Do you think we'll ever get to buy credits?

[JeanJoe]

<shrug> Why do you care? And besides:

From: http://vmk.disney.go.com/vmk/en_US/WhatIsVMK/index?name=ForPlayersPage

Can I Play VMK?

The game is designed for 8-14 year olds, but Disney fans of all ages are welcome to play and will discover much to enjoy.

I knew it! I knew it the first moment I signed up for VMK, and now it's true, straight from the home office itself! I am so annoyed!

 

[GBShorts]

Well, as for buying stuff...

I have been in a room with yavn present when he said...

"Our hope is for VMK to always be free to the players"


which means to me no buying of stuff.

 

[JeanJoe]

I sure hope so... But -- developer vs. bean counter paying developer. Who do you think would win?

Well, as for buying stuff...

I have been in a room with yavn present when he said...

"Our hope is for VMK to always be free to the players"


which means to me no buying of stuff.

 

[Nwahs]

Go to the parks, and buy a pre-wrapped "random" pack of 3 vmk cards with a single use code for different items for like $5-$6. Collect them all! Trade with your friends!

They would make a ton of $$. There bean counters, I did your job for you. Now, make it so! lol

why only sell them at the parks? why not sell them at the Disney outlet stores as well.

 

[lovethattink]

I knew it! I knew it the first moment I signed up for VMK, and now it's true, straight from the home office itself! I am so annoyed!

Ok, here's the direct quote from the Mickey Monitor.

"Play awesome, new online Disney game. Free! This one goes out to all you kids out there.

Seriously, it's for the kids. So if you have 'em or know 'em...give this to them! Because it's online game time, and the kids have the keys to rule the kingdom. The "Virtual Magic Kingdom," that is.

Ready to Unleash the Magic(TM)? Then here's how. All you gotta do (assuming "you" is a reader who is not yet old enough to drive) is to go vmk.com and register to play for free..."


I'm sorry, but when I read that it felt like a kick in the back. I'm an adult and I'm having a blast on it. I will continue to play. But this letter very definately gets the point across that Disney wants kid who are too young to drive. Not us older kids at heart.

(edited because I can't spell)

 

[BuddyGenie]

Ok, here's the direct quote from the Mickey Monitor.

"Play awesome, new online Disney game. Free! This one goes out to all you kids out there.

Seriously, it's for the kids. So if you have 'em or know 'em...give this to them! Because it's online game time, and the kids have the keys to rule the kingdom. The "Virtual Magic Kingdom," that is.

Ready to Unleash the Magic(TM)? Then here's how. All you gotta do (assuming "you" is a reader who is not yet old enough to drive) is to go vmk.com and register to play for free..."


I'm sorry, but when I read that it felt like a kick in the back. I'm an adult and I'm having a blast on it. I will continue to play. But this letter very definately gets the point across that Disney wants kid who are too young to drive. Not us older kids at heart.

(edited because I can't spell)

**grabs Joe by the back of his neck and plasters his face against that post** See??? SEE?!?!?!? How else would you account for all the kids on VMK?

Sorry about the directness and pushiness. I just wanted to get a point across.

 

[JeanJoe]

Right. And for information about VMK, why would the Mickey Monitor article take precedence over what is on the VMK home page?

Can I Play VMK?

The game is designed for 8-14 year olds, but Disney fans of all ages are welcome to play and will discover much to enjoy.

And if you care that people think it's for kids, then don't play. <shrug> I play with Lego (actually have probably several thousand dollars worth of sets), and am not in the "recommended" age range. I ride a carousel and the dark rides at the Disney parks. I play with the Happy Meal toys from McDonalds (The Incredibles ones were particularly good). I like to mess around with Play-Doh, even when it's not with my 3yo daughter. I watch kids cartoons on TV when I get the chance (admittedly, not as often any more).

Do you get my point? Why do you care what people think you should or should not be playing, so long as you are not interfering with the enjoyment of others?

The posts / articles you point to that say "VMK is for kids" is to prevent adults from jumping into the "kid's" rooms, where they are playing make-believe restaurant / cafe or something, and loudly announce "Hi. I am old enough to be your da da. You are all kids. You are all so silly. Go away."

