UB Funkeys Gets Down w Ads

Welcome to the future of marketing to youth, ya’ll. Not that this is revolutionary or anything, thanks Stardoll. But this is a new level I’ve not seen done for youth, and it’s not bad :

Looks like Speed Racer is sponsoring a RACE in UB Funkeyland.

With some mini sponsoring by Mattel and Tyco…? That is, unless I’m a toy idiot (update: yes, it appears I am, so disregard my microbrand-advertising) and didn’t catch on to the connection between the three (third being Radical, who produces UB Funkeys).

So far this is my favorite type of ads in VW. It’s not nearly as “in your face” or ad insulting. But that’s my humble opinion, and I’ve talked before about how I ride the line between pro and questionable. Plus kids get something new out of it– a racing game and introduction to a fun property they can interact with.

Since this is a PURCHASED product, and not as scalable-costly as say a thriving live-moderated community, I’ll be interested to see how parents react, if at all, to the invasion of product endorsement within purchased toys for home (ahem, Webkinz vs Alvin debacle of ‘07). I guess its’ nothing too new– Grand Theft Auto started this stuff years ago.

Anyway, it was a fun spot today during my game play.

The Joy and Mystery of the MMO

Whether it’s completing quests, running dungeons, or taking down super villains, any good game has decisive goals for player progression. Most of the time there is a clear and structured path that will get players quickly from one goal to the next. You level up, you unlock new abilities, you get better gear and you take on more challenging and entertaining tasks. It could be as simple as that; a straight and narrow path to completing a game. So why do many of us get in snowball fights outside of the bank in Ironforge? Why do we join others playing music outside of taverns in Lord of the Rings Online? Why do we jump off the highest structure we can find, only to fall to our deaths? Could it simply be because it’s … fun? MMOGs afford us interesting opportunities to goof off with others and “play” a game in ways that developers may never have intended.

MMOGology: Playing around - Massively

That’s a fun article for those looking to get “clued in” on the joy and mystery that IS the MMORPG.  I am an MMO fan for the outrageous community element.  I run around with little to NO point, just trying to engage people in various ways of lunacy & entertainment.  I enjoy building the SOCIETY out of the social aspects.

People never cease to amaze me– no matter what their age.

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Kids & Online experiences

What Do Kids Want?

For children raised on the Web browser, a new computer proved to be less of a hit than one parent expected

By KEVIN J. DELANEY
March 31, 2008; Page R9

When offered a chance last fall to buy a computer engineered with a new kid-friendly design, I had visions of my children using its specialized software to do creative-writing projects, make short animations and learn basics of music composition.

Three months later, a different reality has emerged: My kids have barely touched the software designed for creative expression. They prefer our five-year-old PC because it’s easier to play simple games and watch videos on the Web.

What Do Kids Want? - WSJ.com

Another parent-friendly article about kids & internet.  Check it out.  (There’s a video too)

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Advice and Worry: Parents speak about kids online

Forum member johnfalck writes:
My 4-year-old has his own login (clicks on the frog logo that has his name). No admin rights. I removed all icons on the desktop except a couple — e.g., Firefox as the browser, and that without the URL line (unclick navigation toolbar). I set his homepage to pbskids.org, with a few other related icon links (Noggin, etc.) along the top.
So far he has not deleted any files, reset BIOS settings, or ended up on eBay — all things he did at age three when he started banging away on someone else’s computer. My advice: Don’t confuse the ability to do bad things with interest or understanding. (”Daddy, why is the computer screen blue?”) Give a child their own login and make it as safe (limited) in functionality as you can or as is appropriate for the child’s age.
Re the importance of balance: Computer play is not a right. My son will start by saying, “I’ve been pretty good today, can I play on the computer?” And once the snow melts there will be more “go and play outside” instead. But when I’m trying to cook dinner and keep an eye on his 18-month-old sister, 20 minutes of computer time for him sounds great to me.

Real Time - WSJ.com

There is a great article (thanks for the heads up, Anastasia & ever vigilant ypulse) about parents & young kids & the net.  This exert was my favorite of the batch.

Head over to that link and see for yourself.  Feel free to ping me back if you think there is a better quote in that article.

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HA! Live Blogging the KCA

So yeah. I did it, I tried out live blogging. And I wasn’t so great at it. Why? I turned into a 12 year old viewer with way too much knowledge about Nickelodeon (favorite hosts = Mike Myers & Cameron Diaz). To spare myself (and you) the full embarrassment of live blogging riches, I shall only skim the highlights:

The best moments go as follow:

a. Brendan Frasier’s faux-excited face in the crowd (and props later on with the mic + slime effect… funny).

b. The piñata destruction by Emile Hirsch for the award of Best Music Group (Jonas Bros)—seriously, I want a piñata and a guitar to bash it with at my birthday this year. Props to him for the bashing-enthusiasm too.

c. James Marsden. James Marsden. James Marsden. Sorry, Hayden P—but you were upstaged by Enchanted’s Prince Edward. Why didn’t Cyclops get a bigger role in the X-Men movies? It’s certainly not because of Mr. Marsden. Le sigh dreamily.

d. I can’t WAIT for Indiana Jones. And Harrison Ford & Shia Lebeouf’s skit was cute. The mere fact that Harrison was slimed? That’s priceless. Yes, I said slimed, but better: HE…LICKED…IT. Yes. Harrison Ford LICKED the slime. I love him. Points to him.

e. I’ve got to say– The Naked Brothers Band? That’s IMPRESSIVE. How old are they and they’re playing LIVE? Take a lesson all you pop-tart lip syncers. Well done, Nat & Alex.

f. Cameron Diaz’s speech was great (she and I have similar flustered, talk-to-fast, tangent-fueled, sporadic-energy speaking styles)—I shouted “WE ARE THE FUTURE AND THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT!” did you? And it’s nice to see ONE actress there who has nothing to promote (well, that could be argued since she is her own brand, but let’s not go there). Woot for kids and trying to be a role model/hero.

g. WHOA WHOA WHOA– Orlando Bloom’s surprise appearance! Wa-oot. It should forever be mandated that he is to call everyone “Jack”—this is law. Anyone else looking forward to a Pirates 4? I certainly am now!

