Webkinz

How Game Designers Strategically Keep Kids Addicted to Playing

Joel Bakan | Posted 10.06.2011

Read More: Webkinz, Virtual Pet Sites, Neopets, Social Games, Casual Games, Online Games, Marketing to Kids, addictinggames.com, Childhood, Internet-Gaming-Addiction, Club Penguin, Game Addiction, Video Games, Parents News
Joel Bakan

Games tap kids' particular fascinations, and are structured in ways that elicit repeat and continued play. "Gaming addiction is a sign of total design success," according to one game designer.

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Inspiration or Wince-piration: What Will Kid Movies Be Based on Next?

Joel Schwartzberg | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Webkinz, Transformers, Neopets, Tranformers-2, G.I. Joe, Mr. Potato Head, My Little Pony: The Movie, Comedy News
Joel Schwartzberg

"Lunchables: The Movie": When a tray of lunchables is micro-waved by accident, the ingredients magically come to life and must save a sexy "Lean Cuisine" from the PG-13 desires of "Hungry Man."

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Guys and Dolls

Stephanie Fairyington | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Women, Growing Up, Webkinz, Children, Boys, Parenting, Feminism, Femininity, Social Activism, Gender, Girls, Marlo Thomas, Free to Be You and Me, Kids, Masculinity, Gender Issues, 1970s, Good Morning America, Family, Gender Stereotypes, Gender Roles, Healthy Living News
Stephanie Fairyington

The success of web-based interactive dolls like Webkinz indicates that boys respond to toys that tap into their fatherly instincts; for the month of October alone, boys made up 36% of the site's visitors.

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Greedy Webkinz Infuriates Parents, Trashes Own Brand

Silicon Valley Insider | Henry Blodget | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Webkinz, Disney, Club Penguin, Business News

One of the greatest online success stories of the past two years, Webkinz, has suddenly threatened its brand and annoyed its most important constituen...

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