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About Webkinz
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Webkinz are stuffed animals that were
originally released by the Ganz company on April
29, 2005. The toys are similar to many other
small plush toys. However, each Webkinz toy has
an attached tag with a unique "Secret Code"
printed on it that allows access to the "Webkinz
World" website. On Webkinz World, the Secret
Code allows the user to own a virtual version of
the pet for virtual interaction.
There are also smaller, less expensive versions
of the toys called Lil' Kinz. In June 2008,
Webkinz opened its own eStore, where users can
buy virtual items such as furniture and virtual
pets.
Kinds of Webkinz
There are many types of Webkinz. Some normal
pets, some wild animals, some mythical
creatures, and some completely made up. See the
List of Webkinz stuffed animals for a complete
list of pets.
Gameplay
Each Webkinz stuffed animal and Webkinz
accessory comes with an 8-character code. By
registering this code on the Webkinz website,
you "adopt" this pet in the virtual Webkinz
World. Without the Secret Code, the user may not
get access to the Webkinz world. Toy animals
that are missing tags are not supposed to be
sold by retailers, and removal of the tags
without purchasing the animal is considered
shoplifting. If a user forgets a login name and
password, they can always go back to the Secret
Code to gain access. Without the Secret Code, a
user cannot recover a lost account. Currently,
accounts expire within one year, unless another
Webkinz animal is purchased, and that animal
added to the user account.
The Webkins World is an online play area with
its own economy. The user receives money (called
KinzCash) by adopting new pets, playing online
games, answering general knowledge questions,
and through daily activities like clicking "I
love my Webkinz!", spinning the Wheel of WOW,
playing Wishing Well 2, or completing jobs (minigames)
available once every 8 hours. Each day, there is
a Game of the Day which can be played for bonus
KinzCash, and other bonuses are available each
hour, full days on weekends and afternoons only
on weekdays. With each Webkinz toy purchased,
more money, rooms, and items are added to the
user's account.
Users can spend their KinzCash at what is called
the W Shop, where they can purchase food and
clothing for their pet, items for their pet's
room or to build additional rooms onto their
house, or outdoors areas etc. Users can decorate
a room for their pet with pre-made themes, or
mix and match their own furniture.
The online world also contains many rare or
exclusive items. Some of these items require
developing a friendship with the Curio Shop
owner to purchase, while others you get for
registering other Webkinz accessories you
purchase in the real world. Each type of pet
gets a special food available exclusively for
them. Also, a Pet of the Month is announced at
the beginning of each month. If a person
registers the announced pet in that month, they
will receive other exclusive items.
Many of the tasks in Webkinz World involve
collecting items. For example, recipes are
released for the players through cookbooks you
can purchase or one of the TV Shows called The
Secret Chef. Gems can be mined once a day at the
Curio Shop, with a full set of gems being turned
into the Webkinz Crown of Wonder and buy
exclusive items. A similar feature, called
Alyssa's Star Hunt, involves users clicking on
colored stars to find valuable stars. You can
also go to Dr. Quack for a check up on your
Webkinz' health.
Some other features of Webkinz include:
The ability for players to create their own
shows with the Webkinz Studio, and enter to be
chosen to appear on the Webkinz television.
Buying a swimming pool, where you can have your
Webkinz swim around. This increases their
health.
Sending gifts or letters to friends on a
peer-to-peer network.
Invite a friend over to your house, where you
can chat and interact with some board games and
items.
Participate in the hourly events, which can earn
you prizes, KinzCash, and coupons, among other
things.
Play Wacky Bingoz, a form of Bingo where you get
one, two, and three ball games every day.
Brushing your pets teeth, hair, washing
paws/feathers/feet etc, bathing.
W-Plus & Trading Cards
Aside from the Webkinz and Lil' Kinz pets, Ganz
also has made other toys that can be used on
Webkinz World. These are called W-Plus items,
and all W-Plus items come with a secret code
that can be used in the Code Shop in Webkinz
World. These codes unlock items for the Webkinz
pets, like new room themes, clothing for pets,
kinzcash, and other prizes.
