Webosaurs
Encyclopedia
Webosaurs is a MMORPG
(Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game), which involves a virtual world
containing online games and activities, developed by Reel FX Entertainment. Players can use cartoon dinosaur-avatars
and play in a landscape-set world, with a variety of different themes. Beta-testing was made available to the general public on June 25, 2009 and has expanded since then - making it an online community
. Free non-memberships are available, revenue is predominantly raised through paid memberships, allowing players to access additional features (such as the ability to buy more virtual clothing, and in-game pets through use of in-game currency
.)
The game was designed for ages 5–12. Thus a major focus from the developers has been on child safety, including offering a "Safe Chat" mode, whereby users select their comments from a menu; filtering
that prevents swearing and the revelation of personal information; and moderators (along with veteran players) who police the game.
to provide moderation services to the game, and outsourced development to two other companies. After two years of development, Webosaurs released into closed-beta on June 25, 2009, and then proceeded with 4 months of beta testing. Webosaurs officially went into General Availability on October 22, 2009.
On September 30, 2011, after months of development, Reel FX released a major new update dubbed: "Webosaurs: Rise of Spike." This update was informally known as, "Webosaurs 2.0," as this had been the first major update in many months. This update added many new elements to game play, including "missions" around the game, where the player must adventure the island to figure out why the antagonist, "Spike," is attempting to take over the island. Also released was a multiplayer "monster" battle, where players battle an evil monster, known as, "OKVANGO." The monster attacks the room where the players are, while the players fight back using weapons in the game. Players can also level up, and unlock rewards for doing so.
's head.
Each player has a player card, used to store inventory
such as player card backgrounds, downloads, virtual-clothing, and different dinosaur-avatars. Clothing may be worn by all players, however some of it is only available to subscribed-members. The same applies for furniture for "caves" (the basic virtual-house.)Subscribed-members also have the benefit of having a larger cave than non-subscribed members, and may have music in their cave as well.
(known throughout the world as "Little Fang"), crocodile
, porcupine
and panda
(known throughout the world as "Panda Fang").
Pets also have a happiness bar chart
to indicate their status. Pets that are not "taken care" of will run away, and have to be replaced. This also applies in the case of when a player owns a pet, but their membership expires. However, the pet will return to the owner as soon as the membership is renewed.
as the host, as he talks about and shows players different animals, such as bats, crocodiles, tigers, and much more. Webosodes can be viewed by both members and non-members.
game that was released on Jan 25, 2010. Players are able to choose from the 4 mascots of Webosaurs. The player races to the finish line while maneuvering through obstacles, jumping over ramps, and running over arrows to get a speed boost. Upon finishing one race, you will move onto the next. The objective of the game is to finish each stage in the shortest amount of time possible. There are 4 different landscapes (desert, swamp, snow, and volcano) each consisting of 4 stages. After completing the game, the player receives a promotional code that they can use in the online game to receive 1,000 coins of in-game currency. Currently the game has a few glitches due to ios updates, but it is still playable.
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
(Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game), which involves a virtual world
Virtual world
A virtual world is an online community that takes the form of a computer-based simulated environment through which users can interact with one another and use and create objects. The term has become largely synonymous with interactive 3D virtual environments, where the users take the form of...
containing online games and activities, developed by Reel FX Entertainment. Players can use cartoon dinosaur-avatars
Avatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
and play in a landscape-set world, with a variety of different themes. Beta-testing was made available to the general public on June 25, 2009 and has expanded since then - making it an online community
Online community
An online community is a virtual community that exists online and whose members enable its existence through taking part in membership ritual. An online community can take the form of an information system where anyone can post content, such as a Bulletin board system or one where only a restricted...
. Free non-memberships are available, revenue is predominantly raised through paid memberships, allowing players to access additional features (such as the ability to buy more virtual clothing, and in-game pets through use of in-game currency
Currency
In economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
.)
