A Response from WDIG (Walt Disney Internet Group) - (Merged)

[Cardinal]

Basically, what I get from this e-mail is:


Dear Concerned Customer,

Blah blah blah blah blah. Yadda yadda company jargon, yadda yadda company slogan, yadda yadda exploit famous quote. Blah blah blah. Blah blah "Let's shove more Johnny Depp down their throats!" Bibbidi boppidi go cry in a corner.

Yours Truly,
We don't care.

 

[CelebrationNM]

Let's not be so critical! Maybe you don’t like ToonTown or Club Penguin, but the message suggests that new virtual worlds are on the horizon and that is certainly promising! Let’s look forward to these. I also don’t think it was a misuse of Walt’s quote; when resources are limiting some doors need to be closed so others can be opened. Getting rid of the old to make way for the new!

By all means work to “save VMK”, but do so keeping in mind that the company that brought us VMK could very easily do it all over again with something even better. This decision wasn’t about ruining magic; there’s a wonderful world of Disney magic out there waiting to be discovered in the parks, on the internet, and through television and movies.

I can’t help but think this is just the first step in a long-term plan for improving the Disney Online experience. Faith, trust and pixie dust. I for one can’t wait to see what is ahead!

 

[FunkyMonkey]

My hopes for saving VMK keeps getting deeper and deeper.

 

[bevgray]

Again, this is a canned response from the small fry. It will take a few days and a lot of emails and letters to reach the higher management who are in a position to countermand a division decision.

Hmm, I wonder if Universal/Warner Brothers is watching all this? I'm sure a Harry Potter-Hogwarts-Virtual World would be a SUPERB promotion for the new Harry Potter land going into Islands of Adventure. Let's see, playing quidditch instead of pirates, magic wands instead of magic pins, having owls, cats, and toads as pets, riding on hippogriffs...oh yeah, that might be very cool. Anyone have an address of THEIR programming group? Maybe we should start suggesting that to them since Disney isn't that interested in "promoting" their own parks online any longer.

 

[Cardinal]

Hmm, I wonder if Universal/Warner Brothers is watching all this? I'm sure a Harry Potter-Hogwarts-Virtual World would be a SUPERB promotion for the new Harry Potter land going into Islands of Adventure. Let's see, playing quidditch instead of pirates, magic wands instead of magic pins, having owls, cats, and toads as pets, riding on hippogriffs...oh yeah, that might be very cool. Anyone have an address of THEIR programming group? Maybe we should start suggesting that to them since Disney isn't that interested in "promoting" their own parks online any longer.

Muahahahaha....

 

[Imagineer_Tech]

Let's not be so critical! Maybe you don’t like ToonTown or Club Penguin, but the message suggests that new virtual worlds are on the horizon and that is certainly promising! Let’s look forward to these. I also don’t think it was a misuse of Walt’s quote; when resources are limiting some doors need to be closed so others can be opened. Getting rid of the old to make way for the new!

By all means work to “save VMK”, but do so keeping in mind that the company that brought us VMK could very easily do it all over again with something even better. This decision wasn’t about ruining magic; there’s a wonderful world of Disney magic out there waiting to be discovered in the parks, on the internet, and through television and movies.

I can’t help but think this is just the first step in a long-term plan for improving the Disney Online experience. Faith, trust and pixie dust. I for one can’t wait to see what is ahead!

But why not keep vmk watch it expand add the experiments to it which we have seen and gotten used too. Then build more worlds off it while keeping the original in tact. They can't shut down something that models the future perfectly.

 

[WildernessChick]

If VMK was closing because Disney was making a bigger and better version of the game, I wouldn't mind at all. Unfortunately, the new games that were mentioned and being promoted on the VMK homepage look nothing like VMK. I love wandering the park and creating my own little rooms and rides. Fairies and Cars simply doesn't have the same appeal or magic as the park itself. If we keep flooding the big wigs with mail, at least suggest a newer version of VMK. I think it's time for a 2.0 version of the game that enhances some of the game's features and fixes some of the bugs. How about a VMK Second Life? Honestly, I think VMK became a lot more popular than anyone had ever planned, and I think that was its ultimate undoing. Lots of users... itty bitty server space.

 

[Imagineer_Tech]

Again, this is a canned response from the small fry. It will take a few days and a lot of emails and letters to reach the higher management who are in a position to countermand a division decision.

Hmm, I wonder if Universal/Warner Brothers is watching all this? I'm sure a Harry Potter-Hogwarts-Virtual World would be a SUPERB promotion for the new Harry Potter land going into Islands of Adventure. Let's see, playing quidditch instead of pirates, magic wands instead of magic pins, having owls, cats, and toads as pets, riding on hippogriffs...oh yeah, that might be very cool. Anyone have an address of THEIR programming group? Maybe we should start suggesting that to them since Disney isn't that interested in "promoting" their own parks online any longer.

Oh Dear God I Feel Evil And I Like It!

 

[Imagineer_Tech]

If VMK was closing because Disney was making a bigger and better version of the game, I wouldn't mind at all. Unfortunately, the new games that were mentioned and being promoted on the VMK homepage look nothing like VMK. I love wandering the park and creating my own little rooms and rides. Fairies and Cars simply doesn't have the same appeal or magic as the park itself. If we keep flooding the big wigs with mail, at least suggest a newer version of VMK. I think it's time for a 2.0 version of the game that enhances some of the game's features and fixes some of the bugs. How about a VMK Second Life? Honestly, I think VMK became a lot more popular than anyone had ever planned, and I think that was its ultimate undoing. Lots of users... itty bitty server space.