Fine, agreed with you -- VMK is DESIGNED for kids. But as far as I'm concerned, if an adult can enjoy it without ruining the enjoyment for others, I don't give a d**m.

Good bye.

**grabs Joe by the back of his neck and plasters his face against that post** See??? SEE?!?!?!? How else would you account for all the kids on VMK?

Sorry about the directness and pushiness. I just wanted to get a point across.

 

[ScroogesNephew]

. . . how does anyone REALLY know how old you actually are? That's the beauty of Cyber-World, it's ANONYMOUS! For instance, I'm actually 81 (next birthday), but most Cyber-Worlders think I'm about 15. At least in THIS characterization.

 

[JeanJoe]

Then you need to fix your profile DOB, which is 27 years off.

. . . how does anyone REALLY know how old you actually are? That's the beauty of Cyber-World, it's ANONYMOUS! For instance, I'm actually 81 (next birthday), but most Cyber-Worlders think I'm about 15. At least in THIS characterization.

 

[debbiedoo]

Disney knows that the adults are going to play as well and the kids. They know this by now--a thing called marketing--

I am sure that Disney will find a way in the end to be in the black and not the red--

trips to disney, staying at parks, doing the tours, buying items to get certain VMK objects--eating at the restaurants, etc. . . .

Bottom line--who funds these trips--last time I looked at my budget it was the adults

 

[ScroogesNephew]

Then you need to fix your profile DOB, which is 27 years off.

Exactly my point, Joejeans. See how easy it is? Now, try to guess how old Beverly actually is!

 

[ScroogesNephew]

. . . I fixed my public profile. Satisfied now Joe?

 

[JeanJoe]

Much better -- glad you've kept your wits about you, despite your advanced age

. . . I fixed my public profile. Satisfied now Joe?

 

[AlphaChrisP]

Naa... I dont think we will ever get to buy credits that is a silly idea

 

[Yumisaun]

It would be fun to buy credits for the people who wouldn't be able to earn them all the time on the game, but for the people who already have a lot of credits in the game and then they have alot of money in real life that would give them a big advantage.

It would be bad because they dont know how long the game will last because the iste is partly unstable so some people could go out to the store and spend a kazillion dollars on credits for a virtual website, and when they finally get on to put the credits in their acount the site is shut down or something.. I just hope that never happens because I would be crushed if i could never see my friends again.. i am very attached to the site and would not want to lose all my friends. I know!! I;m going to make a shout outs thread!! first i have to figure out how to start a thread..hmm

 

[maliboomer]

VMK is an advertizement for Disney Parks and Resorts. Their marketing is directed at each single product individually, not Disney as a whole. If that was the case, they would have TV ads which said 'Come sail on a voyage with the Disney Cruise Line and look out for Malificent trying to murder Mickey!', or out of the company, 'The smooth taste of Bud-Light is perfect to accompany a juice box'.

They want you to come to their parks and spend money there. A direct quote from Family Guy said by ill-fated Eisner, 'Come to Disneyland! Bring Money.', is unfortunately true.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

The entire point of VMK is to get people to the parks. They can make it so that only the really cool stuff is gotten only by going to them. And probably will. They already do to some extent. Pirate Quest. Haunted Mansion Quest. Holiday Quest.
Yes. It is also geared toward young children. Because they know that kids that want the really cool stuff and want to be cool to all their VMK friends will bug their parents to no end to go to the parks. They are counting on the parents relenting and going and spending thousands on trips.

What is VMK doing right now? Advertising the resorts. They are trying to entice you into spending your money by staying at these really "cool" resorts while going to the parks. They are not promoting the local Best Westerns.

Because the park attendance has been lower than what they really want for the last several years, it's all about bringing back the customers. And they hope to get this generation of kids hooked on going to them. If they get them hooked, then they reason that they will return in the future. And hopefully with their kids.

Personally, I hope that the bottom dollar guys decide not to charge for playing VMK or to charge for the code cards. As long as they see those codes bringing in people, they might not charge for them. Because after all, you do have to pay to get into the parks just to get those "free" quest cards and tours.

I know as I can't afford to pay for those cards let alone go to the parks, I will leave VMK if they ever do charge to be able to play. And it's people like me that they will only alienate. And it goes against everything that Walt believed in and worked for.