Whyville
Encyclopedia
About Whyville=
Whyville is an educational Internet site geared towards children from ages 8-15. Its goal is to engage its users in learning about a broad range of topics, from science and business to art and geography.
The game is reported to be one of the most popular virtual world
s with a player base of more than 5 million.
Whyville has received a number of awards from independent parent groups for its educational value and safety. For example, Whyville has received awards in 2006, 2007, and 2008 from iParenting as the best website for kids, and the best on the web for its safety features. In 2008 Whyville received a NAPPA (National Parenting Publication Award) Gold Award as a site that represented the best in its genre for kids
As a simulation based virtual world, Whyville's users engage in games and roleplay sponsored by a wide range of governmental, non-profit, and corporate entities. Launched in 1999, by Numedeon Inc, Whyville was one of the first virtual worlds for children, and is one of the few virtual worlds whose purpose is primarily educational.
Numedeon Inc was founded by Dr. James M. Bower
his students and collaborators at the California Institute of Technology
interested in ways in which the Internet and simulation-based serious gaming could change education.
s where game play was based on an internal virtual currency
. Users earn a 'clam' salary based on the educational activities they engage in on the site. With their clams they can buy face parts, projectiles, furniture, bricks, and other virtual goods and services that enhance their life in the whyville world.
Whyville was also one of the first sites to emphasize user created content. Tied directly into the clam economy, once a user has accumulated a large enough clam savings, they can start their own Whyville virtual business based on their own created content. Most of these businesses are built around the construction of 'face parts' from which users make their own avatar
s, using simple pixel by pixel drawing tools. Other businesses design and sell decals for users' virtual Scions (virtual automobiles in Whyville sponsored by Scion Car Company, a Division of Toyota). Players must draw their creations by hand. There is no copying and pasting, and all contributed content is reviewed by site staff for appropriateness. Since the site's launch, thousands of players have created millions of face parts.
Even though it is difficult to obtain a large amount of clams, there are many users who have played Whyville since the day it came out, in 1999. Long time players who have maintained their accounts wisely, usually have the most clams in the game. Many richer Whyvillians use their clams to make face parts, buy Scions, or even just give them away through raffles and contests. Others may deposit their clams into a virtual Bank, (sponsored by the Bankinter
of Spain) which allows Whyvillians to earn interest by depositing their clams in CD's (certificates of deposit) or into their online password protected savings accounts.
the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
the J. Paul Getty Trust
, Disney, EMI
, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
, Scholastic Publishing the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History
.
One of Whyville's major corporate sponsors is Scion which launched its first virtual world presence in Whyville, where users can use clams to purchase customizable Scion xB
, Scion xD
, and Scion tC
cars. Users without sufficient clams can arrange loans from a virtual branch of Toyota Financial Services
based on their Whyville Credit Score (Why-CO score). A robotic loan councilor helps citizens understand how to raise their credit rating. Scion owners can give rides to other users by invitation and can purchase custom decals made by other users for clams.
Whyville also has an extensive virtual nutrition project sponsored by the University of Texas System
and The School Nutrition Association. In this project, Whyville's citizens elect to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day, and a nutrition calculator then determines their state of health.
Whyville also has games and activities focusing on environmental issues supported by organizations like the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
. The site has yet to launch a major project involving global climate change.
Whyville recently had a sandwich sponsored by Subway, named the Whyville way. As a promotion, $25 gift cards were given to 10 lucky members on August 24, 2011.
has recently awarded funding to the ETR Associates to implement a project through middle school classrooms to engage young Hispanic women in computer game design and entrepreneurship. The Texas Workforce Commission
through the Office of the Governor has also funded Whyville to develop work force related games related to advanced manufacturing and biotechnology. In the 2007-2008 school year, Waco Independent School District piloted Whyville in more than fifty Career Connections classrooms for over 1,000 students, integrating Whyville into school day activities and creating lesson plans available in the Whyville discussion group at Ning.com.
(BBS).
Whyville's BBS is a Whyville related Bulletin Board System where citizens can chat about the issue/topic related to that BBS. BBSs are found in the Whyville Times where citizens give feedback about an article or discuss the topic of the article. However, there are many BBSs throughout Whyville where the citizens can engage in challenging debates, or ask questions and seek help.
and TobyMac
. Whyville also has done events involving the Jonas Brothers
. Justin Bieber
is set to perform a concert on Whyville on December 4th, 2011.