But we don't know if it will be a bigger better vmk. The future is a scary thought the odds of something like vmk ( in terms of what the people look like the graphics and such ) are not high. That is what we are afraid of but if they told us. "Hey we are going to shut down the original VMK to make way for a bigger better one which will be like the original. We've learned from this prototype and now for creatin of this game need to get rid of the old." That I would be fine with, but we just don't know that.

 

[redshoe]

Honestly? This is the first time I've actually felt encouraged since the announcement was made. I don't care what the response says...it was a RESPONSE. They are paying attention, and starting to feel a little bit of heat.

This is NOT the time to give up!!!!! Keep it coming, folks!

 

[TinkRBel_In_Training]

I got the same e-mail. Its obvious they expected this sort of response and were prepared to write a form letter to send out to everybody. Somehow I doubt they have even read the e-mails and comments we sent, they probably have some sort of code thing that recognizes the word "vmk" and sends this automated response. But somehow I see this as a good thing, because at least they are recognizing our "outpouring", as they put it. Thats the first step. The next steps are to keep on pushing. We can make a difference! Our voices are already being heard, now let's make even more noise!!

 

[bevgray]

I have not seen one word about a community, park-type multi-player online game on the horizon. A VMK-type replacement would be fine with me too. It might even be fun to start over with a beta version and a game that addressed some of our complaints from the past. However, what we keep hearing are the known factors -POTC, ToonTown, Club Penguin - which, while fun in their own right are niche games with limited appeal in scope and target audience. We hear of Cars and Fairies which, I am sure, will be fun. I loved Cars and I always have adored fairylands and stories but again, these are niche markets. VMK is a whole different critter and unless one of the WDIG folks actually says, "Hey guys, we're working on a dynamite new version but it won't be ready until late fall or early winter so, in the meantime, "please pardon our dust while we create this great new area for you" and enjoy our existing games. They do that in the parks, after all, look how long it took to build Everest. But I haven't heard any kind of "yeah, we want to recreate and make it reach the potential we didn't quite make the last time". Just, go play our other niche games and forget the joy of a virtual Disney park.

 

[Belle1997]

Remember Walt face incredible odds. Should of given in many times because he kept getting knocked down. Without his lost of Oswald we would be visiting a rabbit not a mouse. I must say Mickey is much better

It is not over ever. Remember this game exists no where on the world wide web. We face a large mountain but you know what we learned from the quest. We can do it if we all work together.

One may wonder why we had the most crueling quest ever. Could it not have built our friendship even tighter. Made us even more determined to fight.

I truly believe there is so much more going on in the back ground. If it truly was a done deal would they have given us 6 weeks notice.

Disney knows the public they know how to close something with the least amount of resistance.

They are not doing this. Even people who do not play are getting involved how can they not when they start to hear the stories.

Keep up the good fight thousand of kids and families are counting on us.

Do not think there is no point. How can your letter make a difference. It can.

Think about the kids who have nothing but this place. Think about the kids who have friends for the first time. Think of the kids fighting for there lifes from cancer or terminal diseases.

You may not really care. But we need everyone to let these kids and families voices to be heard

I finished my letter today and mailing it out from Canada.

People from all over the world tell your friends. Tell the stories you have heard from the parents begging for help.

I saw a letter written by hand from an 8 year old kid. I am sure it was his best printing ever. If he can do this there is not reason why we can't!!!

Never ever give up your dreams. True disney fans know this

 

[mom2cookies]

If they want to make a bigger and better virtual world why not just improve VMK? Why do they have to take it down? I dont' want to be a car, I wouldn't mind being a fairy but not at the expense or demise of my VMK persona. BTW, i sent a reply to the bulk letter we all got. I had to laugh though when they signed it " your friends at VMk" I added a PS and said friends don't take away the things that make their friends happy.


PS what is or how do you get the address for snail mail and to whom do you send a letter to?

 

[bevgray]

The trouble with just "improving" VMK may be that Disney does not own the actual programming code. I agree there is much going on in the background. I also find the 6-week lead time curious. For now, enjoy our VMK and keep those letters going out.

 

[mom2boys77]

I also received the email and not 5 minutes later I received a phone call from someone at VMK. I had sent them a fax earlier today and apparently they are reading everything.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

I take the email (which I also received) as just a "Shut up and go away" type message. No matter. It came from VMK, as others have pointed out. And as my grandfather always used to say, you don't mess with the underlings. You go straight to the top.

Here's a clue for Disney: I disliked the movie Cars, and I have NO desire to play a game based on it. I do not like the whole Fairies schtick they are currently shoving down everyone's throats, and I will also not be playing that. Sorry to disappoint you. Maybe I should take my business to Build-A-Bearville, Build-a-Bear Workshop's online community. They invited me to be a tester, but I didn't because I wanted to stick with VMK. You see Disney? many of us will abandon your online world totally when VMK goes dark. We will not blindly follow along like sheep to whatever you try and convince us is the next great thing.

And I'm sorry, but using Walt's words and manipulating that quote makes me sick. I am utterly disgusted with whoever decided that would be their grand tactic to deflect the blame for this rotten decision. I would say much more, but I am just going to be quiet. Too angry to see straight.

Don't give up, everyone!

 

[BlueSneakerGal]

I also received the email and not 5 minutes later I received a phone call from someone at VMK. I had sent them a fax earlier today and apparently they are reading everything.

Can you tell us anything about the phone call?

 

[bevgray]

She started a separate thread about the call.

 

[StephenTXT99]

SaveVMKToday.com just posted a letter to everyone.