Bin Weevils: Difference between revisions
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'''Bin Weevils''' is a children's [[massively multiplayer]] [[online game]]; it is developed and published by 55pixels. The game was first published in 2003 by [[Nickelodeon]], of which it became independent of in 2007. Bin Weevils won the [[British Academy Children's Awards]] in the Websites category every year from 2011 to 2014,<ref name="bafta2011">{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2011/childrens/bafta-kids-vote-powered-by-yahoo-top-10s-websites|title=Children's {{!}} BAFTA Kids Vote Powered By Yahoo! - Website in 2011}}</ref><ref name="bafta2012">{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2012/childrens/bafta-kids-vote-2010-top-10s-websites|title=Children's {{!}} BAFTA Kids' Vote - Website in 2012}}</ref><ref name="bafta2013">{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2013/childrens/bafta-kids-vote-2010-top-10s-websites|title=Children's {{!}} BAFTA Kids' Vote - Website in 2013}}</ref><ref name="bafta2014">{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2014/childrens/bafta-kids-vote-website|title=Children's {{!}} BAFTA Kids' Vote - Website in 2014}}</ref> and was shortlisted in the Games category in 2015.<ref name="bafta2015">{{cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/bafta-kids-vote-shortlist-announced|title=BAFTA Kids Vote: Shortlist Announced}}</ref> |
'''Bin Weevils''' is a children's [[massively multiplayer]] [[online game]]; it is developed and published by 55pixels. The game was first published in 2003 by [[Nickelodeon]], of which it became independent of in 2007. Bin Weevils won the [[British Academy Children's Awards]] in the Websites category every year from 2011 to 2014,<ref name="bafta2011">{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2011/childrens/bafta-kids-vote-powered-by-yahoo-top-10s-websites|title=Children's {{!}} BAFTA Kids Vote Powered By Yahoo! - Website in 2011}}</ref><ref name="bafta2012">{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2012/childrens/bafta-kids-vote-2010-top-10s-websites|title=Children's {{!}} BAFTA Kids' Vote - Website in 2012}}</ref><ref name="bafta2013">{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2013/childrens/bafta-kids-vote-2010-top-10s-websites|title=Children's {{!}} BAFTA Kids' Vote - Website in 2013}}</ref><ref name="bafta2014">{{cite web|url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/2014/childrens/bafta-kids-vote-website|title=Children's {{!}} BAFTA Kids' Vote - Website in 2014}}</ref> and was shortlisted in the Games category in 2015.<ref name="bafta2015">{{cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/bafta-kids-vote-shortlist-announced|title=BAFTA Kids Vote: Shortlist Announced}}</ref> |
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In May 2017, the company released a Beta version of a new game named "Weevil World", for mobile and desktop, with the public release following a month later.{{ |
In May 2017, the company released a Beta version of a new game named "Weevil World", for mobile and desktop, with the public release following a month later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.binweevils.com/weevil-world-now-available|title=Bin Weevils Blog - Weevil World - Now Available!|website=news.binweevils.com|access-date=2019-07-07}}</ref> |
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== Features == |
== Features == |
Revision as of 06:47, 7 July 2019
![]() | This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. (July 2017) |
Bin Weevils | |
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Publisher(s) | 55Pixels, Nickelodeon |
Engine | Flash |
Platform(s) | Browsers That Support flash eg: Chrome and Firefox for PC and Puffin for mobile |
Release | 2007 |
Genre(s) | Free Online Virtual World |
Bin Weevils is a children's massively multiplayer online game; it is developed and published by 55pixels. The game was first published in 2003 by Nickelodeon, of which it became independent of in 2007. Bin Weevils won the British Academy Children's Awards in the Websites category every year from 2011 to 2014,[1][2][3][4] and was shortlisted in the Games category in 2015.[5]
In May 2017, the company released a Beta version of a new game named "Weevil World", for mobile and desktop, with the public release following a month later.[6]
Features
Bin Weevils is based around the theme of the real creatures, weevils. The game is set in a "bin", with numerous places being designed specifically for this theme (e.g. Flum's Fountain, Dirt Valley, and Gong's Pipenest), designed using items you would usually find in a bin, such as cardboard. Users have their own "nest" (a house or home in the game) they can customize by buying items from the 'Shopping Mall' and placing them in their nest accordingly. The user nest can have up to 8 rooms, a private cinema, a garden, and a plaza. Some of these features like extra nest rooms or a bigger garden can only be obtained by paying for a membership (referred to as a 'Bin Tycoon' membership) which offers other features for members, including the ability to purchase hats and other exclusive items.
