Webkinz

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Children in front of a Webkinz display stand in a Colorado store

Webkinz is a brand name under which Canadian toy manufacturer Ganz has been distributing a range of soft toys and accessories in Canada and the United States since 2005 .

The peculiarity of the marketing concept is that the company operates a website ( Webkinz World ) in addition to trading in Webkinz articles, on which the buyers of these articles log in using a number code and with a virtual version of the toys they have bought in a Environment that they can furnish and design according to their own taste. The more Webkinz and accessories are bought, the more KinzCash (virtual money), rooms and furnishings are available.

Webkinz , of which there are already over 200 different toys, were among the most popular toys among US American children of primary school age until around 2008.

Product range

The product range mainly includes dogs and cats, as well as farm and wild animals, fish, birds, frogs and fantasy animals. In addition to the animals, a number of so-called W-Plus articles are offered, accessories that are also equipped with a code and can be registered in Webkinz World for KinzCash or other services. The W-Plus articles include e.g. B. cosmetics, bookmarks, trading cards , as well as carrier bags or clothing for the stuffed animals or children.

In the US, the current Webkinz are priced at around $ 15. In addition to the actual Webkinz series, the cheaper product series Lil'Kinz is available in stores , the somewhat smaller edition of the "Webkinz".

In the online shop of the company “Ganz” (“eStore”), legal guardians can also purchase “eStore Points”, which can be used to buy codes for virtual furnishings, clothing or other items.

Website

Each stuffed animal and accessory comes with an 8-digit code. By registering this code on the website, you “adopt” the toy in Webkinz World , a virtual game reality that has its own economic life. With the adoption of a toy, users receive money (so-called KinzCash ), an exclusive piece of furniture and the animal's special item (“Pet Specific Item”), play online games , many of which are only available at certain times, and answer general questions Knowledge questions.

In the W Shop , users can spend their KinzCash and purchase food for their animal, furnishings or additional rooms for their house, which can be rearranged at any time. The animals can be fed, taken to the toilet or taken to the vet, brushed or bathed. The garden is planted, cared for and harvested or a swimming pool is set up. The online world also contains many rare or exclusive items, some of which can only be acquired by adopting a "Pet of the Month" (see below) or in the Curio Shop , where you can also dig for gemstones ("Gem Mining" / "Gem Hunt"). For others, you have to invest in KinzCash , which you can only get in larger amounts by buying and “adopting” new toys. However, additional KinzCash can also be won on most games. In the “Clubhouse”, users have the option to chat with friends to a limited extent and to exchange possessions. In addition, a “Pet of the Month” is regularly proclaimed; Users who acquire and “adopt” this animal receive exclusive items in online reality and are allowed to play games at special times that owners without “Pet of the Month” cannot play. For each “Pet of the Month” there is a corresponding music video and items from the video for a month that can be purchased in the “eStore”.

In addition, users can interact with each other, chat or play games together in the online world with friends who identify themselves with a password .

With the “Deluxe Membership”, which can be acquired voluntarily through monthly payment, the child is provided with special items of clothing, furniture, additional “eStore Points” and extended chat options.

On the “Webkinz Newz” page belonging to “Webkinz” you have the opportunity to take part in competitions, express your opinion in forums or just get news.

Although Webkinz can now be played in 14 different languages ​​- and the trend is increasing - thanks to settings, some passages are still in English.

criticism

While many parents see educational benefits in their children's engagement with Webkinz World , others have expressed concern that such engagement creates addiction . Although the online chat system only allows free communication with the consent of the legal guardians, some doubt the security of the chat function. To avoid distraction from class, some schools have now banned children from bringing Webkinz into class. It was also criticized that the website, which was originally free of advertising, now contains commercial advertising .

Individual evidence

All of the following online sources are in English:

  1. ↑ Is the Webkinz Craze Bad for Kids?
  2. ↑ kids hooked on Webkinz world. Archived from the original ; accessed on June 1, 2014 .
  3. ↑ Toy causes classroom distraction
  4. ↑ Webkinz pleases parents and children ; Webkinz Takes Heat For Taking Advertising ( Memento from September 5, 2008 in the Internet Archive )

Web links