[Each day, Worlds in Motion will be taking a closer look at individual virtual worlds. We'll start with a nuts-and-bolts overview, then move on to an in-depth tour, to be followed up with a conclusion-- all with the aim of bringing you all the essential info and details on each world in the rapidly-developing virtual landscape.]
Let's take our first look today at Nicktropolis, the online playground for teens and 'tweens created by Nickelodeon.
Name: Nicktropolis
Company: Nickelodeon (Viacom)
Overview: Nicktropolis is a series of interconnected areas themed around Nickelodeon's programming and properties-- SpongeBob Square Pants, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Jimmy Neutron and The Naked Brothers Band, for example. The rooms are all host to interactive content like minigames, songs and videos, and users can chat, play and explore.
How it Works: The world itself runs in browser-embedded flash, and the primary navigation mode is point-and-click, though some minigames require very simple keyboard use. The interface is essentially a window of icon images, each representative of a place, which users click to visit. Tab buttons on top of the play window let users go back, or return to their own room. Generally, users need only to mouse-over objects to see what they can interact with, and a click is all it takes.
Chat works with a typing field beneath the play window, and there are two modes-- NickSafe chat, which lets users choose from a variety of pre-made greetings, questions and responses-- and Dictionary chat. The latter lets users type their own communication, but this can only be unlocked with an activation code sent via email (the site instructs kids who wish to use dictionary chat to get their parents to provide an email address and unlock it for them).
Payment Model: Nicktropolis is entirely free and has always been, and currently no ads are featured (other than for Nickelodeon's own properties)-- though on the heels of Disney's announcement that their subscription site Toontown (a direct competitor) would be switching to an ad-supported model, Nickelodeon has also said that Nicktropolis will eventually feature ads also. The in-world currency is NickPoints, which users earn by playing games or by finding hidden Nick "blobs" in various colors. The points are primarily used to buy decorations and accessories for the user's room, though there are also status-item collector's cards in the game.
Key Features:
-Claims 4 million users as of June 2007
-Congruent web site and message boards that lead to individual sites for each TV show
-First multiplayer game launched late June 2007
Useful Links:
Nicktropolis Reaches Almost 4 Million in 4 Months
Nick Message Boards
Virtual Worlds for Kids