The game was designed for ages 5–12. Thus a major focus from the developers has been on child safety, including offering a "Safe Chat" mode, whereby users select their comments from a menu; filtering
Content-control software
Content-control software, also known as censorware or web filtering software, is a term for software designed and optimized for controlling what content is permitted to a reader, especially when it is used to restrict material delivered over the Web...
that prevents swearing and the revelation of personal information; and moderators (along with veteran players) who police the game.
History and Development
The Webosaurs domain was originally bought in 2007 by Webosaurs Director, Jacques Panis, after noticing a lack of a popular virtual world in which his two sons could safely interact with each other and others. He soon joined VFX company, Reel FX Creative Studios, who also saw the potential to create a unique online environment for others to interact in. Reel FX hired the Metaverse Mod SquadMetaverse Mod Squad
The Metaverse Mod Squad is a private firm which provides moderation, activities, community management, and customer service to on-line social media, particularly those such as Webosaurs which serve children. In 2011 the firm had 115 employees who work as managers of 500 screened moderators working...
to provide moderation services to the game, and outsourced development to two other companies. After two years of development, Webosaurs released into closed-beta on June 25, 2009, and then proceeded with 4 months of beta testing. Webosaurs officially went into General Availability on October 22, 2009.
On September 30, 2011, after months of development, Reel FX released a major new update dubbed: "Webosaurs: Rise of Spike." This update was informally known as, "Webosaurs 2.0," as this had been the first major update in many months. This update added many new elements to game play, including "missions" around the game, where the player must adventure the island to figure out why the antagonist, "Spike," is attempting to take over the island. Also released was a multiplayer "monster" battle, where players battle an evil monster, known as, "OKVANGO." The monster attacks the room where the players are, while the players fight back using weapons in the game. Players can also level up, and unlock rewards for doing so.
Rules
The Webosaurs developers have a had a major focus on child safety, creating rules to help keep players safe and entertained. Players are required to follow rules made by the staff. Failing to do so may result in muting (players cannot see the muted player's speech bubble), kicking from the server, moderator messages (messages sent to the player by the moderator), or banning from the game.- Respect the community, and other players. Cyber-bullying and all other forms of disrespectful behavior are not tolerated at Webosaurs.
- Keep your password, do not share any account details with other players.
- Learn how to ignore and report another player. If another player is misbehaving, first Ignore them and then Report them.
- On the forums and when sending in artwork, don't use someone else's work and pretend it's yours.
- Remember that no one at Webosaurs will ever ask you for your password.
Subscribed Membership
Players may buy membership, which allows them to get more features in Webosaurs. Players who buy membership get access to more armor styles for their avatar, more virtual furniture for their caves in game, change into different avatar styles, allow them to own a pet in game, and will be able to buy clothing items. Also, members get a larger cave, with extra features, and a small mini-game. Formerly, a package containing various goodies, including comics and cards, was sent out to those who purchased a subscription. This bonus is no longer offered.| Length of Membership | Price (USD United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... ) |
|---|---|
| 1 month | $ United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... 5.94 |
| 6 months | $ United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... 29.94 |
| 1 year | $ United States dollar The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies.... 49.94 |
Non-Members
Webosaurs provides a "non-membership" option. Although such play is free, it does not include all the benefits of being a member. Non-members may still purchase armor for their dinosaur, buy cave items, and play games. Non-members may also receive and use items given out at parties that are held for all players. Non-members cannot enter the "Bluggin' Beach Bunker" (a member's only room), purchase pets, purchase some armor, or purchase some actions/furniture. Non-members have a smaller cave as well.Game Features
Emoticons
Players can choose to express their feelings by using emoticons. This feature can be used by both subscribed members and non-subscribed members. When the game released, there were only 8 emoticons, but on January 12, 2010, 8 more were added. There are 16 emoticons, such as many happy faces, a sad face, and an angry face. Each emoticon can be viewed from a speech bubble above the avatarAvatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
's head.
