Yavn Speaks 11/06

VMK Changes With the Seasons

You've probably noticed a change or two in VMK, but before I get into that, did everyone have a good Halloween? Free candy and costume fun, how cool is that? What do you think of our Holiday overlay? Yeah, I know it's a little early, but it was either keep the Halloween decorations up a little longer or put up out the Holiday decorations earlier, and we chose to bring on the holiday cheer! But that's not all - we have lots more holiday surprises that will roll out over the next 2 months, so stay tuned.

Charge!
So you took a ride on the Space Mountain Ride-A-Thon this weekend, pretty cool huh? We hoped you enjoyed the event, it was free this go 'round, but that will soon change. How you may ask? Well, we'll start charging you a few credits to get in on these events and here's why: As you know we're always listening to our players, many of you told have us that you love making Quests - but having good prizes for those Quest can be a problem. Our solution? Allow room owners to charge entry for an event.
As a Quest Maker, you'll be able to set Turnstiles to 4 different costs (0 credits, 5 Credits, 50 Credits and 100 Credits). As a Quester, players will be able to see the type of Quest offered as well as the prizes available for that Quest before they enter a turnstile. Quests are not the only uses for the turnstile, I can see rides, cafes and exclusive events all taking advantage of this option. We'll be testing turnstiles and entry fees for rooms over the next few weeks. I'll have more news on that soon...


Ride On!
Starting today our 4th track set will be on sale, drum roll please... Space Mountain! As you have already seen we debuted 2 new track pieces - Switches and Doors. We're trying to make the ride experience more interactive - personally, I can't wait to see how everyone uses theses pieces, since VMK players are a very creative bunch. ;-) If you missed the Ride-A-Thon (and your chance to win Up and Down tracks), don't worry the pieces exclusive to the Ride-A-Thon event will be on sale soon.
Speaking of rides, don't forget about the ride building competition at the end of the month - we'll have all the details for you on the event by next week...
See you in VMK,
Yavn

Awards and Top players

Best Guest Rooms
Ahoy me mateys TropicalDude asks: Will you serve under a pirate hand and work with a pirates heart? If so then the Cursed Ship of Davey Jones is the right navy for ye.

Welcome to The Haunted Mansion Ride! Take a wall to wall tour of the Mansion grounds. Googlemouse asks that you please be patient with waiting times and hopes you enjoy your ride.

Best Game Rooms
CL_BlueReap would like to know if you might help Stitch get going in the right direction on Stitch's Driving Course. Help Stitch get his driving license and watch out for the competition!

Be sure to wear a costume in this fun new game called Halloween Lights! Halimeda shouts ready, set, go! You race to turn on all the lights for your Trick–Or–Treaters. Now hurry inside the door before they see you.

Best Player Quests

Come in and take your chances at CL_WizardMerlin's Museum Halloween Quest Room. This Quest is not too difficult and filled with lots of Halloween Spirit.

Push's Trash Trivia

Here's the answer to last weeks Trash Trivia question:
Q: Who voiced Mickey Mouse in his earlier years?
A: From the late 1920's until about 1946 Walt Disney was the voice of Mickey Mouse. When Walt became too busy with the day to day operations of running the studio he turned the honor over to sound effects man, Jim McDonald. McDonald provided the voice for Mickey until 1974 when McDonald retired. Wayne Allwine provides the voice for Mickey today.

This week's question:

Space Mountain at Disneyland was part of a new Tomorrowland project scheduled to open in 1967, what was that project called?


Jake's Blog
Hey guys, Jake here, what's up!? I'm just back from visiting Walt Disney World with the VMK team! Here's my report on that awesome trip! Thanks to the guys at VMK for letting me tag along!

Party at the Polynesian

I arrived in Florida after a five hour airplane ride from Los Angeles with the VMK team. After grabbing our bags, we headed off to check into our hotel – the Polynesian. What a great hotel! From the second you walk into the lobby you think you're in Hawaii! I've never been to Hawaii but if it's anything like the Poly – man, I can't wait to go. I give high marks to any hotel with a cool pool - but this one takes the cake – it has a volcano in it!

