Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Exclusive: Nickelodeon's Kyra Reppen on Monkey Quest]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/exclusive-nickelodeons-kyra-reppen-on-monkey-quest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/exclusive-nickelodeons-kyra-reppen-on-monkey-quest/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/08/exclusive-nickelodeons-kyra-reppen-on-monkey-quest/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

With family-themed MMOs attracting an ever-growing number of players, it's little surprise that Nickelodeon has tossed its hat into the ring with the launch of Monkey Quest. It's a browser-based, light-hearted MMO that combines the action style of console games with the virtual world and questing that's traditional to MMOs. It's free-to-play, but it also offers several different subscription plans to suit practically every playstyle.

Massively was happy to talk with Nickelodeon Senior Vice President Kyra Reppen about Monkey Quest, the challenges of creating a kid-themed MMO, and trends for the genre overall. Read on for all the details!

Continue reading Exclusive: Nickelodeon's Kyra Reppen on Monkey Quest

MassivelyExclusive: Nickelodeon's Kyra Reppen on Monkey Quest originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedfamily-friendlyfeaturedinterviewinterviewskid-friendlykidskyra-reppenmonkey-questneopetsnick-game-cardsnickelodeonpetpet-parkspongebobFri, 08 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO Family: A parent's look at Neopets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/mmo-family-a-parents-look-at-neopets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/mmo-family-a-parents-look-at-neopets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/mmo-family-a-parents-look-at-neopets/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


MMO Family is your resource for leveling a gaming-specced family, from tips on balancing gaming with family life to finding age-appropriate online games for everyone in the family.

Neopets is one of those uber-cute browser-based games that seems to have been around forever but is still going strong. It's a game that's aimed at younger kids, but it somehow manages to attract older kids as well -- and is often a guilty pleasure for their parents too.

My kids are fans of Neopets from way back, and I confess to keeping a few of the adorable little pets for my very own. So what's the attraction here? Let's take a look!

Continue reading MMO Family: A parent's look at Neopets

MassivelyMMO Family: A parent's look at Neopets originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserbrowser-basedf2pfamilyfeaturedfree-to-playftpkidsmmo-familyneopetsparents-guideparents-guide-to-kids-and-family-gamingTue, 07 Dec 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Plenty of gaming options for today's 'tweens]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/plenty-of-gaming-options-for-todays-tweens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/plenty-of-gaming-options-for-todays-tweens/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/plenty-of-gaming-options-for-todays-tweens/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

According to this MSNBC article, there are no less than 200 youth-oriented virtual worlds and MMOs either in development or on the market. Some of these titles even boast account numbers that rival Facebook and MySpace as analysts estimate 30M users in Club Penguin, 52M users in Neopets, and 90M in Habbo.

Is this really surprising though? Probably not when you consider that kids today aren't totally different in this generation than previous generations. 'Tweens have always liked to socialize, play, and simply "hang out." The difference nowadays is that parents tend to have looser restrictions and the kids can accomplish most of the things they like to do without even leaving a computer chair. The rules and tools have changed.

The article also talks about a 89/10/1 rule that most F2P/RMT games aim for. This rule assumes that 89% of people will play your game for free, 10% will pay the minimum, and 1% will spend lots of money. Apply that rule to the recent announcements that both Free Realms and Runes of Magic have surpassed 1M users. If the rule applies, it means 100,000 people are paying the basic fees (~$5/month) and 10,000 are spending oodles on extras ($15+/month). That's roughly $650,000 per month, which isn't half bad depending on your development costs.

