VMK Just A... Advertisment...?

[Marian1601]

Lets hurt them in their pockets then!

I found a survery on disneymovierewards about their news letter. After about 3 questions you can put in your personal thoughts. I told them I would no longer be interested in purchasing movies for rewards unless they continue to offer VMK items. Lets flood every avenue with our Please Save VMK Campaign!

It is a small Mickey "tell us what you think" thing at the bottom of the rewards page.

[Jacques]

Originally Posted by Kit

Actually I spent a lot of money @_@
VMK Pins from WDW 4 sets (boxes of 2)
Disney movies to get Movie Rewards points
Trips to Disney to do the in-park quests

Which is why I won't go to the parks or buy Disney DVDs for two years.
-Kit

And for your money, you got pins, movies and trips. You didn't buy virtual items. You bought real items, and got virtual bonuses. Nobody should have spent any money directly on VMK.

Originally Posted by dreamytime

It is bad form to see two moderators arguing. Similar to seeing your parents argue - first thing that pops into your head 'are they getting divorced?!?'

Not a hostile argument in the least. Merely stating different opinions. Nothing to worry about. I hold great respect for Priz.

[Cindrbellas]

"..In particular, the company will begin its eighteen month global campaign on May 5th, with a free online multiplayer game called Virtual Magic Kingdom, which will include virtual versions of Disney’s five global resorts and eleven theme parks.....Advergaming is becoming particularly popular with companies who are having trouble reaching audiences via traditional routes.."


Even though it was apart of the 18-month 50th Celebration campaign, VMK has more to often than they realize.
They have neglected us for their pay-to-play games for quite some time now, and have been encouraging us to join those games.

There are not many games out there that interest both kids and adults - even families.

[cteddiesgirl]

Originally Posted by prisoner

Except where quoting others, these opinions are mine and mine alone.

Here is another secret.

The theme parks are just advertisements for the movies.

The movies are just advertisements for the theme parks.

Disney Channel is just an advertisement for the company, and all of its products, as well.

Pirates Online is an advertisement for the movies and park attraction, and vice versa.

This was the brilliance of Disney - everything can advertise everything else.

That didn't make VMK, or any of these other things, less fun, did it?



Do you have a source for this, besides Yavn repeatedly saying it? There is some evidence that this is not true, but just what they want us to think right now.

ITA! I've known almost since I started playing that it was a promotional tool. Especially after I found out about the park quests.
Just about everything Disney does is a promotional tool to something else of theirs.

Originally Posted by limitegal

thats what i think too... but vmk does make money... i mean people go to WDW or DLR to do vmk quests and stuff.. doesn't that make any money..??

It did until they pulled the plug on the in park kiosks and the in park quests.

They have also pulled the plug on the VMK DMR tie ins. I know of many people that bought movies when they wouldn't have just to get the codes for virtual items.

The company has consistently pulled money making ideas from the game. It's almost as if someone didn't want VMK to succeed.

Originally Posted by BonoGirl

Not sure how they can close a game that creates a virtual replication of their parks. Be a person in the Magic Kingdom, how can that not sell on someone? Better than being a penguin, or a stuffed animal or a cartoon character.

It seems to me there were marketing opportunities that could have made this bigger and better and those individuals are the ones that failed. Easily the bean counters could determine how much movies were sold as a result of DMR codes being redeemed for virtual prizes. And so on. Marketing is what failed this project, not Yavn.

Exactly. There is just so much that could have been done and still can be done to make VMK a viable promotional tool. And with some smart thinking, they could keep it free to players.

All they need to do then is get better servers and get better customer service.

I can think of so much that they could do and I'm not in marketing and have little immagination. I think they need some better people in their marketing department.

[TBS.SBEDbffl]

Yea, that does make money. Another thing that makes money is people buying VMK cards from Disney and eBay, vmk was just a big ad.

[benihodge]

Originally Posted by Marian1601

Lets hurt them in their pockets then!