The Poly is located right on the water and just a short walk to the Monorail – we he hopped on the Monorail and made our first stop - The Magic Kingdom to check out the Boo To You Halloween Parade – probably the neatest thing in it was The Headless Horseman who was the Grand Marshall. Equally as cool was the fireworks show afterward - this was really awesome! You could even see the show from our hotel which was a mile away!

http://img375.**************/img375/3567/20061106jakesblogmeatoncz8.gif (http://img375.**************/my.php?image=20061106jakesblogmeatoncz8.gif)
Ohana's open Bar-b-que pit!

One night we watched the fireworks as we at Ohana – this is a family style Hawaiian restaurant - with meats served on a giant stick! (I made the mistake of filling up on all the tasty appetizers before the meats came out  but next time I'm holding out just for the meat!) I love meat on a stick, and especially love it when it's all-you-can-eat AND it's brought right to your table! The best way I could describe it would be to say it's like an indoor luau, but we didn't have to sit on the ground or anything… ;-)

More Adventure - Disney World Style!

Anyways, Epcot's Food & **** Festival was also going on at Epcot the week we were there. Each country has booths set up, but you could also try foods from countries that weren't represented in the World Showcase, like Poland, Greece, and Spain! While I didn't have any ****, I did taste some pretty interesting things in the World Showcase area. Besides The Magic Kingdom, Epcot is my favorite park and I got a chance to ride Mission Space and Test Track with Yavn – he didn't get on Mission Space with me and after riding it, I know why! Mission Space is an extremely realistic simulation of space travel and it's not for everyone, but it was definitely my kinda ride!

http://img375.**************/img375/9997/20061106jakesblogyetistmn4.gif (http://img375.**************/my.php?image=20061106jakesblogyetistmn4.gif)
Make an offering to the Yeti before you get on Expedition Everest! (It can't hurt!)

Later in the week we needed to get into the holiday spirit for some Holiday Questing, so Yavn took the VMK team to Winter Summerland and I was lucky enough to tag along. This is a holiday themed mini golf course just a few minutes down the street from our hotel. It was really "cool" to play golf here! The holes aren't too hard but what makes the course really fun are the wintery obstacles you have to avoid to get the ball in the hole – and the Christmas music playing over the loudspeakers. We all sang along to Rudolph The Rednosed Reindeer and I had such a good time I even beat Yavn by a few strokes!

http://img375.**************/img375/2720/20061106jakesblogglowinjh8.gif (http://img375.**************/my.php?image=20061106jakesblogglowinjh8.gif)
The Halloween party at Magic Kingdom was awesome!

Back in Cali

Speaking of holidays, after we got back to California, I had to get down to Disneyland and check out the newly redecorated Haunted Mansion – in case you haven't heard, Jack Skellington and friends moved in and decks the hall with Nightmare Before Christmas cheer! If you've never seen this ride redone like this, you are missing something pretty spectacular – it's like a whole new ride! The Mansion will be redecorated like this until January – so be sure to check it out before it's gone!

Well, I gotta run, they'll be lots more to talk about with all the holiday happenings in the parks so be sure to keep reading my column for the inside info!

– Jake out!

Wow they are allowing people charge to play quests. I wonder if the staff will do the same thing with regular events.

But where do these credits go to? You? VMK? Me?

I can see people taking advantage of the turnstiles.. How? if people are afk just simply slide them into the turnstile. Not a very good idea. Also promotes trading credits :oh

Us.

Also, where are Push's Trivia Winners..?

Us.

Also, where are Push's Trivia Winners..?

They haven't updated it yet.. hmm..

I can't wait to charge people. Five credits is enough for me.

I can't wait to charge people. Five credits is enough for me.