MassivelyPlenty of gaming options for today's 'tweens originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 May 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>club-penguinfacebookfree-realmsgaminghabbo-hotelkidsmmorpgmsnbcmyspaceneopetsrunes-of-magictweensvirtual-worldsFri, 22 May 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Twin Skies scraps their 3D MMO plans to focus on a F2P Flash game]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/twin-skies-scraps-their-3d-mmo-plans-to-focus-on-a-f2p-flash-gam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/twin-skies-scraps-their-3d-mmo-plans-to-focus-on-a-f2p-flash-gam/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/02/twin-skies-scraps-their-3d-mmo-plans-to-focus-on-a-f2p-flash-gam/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


You may remember Twin Skies from our extensive interview with Meteor Games at PAX earlier this year. The game looked very promising and we had nothing but good things to say about it. In a surprising announcement made today, we get word that they're actually scrapping the 3D part of the project to focus on the Flash-based content, making some storyline changes and turning it into a free-to-play model.

While this news is both good and bad for die hard fans, it does change quite a bit about the whole game. The integration of a 3D world with a 2D Flash-based client was going to be something special. Of course, the company's CEO, Adam Powell, says that they may revisit this concept at a later date, but he attributes these changes to the current economic problems that are affecting everyone these days. We wish the folks at Meteor Games the very best, and hope this new approach to Twin Skies works well for them and the players!

MassivelyTwin Skies scraps their 3D MMO plans to focus on a F2P Flash game originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adam-powelleconomyflash-basedmeteor-gamesneopetstwin-skiesFri, 02 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: MMOs for Newbies?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/the-daily-grind-mmos-for-newbies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/the-daily-grind-mmos-for-newbies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/03/the-daily-grind-mmos-for-newbies/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Wizard101 launched just yesterday, and it's enough to get us thinking about the growing field of youth-oriented MMOs. Despite their intentions, these 'kiddie' games are actually great on a number of levels. Not only do they fulfill the obvious demographic needs (games for young kids, games for teens, games parents can play with their kids) many of them are quality enough to be worth playing by adults.

So we wanted to ask today: what 'kiddie' games are you playing? Do you think the new crop of kid and teen-oriented MMOs is a good thing, or a bad thing? Looking forward to SOE's Free Realms as much as the Massively crew is? And most of all, what MMOs would you suggest for folks looking to get their kids into games?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: MMOs for Newbies? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>club-penguinfeaturedfree-realmskid-gameskidsneopetsopiniontdgthe-daily-grindwizard101Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Pancakes?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/the-daily-grind-pancakes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/the-daily-grind-pancakes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/06/the-daily-grind-pancakes/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Pancakes, just about everyone loves 'em. They're deliciously light and fluffy and can be sweetened with everything from blueberries to chocolate chips. Just like their flat 'n tasty counterparts, Pancake MMOs are light, fluffy and sweet all over. Hello Kitty Online, Go Pets, Neopets, Free Realms, Club Penguin and the near bouquet-size of franchise-based MMOs coming from Disney seem to be piling up on our proverbial plates. These MMOs can taste great and do tend to venture into fun, experimental game design territory. However, are they also like actual pancakes in that too many will cause everyone to grasp their collective stomachs and painfully moan, "Too many pancakes!" or can we stomach endless amounts of soft, tasty sweetness?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Pancakes? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>club-penguindisneyflapjacksfree-realmsgopetshello-kitty-onlinehkoneopetspancake-mmopancakesthe-daily-grindWed, 06 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Sears uses virtual worlds for back-to-school marketing strategy]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/sears-uses-virtual-worlds-for-back-to-school-marketing-strategy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/sears-uses-virtual-worlds-for-back-to-school-marketing-strategy/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/sears-uses-virtual-worlds-for-back-to-school-marketing-strategy/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Summer vacation is setting fast. Soon school classrooms will fill back up with eager students looking to display their latest duds and focus on buffing their intelligence. Shopping has to ensue before that big first day back, and Sears and coolness don't go together nor is it the likely first shopping choice. That's not preventing their marketing department from attempting to target teens in the back-to-school spending craze. Sears has a new strategy which is to promote their products and brand name through social networks and virtual worlds frequently inhabited by teens and kids.