Senators- The Senators help improve Whyville, and meet with City Workers to discuss ideas. The current Whyville senators are xoxkitkat, kittieme, and lilchiche.
Y-Mail Helpers - Support new (or veteran) Whyville citizens by answering questions via the Y-Mail Helper Desk or through the Y-Mail System.
Gold Street Team Members - Gold Members certify a citizen's valued accomplishment of recruiting 10 or more people to the game of Whyville.
Welcome Guides - Any Whyville citizen who has passed the Chat License test and has become an active player, with a salary of 30 clams may help out as a Welcome Guide. Welcome Guides give new citizens, or guests, a tour into the world of whyville. There is no certification for this position.
City Workers - City Workers are paid employees for the game of Whyville but still interact with the community. Example: Akbar is a City Worker whose job is to accept/deny face part designs for the Face Mall.
Whyville is an educational Internet site geared towards children from ages 8-15. Its goal is to engage its users in learning about a broad range of topics, from science and business to art and geography.
The game is reported to be one of the most popular 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...
s with a player base of more than 5 million.
Whyville has received a number of awards from independent parent groups for its educational value and safety. For example, Whyville has received awards in 2006, 2007, and 2008 from iParenting as the best website for kids, and the best on the web for its safety features. In 2008 Whyville received a NAPPA (National Parenting Publication Award) Gold Award as a site that represented the best in its genre for kids
As a simulation based virtual world, Whyville's users engage in games and roleplay sponsored by a wide range of governmental, non-profit, and corporate entities. Launched in 1999, by Numedeon Inc, Whyville was one of the first virtual worlds for children, and is one of the few virtual worlds whose purpose is primarily educational.
Numedeon Inc was founded by Dr. James M. Bower
James M. Bower
James Mason Bower is an American neuroscientist and CEO and Chairman of the Board of Numedeon Inc., creator of the Whyville.net educational virtual world...
his students and collaborators at the California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
interested in ways in which the Internet and simulation-based serious gaming could change education.
Whyville Virtual Economy
Whyville was one of the first virtual worldVirtual 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...
s where game play was based on an internal virtual 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...
. Users earn a 'clam' salary based on the educational activities they engage in on the site. With their clams they can buy face parts, projectiles, furniture, bricks, and other virtual goods and services that enhance their life in the whyville world.
Whyville was also one of the first sites to emphasize user created content. Tied directly into the clam economy, once a user has accumulated a large enough clam savings, they can start their own Whyville virtual business based on their own created content. Most of these businesses are built around the construction of 'face parts' from which users make their own avatar
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...
s, using simple pixel by pixel drawing tools. Other businesses design and sell decals for users' virtual Scions (virtual automobiles in Whyville sponsored by Scion Car Company, a Division of Toyota). Players must draw their creations by hand. There is no copying and pasting, and all contributed content is reviewed by site staff for appropriateness. Since the site's launch, thousands of players have created millions of face parts.
Even though it is difficult to obtain a large amount of clams, there are many users who have played Whyville since the day it came out, in 1999. Long time players who have maintained their accounts wisely, usually have the most clams in the game. Many richer Whyvillians use their clams to make face parts, buy Scions, or even just give them away through raffles and contests. Others may deposit their clams into a virtual Bank, (sponsored by the Bankinter
Bankinter
Bankinter, S.A., is a Spanish commercial bank. Bankinter is currently the sixth-largest listed banking group in Spain. The biggest individual shareholder in the company is Crédit Agricole, which acquired around 20% in late 2007...
of Spain) which allows Whyvillians to earn interest by depositing their clams in CD's (certificates of deposit) or into their online password protected savings accounts.
Sponsorships in Whyville
Whyville has an extensive and growing list of both public and private sponsors. Examples include NASANASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are a United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services headquartered in Druid Hills, unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, in Greater Atlanta...
the J. Paul Getty Trust
J. Paul Getty Trust
The J. Paul Getty Trust is the world's wealthiest art institution with an estimated endowment in April 2009 of $US 4.2 billion. Based in Los Angeles, California, it operates the J. Paul Getty Museum, which has two locations, the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Pacific...
