Future & Pre-Beta Virtual Worlds

Okay… I’m trying to mock up a list of all these VW’s for tweens/twids that are not live yet, or exists in early Beta. Please add more in the comments, thanks!

  • Bella Sera: Card game + virtual world based on horses/horse play
  • MoshiMonsters: Monster virtual world based on clever gaming and monster care– easily transitions to mobile technology
  • Club Pony Pals: Based on a book series about ponies, this world will be for the pony pet care
  • Dizzywood: A creative, fantasy virtual world to create adventures and inspire
  • Planet Cazmo: A virtual world based on gaming and MUSIC
  • Freaky Creatures: A virtual world for boys regarding monster/creatures
  • Build-a-Bear: Based on the popular brand, build your bear and play with it online in a virtual world. It’s LIVE now.
  • FusionFall: Cartoon Network’s MMORG, based on Cartoon Network brands & exploring the worlds within the network (i’m looking forward to this!)
  • Little Big Planet: Okay, okay– I know this will be a video game… but it’s community/world appeal are just too awesome to NOT mention.
  • Lego Universe: It’s lego. It’s community. It’s gonna be amazing.
  • Panwapa (it’s live, and been online longer than some previously mentioned): A preschool VW brought to the world by Sesame Street folks. It’s multicultural, it’s unique, it’s going to be the next big VW phase in like 1 year (preschool/kid VW’s)
  • Adventure Rock: The CBBC/BBC’s robot-y virtual world
  • Zibbies: A product based VW (dolls that kinda look like a mix of webkinz & Beanie Babies but with rubbery spikes for hair on their heads). Currently live in early beta.
  • Pirates of the Caribbean Online: Went live a little over a week ago– this pirate existence is a downloadable app (like WOW) and currently in Beta. I love it.
  • Littlest Pet Shop: Also, currently in Beta– this is kinda an exclusive experience, as they products (with the much needed code to play) are hard to get hands on. But you can demo free. No community yet.
  • Wowbotz: An outerspace-feeling VW in beta-live for “preschoolers” I more or less categorize it for kids/twids.
  • Mystikatz Kutties: A Virtual World for girls who like dolls dressed like colorful gypsies. Like it’s brother site “Wowbotz”, this is categorized as for “preschoolers” but I’d stick it in the kids/twids boxes.
  • Magi-Nation: Based on a TV show and a trading card game, this virtual world will cater to the fantasy tweens/kids who might also enjoy shows like Yo-Gi-Oh and Pokemon and Chaotic.
  • Disney’s Cars: A virtual world built on the Disney movie “Cars”.
  • Mini Match: From Cartoon Network comes a MMO for casual gamers, and world roamers. It’s in UBER early beta… UBER. But so far– you can set up your avatar (promising animation, ugly avatar face/hair but that can change?, the clothing layering options = very smart indeed), but from my experience you can’t play yet. Cartoon Network seems to be treading lightly in this space– and with a good brain on their shoulders
  • Pixie Hallow: Not yet in LIVE beta… but will be amazing! Loads of great rumors about this one… It’s Disney’s Fairies VW.
  • T-Works (????): Looney Toon Virtual World that may or may not be launching this fall with several other Warner platforms….?
  • Konstruction Zone: A new (pre-beta) VW based on cute construction characters– encourages online playtime between parents and kids.
  • Papermint: another virtual world for kids– 2D art, pre-Beta (from the looks of it).
  • Hello Kitty World: Not live yet, their pre-beta site offers a decent sneak peek of elements that will be a part of the world. I’m interested to find out what “in game telepathy” is– as they say in their introductory page. It’s all the bright happy bumblegum colors you come to expect from HK. I’m pumped to see what HK brings to the table.
    • I’m not sure what the safety is on this yet– Sanrio Town is NOT for U13… and the HK world will tie in somehow with the pre-existing Sanrio Town community platform. So, stay tuned…. 😦
  • Dragon Play: It’s a medieval world for dragon play (like the name, clever, lol).
  • Chaotic: A virtual worldish(?) experience attached to collectible card-play
  • Ice Age: An MMO based upon the two movies (and third to come) slated for 2009
  • Minyanland: A virtual environment where kids can learn about money, banking, and managing responsibilities while gaining a virtual life. Has parent/chore metagame, etc. Based on the finance site Minyanville.com
  • Planet V-Tech: described as an educational virtual world for 5+
  • Earth Eternal: An MMO with educational elements that can be accessed through social networking
  • Speed Racer: A virtual world (with toy tie-ins) for the upcoming movie franchise
  • Web wilds: A virtual environment to correlate with the puppet-dolls.
  • Hot Wheels: A virtual world to correlate with the toy-cars.
  • Madagascar: A virtual world to correspond with their upcoming sequel movie.
  • Seapals: A product tie-in with VW, like it’s sister product Shining Stars. (It’s gotten more PR than Shining Stars, which has been live for quite some time now– it could be interesting!)
  • MyLife: An avatar/world combination toy for girls to build and share profiles (Playmates toys)
  • Beanie Babies 2.0: A virtual world – pet product combo. Codes. Unlock. Dolls. Yadda.
  • Guppylife: An MMO for girls not yet released, and very little info.
  • Lola’s World: It’s a companion community with vw-elements for tween girls based on the Lola, Think Pink, books. It launches in April 08.
  • Tronji: An MMO game based around the Tronji world is currently in development to be released alongside the TV show.
  • Tech Deck Live: A Virtual world skate part for tweens who like skateboarding. Subscription based. Tech Deck is a toy product (finger skateboards).
  • Dinokids: An MMO (looks just like Maplestory but with dinos) for tween/kids.
  • Treetures: A VW with stuffy product tie in (Russ)
  • Green: A future virtual world promoting green initiatives. Not live yet, very hush – hush. Now live.
  • Kaimira MMO: BBC announced their desire to create a MMO around the Kaimira Trilogy, a book series from Star Farm Productions.
  • KidsWB: Warner Bros platform site meshed with Virtual worlds??? Details still coming through the pipeline.
  • DC HeroZone: Another virtual world from WB that follows comics & heroes
  • WarnerZone: Another Warner Bros stealth-hush hush VW coming summer ’08.
  • Zoopri: A virtual world for tweens, not live yet.
  • Dinosaur Junction: Another virtual world for kids based on dinos with some educational values.
  • JumpStart Advanced Preschool World: a VW for the 3-5 set. Software first, world later.
  • Wizard 101: An MMO/VW for the tween, teen set based on wizardry and magic and fantasy.
  • Elf Island: A tween VW based on being an upstanding member and “doing good,” not launched yet.
  • Topps Town: A VW for 6+ boys (only, seriously, no girl av) based on trading card gameplay.
  • Muppet MMO: A little birdy whispered this one to me that the Muppet MMO is in strategy/planning phase… so take it was a wink & a nod and a grain of salt.
  • AllGirlArcade: Currently a multiplatform community site, future to be a virtual world
  • AllBoyArcade: By the makers of the girl arcade, this won’t be rolling until next year.
  • Kiwi Heroes: A VW in pre-Beta for tweens regarding conservationism.
  • Tootsville: A toy based VW with subscription too based on elephant/pet play.
  • Unnamed MMO: From the folks who created Neopets. Think Labyrinth & Dark Crystal.
  • Revngenz: A car MMO for gender neutral (really for boys) with licenses for gift cards.
  • Avatar: The Last Airbender: MMO based on the Nickelodeon television show.
  • Huri Humi: Avatar virtual world for tweens based on product to VW purchases.
  • Happy Meal 3.0: McDonald’s version of a virtual world for kids.
  • Action AllStars: A simply MARVELOUS virtual world for sports & tweens, currently in private beta.
  • Saddle Club: VW in development for the book series/tv series (tweens, kids, teens)
  • Twin Skies: An MMO for all ages from the creators of Neopets.
  • Emerald Island: An MMO for tweens based on environmental issues.
  • Garden Party: A virtual world for young tweens about growing plants & playing
  • Ekoloko: A virtual world for tweens based on the “green” initiative.
  • SpineWorld: A virtual world by Playdo based on epic adventure & fantasy