The new virtual Sears fronts are endless arriving all across the Metaverse. A fashion event will he held in the Sears virtual store in Zwinky's Zwinchester Mall. 3d avatar creator Meez also has Sears B-T-S boutique offering clothing, backgrounds, and animations. Additional promotions will run across Alloy. The Gofish network will be hosting a runway contest in the Cartoon Doll Emporium and also at WeeWorld. Another Sears shop is present in Poptropica and The-N.com. NeoPets has some virtual Sears's goodies in their summer faire event. If that wears you out, Sears wants everyone to lounge around. It's commercial fun for the whole family, well not this blogger. Nonetheless, it's still interesting to see the searing crossover.

[Via Virtual World News]

MassivelySears uses virtual worlds for back-to-school marketing strategy originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advertisingalloyback-to-schoolbrandingcartoon-doll-emporiumcrossovergofishmarketingmarketing-virtual-worldmetaverseneopetsreal-world-virtual-tie-insearssocial-networkingthe-nvirtual-marketsvirtual-worldsvwsweeworldzwinkySun, 20 Jul 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[2008 Worlds in Motion Summit schedule announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/2008-worlds-in-motion-summit-schedule-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/2008-worlds-in-motion-summit-schedule-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/20/2008-worlds-in-motion-summit-schedule-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The 2008 Worlds in Motion Summit schedule has been announced, along with a synopsis of this year's speeches and panels. The conference on virtual worlds and social gaming will be held on September 16th and 17th, during the Austin Game Developers Conference.

Worlds in Motion bills the 2008 Summit as a conference geared toward those who wish to better understand the business opportunities offered in the expanding social game networking space, and who plan to leverage their content and brands into interactive online worlds. Early bird registration ends July 31st; details can be found at the Austin GDC homepage. Read on after the jump for highlights of the upcoming 2008 Worlds in Motion Summit.

Continue reading 2008 Worlds in Motion Summit schedule announced

Massively2008 Worlds in Motion Summit schedule announced originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>areaeaustinbunchballbusiness-modelsconferencedouble-fusionelectric-sheepelectric-sheep-companygame-mechanicsgdcmetaversenbcneopetsnumedeonopportunitiesopportunityraph-kostersecond-lifesocialsocial-gaming-networksulakesummitthree-ringsvirtual-worldswhyvilleworlds-in-motionzwinkySun, 20 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Neopets creators enter the MMO world with Twin Skies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/13/neopets-creators-enter-the-mmo-world-with-twin-skies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/13/neopets-creators-enter-the-mmo-world-with-twin-skies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/13/neopets-creators-enter-the-mmo-world-with-twin-skies/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

After a bit of a tease a couple of weeks ago, Meteor Games, founded by the creators of the kids Flash game portal Neopets, has announced details of their first-ever MMO. Twin Skies will be a blend of a traditional, 3D MMO with innovative out-of-game elements. For instance, certain web-based mini-games can earn you a monster in-game, who will roam about, fight, and even send you pictures of the hapless newbies it kills. That ... is so deliciously evil. Other mini-games could change the weather in-game, open a chest full of loot, or other game-changing things. Continuing with the theme from Neopets, every Twin Skies player will have their own pet to aid them in their travels. While killing beasties will be one way of progressing through the game, the social aspects and of course, the mini-games, will keep people busy no matter how they like to play.

Kids have no expectations of what MMOs are like, so it's easier for companies to innovate. Playing web-based minigames to aid your character in-game, or just messing with people by spawning monsters on them -- you'll be able to play some parts of Twin Skies no matter where you are. That's a trend you'll certainly see more of in the future.

[Via Under Twin Skies]

MassivelyNeopets creators enter the MMO world with Twin Skies originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browserfantasyforumsgame-mechanicskidsmeteor-gamesneopetsnew-titlenewstwin-skiesSun, 13 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Neopets founders announce a new MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/neopets-founders-announce-a-new-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/neopets-founders-announce-a-new-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/neopets-founders-announce-a-new-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Started in 1999, Neopets was one of the first kid-friendly online virtual worlds on the web, and is still fantastically popular today. Hoping to bring their success with Neopets into the MMO world, founders Adam Powell and Donna Williams started Meteor Games in 2007 to make a game targeted at a slightly higher age bracket than Neopets. Their still-unnamed MMO, due to be shown at this year's Penny Arcade Expo (PAX), will be a seamless, 3D world with elements drawn from today's top MMOs -- World of Warcraft is specifically mentioned.