W-Plus
These are all of the W-Plus items Ganz has
released:
Body spray and lip gloss--unlocks a piece of
furniture for the Salon theme
Clothing for the Webkinz stuffed toys--unlocks
KinzStyle bag, which can be used to access the
KinzStyle shop. The KinzStyle shop contains
clothing that can't be found anywhere else.
Charms--gives access to Charm Forest, an area of
Webkinz World. The more charms are collected,
the more prizes a user can get from the Charm
Forest.
Bookmarks--unlocks a Book Bag, allowing the user
to choose one free book in Webkinz World.
Mouse pads--unlocks an exclusive Mouse Pad Art
Print, a hanging poster of the mousepad.
School supplies--unlocks exclusive KinzPost
stationary.
Pet carriers--allows user to assemble an
exclusive wardrobe from four choices.
Figurines--unlocks a virtual figurine and a
unique prize (varies by figurine); also unlocks
a display case that can be used to hold all the
figurines.
Wacky Zingoz plush toy--gives access to Wacky
Zingoz Extreme, an exclusive version of the game
Wacky Zingoz (see List of Webkinz games)
Webkinz Trading Card binders--unlocks two
exclusive podiums to hold the virtual binders.
Trading Cards
There are two series of Webkinz Trading Cards,
which are used to play the challenge game. The
cards come in booster packs, with 5 playing
cards and a code card in each pack. In these
packs there are also chances of getting special
cards as well, like free pet codes. In series
one you can also get Curio Shop Curiosities and
Webkinz Doodlez. In series two there is At Paw
Level and W-Tales Snapshots instead. These
special cards are foil. For series one 80 base
cards have been released, 12 challenges, 8 Curio
Shop Curiosities and 8 Webkinz Doodlez. In
series two there are 85 base cards, 15
challenges, 8 At Paw Levels and 8 W-Tales
Snapshots. The cards are also W-Plus items, and
they each come with 2-5 codes. 1 code on each
card is for a virtual pack of trading cards,
while the other 1-4 can unlock prizes like rare
and exclusive themes or coupons. Series 3
changed the format, with only ONE feature code
per pack, and no code for a virtual pack. The
packs also included stickers and a chance to win
a previously unheard-of pet, the Magical
Retriever. Also, Ganz has said that each Series
3 code gives you an item you cannot find
anywhere else in Webkinz World.
Webkinz Games
Parental concerns
Concerns have been raised about children's use
and overuse of the toys. Some worry that
children will become addicted to the game. Other
parents say that it will only help the kids
learn. Some parents have voiced concerns
about the website's online chat system. The
KinzChat chat system has various safety
precautions, with restrictions on who can send
messages. Additionally, users cannot type, but
can choose phrases to say from a list.Concerns
have also been raised about the toys being a
distraction in schools, causing the toys to be
banned in some schools. Concerns were also
raised when the once advertisement-free site
started displaying advertisements, previously
only for their own additional game related
products, but now also for movies, such as
''Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Bee Movie Some
of the advertisements promote responsibility or
healthy living. There is an option that parents
can use to block ads that promote sites not
sponsored by or affiliated with Webkinz or Ganz.
However, if enabled, this option can not be
changed until 30 days have passed.
Criticism
Another area of parental concern is that there
are many problems with connecting to the Webkinz
World site. These range from technical problems
with customer's internet browsers to
programming problems at the Webkinz World site.
Changes made to the Webkinz World site have
resulted in many disappointed users as newly
introduced features often limit access to a
small fraction (less than 1%) of users and
programming errors often reduce the ability of
the remainder of the site to function at prior
levels. Other programming errors have caused
many users to lose virtual items, Kinzcash and
even pets and entire rooms. Reportedly, Ganz
customer service corrects many of these problems
within two weeks .
Retail worker complaints
Employees of stores that sell Webkinz products
have expressed dismay over various aspects of
the Webkinz craze. Many employees have
complained about customers who frequently ask
about when the new Webkinz styles will arrive,
and are concerned by the number of Webkinz some
parents purchase. Canadian stores often receive
stock later than American stores, so styles
which have been announced online are not
available for some time, often resulting in
angry customers. |
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