Webkinz: Difference between revisions
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* [http://kinzparty.info WebKinz Party] |
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* [http://www.webkinz-recipes.net WebKinz Recipes] |
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* [http://webkinz2009.com WebKinz Info] |
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* [http://www.webkinz.com/ Webkinz official website] |
* [http://www.webkinz.com/ Webkinz official website] |
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Revision as of 20:30, 5 September 2007
 | This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. |
Webkinz are stuffed animals that were originally released by the Ganz gift company in 2005. The toys are similar to many other small plush toys, however they come with a special code on their labels that allows access to the "Webkinz World" which is a site website to "adopt" a virtual version of the pet for virtual interaction. There is are also smaller versions of the toys called "Lil' Kinz". [1]
The toys have been marketed in similar fashion to Ty Beanie Babies with some being retired after some time, which encourages high secondary selling prices. Webkinz have been extremely popular, with Ganz claiming more than 2 million units sold to retailers and 1 million registered users of the Webkinz website. At the height of the toys' popularity, shortages of supply at some stores have been reported. [2] [3] NPD Group reports that the product brought in more than $1 million (USD) in United States retail sales in 2006. [4]
Gameplay
When a user adopts a Webkinz pet, they give it a name, gender, and enter its secret code. The user is then given basic items such as a room, a welcome balloon, a food item, one or two pieces of furniture, and the Webkinz unique food and special item. Upon the adoption of the pet, certain items are considered unique to the pet - such as "special" food or other special items. After every fifth pet starting with the tenth adoption, the user will receive a special bed called a Super Bed. These beds are also called super exclusives and they come in many different varieties. 2,000 in Kinzcash is also given to buy food and to buy items for the pet's virtual house.[5] After you add another pet onto your account you also get a "rare" item. You won't get a "super bed" till you get ten pets though.
Much of the gameplay involves the earning and spending of Kinzcash, the Webkinz World version of virtual currency. Earning Kinzcash involves playing multiple minigames, including quizzes and arcade games. This virtual currency can then be used to purchase items for the virtual pet. [2] Each pet has levels of happiness, health, and hunger that decrease as time is spent with that Webkinz pet. They can be increased by feeding, playing with, exercising, bathing the pet and answering surveys. [citation needed] If these meters get too low, the virtual pet becomes sick and must take the special medicine prescribed at the virtual clinic where "Dr.Quack" is the doctor. [6] The online game is free to use for one year after the purchase of the first toy, then a user must re-enter the code that the pet came with to continue playing. There is a grace period of 30 days during which users can still access their accounts after which their account will be deactivated. Their pets, Kinzcash, and other items will be kept intact for a minimum of 30 days after the account has been deactivated. If the user does not re-enter the code within that period, the account WILL be deleted unless renewed. [7] Adopting a new pet will give the user another year of access.[8] If multiple pets are added, the account will expire one year from the last pet registered. In the summer of 2007, Ganz introduced sets of trading cards, Mouse pads, and charms and a charm necklace to further augment the toys' gameplay. Much like the toy line, the trading cards and charms include codes that allow access to parts of the Webkinz website. The codes that are supplied with the charms allow access to the site's "Charm Forest." There are also Webkinz backpacks to carry your pet in and Webkinz purses. However, these do not come with secret codes. Ganz is also planning to release other Webkinz-themed accessories in Fall 2007, such as Webkinz clothes with web site codes. [9]
Parental concerns
Concerns have been raised about childrens' use and overuse of the toys. Some worry that children will become addicted to the game. [10] There have been concerns about the website's online chat system. However, the chat system has various safety precautions, with restrictions on who can send messages and what message can be sent. In the "Kinzchat" chat room, users cannot type, but can choose phrases to say from a list. However there is a Kinzchat Plus that allows you to type your own messages using words from a special dictionary.[11] Concerns have also been raised about the toys being a distraction in schools, causing the toys to be banned in some schools.[12] [13] Concerns were also raised when the once advertisement-free site [14] started displaying advertisements encouraging children to be healthy including brushing teeth, eating fruit and vegetables and so forth. There are also links to games and activites, although the games are all inside Webkinz World. [citation needed]
References
- ^ Geiger, Debbe (2007-02-11). "Welcome to Webkinz world". Newsday. Retrieved 2007-04-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Hawn, Carleen (2007-03-23). "Time to play, money to spend". Business 2.0. Retrieved 2007-04-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Linn, Allison (2007-04-27). "Webkinz sparks a craze, and a shortage". MSNBC. Retrieved 2007-07-12.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Tiwari, Neha (2007-05-10). "Webkinz: I fell in love with a cyber alley cat". CNET. Retrieved 2007-07-12.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Webkinz - Account FAQ (See "What do I get for each adoption?")".
- ^ "Webkinz - FAQ for Parents (See "What if the Webkinz pet gets sick?")". Retrieved 2007-05-17.
- ^ "Webkinz - User Agreement". Retrieved 2007-06-24.
- ^ "Webkinz - Renewal Information". Retrieved 2007-04-23.
- ^ "Webkinomics: Cute, Cuddly and Creating a Halo Effect". Advertising Age. 2007-08-20. Retrieved 2007-08-20.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Is the Webkinz Craze Bad for Kids?". ABC News. 2007-04-12. Retrieved 2007-04-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Pardo, Steve (2007-04-11). "Kids hooked on Webkinz world". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2007-04-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Seltz, Johanna (2007-04-08). "Toy causes classroom distraction". Retrieved 2007-07-12.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Lazarowitz, Elizabeth (2007-07-30). "Webkinz: Big money lessons for little kids". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2007-08-20.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Barakat, Matthew (2007-07-13). "Review: Webkinz pleases parents and children". MSNBC.
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