Their new game will be a drastic departure from Neopets. Not only will it be a 3D world instead of a collection of minigames, but it won't be free to play. The founders believe they need a subscription in order to produce the highest quality game, but the price will be less than WoW, and there will be an item shop of some sort where new outfits, furniture and other non-unbalancing items may be bought. Meteor Games is also looking into ways to integrate cellphones into their game. Due out in some fashion in 2009, their MMO will enter a market already dominated by Runescape and will be competing directly with SOE's Free Realms, which promises to be free to play and run also on the Playstation 3.

Neopets is famous for its huge amount of content, involvement with players and accessibility. Can Meteor Games grab that same sort of success with a more traditional MMO? CEO Adam Powell explains their strategy in this interview with Gamasutra.

MassivelyNeopets founders announce a new MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>business-modelscasualfantasyfree-realmskidsmeteor-gamesneopetsnew-titlesnewspaxpax-2008penny-arcade-exposoeworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 02 Jul 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Social Gaming Summit: Casual MMOs and Immersive Worlds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/the-social-gaming-summit-casual-mmos-and-immersive-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/the-social-gaming-summit-casual-mmos-and-immersive-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/the-social-gaming-summit-casual-mmos-and-immersive-worlds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


Friday the 13th: An inauspicious day for the superstitious crowd, but a great day for attendees of the Social Gaming Summit, held in San Francisco. The day saw a schedule full of great panels, populated by some of the industry's finest movers and shakers, among them representatives from Gaia Online, Nexon, Three Rings, and Gamasutra, among others too numerous to list here.

A particular highlight of the conference for this blogger was the panel entitled "Casual MMOs and Immersive Worlds", which provided a lively discussion on what it means to create a virtual social space, how to monetize free-to-play content, and what exactly is a casual MMO? Trying to divide attention between listening raptly and taking notes is difficult; here is the result, along with the panelists, after the jump.

Continue reading The Social Gaming Summit: Casual MMOs and Immersive Worlds

MassivelyThe Social Gaming Summit: Casual MMOs and Immersive Worlds originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auditioncasual-gamesclub-penguineventfeaturedfree-to-playgaia-onlinejoystiqfeaturesk2-networkkart-riderlostmaple-storymassively-event-coveragemicrotransactionsneopetsnexonpanelplayerbasescionsocial-gaming-summittexas-hold-emWed, 18 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nickelodeon creates new divisions for online worlds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/nickelodeon-creates-new-divisions-for-online-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/nickelodeon-creates-new-divisions-for-online-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/18/nickelodeon-creates-new-divisions-for-online-worlds/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

$100,000,000 dollars buys you 5,000 online games and virtual worlds -- if you're Nickelodeon. The famous kids' cable channel has spent two years bringing these games onlines, and has plans for 1,600 more online games set in such properties as Spongebob Squarepants, iCarly, and Carrie the Caregiver. Current virtual words for Spongebob, NeoPets and a new property called, enigmatically, Monkey World, are being developed by the newly renamed Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group Virtual World Studios, previously known as NeoStudios. The new division is being helmed by current NeoPets senior VP and general manager, Kyra Reppen.

$20,000 per online game. Not yet known is how many of those 6,600 games are re-skinned clones of Minesweeper and Tetris.

MassivelyNickelodeon creates new divisions for online worlds originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>browsercarrie-the-caregivercasualfree-to-playicarlykidsmmo-industrymonkey-worldneopetsneoworldnew-titlesnewsnickelodeonWed, 18 Jun 2008 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Should MMOGs and virtual worlds be separate?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/the-daily-grind-should-mmogs-and-virtual-worlds-be-separate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/the-daily-grind-should-mmogs-and-virtual-worlds-be-separate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/the-daily-grind-should-mmogs-and-virtual-worlds-be-separate/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Friday held the Social Gaming Summit, a meeting of the luminaries of the various virtual worlds -- Gaia Online, Neopets, and IMVU to name a very few -- in San Francisco. This blogger was on hand for several of the panels, and came away with a deeper understanding of where the demarcation between massively multiplayer online game and virtual world was drawn. On the virtual world side, developers are beginning to incorporate more and more elements of what would normally be considered MMO-only features, like quests and leveling up.