Items
Players can use the virtual coins they collect from playing mini games to purchase various items from a variety of different shops. There are shops for actions, armor (the basic type of virtual-clothing), furniture, and virtual-pets. Subscribed members may also make their own player cards and purchase dinosaur-avatars.Each player has a player card, used to store inventory
Inventory
Inventory means a list compiled for some formal purpose, such as the details of an estate going to probate, or the contents of a house let furnished. This remains the prime meaning in British English...
such as player card backgrounds, downloads, virtual-clothing, and different dinosaur-avatars. Clothing may be worn by all players, however some of it is only available to subscribed-members. The same applies for furniture for "caves" (the basic virtual-house.)Subscribed-members also have the benefit of having a larger cave than non-subscribed members, and may have music in their cave as well.
Pets
Subscribed-members have the option to buy virtual-pets, which can be bought in the, "Gushing Geyser" landscape, to care for, and show in-world. Pets are available as a smilodonSmilodon
Smilodon , often called a saber-toothed cat or saber-toothed tiger, is an extinct genus of machairodonts. This saber-toothed cat was endemic to North America and South America, living from near the beginning through the very end of the Pleistocene epoch .-Etymology:The nickname "saber-tooth" refers...
(known throughout the world as "Little Fang"), crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
, porcupine
Porcupine
Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend or camouflage them from predators. They are indigenous to the Americas, southern Asia, and Africa. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines are about long, with...
and panda
Giant Panda
The giant panda, or panda is a bear native to central-western and south western China. It is easily recognized by its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda's diet is 99% bamboo...
(known throughout the world as "Panda Fang").
Pets also have a happiness bar chart
Bar chart
A bar chart or bar graph is a chart with rectangular bars with lengths proportional to the values that they represent. The bars can be plotted vertically or horizontally....
to indicate their status. Pets that are not "taken care" of will run away, and have to be replaced. This also applies in the case of when a player owns a pet, but their membership expires. However, the pet will return to the owner as soon as the membership is renewed.
Scrolls
Scrolls can be found in every landscape-set room. Scrolls contain comics of the main characters Rexxy, Stretch, Horns, and Pterry (the Webosaurs mascots) discovering and exploring the island. They were used to unlock virtual-rooms, but on February 27, 2010, you could have access to most rooms without scrolls, after many players didn't know how to use or find scrolls.Webosodes
"Webosodes" can be found all over the world. Webosodes are videos featuring Nigel MarvenNigel Marven
Nigel Marven is a British wildlife presenter, television producer, author, and ornithologist.-Career:Marven studied botany at Bristol University until the age of 22 when he left to begin his career at the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol...
as the host, as he talks about and shows players different animals, such as bats, crocodiles, tigers, and much more. Webosodes can be viewed by both members and non-members.
Fossil Magic
There are 8 "Fossil Magics" in Webosaurs. The Grow, Shrink, Glow, and Stink magic can be found in the Fossil Magic Store which is located in Sanoran Sands. The Skeleton, Snowman, and Ball magic can be found in the catalog in the menu bar. There is also a Ghost magic which would be found in the catalog, but it is currently unavailable.Reception and criticism
Common Sense Media gave Webosaurs four out of five stars, and stated that the content was suitable for children aged eight and up. The review gave good marks for safety and educational value, but questioned the worth of paid subscriptions, summarizing: "Skip the subscription -- the free membership should keep kids entertained just fine."Dino Surf
Dino Surf is a free iPhoneIPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
game that was released on Jan 25, 2010. Players are able to choose from the 4 mascots of Webosaurs. The player races to the finish line while maneuvering through obstacles, jumping over ramps, and running over arrows to get a speed boost. Upon finishing one race, you will move onto the next. The objective of the game is to finish each stage in the shortest amount of time possible. There are 4 different landscapes (desert, swamp, snow, and volcano) each consisting of 4 stages. After completing the game, the player receives a promotional code that they can use in the online game to receive 1,000 coins of in-game currency. Currently the game has a few glitches due to ios updates, but it is still playable.