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[Bugdozer]

From thier website

 About Us

Who We Are

We are a small group of technology specialists and engineers who primarily create complex internet applications for insurance companies and universities. Over the last 8 months we have also been working on expanding our expertise in the area of social networks and three dimensional online environments.

As part of this effort we have created a next generation virtual world which we had originally developed to use in business applications. However, we have recently decided to use this technology to create an online virtual world for families. This was motivated primarily because we could not find a virtual world similar to this on the internet.

Our commitment is to create a family friendly environment which will be something the entire family will enjoy.

The game will be free, just as you have experienced. We will not be accepting advertising, as we believe this is inappropriate when children are involved. We have put together a solid business model for this effort and you can rest assured that the Virtual Family Kingdom will not disappear in three years.

We know that you will have many questions, and we will be releasing information about the upcoming beta release on a continual basis, so check back often.





Looks like VFK has entered the world of advertising. This is clearly an ad for Accuweather and even includes their website.


http://www.accuweather.com/kidz/blog.asp?partner=accukidz

WeatherTeams Blog!

The latest WeatherTeams Blog entry is shown below. You can read more entries on AccuWeather.com.

Kids Weathercast Videos, AccuWeather Gaming Community
On Friday July 26th AccuWeather was on hand at Senator Corman's Kids Day with the State College Spikes. The Kids Day featured political representatives and local organizations as well as free food and fun for the whole family. State College Spikes tickets were also given away. Lucky visitors even had the chance to become an AccuWeather Weatherperson! To see videos of the kids having fun click HERE.

Team-alberta has just returned from Rathtrevor Beach Park and they have posted some amazing photos. You can check out images of their vacation HERE. Did you know each day there are two high tides and two low tides at Rathtrevor Beach? Check out the results on the sandy beach HERE .

AccuKidz.com would like to welcome a new addition to the AccuKidz family. Virtual Family Kingdom will soon host AccuWeather's Headquarters within their game! This is a screenshot of the room being visited by a white fairy player:




Online since May of this year, Virtual Family Kingdom http://www.virtualfamilykindgom.com is growing quickly and is a favorite of our own AccuKid Hannah. Thank you, Hannah for your help in making this possible. This amazing online multi player role playing game was formed to help ease the sorrow of many dedicated Virtual Magic Kingdom by Disney players when the game closed. A fun free educational site for kids. And it is safe to play, too. It is wonderful to see companies caring about the online safety of our younger generation.

And so, our first AccuKidz VFK Quest begins on Saturday. The prizes are cool, the game is fun, and you just might make a few friends along the way. Oh, and if your children are playing ... please don't tell them they are learning, ok? We'll just keep that our little secret.

And Me? I'll be online all day Saturday to help with any questions. You can catch me at AccuKidz @ AccuWeather.com As usual, please remove the spaces.

Gotta go for now ... I wonder if they will let me play? I always wanted to be a fairy when I was little ....

BeckyMarie
AccuKidz Director


Bug

[Adventuredaz]

Note that with the updated website and corporate structure, we noticed a comment in a recently published article which indicated it would trend this way. 

I just now have checked up on the privacy info and TOS info . All of this has been revamped and totally leaves the door open to advertising and info sharing in an anonomous manner.  Several of us expected they would change all this.  The TOS looks like that had a lawyer really trick it out as well as the privacy info.


excerpts bellow from privacy policy

Advertisers. We aggregate (gather up data across all our members'' accounts) personally identifiable information and disclose such information in a non-personally identifiable manner to advertisers and other third parties for other marketing and promotional purposes. However, in these situations, we do not disclose to these entities any information that could be used to identify you personally. Certain information, such as your name, email address, password, credit card number and bank account number, are never disclosed to marketing advertisers. We may use third-party advertising companies to serve ads on our behalf. These companies may employ cookies and action tags (also known as single pixel gifs or web beacons) to measure advertising effectiveness. Any information that these third parties collect via cookies and action tags is completely anonymous.

Other Corporate Entities. We share much of our data, including personally identifiable information about you, with our parent and/or subsidiaries that are committed to serving your online needs and related services, throughout the world. To the extent that these entities have access to your information, they will treat it at least as protectively as they treat information they obtain from their other members. Our parent and/or subsidiaries will follow privacy practices no less protective of all members than our practices described in this document, to the extent allowed by applicable law. It is possible that We and/or its subsidiaries, or any combination of such, could merge with or be acquired by another business entity. Should such a combination occur, you should expect that we would share some or all of your information in order to continue to provide the service. You will receive notice of such event (to the extent it occurs) and we will require that the new combined entity follow the practices disclosed in this Privacy Policy.

[Antjewel]

I followed a few friends in vfk to say hello, and two of your names returned me to this room. Is this room actually accessible now?

[Adventuredaz]

I followed a few friends in vfk to say hello, and two of your names returned me to this room. Is this room actually accessible now?

Ant, I could not find it and was wondering also

[Bugdozer]

I am in it now it is on the popular room lists

[Antjewel]

I am in it now it is on the popular room lists

Rofl! Thank you Bug, I forgot all about that list. See, I have been away from vmk so long, I forgot about the ever popular room list.

[1]

So much for that "we will not be accepting any advertising" line. What I really surprised at is that most players and forum posters have totally ignored the advertisement for accuweather.com in the game and that they've accepted it as being part of the game now since there is accuweather staff for that room.

