Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



SCI TECH SCENE: Webkinz site not just for kids
Published in Daily News Egypt on 14 - 07 - 2007


Associated Press
For about a week my six-year-old son, Mark, was having a grand old time on Webkinz, one of several children s websites that have exploded in popularity in the last year or so.
Then it dawned on him. His online pet, a gorilla named Ben, was playing games like Rock Paper Scissors and Go Fish against the other denizens of Webkinz World, nearly all of whom were pink kittens or fluffy-maned horses.
Is PoniesRock!24 a girl? he asked.
What difference does it make? my wife and I responded.
Yeah, but is PoniesRock!24 a girl?
We finally conceded: Probably, yes.
Click.
He quickly reconciled his little internal conflict and was soon happily back on track. And that was fine with us. Webkinz is one of the few sites that has captured our son s attention without aggressive promotional tie-ins for superhero movies or television shows. He doesn t need a lot of parental help to navigate the site.
To log on to Webkinz, you first have to buy a specially designated stuffed animal for about $15 or so. (The toys themselves appear a little cheaply made, like what you d find at a roadside carnival. My wife has already had to stitch Ben up twice.)
The price compares favorably to another popular site, Club Penguin, which charges about $60 a year for full access, though limited features are available for free.
The toy comes with a code giving you one year s access to the Webkinz World site at webkinz.com. There your toy gorilla or cat or frog or bunny becomes a virtual pet, and it s your job to keep it happy, healthy and well-fed.
You do this by buying food, toys and amenities with Webkinz cash, which you earn by playing the games and fulfilling various tasks.
Or just buy another stuffed animal - you get 2,500 or more in KinzCash for every subsequent toy you purchase, compared with 3 to 50 by playing games. That is seemingly part of the reason many people seem to collect dozens of WebKinz toys.
The lack of advertising on the site is also welcome. The website provides rewards and incentives for buying additional toys but does not seem particularly aggressive in pushing kids to spend real money. Some features, like tending to a garden, reward players who log on to the site every day. My wife says it promotes responsibility, though I find it mildly obnoxious to insist on my child s daily participation.
The ability to furnish your pet s living quarters is also staggering. Thousands of virtual items are available for purchase, from custom towel racks for the bathroom, swimming pools for the backyard and designer clothes for your pet to wear.
The virtual shopping mimics real online shopping, with add to cart icons. Some may see it as indoctrination into real online shopping, but we were actually pleased because my son is learning to save money, forgoing smaller items to buy the big stuff.
And it provides an interesting window into what kids find appealing. I was a little surprised he spent so much time selecting particular types of furniture.
The website limits the ability to chat and interact with other users to a series of prefab questions and statements - What s Up? I m feeling tired. Do you want to play in the arcade? and so on. That makes it impossible for scheming pervs to prey on children.
The interactions with your virtual pet are also a little stilted, and like politicians, the virtual pets have a tendency to pander to their audience.
Do you want something to eat? Mark asked his gorilla.
You take good care of me, the gorilla responded.
How are you doing? Mark asked.
I m glad I m your pet, he responded as a little heart burped out from the gorilla.
The website is operated by the Ganz company, a third-generation family business outside Toronto that had been primarily known for manufacturing plush toys and collectibles. Spokeswoman Susan McVeigh would not discuss the number of registered users or which features on the site are most popular.
She did say that the site began in 2005 but really took off late last year. Many stores have been selling out of the toys.
And she said more boys inhabit Webkinz than people realize.
Ben the gorilla will be glad to hear it.


Clic here to read the story from its source.