If you have kids in elementary school, you have probably heard of Webkinz.
You buy the stuffed animals at specialty stores and use the attached secret code at their website. (they are not available at large chain stores but rather at smaller specialty stores – there is a store locator tool at www.webkinz.com) The secret code gives you access to the web version of the stuffed animal for one year – after this you have to pay a renewal fee if you want to continue for another year.
Once online, your web animal comes with a room, a few starter furnishings, and some virtual Kinzcash. You then play arcade style games to earn more Kinzcash, which your pet can use to buy virtual food, clothing, furnishings etc. You can play games against, chat with, and invite other Webkinz over to your room. However, the chat is limited to canned, preset phrases and only Webkinz that you have placed on your friends list can come over – you can also kick them out at any time.
There are also daily events which your pet can do once a day – among these is our favorite, the gem hunt. Every day your pet gets three chances to mine a gem. Once you acquire all of the available gems you get “the legendary crown of wonder”.
My kids each have one pet but many of their friends have several.
When toy ideas like this take off, I wonder how the project got started. Globeandmail.com has a good article on the background of Webkinz.
And families.com has a unique idea on how long distance family members can use Webkinz to keep in touch and stay involved in each others lives.
How many of your kids play Webkinz, and what are your thoughts about this virtual playground?
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
We love the webkinz — my daughter has 3 of them and my son has 2. They both would love more (my daughter’s friend just slept over and brought 5 of her 13!) but i won’t let them go too crazy. I like the variety of games they can play…i help my 5 yr old with the word challenge game and i even feel challenged. My daughter has connected with some of her friends through the website for game playing, and we even sent a webkinz to a friend of hers who moved to Paris and they’ve sent cards to each other through the website. Lots of great fun on the website—the kids love buying food and furnishing their rooms.
I’m curious as to what the charge will be after the first year. i’m off to read the article you mentioned.
I also like the word challenge game and it gives you good points too!
is Hallmark going to sell real
gems in the stores like the play
ones on webkinz?