However, similar integration of virtual world-like elements in MMOs has so far remained off-spec. Chat aside, games like World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, and City of Heroes don't have features like profiles with integrated blogs for players, or spaces in which one could post photos and media for others to enjoy. Is this something that might change as the Web 2.0 landscape evolves? Are MMOs better off remaining "pure"?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should MMOGs and virtual worlds be separate? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 14 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-of-heroesgaia-onlineimvulord-of-the-rings-onlineneopetsopinionsocial-gaming-summittdgthe-daily-grindvirtual-worldsweb-2.0world-of-warcraftSat, 14 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lost. The Monster. Reward: Cuteness.]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/lost-the-monster-reward-cuteness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/lost-the-monster-reward-cuteness/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/23/lost-the-monster-reward-cuteness/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Do you like cuteness? Do you like monsters? Do you like puzzles?

If you said yes to all three, then do we have the multiplayer game for you! As we reported earlier, Mind Candy, the crazy developers behind the super-huge alternate reality game Perplex City, have been working on something for the children. Their result is Moshi Monsters, a cross between a Tamagotchi, Brain Age, and sheer attitude.

The picture to the right is Smigglesnuff. Smigglesnuff likes two things: the word "miasma" and choptastic moves. Oh, sure, she enjoys the tickles I give her, but don't mess with her unless you want your face re-arranged. Go visit her if you want to find out for yourself.

Continue reading Lost. The Monster. Reward: Cuteness.

MassivelyLost. The Monster. Reward: Cuteness. originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabrowsercartooneducationalflashfree-to-playkidsmichael-smithmind-candymoshi-monstersneopetsnew-titlepreviewsmigglesnuffwebkinzWed, 23 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Your kids, Green.com and Spyware]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/your-kids-green-com-and-spyware/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/your-kids-green-com-and-spyware/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/17/your-kids-green-com-and-spyware/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


Is it okay to just be a little cynical when a marketing company such as InterActiveCorp (IAC) announces a new virtual world where kids can learn how to help the environment and "do good deeds in fun ways"? Especially when the current site at that address sells coupon books? No? Not okay? Well, it's possible that this could be the one kid-oriented site that doesn't try to sell children things under the guise of education... but the odds are against it. IAC, owners of such sites as Match.com, Ask.com, LendingTree and Ticketmaster, also announced Zwinktopia, a site where kids can earn (or buy) Zbucks to customize and equip their avatars -- Zwinkies -- which they may take offsite and share with friends or place on their MySpace pages. In the future, children will come home from school, sit at their computers, and actively seek out marketing so that they can earn the Neopoints, Zbucks, KidCash, Popularity Pennies and whatever else they feel they need to farm to have all the latest avatars and accessories. When children raised on virtual worlds graduate to MMOs, will they even notice the grind or understand the objections to RMT?

An additional warning to parents eager to let their children enjoy the pleasures of Zwinktopia -- the toolbar you must install in your browser is known to install a lot of adware and spyware on your computer. Here's the explanation from their site: "Bonus: Also includes Smiley Central[TM], Cursor Mania[TM], Popular Screensavers[TM], the MyWebSearch(R) search box and Search Assistant - relevant search results in response to incorrectly formatted browser address requests." Install at your own risk (the links under each add-on lead to a page where the risks of each are discussed. Suffice it to say that once you install the toolbar, everything you do on your computer will be watched and reported upon.)

