Save VMK headquarters

[SorcererDonald16]

I signed. Make enough noise and don't stop and I'm hoping they'll change their minds. I'm hoping and praying, anyway.

 

[Disney Dreams]

This has fallen too far down, no? Back up to the top it goes!

 

[PrincessWendyBird]

This has fallen too far down, no? Back up to the top it goes!

Woot to Dreams - always there to help. Just don't want anyone to miss this.

 

[valeriesunshine]

I emailed every email adress on the site. I've left messages for alot of Disney representives and directors. And Ive signed the petitions

 

[KingQuackATac]

Woot, 4000 signatures! Let's hit 8000 by this time tomorrow!

 

[redshoe]

A bit of Disney history...Figment was removed from Journey Into Imagination during a major overhaul several years ago, and a grassroots movement similar to this one was responsible for getting him reinstated in the ride.

I think it would behoove us to dig into this a little bit and find out a few things. Who were the protesters writing to or calling? How did they organize their efforts? What percentage of park-goers protested the removal of Figment? I believe a lot of it was just complaints to Guest Services, which doesn't help us a whole lot, but surely we can learn something from it that might help us.

Does anyone know who spearheaded the Figment campaign, and how they might be contacted for a little bit of brain-picking?

Remembering the Figment success gives me hope. It wouldn't be as hard to keep VMK in place as it must have been to put Figment back into JII, and I can't see how Figment would have generated any revenue for them beyond maybe pin sales. If they went to a subscription format for VMK, they could start making money on it pretty much immediately, and with an already established game interface and player base.

In my opinion, if it's the only way VMK can stay open, they should convert it to a subscription basis. That would take maybe all of a DAY, code-wise. Possibly less, I don't know a whole lot about it, but it can't be that involved. Perhaps they could even do this on a trial basis and see how it works for about 6 months (at this point, I'll take anything!). And they would be wise, as a company, to do it without shutting the game down. That way, those of us who would be willing to pay wouldn't have the opportunity to go look elsewhere for something to substitute for VMK, get addicted to it, and lose interest in subscribing to VMK.

From a business standpoint, I believe it would truly make sense to do this...even more sense than promoting and developing Pirates, Toontown and Penguins, because VMK is established and more or less fully developed, with an already established player base that is begging - literally BEGGING - to hand Disney over some money in order to keep playing. It's up to us to make them see reason, folks.

 

[PrincessWendyBird]

Just wanted to make sure anyone who may have missed this information has it. Please visit this site. Hugs

 

[bevgray]

I believe a lot of the Figment effort took place right here on the DIS. It consisted of several years though, not just a few days or weeks.

Another concern I thought of this morning, who actually owns VMK? Wasn't the development of the code sub-contracted out rather than done in-house at Disney? If so, that may be part of the trouble. The existing contract may be up and Disney may not want to resign or purchase whatever rights the software developers own in VMK.

 

[SorcererDonald16]

I believe this thread needs a bump.

 

[taz]

What are we up too?

 

[Disney Dreams]

My letter has been sent with the following photo to:
ABC in Los Angeles
NBC in Los Angeles
CBS in Los Angeles

and local stations:
KTLA 5
KCAL 9
KTTV 11
KZLA 13

This incredible community is a place where children and adults anonymously socialize side-by-side everyday, sharing laughter, tears, life stories, and friendships closer than imaginable. It is a special place where people connect in incredible ways. It is a place where kids and adults alike play, relax, and visit with friends everyday.

It’s a place that children with Asperger’s have found to be pivotal in helping them build social skills. Other parents of children with various illnesses have shared that in the real world other kids treat their sons or daughters as “weird or freaks,” while on VMK they have formed amazing friendship in which they are not subjected to these labels. Adults and children alike who are fighting cancer and other ailments have found this incredible place to be their escape.

As a married, 30-something, self-employed, college graduate trying to grow my small business, I start my day several times a week in this amazing place talking with a friend who is in Chicago about his day. Being a business owner himself, our friendship has not only provided the usual joys that accompany such a connection, but he also offers business advice, making our talks near-networking sessions.

When my Chicagoan friend gets called away by customers, I often remain in this incredible place, to visit with other friends that I have known for almost 3 years. I may share laughs with a young adult in the United Kingdom that I have found a unique connection with or maybe I will hear about the happenings of the day in the world of my of my teenage friend in Canada who manages to make me smile almost everyday with her kindness and light-hearted spirit. I am lucky to know her. Inevitably, adult friends who live from Neveda to New Jersey and have become great friends that I speak with everyday step in to join us during any of these visits and share in the laugher, advice, or random fun that may evolve. They are sunshine in my every day.

While Disney relied on this little Kingdom to generate revenue from Disney fans worldwide through related-product purchases (including trips to both WDW and Disneyland), what they did not count on is the amazing, unique, seemingly boundary-less friendships that would form and become a part of REAL people’s daily lives.

They did not count on adults who are bound to wheelchairs finding a virtual freedom like never before through their little game. They did not count on children battling cancer having 1,000s of people worldwide offering support, friendship, and laughter through their marketing mechanism.
They did not count on adults dealing with the struggles life can issue connecting with each other for daily laughter and escape through their little virtual world.