[Bugdozer]

Hi,

last night i witnessed something that happened with the "accuweather" staff that had me concerned. She spent the evening trying to get kids to sign up to their accukidz site. She was pushing it big time and there would be special items for signing up so on. Well, this kid says I just tried and it wants my address and my parent says i can not give my address. That "staff" person spoke up and said put in a fake address but it's important to use your real zip code. I spoke up with a big WAIT! I said to the kid you should not go against what your parents tell you to do and you should listen to them. Well the "staff" person got all nervous and flustered and started to type lots of stuff covering her butt. She said oh yes please ask your parent first. I assumed you had asked them to type in a fake address. Others in the room was commenting on what she had said which seemed to get her more flustered. I am VERY concerned that in their goal to advertise they are pushing too hard and telling kids things they should not. She clearly regretted her comment. 

Bug

[NotAZoo]

I guess it is only a matter of time, at least before the horses, where kids can hop on Camel Joe for a ride around VFK and shop for their favorite brand of smokes while sporting their Marlboro Man Cowboy Outfit.

On a serious note, since I am a weather buff, I really do like the Accuweather tie in, although to me they are a hack service next to NOAA.   Yet as long as the advertising is for educational places like Discovery Channel, Accuweather, and stuff like that, then I am ok to some extent as long as it is purely educational and not a money making scheme.   Personally I think Elf Island may have similar tie ins to places like that as well in supporting the environment and community....so you can't guilt VFK if the motives are educational awareness based.

[Bugdozer]

That is fine but they need to be careful telling kids what to do without parents permission. That was my concern last night with the staff. I am sure it was a not think before you speak deal so I give her the benefit of the doubt and she learned last night i am sure to be careful what you tell kids

Bug

[KingQuackATac]

I'd rather there be a some advertising/partnerships than VFK raising the pay-to-play price or making all players pay-to-play.

I'm giving VFK the benefit of the doubt here. They never said they were running a charitable/non-profit game.

[funfly]

I'd rather there be a some advertising/partnerships than VFK raising the pay-to-play price or making all players pay-to-play.

I'm giving VFK the benefit of the doubt here. They never said they were running a charitable/non-profit game.

I agree, I do hope they keep advertising somewhat educational in one form or another though.  At least it's not for Toontown    (no offense to anyone who does like Toon.  I, myself, just couldn't get into that one)

[PrincessWendyBird]

Hmm, this is interesting. We have been going to Accuweather for information ever since the aftermath of Hurricane Charley. They had actually been predicting the right hand turn that the storm ended up taking. We track the hurricanes' paths each season with the kids on the map and we are registered on Accukidz because they sometimes have good teacher info. and weather games and contests.

I don't remember having to give our address when signing up, so I went through the registration process again just in case I did not remember correctly. It only asks for an E-Mail address and zip code. (along with your desired username and password) So, I am guessing that is what this child meant when they said, "They want my address.".

Oh, and funfly, your comment made me think of a funny VMK memory. I remember SkippyPaul putting a "boogie" on the Toontown advertisement in the Esplanade! This was, of course, after the announcement of the closing. 

[Bugdozer]

When you sign up on accukidz she said you need the word team in your title. This way they know you are from VFK. She says there will be special games and quests and prizes but they need the word team in your title.

Bug

[1]

Hi,

last night i witnessed something that happened with the "accuweather" staff that had me concerned. She spent the evening trying to get kids to sign up to their accukidz site. She was pushing it big time and there would be special items for signing up so on. Well, this kid says I just tried and it wants my address and my parent says i can not give my address. That "staff" person spoke up and said put in a fake address but it's important to use your real zip code. I spoke up with a big WAIT! I said to the kid you should not go against what your parents tell you to do and you should listen to them. Well the "staff" person got all nervous and flustered and started to type lots of stuff covering her butt. She said oh yes please ask your parent first. I assumed you had asked them to type in a fake address. Others in the room was commenting on what she had said which seemed to get her more flustered. I am VERY concerned that in their goal to advertise they are pushing too hard and telling kids things they should not. She clearly regretted her comment. 

Bug

That's just lovely. New staff encouraging kids not to listen to their parents and to lie.

[PrincessWendyBird]

When you sign up on accukidz she said you need the word team in your title. This way they know you are from VFK. She says there will be special games and quests and prizes but they need the word team in your title.

Bug

Hugs Bug.  Thanks for this information. We may sign up the kids under that heading in case they want to enter VFK related contests there. Right now we just have one family account there. It is actually a cute little site for kids and it looks like they are trying to grow some as well. Some of the contest entries are cute to look at as well - the kids pictures are really fun.

[Astro]

Everytime I went into that room, I was the only person in there.       I know that we have kinda figured out on our own, that if a room gets filled to capacity, we get sent to a different instance (of the same room type).  But, that room in particular was never at the maximum.      I realize that it must have just been me, since the posts on this thread make mention of staff and other players, being in the same room.  Just found it strange. 

[Bugdozer]

The room was set to only allow 10 people in it including the staff person so only 9 players got in. I am not surprised you got sent to an empty instance.

Bug

[Astro]

The room was set to only allow 10 people in it including the staff person so only 9 players got in. I am not surprised you got sent to an empty instance.

Bug

Wow!  And here I thought it was set to 20-25 people!  Whoops!