Nov 19, 2007 - 09:18:45 CST
What do you get when you combine 20th-century Beanie Babies with 21st-century Internet access?You get Webkinz, real-world plush toy pets that come with secret codes to unlock virtual versions of the pets online in a place called Webkinz World (http://www.webkinz.com).
Webkinz represents one of the first major efforts to extend a realworld toy into a virtual-world environment. And it may yet prove to be among the hottest "must-have" toys this holiday season.
In Webkinz World, you set up a home for your Webkinz pet, buy furniture, clothing and food, earn KinzCash to pay for everything and play online games with other WebKinz owners around the country.
If you're familiar with other virtual worlds like Second Life, think of Webkinz World as Second Life for kids.
If you're not familiar with Second Life or virtual worlds, keep reading for the 411 on what you need to know.
A virtual world is a computer simulated environment that tries to mimic the real world. Built on a foundation of two-dimensional or three-dimensional graphics, you move around this world using a personal screen character known as an "avatar." This is a graphic image that ranges from people and animals to mythical people and creatures. Your avatar is your alter ego in the digital world. And you can be anyone or anything you want: A different personality, a different race, a different age, a different gender.
In the virtual world, just like the real world, you need a home, clothing, food furniture, money and other essentials. In many cases, you can get a job in the virtual world and earn virtual cash that helps cover your online living expenses.
The heart of any virtual community is interaction. Your avatar can meet other avatars and do virtual things like chat, go shopping together, eat at a restaurant, have fun in a dance club or visit one another's homes.
It's virtual. It's interactive. It's real-time online activity. It's as close as you can get to actually living another life in another world.
Webkinz World is a simpler, safer, child's version of a virtual world. Your avatar is an online version of your real world Webkinz toy. You earn KinzCash by playing games, solving puzzles, performing specific online tasks or working in online jobs that tap into math, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
You'll need that money to feed your pet, buy him clothing, decorate her house, exercise him and do things that help keep your online Webkinz pet happy and healthy.
The most popular places in Webkinz World are the Arcade and Tournament Arena. You can play numerous games by yourself at the arcade or challenge other Webkinz owners from around the world to real-time events such as bowling, checkers and other activities.
I have a niece, Madison, who has a Webkinz pet and who introduced me to Webkinz World. We set up her pet's online home and learned where to go to shop, work and play. In no time, she and her pet were exploring Webkinz World and taking on all challengers in the Tournament Arena. It didn't take long for her to master the rules and the basics of this online world and understand what she needed to do to care for her online pet.
Interestingly, you won't find Webkinz at the large retail box stores. Instead, Ganz Inc., the Canadian company that manufactures Webkinz, focuses on specialty businesses like Hallmark and Cracker Barrel and smaller shops like Arrowhead Plaza Drug in Bismarck and Thrifty White Drug in Mandan.
For a list of stores selling Webkinz in the Bismarck- Mandan area (or anywhere else in the world, for that matter), use the store locator page at the Webkinz Web site (http://customerservice. webkinz.com/sto relocator/html).
To learn more about virtual worlds and see exactly what's out there on the Internet, visit the gateway sites below or do a search on "virtual worlds" in your favorite search engine:
Virtual Worlds Review
http://www.virtualworldsreview.com/info/categories.shtml
Virtual Environments Guide
http://www.virtualenvironments.info
Thanksgiving online resources
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and the Internet can help separate myth from reality when it comes to understanding the holiday. Some Web sites worth visiting:
History of Thanksgiving
http://www.history.com/minisites/thanksgiving
Plimoth Plantation
http://www.plimoth.org/learn/history/thanksgiving/thanksgiving.asp
Thanksgiving 1621
http://members.aol.com/calebj/thanksgiving.html
The First Thanksgiving
http://www.teacher.scholastic.com/thanksgiving/feast/slideshow.htm
(Keith Darnay is the webmaster and designer for bismarcktribune.com. His Web site, featuring this column going back to 1995, is at http://www.darnay.com.iec.)
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