Nicktropolis

Yet another "virtual world" is scheduled to launch today... Nickelodeon's Nicktropolis.com. I say "scheduled to launch today" because as of right now I'm still getting a "coming soon!" message.

However, if you go through the back door to their Beta site, you can get a feel for Nicktropolis. To me, it feels no different from other "virtual realm" sites (consider Disney's Virtual Magic Kingdom), but maybe kids consider that a good thing. It also reminds me very much of the Gushers "Re-Do Your Room" promotion. The end goal of Nicktropolis seems to be to personalize your room-- there is no other way (that I could find) to spend points.

One interesting thing that I came across was that when you enter different Nicktoon worlds (Avatar Nations, Retroville, Amity Park), you get a new avatar to fit the world's theme. Kids go nuts for a chance to personalize elements like avatars-- which is why sites like this are already so popular.

Nicktropolis is definitely a safe place for kids, too. As a user you can either chat using pre-supplied messages, or you can write your own-- with parental permission. And of course, no personal information is supplied-- there isn't even a "profile" to fill out.

All in all, the site isn't astoundingly new-- it's basically another VMK reskinned with Nickelodeon properties. I'll be curious to see what changes are made as Nicktropolis comes out of Beta.

Twitter

Another post in the same day? Guh-whaaaaa?!

That's right. A friend directed me toward Twitter-- specifically, to this article about the site. I'll keep this short since the article takes care of the who's and what's.

Basically, Twitter is a site for constant status update. On anything. Sure, you could post articles and links you've found-- but there are better sites for that. Twitter is for the mundane-- the "I'm raiding the fridge!" or "I'm playing Mario Kart!"

So, Twitter-- irrelevant? Consider how much we know tweens and teens like to stay in contact with their friends. They have no problem talking on the phone and using IM at the same time-- they might even be talking to the same person. So maybe right off the bat, constant updates of "I'm thinkin' Arby's!" sound a little ridiculous, but I bet this site would appeal to a lot of kids.

In fact, Facebook uses a feature similar to this, in their "status." We need to keep in mind that not only do kids need a place to express what's important to them... they also need a place to say nothing at all.

Doxory

Doxory (Do X or Y?) is a newish site that promotes "life by committee." You supply the questions ("Should I blog this link?") and the options (X: "Yes! People will find this interesting!" or Y: "No, it's irrelevant.")... and anyone else visiting the site can vote with the click of a button. And of course, while you're waiting for results on all your questions, big or small, you can vote on others' dilemmas.

I love this idea-- for entertainment. I really hope that people realize how much real contact is stripped away with the Internet-- consider the things you've probably said in an email that you'd never say to someone's face. So I get a little edgy when I see questions like "Should I move hundreds of miles away to be with him?" or "Should I apply for an internship or blow it off and watch Cops?" pop up. Everyone you're asking is plopped in front of their computer, eager to help you make your important life decisions while ignoring their own.

Of course I exaggerate, and my guess is that people know the answers to their questions before they post them on the site. Doxory is definitely worth exploration, just keep in mind that you're interacting with people like me.

"Ad" Astra

I have a brother at Purdue, and he sent me this article about NASA trying to recruit youth to be avid little space nuts (like my brother).

I liked most of what the article had to say, but this part irritated me a little:

The communications experts also want NASA to use new technologies such as podcasts and YouTube to reach young people who are turning away from older information sources such as TV news and newspapers.

While I am all for any company trying to keep up with technology (especially, well, NASA...), is it possible that podcasts and YouTube videos won't stimulate EVERY BRAND? These "communications experts" don't seem to be forging any new territory here. My point isn't that NASA shouldn't attempt viral marketing-- it's that they shouldn't need "communications experts" to give them the idea.

With that aside, I still wonder what this kind of approach would do for NASA. I see NASA podcasts more as a brand strengthener than a brand reviver, because chances are the people tuning in are going to be... well, my space case brother.

...And in my opinion, that's how it ought to be anyway. I don't want every kid with iTunes and a YouTube account knocking at NASA's door for a job. I guess part of this is just my resistence to NASA's idea of hiring a celebrity-- I guess as a spokesman-- to promote interest in its programs. Still, if NASA is this hellbent on attracting kids... well, WonderGroup could work up one hell of an "Ad Astra." ;)

ttyl

There's a series of tween-targeted books on the market that are written entirely in instant messages. I just read the first one, ttyl, and it definitely raises some interesting questions in my mind.

It isn't completely unlike my last post, where kids can text through their Wii using cell phone txt configurations. In this same vein, this book could appeal to tweens who are crazy about texting (um... an unignorable majority). I'm sure a good portion of them are reluctant readers, and maybe this is the way to make reading fun for these online socialites.

But on the other hand, I know that I learned many of my basic writing skills (grammar, spelling, what have you) through reading. An entire book in IMspeak strips much of that away, or at least reinforces some bad habits (omg, c u l8r!). For me, it's one thing to confine the lingo and the lax rules to an online environment-- even I let some capital letters slip when I'm trying to get a point across-- but when it crosses into everyday reading, I'm afraid it will blur the lines.

Regardless of literary implications, it's a pretty good book. The author has done her homework and "chats" convincingly. The three female characters encounter timeless high school problems (peer pressure, dating) as well as trials that were never discussed in the books I read at that age (being hit on by a teacher, having incriminating pictures of you posted on the internet). Check out the book if you have forgotten what high school can be like, or if you just need to brush up on your IMspeak.

txting on ur wii

Recently, something very interesting was brought to my attention. I was chatting with my friend Jared-- about the Nintendo Wii, of course-- and he asked if I had noticed the TXTing option.

In this first picture, you can see a typing function for the Wii. It can be used for a lot of things, especially with Wii's online capabilities. (I could have posted this blog entry from my Wii, for instance.)

That's not what caught my interest.

What Jared then pointed out was that you can switch the keyboard (a standard QWERTY, of course) to a TXT interface. (See the second picture.) This format allows you to type like you would on your cell phone (and of course by "you" I imply "today's kids"). For instance, on the second picture you can see that "abc" was chosen. For "a" you'd click once, for "b" you'd click twice, and for "c"... you get the picture.

It struck me as absurd... at first. What do you think? Does this method make sense outside of a cell phone-- and where will it crop up next?

While at first it might seem strange, Nintendo seems to be realizing a trend that we've been seeing for years now. Studies from sources such as eMarketer show that while emerging tweens (8-9 years old) are excited by gameplay, transitioning tweens (11-12 years old) start focusing on ways to connect to their peer group (and we start to see the instant messaging boom). While no tween is going to look to the Wii as their sole communication device, Nintendo has helped join two major elements of the tween's life-- communication and entertainment-- whether they're TXTers or typists.

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