Website Review: Zibbies
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know this site is a virtual pet site; a code
found on the collar of a stuffed toy (about $5) is required to
play. Kids choose locations in the "Zibbie Zone" to find
different games and to collect Zibbie digital stamps as each
puzzle or game is completed. Instructions for most games aren't
available by voice over, i.e. reading is required. Unlike other
virtual pet sites, your actual Zibbie is not seen on the screen
or manipulated on the site in any way until all of the games
have been completed at least once. There are no ads and no
other products besides the Zibbie pets for sale as of yet. Kids
can earn currency to buy things for their online pets.
Families can talk about what's the purpose of the Zibbie
stuffed toy outside of this virtual world. Are there other
sites that provide games that can be accessed for free? Is the
stuffed toy appealing in itself or is it just a "fee" to pay in
order to access the site?
Enter the world of ZIBBIES -- price of admission is a plush toy. Once kids register by typing in their email and a password, they're given an online name. The virtual outer space destination is complete with a café, post office, city hall, game tower, etc., where kids can solve puzzles and play games. When each game is completed and its accompanying digital stamp earned, kids have the privilege of officially adopting their Zibbie pet. They then have access to a stall in the Zibbie Zoo where they can see their pet, text message their pet (and get a reply), and earn ziggits and zlots (Zibbie currency) to buy things at Frizzmart for their Zibbie.
The site looks more like a SIM game than a cartoon virtual world a la Webkinz.com, and is definitely different than other virtual pet sites. Kids must be readers in order to play around, since directions are only in writing. The games are just OK, but the fact that the stuffed toys are cheaper than most buy-a-toy-play-with-it-online may be reassuring to some parents.
Littlest Petshop VIPsBellaSara.com
Webkinz.com
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