Same here the rest is a ridicoulous amount for new players :[

Now their charging ppl? Uh, sorry but no. Im just going to stop going to quest rooms. I mean think about it, the owner of the room could just charge 100 credits to the person they DONT like, and charge 0 credits to the person they DO like. I wonder if vmk had thought about that..... Im sorry I dont mean to sound rude at all, but this is something I do not agree with.

But I do have one thing to say that's good about quests..... Congrats CL_WizardMerlin on your quest room!!! That sure was a VERY fun quest!!:D

But where do these credits go to? You? VMK? Me?

To the person who owns the turnstile, presumably--
But having more money hasn't been the obstacle to making quests...It's having rare ITEMS in the first place (like magic, or hats, etc.) to make interesting top prizes with.
Most quest-hosts start their quests just to clean out their inventory, and "store-bought" prizes are usually sneered at as lower on the list--Nothing wrong with a brown crate, but if I want one, I don't have to go on a thirty-task quest for one.

All the credits in the world won't put an Inferno pin in your top quest prizes, and player games have been charging "barter" rare items to fuel their Falling Chairs games since VMK began--That's what they hoped to base the whole Trade-Item economy on from day One.
Pay-as-you-enter quests are only going to generate ill feeling, or price themselves out of players: Yeah, bucko, you'd BETTER darn well have a Dancing Inferno to give away, if you're going to charge me 100C just to play it. :)

Oh, I don't like this at all.

These money-grubbing turnstile things are going to take over VMK. Everybody's going to be charging people just to enter their guest rooms! Bad idea, VMK. Bad, bad idea.

Oh, I don't like this at all.

These money-grubbing turnstile things are going to take over VMK. Everybody's going to be charging people just to enter their guest rooms! Bad idea, VMK. Bad, bad idea.

Agreed.

People will also be all, "Come through turnstile, 100 credits." Owner clicks 'boot.'

Not good, not good at all.

I can see people taking advantage of the turnstiles.. How? if people are afk just simply slide them into the turnstile. Not a very good idea. Also promotes trading credits :oh


The way I understood it was, you get prompted with a message that says something like "You will be charged 100 credits. Is This OK?" If the person clicks Yes, they will move forward, but if they don't click anything or click no, they will stay where they are or move a space back.

People don't like the idea about charging others to do things inside one's room. I see no reason with it. If it is MY room I should be able to do whatever I want to do with it. If you don't want to pay 5, 50, or 100 credits then move and let someone else in who does. I am going to get a few of these things, and USE them. Honestly, I don't want to sound rude or anything, but if you don't want to pay, then LEAVE. People focus on scamming, wow, is it really that much credit? I can get 200+ credit after one game of pirates while having fun, I am not going to do all this hard work to just create a new account and take credits from it. I would rather be playing the game and having fun. People over react. People worry that room owner will play favorites with the prices for rooms... and?... I feel that if it is THEIR room, then who cares? They decide the price, it is THEIR room. Once again, if you don't like it, then don't pay to go into the room. It is really THAT simple. Think of the possibilities of the room idea. The people with the ride pieces that span MANY rooms can start making a small amount of credit to help cope with the high cost of the pieces. Think of it as a toll road. If you want to ride then ride, then pay and help it grow. If you don't want it to improve, then don't pay. What about in a trade room, you walk in and see a nice room, but the owner wont let you trade untill you pay. You got a sample of the trade room, but to experience the full effect you must pay. It can be used as a DEMO or Trial. Also, with the people that have rides that span many rooms. They can be making credit even when they aren't even on. Lets say to continue the ride, or to start the ride you must pay. Another toll booth similarity. Say there is a big ride that just seems to go on and on. Each room, or every other room you must stop and walk through a Turnstile. You pay maybe 5 or 50 credit to continue and 100 to start the ride. I see it as a good idea. People focus on the negative instead of the large possibilities.

Agreed.

People will also be all, "Come through turnstile, 100 credits." Owner clicks 'boot.'

Not good, not good at all.

I have to agree with everyone else, this is a bad idea from the get-go. I have a slow computer so I can't even play the mini-games and nowI have to "pay" to play a game I might not even rank in and get a prize?

