« All Disney hotels get green designation | Main | Summer’s big chill: Soaring costs could sock Orlando-area tourism »
End of Disney’s Virtual Magic Kingdom (VMK) near?
By admin | May 17, 2008
(Source: WDW Newsletter)
*Feel free to comment in the FORUMS section
How many of you know what VMK is? I sure didn’t. Yes I had seen ads for it but I never delved into it to actually experience it. VMK is a free massively multiplayer online game run by Walt Disney Theme Parks and Resorts online. It is a virtual representation of Disneyland and Magic Kingdom theme parks, containing areas and mini games which are based on real park scenery and attractions. It was launched as part of the Happiest Celebration on Earth promotional campaign to commemorate fifty years of Disney theme parks. The next question you are probably asking is why I am I blogging about it? Disney has recently announced that they are planning to shut down the Virtual Magic Kingdom on May 21, 2008, due to VMK being meant as a limited time promotion for the Disneyland 50th Anniversary Celebration. Since this decision was made there have been thousands of players who are upset at this decision.
There is the website www.savevmktoday.com which has developed a petition for VMK players to sign to show Disney that they should reconsider closing down VMK. From what I have gathered Disney did not expect VMK to achieve the success and popularity that it seems to have. The members of this community are of all ages and number in the thousands. VMK has allowed a community of Disney fans to have a safe and non-threatening environment to interact and play.The real question seems to be why would Disney close VMK? Sure it was done as a promotion, but it seems that thousands of Disney fans use it. Isn’t that truly the goal of Disney, to maintain the current level of Disney fans as well as to continue to create a new generation? I am not sure of the cost to run VMK, but I would venture a guess that Disney could well afford it. I know that Disney did purchase Club Penguin, a similar online gaming community, for an estimated $350 million, so that may have played a part in the decision to close VMK. Is the hope that VMK players will shift over to Club Penguin to play, which would increase Club Penguin’s statistics? Probably, but they are not the same type of gaming experience.
My thought is why couldn’t Disney offer VMK as a pay-for-play type of gaming? Sure many VMK members may not want to do that as this has been a free service. But what would Disney be out if they did make it a pay-for-play type of gaming experience? Have it set up for a month as a trial run and inform all VMK members that they will offer it as a pay service. If they don’t enough people registered in the first month, then they can close it based on lack of interest. What happens though if thousands are willing to keep pay and keep it running? Then Disney would have two types of on-line gaming, a free service Club Penguin (although parts of it are a pay service), and a pay service, VMK.To me this seems like a reasonable idea. If anything it is worth a shot for Disney, as they would be generating some money in return for the pay VMK. In a perfect world, Disney would listen to the thousands of members who would like it to continue as a free service, and keep it open as is. Unfortunately circumstances make that highly unlikely. It appears that another alternative is needed and hopefully a pay-per-service, while not the best solution, is just the one that might save VMK!
Stumble It!
Topics: General News |
8 Responses to “End of Disney’s Virtual Magic Kingdom (VMK) near?”
Comments
You must be logged in to post a comment.
May 17th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
[…] admin wrote an interesting post today on â
May 18th, 2008 at 12:42 am
Yes make VMK pay-to-play dont just take it away. My wife and girls all play this game, even I do sometimes and it is a really great safe game. Disney is thinking about themselves and the mighty dollar as usual. They seem to have forgotten that old saying “The customer is always right, even when they are wrong”
So come on Disney and do the right thing, keep VMK open and charge us for playing it.
May 18th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I don’t care if they make it a pay-to-play game. I love VMK just as much as any other player would.
Don’t close VMK, Keep The Magic Alive!!
May 18th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
I might not play VMK that often but I love this game just as my sister does. It is a great way to enjoy the Magic of Disney without leaving your home.
Disney don’t ruin the Magic for everyone, Keep the Magic going. think of the Fans Disney!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 18th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
i played vmk for almost 3 years and the day i foud out i went into panic mode…. we only have 3 days left… HELP!
May 19th, 2008 at 4:28 am
No way! Do not make VMK pat to play! It’s Disney’s only COMPLETELY FREE ONLINE GAME!!! KEEP THAT IN MIND!! DONT MAKE IT PAY TO PLAY IF IT STAYS OPEN!
May 19th, 2008 at 4:38 am
I agree it should stay free but since it appears Disney wont do that, the only other option would be to make it a pay option.
July 7th, 2008 at 1:33 am
Uh, i would pay to play!! me and my friend cassidy can probably get hundreds of people to pay to play also! we go to different schools, but they’re both huge with many people who would love to pay to play! all of our friends on vmk, we miss them and would pay to play, even if they have to make us pay to be a memeber. I would! cassidy would! i would beg my dad and pay half of it too so he would let me! im willing to do almost anything to get vmk back in motion and im positive there are a bunch of other people who feel the same way!