2. Things I wish would have happened instead:

a. Better opening song (more crowd interaction with explosions, etc throughout). This fell flat - either the song was not the right choice for the crowd, or it was too loud in the stadium for the song to matter (or make sense to younger ears). It was very “meh”

b. The god’s that be in Nickelodeon need some serious slime education. When at KCA if someone mentions they don’t want to be slimed– THEY SHOULD BY KCA LAW BE SLIMED. Case in point: MILEY CYRUS was dressed to go clubbing. WHO DRESSES TO GO CLUBBING AT KCA? It’s Nickelodeon people. Never turn your back on a kid with a mud pie. Never turn your back at a slime-fueled Kids Choice awards. Apparently people have forgotten such a rule. I’m sorry Miley, but you should have gotten slimed for simply SAYING that you didn’t want to be slimed. It’s like going to Wonka’s factory and saying you don’t want candy. Tut tut.

c. Yes– we know most of the actors, shows, and movies displayed are sponsored by marketing dollars & promo spots for upcoming movies/CD’s (thank you Janet Jackson), but seriously… what happened to the KIDS part of KIDS CHOICE AWARDS? Say what you want about Rosie O’Donnell, but as a KCA host she was ALWAYS great about workin’ kids into the event. 5 seconds of face-full but nameless fame! Give kids a thrill at their own awards show. There’s an entire crowd of kids there– why is Usher’s bored face popping up every three seconds? And props to the announcer for calling Usher out with his texting. Nice.

d. I’m sorry… but WHAT? Alvin BEAT Captain Sparrow in the Best Movie category? I call foul! Either that or someone just spent a lot of money paying folks to “vote” since the AaTC DVD just came out.

*Update: Apparently I’m wrong.  My co-workers disagree about my alvin/sparrow theory.  They said their kids LOVED AaTC, and were freaked by Pirates.  I still hold a bit of being skeptical, but whatever.

e. I’d like to see MORE SLIMING OF CELEBRITIES AS A SURPRISE… Seriously, they should know and come prepared. They’re all sitting with smiles and bored eyes– SLIME THEM. Let the kids pick up a hose and SLIME them. I would. TAKE THAT AND THAT! Heh heh heh. What?

And Last But Not least… Here were my live blogging thoughts regarding the grand finale:

• Jack & his slime meter. 27 tons? TWENTY SEVEN TONS? That’s a load of slime!
• OOO WHAT CELEB ARE THEY GOING TO SLIME?
• ORLANDO BLOOM!!!!!!!!! HE’S THERE? OMG, I’m such a screaming girl right now. I’m like 12 all over again. Why do I find this so giddy exciting?
  
• Those chairs are a bit electric-chairish, yeah? Interesting concept? They better get BUCKET slimed– like the giant water bucket at Magic Waters or something.
• YOU CAN DO IT, ORLANDO. I SAW JOHNNY GET SLIMED A FEW YEARS BACK, AND NOW THE TORCH HAS PASSED.
  
• 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. SLIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wait, what? Nothing happened. Something about it not working…
• Why is it when Orlando says Mr. Black’s name I’m waiting for Captain Sparrow to pop up?
• OH! Okay, so it’s a cute little gag with the Octopus mascot guy to get the kids pumped about the sliming. Wow, i fell for that.
  
• And now the slime comes, and comes, and comes… Except– regardless of the length of time, it doesn’t really seem like 27 tons worth, does it?
• Well, at least the slime is still coming, ish. They’re just sitting there. Boo. There’s no excitement in watching them in chairs like this… Even Flash Dance does this better and that’s with water.
• Where’s the big bang ending? I want confetti! I want slime hoses! I want Orlando cowering in fear of over-sliming!!!
• Well, credits are rolling. Despite the lack luster slime ending, it was a solid show. Sigh… and another KCA is finished. Next year I’m SO THERE. Can bystanders bring SUPER SOAKERS next year? Hmmm.

Props to the winners. Especially Drake & Josh. They seem to be the only ones there without an Agenda– do they even have another season coming? Drake just stared in the not-for-kids movie Not Another Super Hero Movie, or whatever it’s called. Josh Peck looks great– he has to have lost SO much weight now, he’s so grown up (except something was wrong with his suspenders). And HELLO DRAKE… when did he turn into Ewan McGregor?

And final props to Jack Black’s spandex. I’m speechless and impressed.

Don’t be surprised to see any shameless pleas for tickets next year. Selling my first born to Gypsies for tickets is a last resort people.

HAPPY MONDAY!

p.s. Did anyone participate in the Earth Hour event on Sat? I was surprised that KCA didn’t change times– since it TOO was at 8 pm on Sat. Viacom does a decent effort at times trying to stay “green” - and KCA had a “green” stage, etc.