January 9, 2002

12:50 PM

In gaming news, Disney has thrown itsself into the online gaming market, with Toontown, pitting it against some of the other successful online games, but targeted towards kids. The reviews have been decent or better, and heck, who wouldn't want the chance to become a toon. From personal experience, online games can be incredibly addictive and time intensive, limiting actual human contact to zero. So, is this a great way to introduce young kids to the wonders of the online experience, or is it another way for parents to let technology play babysitter?
posted by Benway (12 comments total)

It's a beta? Cool! I'm all over it. It'll definitely kick the crap out of Furcadia.
posted by tweebiscuit at 1:05 PM on January 9, 2002

I was navigating my way, but couldn't get past the "Play 3 Musketeers Adventure at Nougat River" banner. You see, I was involuntarily projectile vomiting at the screen, probably in response to what Disney has become.

Disney, where the money happens.
posted by sharksandwich at 1:15 PM on January 9, 2002

You're kidding, right?
posted by tweebiscuit at 1:16 PM on January 9, 2002

I was wondering how they would deal with evil folks doing evil things to sweet little children... Apparently you can only use a limited set of words (using a point-n-click "ToonTalker") to chat with people unless you know a person in real life. If you know someone IRL, you can become "secret friends" by sharing a server-supplied "secret" (incommunicable via the ToonTalker, of course). It's a decent solution, I suppose.
posted by whatnotever at 1:45 PM on January 9, 2002

Babysitter. As computer-savvy as I am, if I ever have kids, they won't be introduced to or allowed to play non-strictly-educational computer games when they're little. In me, even at my advanced age, computer games increase my agression and decrease my social interaction... not what I'd want for any child.
posted by SpecialK at 2:07 PM on January 9, 2002

Any game that doesn't allow PK is fine with me.
posted by Steven Den Beste at 2:10 PM on January 9, 2002

Do they have a point-and-click option for "stfu n00b Goofy 0wnz j00?"
posted by Foosnark at 2:51 PM on January 9, 2002

I don't know if I want my kid playing this when he gets old enough not to eat the mouse, but I do know I'm going to be sucked into this like Diablo II. Boy, is my wife going to be pissed. :)
posted by fnirt at 3:15 PM on January 9, 2002

"You're kidding, right?"

No, just about the "projectile" part.
posted by sharksandwich at 3:43 PM on January 9, 2002

"Toontown is only available for Windows". What a surprise.
posted by skylar at 3:47 PM on January 9, 2002

Foosnark: LOL! Haven't heard that in a while.

My Asheron's Call addiction has intensified, but in a strange way I'd like to check this game out. My nephews are getting to the age that they love Tonka truck games, so this might be perfect for them. I could interact with them 400 miles away.

That alone makes it interesting.
posted by Benway at 4:37 PM on January 9, 2002

I think this has some serious potential. It's like Pokemon meets Quake and Diablo all in one. It's cute, it's funny, and the endless music isn't driving me insane yet.
posted by fnirt at 6:55 PM on January 9, 2002