I found a survery on disneymovierewards about their news letter. After about 3 questions you can put in your personal thoughts. I told them I would no longer be interested in purchasing movies for rewards unless they continue to offer VMK items. Lets flood every avenue with our Please Save VMK Campaign!

It is a small Mickey "tell us what you think" thing at the bottom of the rewards page.

Here's some contact info if you want try to convince them to keep vmk running.
Disney Internet Services:
(866) 993-6263 {Potc Online Support}
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Disney Internet Group Phone Number 818-623-3200
Address: 5161 Lankershim Blvd., 4th Fl.
North Hollywood, CA 91601
President: Stephen H. (Steve) Wadsworth
---------
Steve Parkis to lead Disney Online Studios
Please call his assistant Rebecca Metz at 818-623-3313
[email protected]

[email protected]...
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
-----------
Walt Disney Internet Group
Brandy Phillips, 818-623-3764
[email protected]
----------
[email protected]
----------
Walt Disney Company
Attn: Robert Iger
500 S. Buena Vista St.
Burbank, CA 91521-9722

Walt Disney Imagineering
Attn: Tony Baxter
1401 Flower Street
P.O. Box 25020
Glendale, CA 91221-502

Disneyland Resort
Attn: Ed Grier
1313 South Harbor Blvd.
Anaheim , CA 92802
E - M A I L
Disneyland Resort - http://www.disneyland.com/contact
-----------------
Walt Disney Corp.
818-560-1000

Walt Disney Corp.
500 So. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, Ca. 91521

Sorry in advance if I'm not suppose to post this type of info.

[Jacques]

Nobody has ever bought VMK cards from Disney. They do not sell cards. They sold pins (which come with cards), they sold merchandise in the hat shops, candy stores, magic stores, etc (and free cards were given). But Disney has never sold cards by themselves.

[benihodge]

That is true

[trainz]

Originally Posted by Jacques

Nobody has ever bought VMK cards from Disney. They do not sell cards. They sold pins (which come with cards), they sold merchandise in the hat shops, candy stores, magic stores, etc (and free cards were given). But Disney has never sold cards by themselves.

So It's a lie? I heard there were VMK card packs in some Disney Stores. You know the rare ones not located in WDW and DLR.

[Jacques]

Originally Posted by trainz

So It's a lie? I heard there were VMK card packs in some Disney Stores. You know the rare ones not located in WDW and DLR.

It's not a lie. It's a rumor. There's a difference. Disney has never sold VMK cards. Period.

[bopper]

Of course it is an Ad. But Ads are to get you to buy stuff.
Here is how Disney made money from me via VMK:

1) Trips to Walt Disney World. I remember in 2005 when my husband I were talking about where to go on vacation, I immediately suggested Disneyworld as I wanted to do some of the in-park quests that allowed you to get park-specific virtual items for VMK.

2) Stays in the Disneyland hotels. My husband had some business trips to the L.A. area, and he went early and stayed in a Disneyland Hotel just to get the virtual "Stitch" items for VMK. They are still very rare in the VMK economy.

3) Disney Movie Rewards. I feel stupid now, but we bought a few more DVDs than we would have to get Disney Movie Rewards to get exclusive items for VMK. Anybody need a copy of "Invincable"?

4) Pins: I feel really really really stupid now, but just on Monday April 7th 2008, I went to Epcot as I was in town for a business trip. I bought some of the real-life VMK pin sets for both the pins and the virtual codes to get more VMK items, only hours before the announcement.

5) In park merchandise. With purchase of real items, you get some virtual items. I have a set of gold ears. I also have a set of virtual gold ears! I have some pins, and virtual “Penny Press” that I got with the purchase. I have a Splash Mountain Photo, and the virtual “Wanted Poster”. I have some magic tricks, and a “Magic Mirror.” Would I have bought all that without the VMK bonus? No, I wouldn’t have. Those magic tricks are sitting in a closet.