Hopefully these rooms that have a charge will let you know on the "Guest Rooms" page so you know before you even click "Enter Room" so I know what rooms I should waste my time in.

Very, very bad idea VMK. Shame on you! :Smiley - Harump:

Maybe there will be a different text color for guest rooms which cost money. You know, like now green means "friends only." Maybe "pay to play" rooms could be red or something. Then I wouldn't have to wait in a queue before I find I'm going to be asked to pay.

One of the worst parts is that let's say you get inside the room since you were charged and you dont rank on the top whatever. You lost 100 dollars and didnt get a prize. That is super ridicoulous it's good in some cases but in many it does not function nor will it ever from what i see.

So the answer for Push's trivia was Walt Disney?

You know, everybody's been dwelling on the "pay to play" turnstile news, and nobody's said anything about the upcoming ride competition:

Ride On!
Starting today our 4th track set will be on sale, drum roll please... Space Mountain! As you have already seen we debuted 2 new track pieces - Switches and Doors. We're trying to make the ride experience more interactive - personally, I can't wait to see how everyone uses theses pieces, since VMK players are a very creative bunch. ;-) If you missed the Ride-A-Thon (and your chance to win Up and Down tracks), don't worry the pieces exclusive to the Ride-A-Thon event will be on sale soon.
Speaking of rides, don't forget about the ride building competition at the end of the month - we'll have all the details for you on the event by next week...
See you in VMK,
Yavn

I, for one, am rather disappointed that we don't have the details on the event this week, as I'd like some time to get my team (if there is to be one), materials, and ideas together.

As a Quest Maker, you'll be able to set Turnstiles to 4 different costs (0 credits, 5 Credits, 50 Credits and 100 Credits).

(But...)

As a Quester, players will be able to see the type of Quest offered as well as the prizes available for that Quest before they enter a turnstile.

...Well, in case you'd been wondering, at least now we know how THAT recent Quest enhancement made its way into the game last month.

Although some quest-hosts who do charge for entry may end up at a disadvantage for it.

there is already enough greedy dishonest players in vmk . hey heres an idea lets make it easier for them to rip off more people!!!!! i thought they were against people charging for quests and games in their rooms ! This is a very bad idea and a mess just waiting to happend.We all know how the quest machine is being used for other purposes it was intended for,so you know the turnstyle will be abused the same way !!

there is already enough greedy dishonest players in vmk . hey heres an idea lets make it easier for them to rip off more people!!!!! i thought they were against people charging for quests and games in their rooms ! This is a very bad idea and a mess just waiting to happend.We all know how the quest machine is being used for other purposes it was intended for,so you know the turnstyle will be abused the same way !!
It will definitely make it easier to pay the host to stay in the falling chairs game. I never liked that option, and I still don't. If you're out, stay out.

No I can't say I like this idea of pay to play. I have a small game set up in my main room, and the ppl enjoyed playing it. Though I must admit they were a bit upset that my prizes were just small little store bought items. They wanted rares only and some got pretty rude about it.
I don't have rares, I am almost always low on credits, and I still won't be charging people to come to my rooms. I play VMK because I have friends there and I love being able to feel like I go to Disney any time I wish.
I can only speak for myself, but I won't being paying anything to visit someone elses room.

So the answer for Push's trivia was Walt Disney?
Yes, and once again I got it right but was not randomly selected to receive the award. Oh well, try again.

It would be nice to see statistics on how many people submit the correct answer each week.

Oh, I don't like this at all.

These money-grubbing turnstile things are going to take over VMK.Unless...they're 10,000 credits. ;) Maybe it'll be expensive.

Why would staff want to take your money anyway? It's enough already to get into a HOST_ room.

And then there's the Ride-A-Thon that we know nothing of. I personally think they don't have all the details worked out, that's why they're holding back.

I just dunno about all this. It seems VMK as gotten a little over their heads. But maybe not, maybe they're on top of everything.