And earlier this week, when they announced that they were going to close the Virtual Magic Kingdom, leaving over 250,000 characters behind in a land that can never be visited again, they did not count on the fact that the real life humans behind those avatars would fight for life for their virtual counterparts. They didn’t count on 12 year olds asking 40 year olds on game-related message boards for assistance in writing a letter so they could share with anyone who would listen their desire to keep their favorite place on the internet alive.

They didn’t count on the fact that people will do amazing things to keep friendships that cannot exist elsewhere (due to their anonymous nature that keeps kids safe) alive by doing anything they can to try to stop the gates to the Virtual Magic Kingdom from locking at 10pm PST on May 21, 2008, including establishing an online petition at www.savevmk.com that would gather almost 4,500 signatures in less than 48 hours.

What can the consumers of a free online game do when an entertainment mogul decides to shutdown their Funville? Fight for its survival! Why did Disney not offer its players at pay-to-play option? Why do they offer this for other on-line games but not for the Virtual Magic Kingdom? Why do they not see the amazing power and almost unbelievable affects that their little virtual world has on the human spirit of people of all ages, nationalities, and genders worldwide? Why do they not understand that in the midst of their Year of a Million Dreams, incredible dreams are happening everyday by fellow human beings at vmk.com?

Disney has reportedly turned down the offer to speak with news agencies that have attempted to ask about this. For the children that find an unheard of confidence in VMK, for the adults that find unique connections with peers that they would otherwise not know exist, for anyone that has ever shared a smile with someone on the other side of the planet through this incredible place, please, help us show this entertainment giant that their little Virtual Magic Kingdom is worth saving.

There are real people behind the 250,000 virtual avatars that are fighting for their ability to continue to bring smiles and joy to many real people worldwide. If only Disney would let them.

Why pour all the money into new worlds when you have an amazing Kingdom that is loved my many every day?

Sincerely,
Jegrezo

P.S. If nothing above moves you to feel that this human interest story is anything more than the closing of yet another online game, allow me to leave you with a direct quote of an entry from the online journal of an 11 year old VMK player has Spinal Muscular Atrophy which controls voluntary movements, such as crawling, walking, swallowing and breathing:

“My favorite web site, Virtual Magic Kingdom (VMK) is closing May 21st. I'm sad and MAD! I can't live without my friends on VMK. PLEASE sign my guestbook like a petition to SAVE VMK for me and my friends. Pass my site on to everyone you know so they can help too. I love VMK cause I can WALK, TALK, EAT, DANCE, SHOP and play checkers all by myself.

PLEASE HELP ME!

Love,
Madison
p.s. VMK is GERM FREE too!
p.s.s. and no one stares at me there.”
(source: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/madisonreed)

 

[StephenTXT99]

Nice site. Does anyone else find it weird that VMK Forums is the only ones not allowing petitions? its kinda ridiculous and makes them look so pathetic. They even starting banning people and you cant even say savevmk.com or any of the sites.

 

[Blumonkeyboy]

I believe a lot of the Figment effort took place right here on the DIS. It consisted of several years though, not just a few days or weeks.

Another concern I thought of this morning, who actually owns VMK? Wasn't the development of the code sub-contracted out rather than done in-house at Disney? If so, that may be part of the trouble. The existing contract may be up and Disney may not want to resign or purchase whatever rights the software developers own in VMK.

I think VMK was also helmed by Saluke, themind behind Habbo Hotel. Anyone up for a little raid on Habbo, in protest?

 

[Belle1997]

A little bump remember you cna get friends and family that do not play to sign it is for everyone pass it around

 

[Disney Dreams]

eek - this fell WAY too far down. Found it on page 2. Back to the top it goes!

 

[MagicMontey]

Disney movies often show that one person can make a difference and that people can do anything if they believe and work hard. If you ever wanted to see if one person (you) can make a difference I challenge you to go for it now. Beyond the petitions, call and write. Don't be nasty, in your letter, express your feelings from your heart. Because this wish is a dream ALL of our hearts are making. That has to count for something. We will be making history and you will be able to tell others “look what I did.” If we can spin this cog around (reference to ToonTown) who knows what else we can accomplish!

 

[VMK_Mouse]

Disney movies often show that one person can make a difference and that people can do anything if they believe and work hard. If you ever wanted to see if one person (you) can make a difference I challenge you to go for it now. Beyond the petitions, call and write. Don't be nasty, in your letter, express your feelings from your heart. Because this wish is a dream ALL of our hearts are making. That has to count for something. We will be making history and you will be able to tell others “look what I did.” If we can spin this cog around (reference to ToonTown) who knows what else we can accomplish!

BEAUTIFUL!!!

 

[MagicMontey]

After hearing (from another forum) that CNN was contacted about our disappointment regarding VMK‘s announcement to close, I opened an iReport on CNN.com. VMKF would not allow me to post a link but I hope this forum will.

Actually, I am getting a "could not find phrase error" again and again after trying to submit this reply. So try this ... go to ireport.com then click on "highest rated" and look for a BIG VMK logo, lol.

Please go there and comment. Then rate the story with five stars. Let's keep the story close to the top rated so CNN will know this matters to many and air it on TV !

 

[mouseman68]

Bringing this up a bit. Do not want to lose focus!! Keep up those letters ppl!!

WE WANT TO PLAY!! SAVE VMK!!

 

[disvaclub92]

IReport from Magic Montey

Found your report Magic Montey.