I want my money back. I spent money on Disney items to get VMK items as well as the physical items. But I no longer get the benefit of the VMK codes related to those items. I feel that they have reneged on their implied contract with us. I may be stupid to buy all that stuff, but I enjoyed the virtual items in VMK.

[BeachCutie34]

Originally Posted by bopper

Of course it is an Ad. But Ads are to get you to buy stuff.
Here is how Disney made money from me via VMK:

1) Trips to Walt Disney World. I remember in 2005 when my husband I were talking about where to go on vacation, I immediately suggested Disneyworld as I wanted to do some of the in-park quests that allowed you to get park-specific virtual items for VMK.

2) Stays in the Disneyland hotels. My husband had some business trips to the L.A. area, and he went early and stayed in a Disneyland Hotel just to get the virtual "Stitch" items for VMK. They are still very rare in the VMK economy.

3) Disney Movie Rewards. I feel stupid now, but we bought a few more DVDs than we would have to get Disney Movie Rewards to get exclusive items for VMK. Anybody need a copy of "Invincable"?

4) Pins: I feel really really really stupid now, but just on Monday April 7th 2008, I went to Epcot as I was in town for a business trip. I bought some of the real-life VMK pin sets for both the pins and the virtual codes to get more VMK items, only hours before the announcement.

5) In park merchandise. With purchase of real items, you get some virtual items. I have a set of gold ears. I also have a set of virtual gold ears! I have some pins, and virtual “Penny Press” that I got with the purchase. I have a Splash Mountain Photo, and the virtual “Wanted Poster”. I have some magic tricks, and a “Magic Mirror.” Would I have bought all that without the VMK bonus? No, I wouldn’t have. Those magic tricks are sitting in a closet.

I want my money back. I spent money on Disney items to get VMK items as well as the physical items. But I no longer get the benefit of the VMK codes related to those items. I feel that they have reneged on their implied contract with us. I may be stupid to buy all that stuff, but I enjoyed the virtual items in VMK.

I agree with you 100%. I also participated in and got VMK items from the parks. I would not have wasted that day on MY VACATION if all my VMK items was going to go to waste..

[Jacques]

For those of you who felt you spent money on things purely for the VMK items, and not the actual purchase, I am sad for you.

I too went to the parks and completed the quests, took the tours, bought the pins and the movies. But I have pins and movies and park memories that I enjoy. Saying they are all a waste means you're missing the point.

Sure, I wanted Dancing Inferno from the Rewards program, but I wasn't about to buy movies I didn't want just to get it. We all have to justify our actions. Disney is not responsible to compensate you for purchases.

I hope you enjoyed your time in the parks when you weren't participating in the quests. There are some really fun things to see and do! It would be a shame if you missed them.

[TinkTaylor]

VMK actually did make Disney some money and nonbody can say it didnt.. take this example: CODES!!!!!! Those things are not cheap people.

Jacues I can definitly prove Disney DID sell those if you have ever been to Disney you guys would know this buy now! they sell them in DownTown Disney and in many stores in Epcot and Magic Kingdom

[Jacques]

Originally Posted by TinkTaylor

VMK actually did make Disney some money and nonbody can say it didnt.. take this example: CODES!!!!!! Those things are not cheap people.

Codes are free. No money should ever have been spent to obtain them. Sure, you may have had to buy candy or hats or hotel stays, but for your money, you got candy or hats or hotel stays. The cards were free on top of those. Did VMK make Disney money? Sure. It boosted sales in the shops, and possibly hotel attendance. But VMK never sold virtual items directly. EVER.

Jacues I can definitly prove Disney DID sell those if you have ever been to Disney you guys would know this buy now! they sell them in DownTown Disney and in many stores in Epcot and Magic Kingdom

I have in fact been to Downtown Disney, and I can assure you, that nowhere do they sell VMK cards. It just wasn't done.