, Disney, EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private, nonprofit research and higher education facility dedicated to the study of all aspects of marine science and engineering and to the education of marine researchers. Established in 1930, it is the largest independent oceanographic research...
, Scholastic Publishing the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History
Field Museum of Natural History
The Field Museum of Natural History is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It sits on Lake Shore Drive next to Lake Michigan, part of a scenic complex known as the Museum Campus Chicago...
.
One of Whyville's major corporate sponsors is Scion which launched its first virtual world presence in Whyville, where users can use clams to purchase customizable Scion xB
Scion xB
The Scion xB is a vehicle made by Toyota for the United States market and sold under their youth-oriented Scion brand. It is a box-shaped, 5-door compact hatchback.-First generation :...
, Scion xD
Scion xD
The Scion xD is a five-door hatchback subcompact marketed in the US and Canada by Japanese manufacturer Toyota beginning with the 2008 model year — replacing the xA. The Scion xD and the second generation xB were first shown to the public on February 8, 2007 at the Chicago Auto Show...
, and Scion tC
Scion tC
The Scion tC is an automobile manufactured and sold by Scion, a division of Toyota. Introduced in the United States in June 2004 and Canada in 2010. The name tC does not fit in with its stablemates the xA, xB, and xD, because the name XC designation has already been used by Volvo for its lineup of...
cars. Users without sufficient clams can arrange loans from a virtual branch of Toyota Financial Services
Toyota Financial Services
The business known as Toyota Financial Services covers more than 30 countries and regions, including Japan. Financial services operations are coordinated by a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation , Toyota Financial Services Corporation , which has overall responsibility for the...
based on their Whyville Credit Score (Why-CO score). A robotic loan councilor helps citizens understand how to raise their credit rating. Scion owners can give rides to other users by invitation and can purchase custom decals made by other users for clams.
Whyville also has an extensive virtual nutrition project sponsored by the University of Texas System
University of Texas System
The University of Texas System encompasses 15 educational institutions in Texas, of which nine are academic universities and six are health institutions. The system is headquartered in Austin and has a total enrollment of over 190,000 students...
and The School Nutrition Association. In this project, Whyville's citizens elect to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day, and a nutrition calculator then determines their state of health.
Whyville also has games and activities focusing on environmental issues supported by organizations like the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private, nonprofit research and higher education facility dedicated to the study of all aspects of marine science and engineering and to the education of marine researchers. Established in 1930, it is the largest independent oceanographic research...
. The site has yet to launch a major project involving global climate change.
Whyville recently had a sandwich sponsored by Subway, named the Whyville way. As a promotion, $25 gift cards were given to 10 lucky members on August 24, 2011.
From Site Revenue
In addition to sponsorships, Whyville also has a unique form of "from site" revenue, called 'Pearls' which combines a limited form of premium subscription with the ability to purchase virtual goods. The Pearl system is designed to resemble a monthly parental allowance system where users make their own decisions about how and whether to spend their Pearls, or save them for future purchases. Users can purchase virtual goods including virtual pets and avatar parts licensed by real world celebrities.Whyville in the Schools
Whyville has also become involved in a number of work force pipeline projects aiming to encourage children to consider technical and scientific careers. For example, the National Science FoundationNational Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
has recently awarded funding to the ETR Associates to implement a project through middle school classrooms to engage young Hispanic women in computer game design and entrepreneurship. The Texas Workforce Commission
Texas Workforce Commission
The Texas Workforce Commission is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas that provides unemployment benefits and services related to employment to eligible individuals and businesses....
through the Office of the Governor has also funded Whyville to develop work force related games related to advanced manufacturing and biotechnology. In the 2007-2008 school year, Waco Independent School District piloted Whyville in more than fifty Career Connections classrooms for over 1,000 students, integrating Whyville into school day activities and creating lesson plans available in the Whyville discussion group at Ning.com.
