Help!!!

[Fonna]

Perhaps I am getting old, or need new glasses. I need help, I have been looking and looking and I simply CANNOT find where it says VMK was to be a promotion (or any mention to the 50th Anniversary of DLR for that matter).
Can anyone help me find it??!!

Here is the direct link if it helps...
http://web.archive.org/web/20050406...neyland/en_US/special/vmk/index?VMKSplashPage​

 

[lisuhut]

Hi
You are not alone ,but i could not find it either, which i also mentioned in two e-mails and a letter to disney, but they have not replied to that statement,so i guess we have to still look for it. Good luck!!

 

[TeeBo]

Not to sound like a troll or something, but if u turn your monitor on its side and zoom in on that skull floating on top of the cauldron, u can make out the words, "only a temporary promotion" and right below that "game ends May, 2008."

 

[SnowyJingleBells]

Not to sound like a troll or something, but if u turn your monitor on its side and zoom in on that skull floating on top of the cauldron, u can make out the words, "only a temporary promotion" and right below that "game ends May, 2008."

 

[SharkMeal]

Not to sound like a troll or something, but if u turn your monitor on its side and zoom in on that skull floating on top of the cauldron, u can make out the words, "only a temporary promotion" and right below that "game ends May, 2008."

I needed that laugh. Thanks!

 

[Fonna]

Not to sound like a troll or something, but if u turn your monitor on its side and zoom in on that skull floating on top of the cauldron, u can make out the words, "only a temporary promotion" and right below that "game ends May, 2008."

I knew it was there someplace!

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Not to sound like a troll or something, but if u turn your monitor on its side and zoom in on that skull floating on top of the cauldron, u can make out the words, "only a temporary promotion" and right below that "game ends May, 2008."

Welcome to the DIS!

 

[TinkPinkPoem]

Not to sound like a troll or something, but if u turn your monitor on its side and zoom in on that skull floating on top of the cauldron, u can make out the words, "only a temporary promotion" and right below that "game ends May, 2008."

That was great! I wonder how none of us noticed earlier!

to the boards.

 

[HARRYRABBIT]

Here are a few OLD links that might be of interest advertising VMK. I don't think any of them mention closing in May 2008 though.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=4821

http://yahoo.usatoday.com/money/media/2005-01-17-disney-advergaming_x.htm

http://www.aef.com/industry/news/data/2005/3078

http://www.disboards.com/archive/index.php/t-786743.html

 

[CelebrationNM]

If the question is whether that page says that VMK is a promotion for the 50th anniversary, the answer is no, it doesn’t. Most promotions, in their own advertising, don’t explicitly declare themselves as a promotion, so I don’t see the issue with that.

If the question is whether it was known that VMK was a promotion before the launch, the evidence says “yes”. This article was mentioned above, and the header and this quote fulfill both the promotion and 50th aspect:

Disney Plans 'Virtual Magic Kingdom' Online Promotion
January 18, 2005

"Disney executives are readying a series of free 'advergaming' campaigns, including a major online game, to promote Disneyland’s 50th anniversary this year. The company will be making use of both Web and retail video games featuring prominent advertising messages promoting Disneyland.”

(http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=4821, emphasis mine)

I suppose the end-date for a promotion is when the promotion's sponsor feels it can better invest its advertising dollars elseware, which has the potential to change for a number of reasons. Unfortunately for us, that time was sooner rather than later!

 

[Fonna]

If the question is whether that page says that VMK is a promotion for the 50th anniversary, the answer is no, it doesn’t. Most promotions, in their own advertising, don’t explicitly declare themselves as a promotion, so I don’t see the issue with that.

If the question is whether it was known that VMK was a promotion before the launch, the evidence says “yes”. This article was mentioned above, and the header and this quote fulfill both the promotion and 50th aspect:



(http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=4821, emphasis mine)

I suppose the end-date for a promotion is when the promotion's sponsor feels it can better invest its advertising dollars elseware, which has the potential to change for a number of reasons. Unfortunately for us, that time was sooner rather than later!

Thank you Celebration for yet another over the top answer to help us all understand Disney and the business world in general!

 

[CelebrationNM]

Thank you Celebration for yet another over the top answer to help us all understand Disney and the business world in general!

No problem, I do what I can!

(P.S. - perhaps you'd like to get on the mailing list for my e-newsletter! Free insight, delived to your inbox, every week!)

 

[EvlQueen]

The articles mentioned above were around before VMK. So for the very few who heard about it in advance, maybe, just maybe, some of them would have assumed that promotion = we'll let it run for 3 years and suddenly jerk it away. But for those who showed up later, there was no mention, ever, that it was temporary.

 

[HARRYRABBIT]

But for those who showed up later, there was no mention, ever, that it was temporary.

You're right. Disney should have put out more information/advertising that vmk was a promotion and could end at any time, to all the people that were spending money on anything for VMK. Many, many people were not aware of this. To some, it didn't matter. They wanted those rare items.....LOL I saw an old eBay listing for green flip shoes sold for $795.00. The buyers money is gone, and soon the shoes will be, too.

