) 08/12/2010 at 12:34 #12820
Peter Bennet
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5402 posts
Yes…… he has attempted to make his own simulation of the box at Dalek Junction which consisted of a single track circuit crossing 6 screens. Please don’t ask when it’ll be ready…..


Turning back to the farce that is LEGO Universe; having got passed the hurdle of actually getting the program to execute, by using my account, we then came up against a log-in problem. On-line chat established that we needed to check the router ports were open so I asked which number to check and the answer was a list of 201 (almost consecutive which made it a bit easier). Apparently the program will select one at random.

Have now lodged a complaint about the whole risible farce- can’t actually call the Freephone number as it appears not to be a UK one albeit it’s the one for UK residents (00800 something). I’d consider myself vaguely computer literate so how complete numpties cope is anyone’s guess.

Peter

I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs!
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LEGO Universe (game) 08/12/2010 at 14:29 #12823
clive
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2789 posts
00800 is international free phone, and should be free for you to call (at least from a landline).
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