MassivelyYour kids, Green.com and Spyware originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adwaregreeniacinteractivecorpneopetsrmtspywarezwinktopiaThu, 17 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Virtual Worlds 2008 overview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/virtual-worlds-2008-overview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/virtual-worlds-2008-overview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/virtual-worlds-2008-overview/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


The 2008 Virtual Worlds conference has come and gone, and the aftermath is gracing news sites all over the web. In a particularly in-depth article at Virtual World News, we get a first hand account of what went on. It's a no-brainer that the majority of business attendees focused on how to make money in virtual worlds. The Wall Street Journal calls this "virtual business 2.0", which is basically a few buzz words thrown together in an attempt to look hip and cool. We're certainly not saying that business has no place in a VW, but it can become a scary thought, ultimately.

Another prominent avenue explored at this event is that of children's virtual worlds, which are becoming increasingly popular. Neopets, Nickelodeon, Barbie and Dinokids were all on-hand to make sure their piece of the pie was well-represented.

MassivelyVirtual Worlds 2008 overview originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barbiedinokidsneopetsnickelodeonvirtual-worldsvwwall-street-journalThu, 10 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Kids are the focus at VW08]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/kids-are-the-focus-at-vw08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/kids-are-the-focus-at-vw08/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/kids-are-the-focus-at-vw08/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Businesses have tried marketing to adults in Second Life. It's not working out for them. Instead, adults are gravitating toward casual games, while it's children who have shown themselves to be most receptive to marketing in virtual worlds. Such is the feeling at the Virtual Worlds 2008 conference in New York City, where aside from a single booth promoting Linden Lab's Second Life Grid, the place seemed like a toy fair. Barbie Girls Online, Nickelodeon, Neopets and Dino Kids are getting the big buzz at VW08. Teen-oriented sites like MTV's vLES are mature by comparison.

Electric Sheep's Giff Constable says over the last three years, while he feels more people know what avatars are, he doesn't know any people over the time who have gotten one of their own. Part of that may be just what your definition of avatar is -- if it's meant to be an avatar on Second Life, that's one thing. An avatar in a social space like Facebook, perhaps something else.

Continue reading Kids are the focus at VW08

MassivelyKids are the focus at VW08 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barbiebarbie-girlsbarbie-girls-onlinedino-kidselectric-sheepelectric-sheep-companyfacebookgiff-constablelindenlinden-labmmo-industrymtvneopetssecond-lifeslvirtual-worlds-2008vlesvw08Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Barbie Girls Online: Been there, done that, got the tiara]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/barbie-girls-online-been-there-done-that-got-the-tiara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/barbie-girls-online-been-there-done-that-got-the-tiara/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/07/barbie-girls-online-been-there-done-that-got-the-tiara/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

How will you ever tell your little girl that her friend Jane is a special VIP in Barbie Girls Online, but you won't even give her a dented copper tiara? Jane's tiara is made of diamonds, platinum and unicorn hair! Your daughter: No tiara. You: resented in real life. But you're a good mommy or daddy, and you'll buy your little girl her VIP membership and her tiara will be gold, with rubies, because you love her just that much. Welcome to the wonderful world of getting to your wallet through your children.

It's not entirely new; Kid-oriented web sites such as Webkinz and Neopets have offered dolls with codes for use on their website for some years now, but they were real dolls, and the special perks on the website were theirs forever. They had something to keep when the computer was off. Now, your daughter's tenuous reign as VIP lasts only so long as you keep paying for a VIP membership. (Barbie Girls Online also requires a Barbie-shaped dongle/MP3 player to be plugged into the computer for full access but is not required for most of the site).

Continue reading Barbie Girls Online: Been there, done that, got the tiara

MassivelyBarbie Girls Online: Been there, done that, got the tiara originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>barbiebarbie-girlsbarbie-girls-onlinedisney-channelneopetsnickolodeonrmtshoppingsubscriptiontiaravipwebkinzMon, 07 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mytopia reinvents Yahoo! Games for the MySpace generation]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/mytopia-reinvents-yahoo-games-for-the-myspace-generation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/mytopia-reinvents-yahoo-games-for-the-myspace-generation/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/25/mytopia-reinvents-yahoo-games-for-the-myspace-generation/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Are casual, social games the wave of the future? In years to come, will we lovers of the swinging sword, the flashing fireball and the gigantic gun be left reminiscing about the "good old days" as we sign on for another evening of massively multiplayer bingo? The makers of Mytopia took a look into their crystal ball, saw the success of MySpace and Facebook and casual-game havens like Popcap, Yahoo! and Neopets and said, "These great tastes... would taste great together!"

