Homemade replacement worlds

The news that Disney would be shutting down Virtual Magic Kingdom on May 21, hit fans hard [see these comments]. Some have taken to petitions and write-in campaigns, others are looking to roll out their own replacement. A “small group of technology specialists and engineers who primarily create complex internet applications for insurance companies and universities” has spent 8 months adapting those skills to working on social networks and virtual worlds. Originally intended to create a business platform, the technology instead became the background for Virtual Family Kingdom.

Disney’s Virtual Magic Kingdom isn’t specifically referenced as an inspiration and the first area being shown off on Virtual Family Kingdom is a Colonial Williamsburg setting instead of a Frontierland or Adventureland. The VFK site does, though, host a banner ad for the VMK petition sites, and is set to launch in beta on May 22, a day after Disney’s virtual world is set to shut down. And also available are Victorian Turn of the Century Main Street settings and a Wild West theme.

Virtual Worlds News: Homemade Virtual Family Kingdom Set to Replace Disney’s Virtual Magic Kingdom

Hmm. I give a weary eye to this. Read more about the “replacement vmk” by clicking that link. Does anyone else have yellow flags on this?

It’s nice someone wants to cater to the misplaced crowd, but there’s something weird that catces my concern.

Turning business PR/strategy from “building your own unique web environment” to “giving a replacement for another brand/world who is leaving the space” reminds me of offering a shoulder to cry on and then making out with them at their weak point. Why? Because not only are they offering a solution for momentary homelessness - they’re then charging for it.

I “get” the charging part. Got to make money to survive. I just don’t get the “temporary home” offer and capitalizing it.

I could be overreacting. Wouldn’t be the first time. I’m just saying that– my skeptical eye is planted on this joint.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on this? Am I over looking a great pro/con point?

p.s. Here’s some more commentary on VMK closing (just click this link)

When Disney Parks (I still hate that name for the division — could it be any less magical) wanted an online promotion as part of the world wide celebration of Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary, they paid Disney Online to set it up for them. Disney Online then went and licensed the software from Sulake Corporation to build the Virtual Magic Kingdom. I understand that Disney Online also did some additional programming work on top of what Sulake provided.

There have been some discussions recently that VMK is closing due to the original licensing agreement with Sulake coming to an end. Sulake did just sign an ‘exclusive’ agreement with Paramount Studios to provide virtual worlds for their film properties. That may have had something to do with it, but I haven’t been able to confirm that one way or another.

What I am hearing is that Disney Parks considers the 50th Anniversary promotion all wrapped up. They cut off funding for the project to Disney Online many months ago and that Disney Online has been looking at ways to continue VMK since then despite the loss of internal funding.

Read more at Saving VMK: Disney’s Virtual Magic Kingdom Community receives a death sentence | The Disney Blog

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Which is safer? Type of comp or browser?

You know that old argument about Mac vs. PC security? Well, it really is an old argument now. Computer security really isn’t about what operating system your computer has anymore. Now it’s really about 1) what browser you use and where you go online, and 2) how smart you are (or your child is) about protecting passwords and financial information online (social engineering), CNET reports. “Lots of people who may already be nervous around computers often just do whatever the computer [or email or Web site] tells them to do,” CNET says. That’s called social engineering. But children, who are most definitely not nervous around computers, can be gullible too when they get messages like “check out this video” or “click here to find out how to start your modeling career.”

NetFamilyNews

There isn’t anything more I can say than… SO FREAKIN’ TRUE.  Click that link for more from Anne Collier.

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Woot! Avatar is ON it’s WAY

Yip Yip! Fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, the Nickelodeon animated series, and M. Night Shyamalan get out your calendars. OK, ready? Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies will release the newly green-lit M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender, a live-action movie adaptation of the series, on Friday, July 2, 2010. Shyamalan will direct and produce The Last Airbender from his own script. The word “Avatar” was no doubt dropped from the feature film title to steer clear of confusion with director James Cameron 3D movie Avatar, which is set for release 8 months earlier in December 2009 and is not for kids. Joining Shyamalan as producers on the project are Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, Sam Mercer and Scott Aversano. Additionally, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, creators of the animated Avatar: The Last Airbender series, wills serve as executive producers on the movie. While Shyamalan’s movies are generally for adult audiences, The Last Airbender is targeted to moviegoers of all ages, with Shyamalan pointing to Hayao Miyazaki storytelling and movies as an inspiration.

Cynthia Turner’s Cynopsis - Cyn Kids 4/17/08

I’m so pumped for this darn movie. I talked to some kids this past weekend and they were not psyched about the live-action choice (loving the anime feel of the characters).

I just want to see Katara (heroine) and Zuko (arch enemy) fall in love. I’m not saying it will happen, but I’m TOTES holding out.

I’d like to see some sort of mmo game for the world of Avatar– everyone getting sorted into an element. But, as I think about it– it would be difficult, as it’s an epic about one character with all powers. So even though I’d enjoy having a power of my own society member based on an element that reflects me, I’m not sure about missing out on the small team epic of Aang and friends. What would my purpose be in the world? The property’s world is about 4 kids fighting for unity in a nation divided into fourths. Beyond a color war (think camp flag battles), what is the emotional purpose for the world? Where is the drama & social game push? Is it worthwhile to “wait” for some sort of epic interaction with ability to use powers, and in the meant time just hang out in the war torn towns? Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends conquered that with quest based MMO-ish game (My Big Fat House Party, which now barely works), as did Pirates of the Caribbean Online.

Ideally, you’d want to be unique, a member of the pro-aang resistence (well, at least for the most part, you always have those contrary kids) - and if say an NPC version of Aang comes passing through your MMO area, how are you & a hundred of your best MMO friends going to still achieve that special feeling while still allowing the feeling of the game & the emotional push of the epic? That would definitely be the challenge - finding that balance between storyline & non-main character social existence, while achieving the feeling of unique heroism.

Hmm. Oh, the opportunities to crack that egg– no doubt someone will rock it in the next year.

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BBC + Star Farm = Kaimira

BBC Worldwide announced a development deal today with Star Farm Productions. The two will develop the latter’s Kaimira Multimedia, an IP revolving around a five-book fantasy series set in a post-apocalyptic future where humans, animals, and machines all compete for dominance, in a global agreement that covers TV, MMOGs, and other media.

Book one, “The Sky Village,” is set to release this summer and already has an interactive Web tie-in, but the partners look towards a future where fans can “become part of the Kaimira world by creating characters, building tribes, developing stories and working together to face challenges.”

“Kaimira represents everything we want to be part of in our growth strategy in the Children’s business here at Worldwide,” Gill Pritchard, BBC Worldwide’s Director of Children’s, said in a statement. “The development deal we have agreed with Star Farm allows us to collaborate in a 360 degree approach to the creative and business strategy of Kaimira including the development of TV, web, gaming and feature film. Working with leading partners in this way gives us the opportunity to input on the commercial success from the outset and this 360 degree approach is key to tap in to the changing needs of our audience.”

Virtual Worlds News: BBC Worldwide Partners with Star Farm for Children’s Fantasy Virtual World

WOOT WOOT! WELL DONE, CHRIS and SF CREW!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chris Rettstatt, a mighty awesome brainchild behind the Kaimira Trilogy is a great friend– and ex-cowork at Star Farm Productions (my almamater in a sense).

It’s a GORGEOUS epic, and I can’t wait to see what becomes of this adventure!

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