Webkinz® are stuffed animals that come with a unique ID to access a virtual world. They are popular among young children, but concerns have been raised about addiction. The virtual world has its own economy and games, and some items can only be obtained through real-life purchases. The Webkinz® world is also a social environment with regulated communication between players.
Webkinz® are real-world stuffed animals that integrate into a virtual online environment using a unique ID included with each animal. The toy owner logs into their account on the Webkinz® website and enters the new pet code. This brings a virtual version of their toy into their Webkinz® World, where they can then interact with it dynamically.
Webkinz® are aimed at young children, generally around age 5 to pre-teens. Like many toys aimed at this market, there has been some concern about the amount of energy focused on them. The demand for new Webkinz® when they are released is incredibly high and many parents and children are upset if they are unable to get the Webkinz® they have been looking for. Additionally, some have raised concerns that the Webkinz® phenomenon can be highly addictive for children. Generally, however, Webkinz® receives positive reviews from parents and children.
The first Webkinz® were released in April of 2005 and more than 100 new Webkinz® have been released since then. Pets released range from simple animal names like Pig or Frog to more ornate creatures like Wacky Dragon or Bubblegumasaurus. Each Webkinz® is also released with its own special item and special food. For example, the Webkinz® Brown Arabian comes with a virtual photo of the horse show win and is fed Horse’s D’oeuvres.
Some Webkinz® are also released seasonally for a limited time, making them more collectable. Duck, for example, with its Wetlands Pond bathtub and Cheese and Quackers, is only released around Easter. Some Webkinz® are also available only in virtual form, such as the Magical Retriever or the Floral Fox. In addition to the full-size Webkinz®, smaller, more affordable versions known as the Lil’Kinz® are also available. Most Webkinz® have a Lil’Kinz® version available, and some pets, such as White Mouse, are only available as Lil’Kinz®.
Once inside the virtual world, children are faced with an unlimited number of games they can play, as well as the choice to freely interact with their creatures or their environment. The world has its own economy, powered by KinzCash®, which is earned by purchasing real-world Webkinz®, completing in-game “jobs,” or playing trivia games or contests. KinzCash® is used to power the Webkinz® as well as expand your home and purchase furniture and decorations for it.
Some items in the Webkinz® world are only available by completing certain activities or by purchasing additional real-life accessories. These include things like pet clothes, bookmarks, school supplies, lip gloss, and trading cards.
Most of the games played within the Webkinz® world are of the simple explore and collect variety. Players are encouraged to search the world for various items, which are then combined to win the game and unlock a new item or earn KinzCash®. Webkinz® is also a social environment, where children can interact with each other through a tightly regulated system designed to stop potential online predators. Kids can visit each other’s virtual homes to see their pets, play with them, play board games, and chat with each other using a system filled with prescribed phrases.
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