Thus was born Mytopia, a Flash-based virtual world where you can create your own super-deformed avatar (like Wii's Miis) and play popular board and card games with people from around the world, build friends lists, send email, and gamble away virtual money challenging other players to backgammon, chess, Sudoku and several other similar games. It works not only as a standalone web site, but also as an application you can install in Facebook, MySpace or Bebo. No matter how you arrive in Mytopia, though, you'll be able to play with everyone else -- there's only one game world shared by all.

Mytopia has a cheerful art style, bouncy music, and well-rendered board games. What it does not have, though, is bloody avatar fights in the Battledome. Come on. Even Neopets has that.

[Via Techcrunch]

MassivelyMytopia reinvents Yahoo! Games for the MySpace generation originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backgammonbebochessfacebookflashflash-gamesmiimyspacemytopianeopetspopcappopcap-gamessudokuwiiyahooyahoo-gamesTue, 25 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nickelodeon's 1600 games and what it means for MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/nickelodons-1600-games-and-what-it-means-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/nickelodons-1600-games-and-what-it-means-for-mmos/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/19/nickelodons-1600-games-and-what-it-means-for-mmos/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Word's been floating around the gaming news space that Nickelodeon has put up a gigantic order for online games in their content space: they want to add 1,600 titles to their library, including some created by users. Obviously not all of those are MMOs (if you've ever spent any time around a kid in a browser, you'll have seen all the crazy flash games there are out there for them), but Nickelodeon's stable does include Neopets and Nicktropolis, both of which are super-casual virtual worlds.

Basically, online gaming for the youngster set is huge, and only growing bigger. And while what they're playing now isn't too exciting (most of it is all clones of each other, with not much more social interaction than chatting between minigames), today's AddictingGames.com players are the MMO players of tomorrow.

Think 10 million players is a big number for WoW to hit? That's nothing compared to the flood of young online gamers coming up right now. To them, there's no difference between online or offline games -- games are online and social, and Nickelodeon's big order only means there are going to be more and more of them.

MassivelyNickelodeon's 1600 games and what it means for MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>addictinggamesgameskidsmaxgamesneopetsnickelodeonnicktropolisyoungstersWed, 19 Mar 2008 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC08: Thinking outside the virtual world]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-thinking-outside-the-virtual-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-thinking-outside-the-virtual-world/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/21/gdc08-thinking-outside-the-virtual-world/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Tuesday afternoon, Michael Acton Smith, CEO of Mind Candy, presented attendees at the GDC's Worlds in Motion summit with an interesting look at the confluence between real goods and virtual worlds. For some background on where Smith is coming from, Mind Candy "creates games and puzzles that span multiple media.... [they] use all forms of technology to tell stories and interact with... [their] audiences." They run Perplex City, an alternate reality game that uses clues puzzles in the real world combined with web-based resources to create a unique type of gameplay. Their upcoming game Moshi Monsters is an adoptable pet game geared towards kids. Smith says it's a "new type of virtual pet experience." The pets will be very alive with their own emotions (driven by a behavior engine which will cause your pet to act different ways depending on how you treat it) that will be reflected in the pet's animations. The game will also incorporate a number of social tools, so both you and your pet monster can hang out with friends. And, of course, there will be toys, oh glorious toys. (Some already available, though the game itself is still in beta and closed to the public.)

Gallery: GDC08: Worlds in Motion summit day 2

Continue reading GDC08: Thinking outside the virtual world

MassivelyGDC08: Thinking outside the virtual world originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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