It was wrong of Disney not to keep notifying people about this. In my mind, I think people might be able to file law suits against Disney for scamming, stealing, or something like that, but I'm not an attorney and that is just my opinion.

 

[TLinden16]

You're right. Disney should have put out more information/advertising that vmk was a promotion and could end at any time, to all the people that were spending money on anything for VMK. Many, many people were not aware of this. To some, it didn't matter. They wanted those rare items.....LOL I saw an old eBay listing for green flip shoes sold for $795.00. The buyers money is gone, and soon the shoes will be, too.

It was wrong of Disney not to keep notifying people about this. In my mind, I think people might be able to file law suits against Disney for scamming, stealing, or something like that, but I'm not an attorney and that is just my opinion.

The people who bought those virtual items on e-bay couldn't have a lawsuit against Disney now that VMK is closing. Caveat emptor--Let the buyer beware. The people who bought items on eBay knew they were buying virtual items for use in an online game.

Others have argued that they bought movies and VMK pins to get the codes for virtual items that are now useless. But in reality, it wasn't the codes they were paying for. It was the movies and the pins that they were paying for. The vmk card codes and Disney movie rewards were bonuses.

I think people are far to hung up on the promotion aspect. It's clear that at one point this was called a promotion. I guess the shelf life on it was three years.

 

[HARRYRABBIT]

The people who bought those virtual items on e-bay couldn't have a lawsuit against Disney now that VMK is closing. Caveat emptor--Let the buyer beware. The people who bought items on eBay knew they were buying virtual items for use in an online game.

Others have argued that they bought movies and VMK pins to get the codes for virtual items that are now useless. But in reality, it wasn't the codes they were paying for. It was the movies and the pins that they were paying for. The vmk card codes and Disney movie rewards were bonuses.

I think people are far to hung up on the promotion aspect. It's clear that at one point this was called a promotion. I guess the shelf life on it was three years.

I was just throwing something up in the air for thought.

 

[qruthie]

Others have argued that they bought movies and VMK pins to get the codes for virtual items that are now useless. But in reality, it wasn't the codes they were paying for. It was the movies and the pins that they were paying for. The vmk card codes and Disney movie rewards were bonuses.

I paid for the codes. The DVDs and pins were the bonuses. My family described the purchases as "buying pixels." Most of the DVDs I bought have never been watched, they are in their cases collecting dust. The only family member who seems to be enjoying them is our male cat. He likes to knock them off the entertainment center. Usually I wait for the movies to play on cable rather than buy the DVDs. The pins are still on their cards, in the original boxes which are sitting in a bin collecting cat hair and dust. I'm generally an avid pin collector, most would say I'm obsessed with collecting pins. The VMK pins that came with the cards are butt stinking ugly, I wouldn't have bought them if they hadn't come with codes. I do like the trading cards that came with the codes but I don't think I would have bought the cards if they didn't have codes on them.

That said, it was my choice to buy the codes. I was completely aware that the codes were for virtual items and that the game could go away eventually. I just did not expect it to go away so soon.

 

[KingTryton]

That said, it was my choice to buy the codes. I was completely aware that the codes were for virtual items and that the game could go away eventually. I just did not expect it to go away so soon.

I am right there with all of you in this latest episode of VMK / Disney in it for the profit. I am sure they operate with the same thought process as most businesses in setting up plans not only for the near term but also 1 or 2 years out for their product shelf lives.

Face it we were all taken in by the awesome marketing machine that is called Disney. We knew that a "free" game could not last forever and were ready to plunk down our hard earned cash to continue to play. We gladly supported the machine with the in park quests and merchandise tie ins. Then later with the hotel visits and pin sets. Disney had us and they knew it!

It's a shame that they failed to renew the rights with Sulake to continue this promotion. I think they have overstepped the "promotion" aspect of marketing by about 2 years and 6 months. "Promotions" are just that short term angles to attract attention. It's time that they owned up to the fact that they did not want to pay Sulake and be done with it.

Fonna: Your eye sight is much clearer than most that I have met.

 

[Fonna]

I am right there with all of you in this latest episode of VMK / Disney in it for the profit. I am sure they operate with the same thought process as most businesses in setting up plans not only for the near term but also 1 or 2 years out for their product shelf lives.

Face it we were all taken in by the awesome marketing machine that is called Disney. We knew that a "free" game could not last forever and were ready to plunk down our hard earned cash to continue to play. We gladly supported the machine with the in park quests and merchandise tie ins. Then later with the hotel visits and pin sets. Disney had us and they knew it!

It's a shame that they failed to renew the rights with Sulake to continue this promotion. I think they have overstepped the "promotion" aspect of marketing by about 2 years and 6 months. "Promotions" are just that short term angles to attract attention. It's time that they owned up to the fact that they did not want to pay Sulake and be done with it.

Fonna: Your eye sight is much clearer than most that I have met.

Thank you KingTryton!

They had me at hello! They had me at hello...

 

[VMK_Mouse]

Hi Miss Fonna, I tried to PM you and see that your option for PMs is off. If you change your mind for a moment, I would like to message you outside of the thread as it is somewhat off-topic, in a very good way! If you don't mind turning your PMs on, please shoot me a message.