Whytexas Challenge
In April, 2008, as part of its work with the Texas Workforce Commission, Whyville launched a new initiative for teachers called the Whytexas Challenge. Over three weeks, 300 teachers in Texas signed their students up to compete for their classrooms. The winners, from the Waco Independent school district amassed more than 17,000 clams in the three week period of time.The Whyville Times
Whyville has a weekly newspaper called "The Whyville Times" that comes out every Sunday. Throughout the week, talented whyvillians send in an article that they have written to the Times Editor to see if she will put it in the next weeks edition. If they make it in, other users may comment on the article in the Bulletin Board SystemBulletin board system
A Bulletin Board System, or BBS, is a computer system running software that allows users to connect and log in to the system using a terminal program. Once logged in, a user can perform functions such as uploading and downloading software and data, reading news and bulletins, and exchanging...
(BBS).
Whyville's BBS is a Whyville related Bulletin Board System where citizens can chat about the issue/topic related to that BBS. BBSs are found in the Whyville Times where citizens give feedback about an article or discuss the topic of the article. However, there are many BBSs throughout Whyville where the citizens can engage in challenging debates, or ask questions and seek help.
Educational Research in Whyville
As a learning site, Whyville is also attracting increasing attention from the educational research community interested in the effect of virtual worlds on children. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for example, is funding a new research project aimed at understanding how preteens explore and share information about reproductive health using Whyville.Whyville and Popular Culture
In addition to its more serious side, Whyville also provides fun and entertainment to its citizens. For example, the site has hosted several pop concerts with well known artists. The latest concert in the series, on September 20, 2007, involving the group The Cheetah Girls. Also, Whyville has hosted concerts for Stacie OrricoStacie Orrico
Stacie Joy Orrico is a Contemporary Christian and R&B singer-songwriter and occasional actress. In 1998, she signed to ForeFront Records when she was 12 years old, and recorded her first album Genuine , which sold 13,000 in the first week of release.After her first album she signed to a new record...
and TobyMac
TobyMac
Toby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
. Whyville also has done events involving the Jonas Brothers
Jonas Brothers
The Jonas Brothers are an American boy band. The band gained its popularity from the Disney Channel children's television network. From the shore region of New Jersey, the band consists of three brothers: Paul Kevin Jonas II , Joseph Adam Jonas , and Nicholas Jerry Jonas...
. Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber
Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian pop/R&B singer, songwriter and actor. Bieber was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, who came across Bieber's videos on YouTube and later became his manager...
is set to perform a concert on Whyville on December 4th, 2011.
Whyville Leaders
There are many opportunities for "Whyvillians" (the surname given to all citizens of Whyville) to support the Whyville community. One of these opportunities is the Y-Mail Helper Test. A citizen must answer all 25 questions (regarding Whyville rules, guidelines, and locations of certain links and features) correctly in order to become a Y-Mail Helper. Once the official "Helper" icon has been placed on a citizen's City Records, they can officially sit at the Y-Mail Helper front desk and answer Newbies' questions through chat and through the Y-Mail system. There are certain restrictions on who can take the Y-Mail Helper Test. A citizen must have a salary of at least 100 clams and must be active on the site for at least 90 days, with no recent punishments towards one's account. Below is a quick list of the other leadership opportunities presented in Whyville, either reported publicly via City Workers or endorsed solely by players themselves:Senators- The Senators help improve Whyville, and meet with City Workers to discuss ideas. The current Whyville senators are xoxkitkat, kittieme, and lilchiche.
Y-Mail Helpers - Support new (or veteran) Whyville citizens by answering questions via the Y-Mail Helper Desk or through the Y-Mail System.
Gold Street Team Members - Gold Members certify a citizen's valued accomplishment of recruiting 10 or more people to the game of Whyville.
Welcome Guides - Any Whyville citizen who has passed the Chat License test and has become an active player, with a salary of 30 clams may help out as a Welcome Guide. Welcome Guides give new citizens, or guests, a tour into the world of whyville. There is no certification for this position.
City Workers - City Workers are paid employees for the game of Whyville but still interact with the community. Example: Akbar is a City Worker whose job is to accept/deny face part designs for the Face Mall.
External links
- Whyville
- Interview with Dr. James Bower, CVO of Numedeon and Founder of Whyville on marketing and education in whyville
- Conference presentation by Dr. James Bower, CVO of Numedeon and Founder of Whyville on Whyville's growth and development
- Special tour of Whyville by Sharon Burns, CIO MacArthur Foundation