~Q/S

i think it should be 10 and 50 instead of 50 and 100

A new section, Jake's Blog, has now been added.... :D


Hey guys, Jake here, what's up!? I'm just back from visiting Walt Disney World with the VMK team! Here's my report on that awesome trip! Thanks to the guys at VMK for letting me tag along!

Party at the Polynesian

I arrived in Florida after a five hour airplane ride from Los Angeles with the VMK team. After grabbing our bags, we headed off to check into our hotel – the Polynesian. What a great hotel! From the second you walk into the lobby you think you're in Hawaii! I've never been to Hawaii but if it's anything like the Poly – man, I can't wait to go. I give high marks to any hotel with a cool pool - but this one takes the cake – it has a volcano in it!

The Poly is located right on the water and just a short walk to the Monorail – we he hopped on the Monorail and made our first stop - The Magic Kingdom to check out the Boo To You Halloween Parade – probably the neatest thing in it was The Headless Horseman who was the Grand Marshall. Equally as cool was the fireworks show afterward - this was really awesome! You could even see the show from our hotel which was a mile away!

http://img375.**************/img375/3567/20061106jakesblogmeatoncz8.gif (http://img375.**************/my.php?image=20061106jakesblogmeatoncz8.gif)
Ohana's open Bar-b-que pit!

One night we watched the fireworks as we at Ohana – this is a family style Hawaiian restaurant - with meats served on a giant stick! (I made the mistake of filling up on all the tasty appetizers before the meats came out  but next time I'm holding out just for the meat!) I love meat on a stick, and especially love it when it's all-you-can-eat AND it's brought right to your table! The best way I could describe it would be to say it's like an indoor luau, but we didn't have to sit on the ground or anything… ;-)

More Adventure - Disney World Style!

Anyways, Epcot's Food & **** Festival was also going on at Epcot the week we were there. Each country has booths set up, but you could also try foods from countries that weren't represented in the World Showcase, like Poland, Greece, and Spain! While I didn't have any ****, I did taste some pretty interesting things in the World Showcase area. Besides The Magic Kingdom, Epcot is my favorite park and I got a chance to ride Mission Space and Test Track with Yavn – he didn't get on Mission Space with me and after riding it, I know why! Mission Space is an extremely realistic simulation of space travel and it's not for everyone, but it was definitely my kinda ride!

http://img375.**************/img375/9997/20061106jakesblogyetistmn4.gif (http://img375.**************/my.php?image=20061106jakesblogyetistmn4.gif)
Make an offering to the Yeti before you get on Expedition Everest! (It can't hurt!)

Later in the week we needed to get into the holiday spirit for some Holiday Questing, so Yavn took the VMK team to Winter Summerland and I was lucky enough to tag along. This is a holiday themed mini golf course just a few minutes down the street from our hotel. It was really "cool" to play golf here! The holes aren't too hard but what makes the course really fun are the wintery obstacles you have to avoid to get the ball in the hole – and the Christmas music playing over the loudspeakers. We all sang along to Rudolph The Rednosed Reindeer and I had such a good time I even beat Yavn by a few strokes!

http://img375.**************/img375/2720/20061106jakesblogglowinjh8.gif (http://img375.**************/my.php?image=20061106jakesblogglowinjh8.gif)
The Halloween party at Magic Kingdom was awesome!

Back in Cali

Speaking of holidays, after we got back to California, I had to get down to Disneyland and check out the newly redecorated Haunted Mansion – in case you haven't heard, Jack Skellington and friends moved in and decks the hall with Nightmare Before Christmas cheer! If you've never seen this ride redone like this, you are missing something pretty spectacular – it's like a whole new ride! The Mansion will be redecorated like this until January – so be sure to check it out before it's gone!

Well, I gotta run, they'll be lots more to talk about with all the holiday happenings in the parks so be sure to keep reading my column for the inside info!