BAH! I know I’m forgetting a ton– curse you, brain cloud (reference: “Joe Versus the Volcano”). Any help here? I’ll keep adding as they come.

Also for those VW researchers/explorers, here are a few oldie but goody links:

  1. November 16, 2007 at 8:50 pm

    Hi Izzy! Can you link these? Would love to add any I don’t have to my directory….

  2. November 16, 2007 at 9:08 pm

    There ya go, Anastasia! 😀

    I’m still pondering more– their names are stuck in the corners of my brain, and my multi-tasking ways are making me low on bandwidth. Hopefully the dozen or so more i’m missing will pop up by the end of the day/weekend… if not, maybe some kind peeps out there can toss ’em my way.

    Happy Days,
    iz

    • June 9, 2009 at 3:41 pm

      Check out iTwixie.com!

  3. November 26, 2007 at 7:58 am

    I still owe you a Bella Sara post! (not to mention the HSM2 tweens one, sheesh, old news now!)

    Anyway, excellent list, Izzi, want to do a guest editorial for us about this on Shaping Youth? I’m going to try to interview Barry at Global Kids soon so will ask him his two cents on upcoming virtual learning/worlds too, ‘cuz you’re right, I keep thinking I’ve ‘heard of some’in the works that I can’t place my synapses upon.

    Hope the new position is grand!

