Ayla Derrick on LinkedIn: Remember Webkinz? It was my favorite game for a good portion of my early… | 30 comments (2024)

William Thurston

CEO/Founder/Creative Director at WTTW Game Studios | Girl Dad | CCUFC #FreePalestine #OpenToNetwork #IndieRevolution

4d

I think right now it’s due to the fact that every single game is now “buy this to do more.” It was novelty when it was first put together-Webkins, Amiibo, guitar Hero (controllers, but additional purchases). Now everything is half-baked and over priced, with attachments at every turn. Make it simple. This item gets you this. Amiibo served no other purpose-webkinz doubled as a stuffed animal. 2 for 1

Dayzee Card

3D Environmental Artist

4d

I was super excited to see webkinz in my feed randomly while scrolling! I personally loved webkinz but definitely don’t see much of the toy-to-life games anymore like you mentioned. The only thing I can think of as of recent is little trinket/toys that have come in kinder eggs where you put together the toy, but then can scan the QR to download a game. I’ve never downloaded the game, but the “toy” is such poor quality that I don’t think anyone would really use it. Also the main reason I wanted to comment on here is to let you know that there is a mobile app for webkinz now! I had to do some searching for my password and account name but was able to get on! Granted not all of the games are user friendly and I believe some aspects have a paywall now but overall it’s great for the nostalgia!

Athena Peters

4d

I’m your girl with the deets! :)1) child protection laws. Anything aimed at children has to have very strict control over what can happen in the world and control over people being able to speak with eachother. MMO style games for kids were very hard to do and take a huge CS and moderation team with extensive child protective experience to pull of and you need a strong legal team. Roblox broke most of this when it came out and while they have been hugely successful, a lot of parents resisted for years precisely because a lot of protections were ignored making the place an easy hunting ground for child predators. Since launch they have added a lot more protections in, but they now have the money to do so. Asking an investor for an extra 1-2M for child protection measures makes them undesirable.2) physical manufacture and software manufacturing are completely different industries with little overlap. Even when I worked for a giant company that had both capabilities those departments had no way of communicating or easily combining budgets to work together. Sadly in order to do this successfully you would need to start from scratch building an entire company around this idea to make it one budget and communication flow

Raul Padron

Business Development | Economic Systems Development | Lawful Evil

4d

It maybe the logistics of it are more complex a gamble for investment. Though on demand companies are getting much better and more numerous by every year that passes.You will likely see it cycle back into favor in the next 5-7 years

Athena Peters

4d

This is the next one I’m watching that could be successful in this space. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/fluffnest/puffpals-island-skies#:~:text=A%20wholesome%20life%20simulator%20game,with%20cute%20and%20fluffy%20PuffPals!

Sophia Miller

Brand Marketing Manager | Expert in Brand Strategy, Social Media Management, and Digital Content Creation in the Film & Gaming Industries 🎥 🎮

4d

Yes!!! I still have all my Webkinz 😁😁💕

Gianna Brooks

Videogame Writer | Game Guide at TEG | BA in English Creative Writing

4d

Yes!! Webkins was so much fun!! I remember a few other toy-to-life games I played like All Star U with American girl dolls, I think Build-A-Bear did it too, and my childhood favorite Bella Sara. I collected those Bella Sara cards like my life depended on it! 😂🐴

Luke Kim

Game Developer / Love what you craft | @Thirteenth Month

4d

This was my childhood yes!!!!