– Jake out!

please tell me how to find Jake's Blog on the site. Thanks!

please tell me how to find Jake's Blog on the site. Thanks!
It is in the newsletter now on the vmk.com site.

I wonder if the charge turnstile thing will tell us how many peeps entered our room even if we don't charge? I'd kinda like to know how many peeps came in my room just to know. I don't know if it tells you if you do charge, but you could figure it out from how many credits you got from it. Lol, math is good for something! ;)

Anyway, I don't really want to charge. But the only bad thing about hosting a room is that you pretty much have to be there to be hosting so you can't be out playing games to get credits. I'm kinda lucky because I'm good at fireworks so I can get my credits easy, but for some peeps that can't play fireworks good they won't have enough credits to buy new stuff if they stay in their room and host. So I kinda see why some peeps would want to charge. But I don't need to, so I don't think I will unless it becomes some deal where everyone charges.

omg that is sooo cool!! :h-biggrin

People don't like the idea about charging others to do things inside one's room. I see no reason with it. If it is MY room I should be able to do whatever I want to do with it. If you don't want to pay 5, 50, or 100 credits then move and let someone else in who does. I am going to get a few of these things, and USE them. Honestly, I don't want to sound rude or anything, but if you don't want to pay, then LEAVE. People focus on scamming, wow, is it really that much credit? I can get 200+ credit after one game of pirates while having fun, I am not going to do all this hard work to just create a new account and take credits from it. I would rather be playing the game and having fun. People over react. People worry that room owner will play favorites with the prices for rooms... and?... I feel that if it is THEIR room, then who cares? They decide the price, it is THEIR room. Once again, if you don't like it, then don't pay to go into the room. It is really THAT simple. Think of the possibilities of the room idea. The people with the ride pieces that span MANY rooms can start making a small amount of credit to help cope with the high cost of the pieces. Think of it as a toll road. If you want to ride then ride, then pay and help it grow. If you don't want it to improve, then don't pay. What about in a trade room, you walk in and see a nice room, but the owner wont let you trade untill you pay. You got a sample of the trade room, but to experience the full effect you must pay. It can be used as a DEMO or Trial. Also, with the people that have rides that span many rooms. They can be making credit even when they aren't even on. Lets say to continue the ride, or to start the ride you must pay. Another toll booth similarity. Say there is a big ride that just seems to go on and on. Each room, or every other room you must stop and walk through a Turnstile. You pay maybe 5 or 50 credit to continue and 100 to start the ride. I see it as a good idea. People focus on the negative instead of the large possibilities.

I totally agree. If you don't want to pay, dont go in.

there is already enough greedy dishonest players in vmk . hey heres an idea lets make it easier for them to rip off more people!!!!! i thought they were against people charging for quests and games in their rooms ! This is a very bad idea and a mess just waiting to happend.We all know how the quest machine is being used for other purposes it was intended for,so you know the turnstyle will be abused the same way !!

No nessisarrily, dont be pessamists, but optamists

No I can't say I like this idea of pay to play. I have a small game set up in my main room, and the ppl enjoyed playing it. Though I must admit they were a bit upset that my prizes were just small little store bought items. They wanted rares only and some got pretty rude about it.
I don't have rares, I am almost always low on credits, and I still won't be charging people to come to my rooms. I play VMK because I have friends there and I love being able to feel like I go to Disney any time I wish.
I can only speak for myself, but I won't being paying anything to visit someone elses room.

Agreed

I love the idea, charging 15 credits to get in my cafe. Awesome Idea VMK!!!!!

I am not sure how this will turn out, it certainly a good way for new players and Old players alike to get credits, but I am not sure if this is the best way to do it, they can always do NPC and Pirates not to mention Fireworks and Mansion. I am just going to wait and see about this. Really all we can do is hope it turns out alright.

I love the idea, charging 15 credits to get in my cafe. Awesome Idea VMK!!!!!
Don't you think players who would otherwise visit your room might just find someplace else to go instead?

Charging admission is a good way to discourage visitors, when other people are allowing guests into their rooms for free.