This is a blog about my experiences with Webkinz, the new phenomenon that's currently sweeping North America and it may have even seeped outside the continent (I don't know for sure). I started this blog for my own amusement and to educate the general public as to what to expect when you or your child purchases the first Webkinz then go online.
For the benefit of newbies, I'll explain what Webkinz are. Basically Webkinz are a strange hybrid between Beanie Babies and Second Life. Webkinz are shaped like different kinds of animal (such as pandas, gorillas, dogs, etc.) and they come in two sizes--Little Webkinz, which are the same size and scale as Beanie Babies, and the larger Webkinz.
You go to a local gift shop (such as Hallmark) and purchase your choice of Webkinz or Little Webkinz. When you take the creature home, you open the plastic that covers its hang tag, which will have a special code inside. You log on to the Internet, go to Webkinz's official website, register yourself then type in the hang tag code. After deciding on the name and gender of your new Webkinz or Little Webkinz you'll get an online animated version of your Webkinz/Little Webkinz, which is where the real fun begins.
Your animated pet has a lot of needs. He/she comes with a room but it is bare and your pet will need furniture. Your pet also needs to be fed on a regular basis. All that costs money. In the Webkinz's world, the only currency that's accepted is Webkinz money so you'll have to earn some if you want your new pet to feel happy and loved.
There are several ways of earning Webkinz money. One is to play a variety of arcade games. Another way is to take part in interactive quiz contests. A third way is to get a job with the Webkinz employment agency where you get to choose a druge jobs (such as assembling burgers in a particular order) that only last a few minutes but you will be paid if you do a thorough job. A fourth way is to go back to a real-life gift shop, purchase other Webkinz pets or Webkinz accessories (such as charms and bookmarks), and register the enclosed codes online under your account.
Once you accumulate enough Webkinz money, you can go shopping in the online shopping mall and buy a variety of stuff including food, furniture, and even clothes.
There are also opportunities for Webkinz owners to socialize with each other through the website.
Ganz, the company that is responsible for the Webkinz line, has taken a page out of the Beanie Babies' marketing. Basically the company releases each Webkinz and Little Webkinz for a limited time then it'll retire a certain critter from further production.
I remember seeing those Webkinz in local gift shops several months ago but I passed them by. Then I began to see a few news stories on television about these Webkinz and the controversy that has surrounded them. It wasn't until I found this adorable Little Webkinz unicorn that I decided to take the plunge because 1) I've always have had a fondness for unicorns, 2) the store only sold this critter for $9.99, and 3) it was an opportunity for me to find out for myself what all this fuss is about.
This blog basically covers my own experiences with Webkinz and it has not been authorized by Ganz. I have never worked for Ganz in my entire life so please don't bother asking me for such things as technical support because I will not be able to provide any kind of answers. (I will ignore such requests.) This blog will NOT be the place to get a list of every single Webkinz or Little Webkinz that has ever been released nor will it be the place for the latest Webkinz news. If you're looking for such information, you'll need to go elsewhere. But if you're wondering what it's like to experience the Webkinz phenomenon first-hand, well you've come to the right place.
I will allow you to make comments but you'll have to register with Google first before you can comment. (Registering with Google is free and it'll only take about two or three minutes of your time.) That's because I've had bad experiences in the past with guestbooks and other blogs where I let anyone with an Internet connection make a comment and there's always a lot of idiots with too much time on their hands who end up making comments that are either personally insulting, harrassing, or are spam advertisments for some allegedly "hot and heavy" porn site. I just don't need this harrassment.
So just sit back, relax, and check out what I have to say about the Webkinz phenomenon.
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