All users have a garden in their nest, in which they can plant and harvest plants from the 'Garden Shop'. Harvesting a plant earned the user in-game money ("Mulch") and experience points ("XP") which they could use to buy more items or contribute the points towards leveling up towards the next level. The Mulch is for spending, and the XP is for leveling up. There are 80 levels in total, but more are often added. Moreover, players can buy a virtual pet, known as a "Bin Pet", bed, clothes, and many other items by completing the in-game missions or by purchasing them with real money.
Another currency, Dosh, was added in 2012, and it replaced Bin Tycoon limits and high Mulch prices in many places, although it also requires payment with real currency. From time to time, Dosh can be earned for free such as in puzzles. Users with a premium (Bin Tycoon) membership earn a monthly Dosh salary from an in-game ATM. With this Dosh, they can purchase hats and nest items. In the early states of the game, it was possible to buy Mulch Currency via the Membership page or earn it from games, puzzles etc - however, the ability to purchase Mulch was removed when Dosh was introduced and is the only currency available to purchase on the membership page at present.
Weevil World
According to the Weevil World support page, Weevil World is "an expansion to Bin Weevils" which can be played on any modern browser, iOS or Android device. The in-game currency is Mulch and Dosh, which can also be earned on Bin Weevils. The game has been designed to allow "cross-play" using the same account for both games.[7]
Features of Weevil World include new avatars, clothing, different mini games (such as Bubble Blast and Weevil Jump), multiplayer mini games (Connect 4, Paths and 3 different modes of Pool), new areas and Nest ratings. Users can spend their virtual currency on items to expand their nest, or clothing to dress up their avatars. The game runs on a "freemium" model, and Dosh, the premium, rarer currency, is available to purchase.[7]
Merchandise
Bin Weevils entered into a license agreement with the toy company Character Options to create a line merchandise based off the game.[8] In February 2012, Bin Weevils launched a magazine to celebrate their 2011 BAFTA Award.[9] In June 2012, Bin Weevils launched a trading card game.[10] In October 2012, Bin Weevils launched new toys including figurines and a Nest playset and also launched plushies and backpack clips along with clothes.[11][12] Bin Weevils also has a range of books. They announced in December 2012 that they had teamed up with music label Sony to create a music album called Bin Tunes. In December 2012 until January 2013, a competition was held for four children to write song for the album. In February 2013, the winners came to London at the studios to hear and perform their song. The album was released on 29 July 2013 with 12 children songs included onto the album.[13] The trading card series, Good vs WeEVIL, was released in late June 2013.[14] A new software for Bin Weevils called Arty Arcade released in early 2015 and is available for PC and Mac. A new game called Crater Craft was released in 2016.[15]
Membership
The Players can buy a membership for Bin Tycoon, this type of player gets special rewards in game eg: Dosh and Mulch both can be used to buy in-game items such as hats and items to decorate a user's nest or "plaza". Other benefits for Bin Tycoons include being able to adopt a Bin Pet, wear hats and go to special areas within the "Bin".
Criticism
In 2015, both Bin Weevils and Moshi Monsters were told to change the wording of their in-app advertisements by the Advertising Standards Authority, who said that the adverts pressured players to buy items inside the game.[16] 55pixels, the company that operates the game, said that "as soon as [we] were made aware of the complaint made to the Advertising Standards Authority about a potential breach, and once we had understood the area for concern, we changed all our membership pages to comply with their recommendations. [The ASA] subsequently upheld the complaint about the original wording but referenced that we now complied, in the text of the ruling."
References
- ^ "Children's | BAFTA Kids Vote Powered By Yahoo! - Website in 2011".
- ^ "Children's | BAFTA Kids' Vote - Website in 2012".
- ^ "Children's | BAFTA Kids' Vote - Website in 2013".
- ^ "Children's | BAFTA Kids' Vote - Website in 2014".
- ^ "BAFTA Kids Vote: Shortlist Announced".
- ^ "Bin Weevils Blog - Weevil World - Now Available!". news.binweevils.com. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
- ^ a b "Weevil World: What is Weevil World?". 55 Pixels Support. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
- ^ "Web craze's toy story; Merchandising". The Independent. p. 56.
- ^ Andrew Laughlin (16 February 2012). "Bin Weevils kids' social network launches magazine". Digital Spy. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ dotAgency. "404 - Toys 'n' Playthings". toysnplaythings.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "BLE 2012: New Bin Weevils Toy Collection arrives". toynews-online.biz. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|dead-url=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "BinWeevils clothing and bag ranges to launch this Autumn - Toy World Magazine". toyworldmag.co.uk. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Could YOU write the next big hit tune? - Bin Weevils". binweevils.com. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "Bin Weevils Good vs WeEvil Trading Cards Have Arrived! - Bin Weevils". binweevils.com. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ "55pixels - Multi award winning gaming studio". 55Pixels. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
- ^ Rawlinson, Kevin (26 August 2015). "Ad watchdog rebukes Moshi Monsters". Retrieved 6 July 2019.