  4. January 5, 2008 at 5:05 pm

    Hee oh wait nevermind. I see your comment there. 😀

  5. January 16, 2008 at 3:34 am

    dont forget
    http://www.dragonplay.us 🙂

  6. January 20, 2008 at 12:44 am

    are you a MOD on any of these games????????????
    do you no any games w/ beta item besiedes DW? on this list

  7. February 15, 2008 at 1:23 am

    I really hope it is availible to play soon.
    The Hello Kitty game, I mean.
    x)

  8. LemminGirl
    February 29, 2008 at 4:41 am

    I saw the SeaPals thing at Toy Fair. It looked amazing. I am not sure when it comes out, but the packaging was great and the site looked great and it had some cool educational stuff.

  9. March 7, 2008 at 7:32 pm

    Izzy, my e-mail’s been down at Shaping Youth and my tech traumas have precluded me from continuing our VW conversations but let’s slate something for next week? egad…the time is flying by!

    Hoping the cavalry will come to my aid by this afternoon (big bucks, but hey, I need system stability!) as I’m tired of having Symantec systems ‘control’ my computer from afar in an attempt to find the glitch.

    In short…I have a researcher from Tufts willing to do some recon for me in-game/in-world and want to discuss your POV on where I should send her first for deconstruction/analysis (as you know, I’m looking into setting up a ‘living lab’ in VW form like in DW to test some positive behavioral cues on the tween/media literacy front) ttys! (or via Skype when this computer stabilizes!) —Amy

  10. March 11, 2008 at 1:33 am

    Here’s another one that just went live with nine new games:

    http://www.zookazoo.com/

    Descriptor below from Michael Carter, Founder: “We are fathers and mothers who are creating ZooKazoo for our children and grandchildren and yours…We are building the finest online world we can as a safe place for them to hang out, play creatively, and learn to make their world a better place. We bring a wealth of skills, experience, and technologies to that end. We will check with you before we allow them to enter ZooKazoo and will give you the opportunity to determine how they can best participate in it, etc. etc.”

  11. April 8, 2008 at 6:35 pm

    Tootsville.com!! check it out…one of my fav new sites for kids. safe, good games, great graphics!

  12. big galoot
    August 19, 2008 at 7:48 pm

    a severe heads up!
    when you move the pointer on to the Dino kids link the thumbnail preview is showing adresses to adult links and contain profane language. I thought this be brought to your attention so it can be taken care of.

  13. August 19, 2008 at 8:07 pm

    Wowza – thanks for that heads up. The linking system for wordpress REFUSES to link directly to the dino kids website/splash page. Bad news bears!!! I have disabled the link since it won’t behave. Thank you for the spot!

  14. big galoot
    September 5, 2008 at 6:00 pm

    If case you didnt catch it,
    Dino kids has finally opened up, I checked it out and I think you will be happy with its parent conrols and the saftey aspect of the game.

  15. October 5, 2008 at 10:54 pm

    Kidzworld is kinda like a VW…they have things such as games, chat (which there is a Mod that interacts with the kids and they also ENFORCE the rules) you can make a profile, and upload pictures, Messege boards and other fun stuff. Everything that ypu do on KW MUST BE APPROVED by the Mods on EVERYTHING…If you post a message on the boards, it will not go out until a Mod approves it, Making a profile and uploading Picture MUST be approved by a Mod before anyone is able to view it. There isnt too many “kidschat” around due to COPPA. Overall, Its a pretty good site.

  16. guy
    November 9, 2008 at 1:51 pm

    http://www.shidonni.com/ a gameworld for creative young kids will be in premium beta in mid December. you can check it out for free.
    Thanks for the list !

  17. girlyyy
    December 8, 2008 at 6:43 pm

    hey izzy,
    heres a site u might wanna add to ur list and check out
    http://www.pandanda.com

    oh and also,
    http://www.vizwoz.com

    =],
    have a nice day

  18. January 11, 2009 at 2:19 pm

    Chobots.com – Virtual online world. Open Beta started October 11 2008

  19. January 14, 2009 at 6:21 pm

    Hi! Can we be listed?

    HIP Venture Co. has built the first subscription-based virtual world for Tween girls with a Green mission to Help Improve the Planet [HIP] and a Latin theme: Hipchicas.com. We are in pre-beta right now and have over 3000+ registered to take part in our Beta when we go live. We’ve also had over 5000+ downloads of the Hip Chicas’ music.

    Thanks,

    Lazaro Fuentes

  20. October 24, 2009 at 2:47 am

    Webosaurs.Com – Currently Beta 😉

  21. April 18, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    umm..I was wondering if in this virtual world you could ride cars and them..becuase for my nephew it’s it is a very big deal to ride cars in there

    • kellen
      July 17, 2011 at 2:10 am

      Cars.com its avery fun disney mmog

  22. natali
    September 21, 2011 at 10:46 am

    Time Island is a fun virtual worlds for kids , which allows kids to play, learn and connect with each other. Many activities are spread around the world: cool games for kids, challenges, missions and tasks.

  1. January 17, 2008 at 4:45 pm

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