About a month or so ago on the podcast I mentioned that Disney was closing their online game – Virtual Magic Kingdom. VMK (because everything has to have an acronym) became very popular with many DISers, especially some of our younger posters.
In this virtual world players could explore a computer-stylized version of the Magic Kingdom, create online personalities, acquire ‘credits’ and get cool stuff. It was much more than a game to many – it was a way to make friends and spend hours playing in a place that brought them joy.
When Disney in it’s wisdom decided to close VMK many involved in the online community took it upon themselves to try to save it. Websites were developed, petitions were signed and protests were staged. Sadly, nothing they did could stop VMK from closing it’s virtual doors on 5/21/2008.
I never really got involved in VMK; but someone I know did. She is Sarah and she is 13 and here, in her own words, is her goodbye to Virtual Magic Kingdom……
Farewell to Virtual Magic Kingdom, that’s what everyone is saying after our beloved VMK, closed on May 21, 2008. After a great 3 years of meeting new friends, playing games, collecting “Credits” for our shopping sprees, Disney closed VMK. Disney had said it was just to promote Disney’s 50th Anniversay and went past what it was originally supposed to be. Many people went into an uproar and sent millions of letters flooding Disney. Coming from a 13 year old VMK player, I was mad too.
My mom had showed me this game around when it just opened. I thought it was so neat. Every night after my mom would get done working I would run into the computer room and sign in as quickly as I could. I would always save up my Credits for those upcoming Fridays just to get the new items that came out. I loved making my character look pretty or to look like a character in the park. I loved playing “cute or boot”, Falling Chairs, Host Games and Quests. There were also mini games like Pirates and Haunted mansion. Those games would give you credits just for playing. But on special days you would be able to get extra credits. I would stay up late at night during the summer just to have a great closing of a wonderful day with my friends! That would always top off a day in VMK.
Hearing that VMK was closing crushed me. All that fun I had, all the friends I made and all the good times I had at closings and meeting the Hosts in their rooms, they close it! I was always asking how and why? How could they close such a great game? They were making money by making Quests in Disney Parks just to get a certain hat or furniture. Then they come out with this great deal, book a trip to Disneyworld and get a blue Stitch hat which we did! Then just before closing they made Collectable Pins you could buy in the parks and if you bought a certain pin you got a cool piece of furniture to put in your “Skull Rock room”. Also my other question was why did they all of a sudden close VMK?
For me seeing VMK close was sad. Many friends were lost but many memories will stay with me. I had lots of fun times on VMK. It’s sad seeing something you love so much just go away so fast, it’s like not seeing the game in the first place. I’ll always miss the disconnecting and the pardon our pixie dust messages. To me VMK wasn’t just a Multiplayer game it was a place of happiness and friends.
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