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global elubin-webkinz sites and elubin-webkinz links |
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| Webkinz: Bigger and Softer Than a Tamagotchi
A friend emailed me today about a new toy her youngest daughter received for her birthday-a Webkinz stuffed animal. Three days later, it seems, she's hooked.
The stuffed animal sells for about $10.95 at local gift and toys stores, but when you bring it home and go online to webkinz.com, the tween the toymaker is targeting can build an online life for the fluffy friend. The stuffed animal isn't interactive on its own, but the online adoption via a code that comes with the toy and other activities aim to bring it to life.
Decorate a room. Earn "KinzCash" by playing an arcade game, answering quiz questions and playing in tournaments. Feed and care for your animal.
Sounds a bit like Dream Life, the TV plug-and-play virtual life game for girls, and the handheld electronic virtual pets, Tamagotchis. But all Webkinz action takes place on the Web.
Luckily, Webkinz maker Ganz, is not hyping any true educational benefits to the online game, though kids who want pets can get an inkling of the responsibility the real-life versions require. As for money, it's too bad they earn it by playing in an arcade. Though I suppose this is, after all, a game, and not summer school.
Anybody with Webkinz pet collections taking shape at home? Parents, what do you think of this of stuffed/virtual pet? |
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